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Day Trips · Leinster, Dublin

Malahide Castle & Gardens

An 800-year-old castle set in 260 acres of parkland, 25 minutes from the city by train

  • Distance14 km from city centre
  • Travel time25 minutes by DART
  • TransportDART from Connolly to Malahide; 25 min; ~€3.00 with Leap Card (~$3.30). Castle is a 15-min walk from the DART station.
  • Rating★ 4.5
  • Best seasonSpring and summer (castle gardens and butterfly house at their best)
Malahide Castle & Gardens

Malahide Castle was home to the Talbot family for nearly 800 years until 1976 and sits within a 260-acre demesne of parkland, walled gardens, and a butterfly house. The castle interior is seen on a guided tour; the extensive grounds, playground, and walled garden are free to walk once inside the park gates.

Practical information for Malahide Castle & Gardens
Distance 14 km from city centre
Travel time 25 minutes by DART
Getting there DART from Connolly to Malahide; 25 min; ~€3.00 with Leap Card (~$3.30). Castle is a 15-min walk from the DART station.
Address Malahide Castle, Malahide, County Dublin, K36 Y212, Ireland

How to get there

  • DART
  • Car (25 min via M1/M50)

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Location

Malahide Castle, Malahide, County Dublin, K36 Y212, Ireland

53.4506, -6.1540 View on map

Highlights

  • Guided castle interior tour covering the Talbot family's portrait collection and medieval great hall
  • The Walled Garden and West Lawn, a separate paid attraction within the grounds with rare plant collections
  • Tara's Palace Museum of Ireland, a dollhouse and miniatures museum on-site, popular with children
  • Malahide village and marina, a 15-minute walk from the castle, with waterfront cafés

Tips for visiting

  • The castle interior can only be seen on a timed guided tour — check the last tour time on arrival, as it runs earlier than the grounds' closing time
  • The grounds and playground are free to enter without a castle ticket, making it a low-cost stop for families short on time
  • Malahide village's DART station and the castle entrance are about a 15-minute walk apart — allow time for this if connecting straight off the train