Please sign in to post.

HOHO from the airport

Hey All,

I’ve never travelled internationally before. If my Aer Lingus from the US lands in Dublin at 830am, for what time should I book/reserve an airport shuttle/HOHO bus to leave the airport? I was planning to book ahead from the US?

I see there are three HOHO companies, is any one of them better than the others?

If I want to go to Book of Kells as the first thing, and booking ahead for that also, what is a safe time to reserve?

Would using Luas and Bus with a LEAP card a better option than the HOHO? HOHO just seemed easier for a 1st time visitor to Dublin wanting to do tourist things

Thanks, AL

Posted by
11569 posts

I can’t imagine jumping on a HOHO bus right after getting off an overnight international flight.
I would use your arrival day to check into your hotel and go for some walks. The next day is the time to begin your sightseeing.

Posted by
3226 posts

I agree with Suki. I hopped on a bus once on arrival day to get from one end of town to the other and had trouble staying awake.

Posted by
7837 posts

I am pretty certain the the HOHO companies in Dublin don't serve the airport.
You would need to get into the city first to catch the HOHO.

The answer to the question is that there isn't a safe time to book.

With the vagaries of international air travel currently do not book anything which is non refundable for Day 1.
Booking is not ESSENTIAL .

Try booking on your phone at the airport after you have landed if you are not willing to just turn up.
The aircoach is a straight shot there,- a short walk from the Kildare Street stop.

Posted by
16272 posts

You don't need to pre-reserve a ticket for the airport bus. (Nor for the HOHO.) My suggestion is to first go to your hotel. It may be too early to check in but I'm sure they'll let you leave your luggage. Rather than get on a bus and sit, it's better to be outside and walking around. This will help beat jet lag.

The HOHO buses don't go to rhe airport but dI agree with the previous posters--save this for day 2.

No one can predict timing because of the vagaries of air travel.

Posted by
7837 posts

If you are going to be using a LEAP card while you are there, rather than using one of the various coach services into Dublin you can start using your leap card straight away by using the Dublin Bus citybus routes 16 or 41 into the city centre. The buses which serve those routes are intended for airport traffic in that they have large luggage racks.
The #41 is also a 24 hour a day service, running half hourly all night.
These services are far more frequent than the coach services into the city.
Route 16 timetable- https://www.dublinbus.ie/getmedia/3db9ca81-2b30-441f-931f-03ade4c15cf9/Route-16.pdf?ext=.pdf
Route 41 timetable- https://www.dublinbus.ie/getmedia/8d52313b-c524-4ec8-b932-c3ed370c3318/Route_41_both.pdf?ext=.pdf

Both are as fast as the coaches- route 41 taking just 30 minutes into the city centre, and both routes also call at Drumcondra Irish Rail station. Although that is on the north side of the city it has some useful connections into the lines from Heuston via the cross city tunnel.