Does this sound reasonable? Hello, we arrive in Dublin tomorrow 8:30 a.m. local time from the USA and connect a flight to Germany at 5:30 p.m. local time. We have checked baggage on one ticket with Aer lingus. I have read many layover Dublin topics and it seems to de-plane and get out of the airport could be an hour and maybe another hour by bus or taxi to get into Dublin. We will have lunch and hop on/hop off bus tour or walk around ourselves for 3 hours and depart Dublin at 1:30 p.m. for the airport for a 5:30 flight. Reasonable? What's the latest we should leave Dublin in order to catch a 5:30 Aer lingus flight to Germany?
Posted by
1798 posts
Assuming your flight isn't delayed I think your plan is reasonable. I would only caution against taking a HoHo bus. I believe one does pick up outside the terminal but once in Dublin it will literally crawl through traffic. So you won't see much. Instead, take a taxi or the bus to the City Center - around Trinity College/Grafton Street/St. Stephens Green - walk and have lunch. If you leave the City Center by 1.30 you should be fine for your onward flight. If you are delayed and you decide to stay at the airport there are airport lounges you can use.
Posted by
Bellingham, WA
1084 posts
If you're delayed and don't want to wait in the lounge, you could take a taxi to Malahide and see the castle and gardens there or just have lunch in a pub. I have eaten at Gibney's, and it was fine.
Posted by
OP
Minneapolis
7 posts
Thanks! Here was my experience. Landed in Dublin on Wednesday morning 8:30. Made it through the passport station and customs in 10 minutes. No lines at all. It was mostly walking that took time. Bought a round trip ticket on Aircoach at the bus stop at the airport for 12 euros. It was a 45 minute bus ride during rush hour from the airport to the city center which dropped us off right by Trinity College and we absolutely loved the audio tour of the Book of Kells history. That was a 90 minute experience and then we walked to the Dublin Castle and read a few informational kiosks. Finished up our Dublin layover day with fish and chips and Guinness Irish stew and draft Guinness regular and draft Guinness non-alcoholic. So delicious. We return to the air coach bus stop waited about 10 minutes and took it back to the airport for the 30-minute ride. Security was a breeze and we made it to our gate and 20 minutes. My takeaways are that we went on a Wednesday had off peak times and it was a breeze. We are at the gate at 2:30 for our 5:30 flight.
Posted by
1798 posts
So glad you had a nice morning! Enjoy the rest of your trip.