Ireland
Dublin
Ireland's capital of literature and pubs. The Luas tram and the coastal DART do the everyday work.
Dublin Airport (DUB) transfers
No train serves the airport - the choice is cheap TFI buses or fast private coaches. The buses take exact coins only, while Dublin Express refuses cash outright; a Leap card from arrivals is the smoothest start.
Updated on August 5, 2026
How to ride
- 1Buy a Leap card in arrivalsWHSmith in Terminal 1 is listed for 24-hour cards only; SPAR in Terminal 2 Arrivals also sells them.
- 2For the cheap way, head for the TFI bus standsTFI routes 16, 33a, 41 and others leave from bus stand Zones 11, 13 and 15 and charge the flat city fare.
- 3Tap your Leap card as you boardHold the card against the validator beside the driver. There is no tap off. Paying cash means exact coins and no change.
- 4Pay for speed with a private coachDublin Express leaves from bus stand Zones 1 and 21, Aircoach from Zones 2 and 20. Booking online in advance is the cheapest.
- 5Coaches want a card, not cashDublin Express takes no cash at all and its drivers accept cards only. Leap cards do not work on Dublin Express either.
- 6Landing late? Take the 41 or AircoachRoute 41 runs 24 hours, and Aircoach's 700 leaves Terminal 1 hourly through the night.
Fares
Single fares5
TFI public bus with Leap (TFI 90-minute fare)
Free transfers within 90 minutes; applies to airport routes 16, 33a and 41
2 EUR ≈ $2
TFI public bus, cash to the driver
Two bands by distance, coins only and no change given - up to 30% more than the Leap fare
2〜2.6 EUR ≈ $2–3
Dublin Commuter bus with Leap (routes 101, 109A)
The Leap fare within Zone 1 - these routes get no 90-minute transfer and no daily cap
2.4 EUR ≈ $3
Dublin Express single (online)
Cheapest online; on the 782, 783 and 784 you may travel 12 hours either side, on standby
9 EUR ≈ $10
Aircoach single / return (online)
The 700 between the airport and the city centre - the cheapest prices are online
6〜8 EUR ≈ $7–9
Passes & multi-ride1
TFI Leap Visitor Card (1 / 3 / 7 days)
The clock starts on first use - not valid on Bus Éireann services or the airport coaches
8〜24 EUR ≈ $9–28
Fare caps1
Leap fare cap (daily / weekly)
Daily and Monday-to-Sunday caps across city buses, Luas, DART and commuter rail
6〜24 EUR ≈ $7–28
Card itself1
TFI Leap card (deposit plus minimum top-up)
A €5 deposit plus a €5 minimum top-up; whether the airport shops sell them is unconfirmed
10 EUR ≈ $12
Estimates use exchange rates as of September 5, 2026
Payment
Card payment on board VISAMastercardAmex
Not for boarding - Ireland has no tap-to-ride yet; fine for buying coach tickets
IC card The TFI Leap card is the one that matters on the public routes
App tickets TFI Go covers Bus Éireann and the coaches - not Dublin Bus
Paper tickets Coach tickets - show the driver a QR code on your phone or a printout
Cash Public buses take exact coins and give no change; Dublin Express takes none
Tap for where to get the app
Quick facts
Hours
24h, reduced overnight
Frequency
Coaches every 7-15 min
Fares from
2 EUR+
Heads-up
-
Airlink Express no longer runs as an airport bus
The Airlink Express 747 and 757 no longer run as airport buses. The site of that name is now a booking hub selling Dublin Express and Aircoach tickets, so any guide telling you to look for an Airlink bus is out of date.