The Emerald Isle has four major international airports — and since it’s a relatively compact island, getting from one end to the other will take little more than a few hours, no matter where you land.
Insider tip? Flying to Éire during winter months will save you the most money, overall.
Airports in Ireland
Centrally located options for landing in the Emerald Island include:
International airports in Ireland
Dublin Airport (DUB). The largest airport on the island, located in the Republic of Ireland.
Cork Airport (ORK). Located four miles south of Cork, it’s the second-largest hub in the Republic of Ireland.
Belfast International Airport (BFS). Just north of Belfast in Northern Ireland, 111 miles — about 2.5 hours to drive — from Dublin.
Shannon Airport (SNN). Located between between Ennis and Limerick in the southeast part of the island.
Domestic airports in Ireland
There are a handful of smaller, regional airports throughout the island that you might check for cheap rates if you’re flying within Ireland. These include:
Starting from major US hubs, here’s the estimated duration of nonstop flights to Dublin:
From New York: 6 hours, 11 minutes
From Los Angeles: 10 hours, 35 minutes
From Chicago: 7 hours, 15 minutes
Airlines that fly to Dublin
Direct carriers from the US to Dublin include:
United
American Airlines
Delta
Aer Lingus
Ethiopian Airlines
Norwegian Airlines
Ireland insider flight tips
Here’s how to cut costs on a flight to Ireland:
Consider a layover. Dublin is the home base for budget airline, Ryanair, which offers some ridiculously low fares for flights within Europe. Ryanair can get you to Dublin from major cities such as London (Gatwick and Stansted airports), Amsterdam, Paris and Athens.
Travel during off-season. Flights to Ireland in February are cheapest, due to lower demand throughout the winter months. But it’s a bit of an inside secret that Ireland is lovely even when dreary — as long as you’re never far from a crackling fire.
Book at least three weeks in advance. Last-minute trips to Ireland are most likely to break the bank; book at least three weeks ahead of time to get decent fares.
Depart from a major US airport. If you live in a smaller city, taking discount airlines like Sun Country or Frontier to an international hub — like ATL — can help secure cheaper passage across the Atlantic.
How to reach Dublin from the airport
Dublin Airport (DUB) is relatively small and easy to navigate, since it only has two terminals. You can traverse the 7.5 miles from DUB to Dublin via:
Private shuttles. GoAirport and SuperShuttle are just a couple companies that offer passage direct to Dublin.
Public bus. Route 16 on the Dublin bus will get you to the city center in about an hour.
Coach bus. Aircoach and Bus Éireann both run from DUB to the heart of Dublin, daily.
Taxi. Taxis are readily available and take about 30 minutes to the center of Dublin.
Rental car. You can find major car rental agencies in the Terminal 1 Arrivals Hall and in the Terminal 2 car park.
The cheapest flights to Ireland are available during off-season, but you can still get a decent fare by planning stopovers through June, July and August. After booking a flight, mosey on over to our hotel guide to find the best rates on centrally located spots to sleep in major Irish cities.
Frequently asked questions
It’s about 164 miles from Cork Airport to Dublin (264 km). The drive takes about three hours and 10 minutes, northwest through the heart of the Republic of Ireland.
Here’s what you can expect to pay for the bus ride from DUB to Dublin:
Dublin bus. An adult ticket on route 16 from terminals 1&2 to D’Olier Street, Ashfield House in Dublin costs €3.30 (about $4).
Air coach. A one-way adult ticket on route 700 costs €7 (about $8); round trip is €12 (about $13).
Yes! Here’s how to take a train to Dublin from Cork International Airport:
First, you need to get to the Kent train station in Cork. Take the A226 Bus Éireann from Cork International Airport to Kent Station — about a 40-minute ride. This’ll cost €2.80 (about $3).
Next, you’ll take the Irish Rail to Heuston train station in Dublin. Fare costs €59.20 (about $66) one way, and the ride takes about two hours and 45 minutes.
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