Layover in Dublin

Don’t know Dublin or it’s airport but I’d be leery of doing this anywhere. You have to clear immigration to leave the airport, so that can be one hour at least. Then wait for bus etc. how long is the ride into town? Will your luggage be transferred to your next flight, or do you have to collect it and check in again? That takes time. So already you have lost 2 or 3 of your 7 hours. Dublin to Rome probably requires arrival back at airport 2 hours before flight departs, check in, security etc. so down to 2 or three hours in the city itself. You will probably tired after the flight, why not find a quiet corner to chill out, have a nap. Or if there is a hotel near the airport see if the offer services for layover passengers.

Too risky in my book. The airport bus used to have numerous stops and you could get a drive by of major sights. But that changed with the pandemic.

Why not look into buying a pass into an airport lounge:

https://www.dublinairport.com/enhance-your-journey/lounges

You should have plenty of time. I'd go straight to Temple Bar and celebrate together. Bus route takes 30ish minutes.

We'll have an overnight layover at Dublin airport this summer and would appreciate any suggestions for a reasonable hotel near Dublin airport. Do hotels typically have shuttle serve to and from airport?
Thanks for any leads.

I agree with lanlubber and Frank, too much time spent on airport logistics and the bus each way, too much hassle the morning after an overnight flight if that's what it will be. And multiply the hassle by seven. There's plenty of beer at DUB without going to Temple Bar, and in the morning that's mostly hangover territory anyway. In your situation I'd look for a lounge.

Hi Kel.mel, can you please let me know if you ended up taking the bus? It seems to me a 30 min ride is quite doable, even when you add two security checkups in and out... I am facing the same temptation in September... I'd appreciate your response...

as far as lounges, there is 2 hrs max you can spend there, before the next flight. 5 hrs before that (with 7 hrs layover) will be killing me...(((

While it was true in May that the frequent stops bus into the City had gone with Covid, within the last few weeks it has returned.

It is now run by a company called Dublin Express- who are a trading division of the British company National Express.

There are two routes, so you could do a circular 'tour'- this is the timetable-https://www.dublinexpress.ie/media/11174/dublin_express_timetable-july-23.pdf

It would all depend on if you were checked through (not on separate tickets) and how fast you cleared the airport.

You probably need the better part of 3 clear hours- although you could pinch a round trip without getting off to 2 hours or 2 1/2 hours with a quick pit stop in the city.

It very much depends on your attitude to risk. If everything was on my side I think I would try it, knowing that if the bus found a snarl up I could turn tail at any stop. But a delayed inbound flight, or big lines at airport security then forget it.

You will see that they are now also running yet another route from Dublin City and Airport to Belfast- that is now 4 bus companies on that route.