The most common trip from Dublin Airport is the 10 km run to the city centre, a metered taxi of €25 to €45 or a coach from €8. Beyond the city, people head north to Drogheda, Dundalk and Belfast, and west and south to Galway, Limerick and Cork. For those longer trips a coach is almost always far cheaper than a taxi. Prices checked August 2026.
Routes table
Distances and driving times below are road estimates. The Dublin city-centre fare is metered and reliable; every other fare is indicative, because intercity taxis run on the meter and become very high over distance. For anything beyond the city, check the coach first.
| Destination | Approx distance | Driving time | Indicative taxi fare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dublin city centre | ~10 km | 20 to 30 min | €25 to €45 |
| Drogheda | ~50 km | 40 to 50 min | €80 to €120 |
| Dundalk | ~85 km | ~1 hr | €130 to €180 |
| Kilkenny | ~130 km | ~1 hr 30 min | €200 to €260 |
| Belfast | ~167 km | ~1 hr 45 min | €250 to €320 |
| Limerick | ~200 km | ~2 hr 30 min | €300 to €380 |
| Galway | ~210 km | ~2 hr 30 min | €300 to €400 |
| Cork | ~231 km | ~3 hr | €340 to €430 |
Key destinations
Dublin city centre. The everyday route. A metered taxi is €25 to €45 and takes 20 to 30 minutes, door to door. For less money, the Dublin Express coach reaches the centre in as little as 14 minutes from €9, and a TFI bus costs about €2.60 on a Leap Card.
Belfast. By taxi this is an indicative €250 to €320, which is rarely worth it. The Aircoach 705X runs the airport to Belfast in about 1 hour 50 minutes from around €12, so the coach is the clear choice.
Galway. A taxi across to the west coast is an indicative €300 to €400. The Citylink 760 and 761 coaches run direct to Galway in about 2.5 hours from roughly €22, which makes far more sense for the distance.
Cork. An intercity taxi would be an indicative €340 to €430. The Aircoach 704X runs up to 36 services a day to Cork in about 3 to 3.5 hours from €18, so take the coach.
For the metered city fare and how the ranks and apps work, see the taxis page. For every coach and bus, including the intercity routes above, see the public transport page.
Routes FAQs
How far is Dublin Airport from the city centre? About 10 km, a drive of 20 to 30 minutes by taxi, or 14 to 35 minutes by coach depending on the service and stops.
Is it cheaper to get a taxi or coach from Dublin Airport to another city? For any destination beyond Dublin, the coach is almost always far cheaper. A taxi to Belfast, Galway or Cork runs into the hundreds of euro on the meter, while direct coaches start from €12 to €22.
How much is a taxi from Dublin Airport to Belfast? Indicatively €250 to €320 on the meter over about 1 hour 45 minutes. The Aircoach 705X coach is far cheaper at around €12.
How long does it take to drive from Dublin Airport to Galway? About 2 hours 30 minutes over roughly 210 km. The Citylink coach covers it in about 2.5 hours from around €22.
More: Overview, Taxis, Public transport, Parking, Drop-off, FAQs.
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Last verified August 2026 by the Dublin Airport Guide editorial team. Prices and timetables change, so confirm the specifics on the official Dublin Airport website before you travel.