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| Home > City Guide - Dublin - Getting Around | ||
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Getting Around Public Transport Dublin’s public transport system is a bus and rail network, although a new network of 40 trams is due to be introduced (at a rate of one tram a month with passenger services due for commencement by 2003) by Luas Light Rail Lines (tel: (01) 703 2029; website: www.luas.ie). Iarnród Éireann (Irish Rail) runs the clean and speedy electrical DART (Dublin Area Rapid Transport; tel: (01) 836 6222) rail services Monday to Saturday 0630-2400 and Sunday 0930-2300. Rail fares vary according to routes. Bus Átha Cliath (Dublin Bus) (tel: (01) 873 4222; website: www.dublinbus.ie) runs the city bus services, which operate 0600-2330, with a limited night bus service (Nitelinks) Thursday to Saturday. Information on fares and timetables are provided at the Dublin Bus Information Office and Irish Rail, O’Connell Street and Dublin Tourism Centre. Bus fares vary according to the number of stops: one to three stops cost Ir£0.60/EUR0.80, four to seven stops cost Ir£0.85/EUR1, eight to 13 stops cost Ir£1.05/EUR1.50, 14 stops and over cost Ir£1.15-1.30/EUR1.50 (concessions available). Drivers prefer exact change. Pre-paid tickets may also be purchased at the CIE Information desk at Dublin Airport, Dublin Bus Head Office or at bus ticket agencies. Daily, weekly and monthly passes for bus or rail – or combined bus and rail passes – are also available. There are one-, three- and five-day Rambler Tickets (at Ir£3.50/EUR4.50, Ir£6.50/EUR8.50 and Ir£10/EUR13 respectively) offering unlimited travel for consecutive days on all Dublin Bus scheduled services, excluding the night buses. A weekly pass for the DART costs Ir£14.49/EUR18.50 and a monthly pass costs Ir£51.98/EUR66. There is also an Adult Short Hop pass (Ir£5.20/EUR6.50), valid for unlimited travel for one day on all Dublin Bus, DART and suburban rail services, or a Family Short Hop pass (Ir£7.50/EUR9.50). Taxis Taxis (standard saloon cars) can be hailed in the street, hired at taxi ranks (O’Connell Street, Dame Street and St Stephen’s Green) or booked by telephone. Radio Link (tel: (01) 850 0111) is a reputable company. There is often a considerable waiting period for a taxi at peak times, especially Friday and Saturday nights. Taxis cost Ir£1.90/EUR2.50 for journeys under three minutes 20 seconds and an extra Ir£0.10/EUR0.10 for each additional 40 seconds (or each additional ninth of a mile). There is an Ir£0.40/EUR0.50 surcharge for each additional passenger or item of luggage and during unsociable hours. It is customary to tip the driver 10-15% of the fare. Limousines The Limousine Company (tel: (01) 843 9055; website: www.limousine.ie) specialises in corporate hire and offers the latest, conference-seated silver limousines from Ir£35/EUR44.50 per hour (for a minimum four-hour hire period). Driving in the City The volume of traffic in Dublin is increasing and parking is expensive and limited, although some hotels and guesthouses provide private parking for guests. Visitors should avoid driving during morning and late afternoon rush hours if possible, keeping out of bus lanes and using car parks, rather than kerb-side parking. There are also numerous one-way systems in the centre, including the quays alongside the Liffey (the south bank flows east to west and the north bank, west to east). Pay-and-display meters are standard; the maximum time for parking is usually three hours. The city’s main car parks are Arnotts, Middle Abbey Street, on the Northside and Brown Thomas, Clarendon Street 2, on the Southside: both are located in the middle of shopping districts. Clamping zones operate within the city centre and the recovery of a clamped vehicle will cost around Ir£65/EUR82.50. Recovery of clamped or towed-away vehicles is from The Parking Shop (tel: (01) 602 2500). Car Hire A full national driving licence and deposit are necessary to hire a car in Ireland; most firms require the driver to be over 23 and under 70 years old and to have held a full driving licence for a minimum of two years without endorsements. Avis, 1 East Hanover Street (tel: (01) 605 7500; website: www.avis.com); Budget, 151 Drumcondra Street (tel: (01) 837 9611; website: www.budget.com), and the local Access Car Rental, Dublin Airport (tel: (01) 844 4848), are among the main providers. Rates vary on a seasonal basis and range from Ir£160/EUR203 upwards for the weekly hire of a small car. Pre-booking is strongly recommended in summer and payment is usually only accepted by credit card. Bicycle Hire The best tracks are along Dublin Bay and across the Wicklow Mountains, as central Dublin is sadly lacking in cycle paths. Cycle Ways, 185-186 Parnell Street (tel: (01) 873 4748; fax: (01) 872 9462; e-mail: cycleway@indigo.ie; website: www.cycleways.com), Dublin Bike Tours, The Harding Hotel, Fishamble Street (tel: (01) 679 0899; fax: (01) 679 6504; e-mail: info@dublinbiketours.com; website: www.dublinbiketours.com), and McDonald Cycles Ltd, 38-39 Wexford Street (tel: (01) 475 2586), all offer a hire service. Bicycles may be hired for around Ir£10/EUR13 per day or Ir£40/EUR51 a week. Deposits of at least Ir£50/EUR63.50 are usually required. |
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