I am traveling to Italy in September and my wife and I have almost 8 and a half hours, 7am to 3:40PM, layover in Dublin. Its always been a dream of mine to go to the Guinness Storehouse Factory tour. They start tours at 9:30am. I'm thinking, store luggage at the airport. Get to the Guinness Storehouse by 9:30. Tour until 11:00 then back to the airport by noon. It's only 20 minutes from the airport. Even if customs and immigration is 3 hours like they say, I should be OK? Just looking for some suggestions here. Is this doable or realistic to do? Will I run into any issues trying to get back into the airport and making my flight to Spain. Is there any sort of pre-customs and immigration clearance I can do ahead of time?
Posted by
Vienna, Austria
5507 posts
I had a similar layover period in Dublin in the fall and wished to do the same. After talking to airport staff, I learned that there was no where to store our luggage at the airport and that traffic in Dublin is notoriously bad, meaning it could take possibly a couple of hours each way if there were traffic issues. We decided not to risk it and instead sat in the restaurant at the airport the whole time.
Posted by
Ireland
219 posts
I'd allow more like 30-40 mins travel time in a taxi between airport and Guinness, so bear that in mind. There is a left luggage place in the airport but only in T1, details are here: https://www.leftluggage.ie/en
Posted by
Downingtown, USA
2449 posts
The left luggage is fantastic. We went by taxi from Kilmainhaim gaol.and traffic was not horrible at .midday. Leave the storehouse by eleven and you should be just fine that is just our opinion. Perhaps someone who lives in Ireland.might post.here with their thoughts.
Posted by
OP
2 posts
Many thanks for the replies. I was thinking the same thing. If we do the 9:30 tour, even if it's to see the place for an hour it beats hanging out in the airport all day.
Posted by
stevens point, wi, usa
1194 posts
Hello from Wisconsin,
I love Guinness. The brewery...not so much. You would be better getting cab to Kavanaugh's Gravedigger's Pub and enjoying a couple pints.
wayne iNWI
Posted by
62 posts
I just posted about this. We are going to Rome next month and have quite a bit of layover. Trying to figure out what to do. I just remember a few years ago when we were getting the bus to the airport from the city, it took quite some time.
Posted by
Noblesville, Indiana, USA
1406 posts
I would definitely give it a go. Guinness is fun! Perhaps your luggage will already be checked on to Spain? As I recall the airport was efficient to clear but that was in 2018.
Posted by
Freedonia
16273 posts
I had a good laugh when you said "it only 20 minutes from the airport ."You will be traveling into Dublin during early morning rush hour. Figure more like 45 minutes to an hour. Depending on when you are going, the Storehouse can get crowded. (FYi, the brewery is no longer there.)
There is no pre-clearance or customs you can do ahead of time. In Dublin, on arrival, you will go through immigration and customs. There is no exit immigration in Ireland.