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Ireland

Dublin

Ireland's capital of literature and pubs. The Luas tram and the coastal DART do the everyday work.

Taxis and ride-hailing apps (SPSVs)

Ireland has no private-car ride-sharing - FreeNow, Uber and Bolt all send the same licensed taxis. Every fare runs on the meter and charging above it is illegal; every taxi must take both cash and cards.

Updated on August 5, 2026

How to ride

  1. 1
    Decide - flag one down or book an app
    Only roof-signed taxis can be hailed on the street or taken from a rank. Hackneys and limousines are pre-booked only.
  2. 2
    At a rank, pick any car you like
    There is no rule about taking the first car - you may choose any taxi in the rank.
  3. 3
    Check the meter is running
    Once you set off, check the taximeter is running. Every taxi fare is metered, and charging above the meter is illegal.
  4. 4
    Pay by cash or card
    Every taxi must take both cash and cards, and adding a surcharge for paying by card is against the rules.
  5. 5
    Take the taximeter receipt
    The taximeter receipt is the one that works for complaints or lost property - a card terminal slip does not identify the car.
  6. 6
    Using an app at the airport? Check the pickup point
    The taxi rank is right outside both terminals, but FreeNow meets you in the Zone 18 car park.

Typical costs

Fixed-price routes1

Airport to city centre (typical)
The airport's own estimate; it moves with time of day and route, and any tunnel toll is added on top.
30〜45 EUR ≈ $34–50

How the meter adds up7

Initial charge (standard rate)
Covers the first 500 m or 85 seconds; applies Monday to Saturday 8am-8pm. Set in December 2024.
4.4 EUR ≈ $5
Initial charge (premium and special premium)
8pm-8am Monday to Saturday, all day Sunday and public holidays; special premium covers Sat/Sun midnight-4am.
5.4 EUR ≈ $6
Running rate, standard (per km)
1.32 for the first 15 km or 43 minutes (or 0.47 per minute), then 1.72 per km (0.61 per minute).
1.32〜1.72 EUR ≈ $1–2
Running rate, premium (per km)
Premium runs 1.81 for the first 15 km or 43 minutes, then 2.20; special premium is 2.20 throughout.
1.81〜2.2 EUR ≈ $2
Pre-booking fee
Added to bookings made by phone, app or in person; you avoid it by taking a rank or street hail.
3 EUR ≈ $3
Extra passenger
1 per additional adult; the first child under 12 is free, then 1 for every two children.
1 EUR ≈ $1
Dublin Port Tunnel toll (added on top)
The tolled tunnel between the airport and the city; southbound on weekday mornings is the dearest at 14.
3.5〜14 EUR ≈ $4–16

Estimates use exchange rates as of November 3, 2026

Payment

Card payment on board
The operator does not name the brands it accepts
Terminals are mandatory and rules require contactless (NFC) plus chip and PIN
IC card
Leap cards do not appear in the official list of taxi payment methods
App tickets
Pay inside the app up front, or pay the driver directly in the car
Cash
Cash always works; the 2022 legal duty was about accepting cards

Quick facts

Fares from
30 EUR+

Heads-up

  • Only a taxi may be hailed or wait at a rank

    Only taxis may wait at ranks or be hailed. Hackneys and limousines are pre-booked only, use no meter and have no maximum fare - the price is whatever you agree beforehand. Before getting into a car someone has offered you, check the roof sign and the driver's ID card.

  • The app's charge can differ from the metered fare

    What the app charges is not always the metered fare - dispatch operators may add their own fees on top of it. When you get out, take the taximeter receipt rather than the card terminal slip; only the meter receipt records the vehicle and the trip.

Timetable

Check the official site for the latest times and service status
Editor Naotaka