Taking a taxi is by far the most convenient way to travel from Dublin airport to Dublin city centre and by far the most expensive. Here we look at the taxi cost, taxi safety, types of taxi services available from Dublin airport. Included are how to work out taxi journey times and what service is best for you from the taxi ranks to meet and greet taxi services.
Dublin Airport Taxi Low Down
Taking a taxi is by far the most convenient way to travel from Dublin airport to Dublin city centre and by far the most expensive. Here we look at the ins and outs of taking a taxi and whether its worth it for you.
Drivers
Most drivers are friendly and are only dying to tell you their opinions on everything and anything including all politics, the weather, Joe Duffy, sports, the state of the nation, and the best place to go for a pint. Great for some local insight and colour, though you may not agree with your taxi drivers opinions, they are a great introduction to Irish culture and will test your understanding of the Irish accent !
Location, Location, Location
There are two taxi ranks, one outside of Terminal 1 and one outside of Terminal 2, both well signposted by the airport and well run by airport personnel. In our experience it’s a 10 minute or less wait to get a taxi from the rank, and, if there is an unknown delay airport personnel will let you know how long the wait time is. If you want to get a taxi with the least amount of planning and hassle this is your best option.
Cost
Taking a taxi is the most expensive mode of public transport, it’s about €25-€35 to Dublin city centre, however fares do increase at anti-social times by up to €10.00, so do check out how much your fare should be go through Taxi Fare Estimator . Standard rates apply 08.00am to 20.00pm Monday to Saturday with Premium rates from 20.00pm to 08.00am plus all day Sunday and public holidays. Do check with the driver roughly how much he expects the fare to be so there are no surprises. Taxis that operate from the airport must take credit cards otherwise Euro is the currency universally used in Ireland.
Journey Time
Taxis will take you up to 30km radius from the airport and the journey time depends on traffic volumes. Off peak it will take less than 30 minutes to get into the city centre, however this time can double during peak traffic periods; still, taxis can use bus lanes so even in heavy traffic they are still the fastest way to your destination. Dublin rush hour traffic is usually busiest between 07:00-09:30 and 16:00-19:00 so plan accordingly as there is no faster way to get there.
Booking in Advance
You can book your taxi in advance through operators like Lynk and FreeNow and other Irish operators. Free Now is used in many European cities so this is worth checking out if you are planning to travel in Europe or you already use FreeNow in your city as you do not need to re-register in each country. FreeNow covers the UK, Austria, Germany, France, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Spain, and Greece. To note the pickup point is not at the taxi rank but in a carpark in Zone 16.
So what about Uber ? Uber private hire is not available in Ireland, you can use the Uber brand though it is a regulated taxi unlike in the USA limiting the advantages of Uber to you.
Taxi Meet and Greet Services
So your unsure of where you are going, want a door to door experience, are really limited in time, need a guaranteed pick up and don’t mind paying a premium then avail of Taxi meet and greet services. Ordered in advance with a 24/7 support service the driver will wait up to 90 minutes (generally included in the premium price) for you at the Arrivals Gate. The driver will have a welcome sign with your name and will escort you through the airport directly from arrivals. This is a great service if you have a deadline, multiple bags, people, kids (particularly as they can organise multiple car seats in advance) and most importantly don’t mind paying extra. There is plenty of companies in this space so do shop around but as a rule of thumb it’s about two to three times plus the price of a standard taxi, more if you go for the limo service.
Taxi Safety
Taxis in Ireland are regulated and very safe, there is no issue taking a taxi alone or at night. There are about 10,000 taxis registered to work in and around Dublin. Taxis must be insured, clean and the vehicle is checked for roadworthiness each year. Drivers are all trained, licensed, garda vetted and must display their identification. All taxis take four people at a minimum and there are plenty of six plus people carriers on the road. Seatbelts are mandatory for all passengers and the driver will take a dim view of you if you refuse to wear it for non-medical reasons and may even refuse the journey as by law all drivers and passengers must wear a seatbelt and this law is enforced strongly. There has been an incentivised government drive to make more taxis wheelchair accessible so there are plenty available at the rank and they can also be ordered through operators in advance.
Taxi Fare Estimator to estimate how much your taxi will be at a certain time and journey length.
FreeNow online European taxi service and app
Lynk online taxi service and app
Meet and Greet online booking meet and greet service
Optimum chauffeur meet and greet service
About Walk Around The Neighbourhood
Walk Around The Neighbourhood is a self-directed mapped digital audio walking tour of Dublin 2 and 8 including Camden street and Portobello parish with interesting histories, stories and attractions. The walking tour takes about two and a half hours.
You can download and play the tour immediately at home and onsite, replay, start and stop it when you want, its flexible and convenient around your time with links to over 50 attractions along the tour route.
If you want a unique, informative and entertaining tour of Dublin, that is flexible and convenient around your time then this self-guided tour is for you.
Portobello and Camden Street Tour
Walk along pretty Victorian streets, along the tree lined canal, to the haunted park, and bustling market streets. Discover a different side of Dublin walking through the parish that has its origins in 700AD and attracted many nationalities to settle here – Vikings, Christians , Huguenots, Lithuanian Jews, who have given this part of Dublin its unique character.
You will learn about Irelands journey to independence through the personal stories of people who lived along the tour and the stories of saints, rebels, and queens who have forged modern day Ireland with bonus links to historical photos and film.
The tour includes over 50 recommendations of unique independent attractions such as bars, restaurants, cafes, museums, parks, shops and activities along the tour route. The app includes reviews and links to all independent attractions with images of where to visit.