Easy day trip to Malahide Dublin – A collage of five scenes includes two black and red butterflies resting on green leaves, a stone castle with towers and ivy climbing its walls, a lush garden with purple flowers and tropical plants, a bronze mermaid sculpture reclining in a town park, and a sandy beach with people walking along the shoreline under a blue sky.

A Day Trip to Malahide – Castle, Gardens, Fairy Trail and the Coast (Dublin 2025)

On our last day in Dublin, we wanted to get out of the city without going on an organised tour. We decided to make use of the DART (Dublin Area Rapid Transit) line – the local train that connects the city with towns along the coast. My daughter had her heart set on visiting another castle, so Malahide seemed the perfect choice. We weren’t disappointed!

We thought we might have time to squeeze in Howth afterwards, but we enjoyed wandering around Malahide so much that we didn’t have time, or energy, for anywhere else.

In a nutshell, it was quick and easy getting there, costing only a few euros and it was a great day out with castles, gardens, fairy trails, lunch and a walk on the beach. It’s also ideal for families, couples and solo travellers alike.

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Quick Tips for Visiting Malahide

✅ Hop on the DART – The train from Dublin city centre takes 20 to 30 minutes and is the simplest way to get there.

✅ Buy tickets for the full works – Tickets for Malahide Castle include the tour, gardens, conservatory and fairy trail. We bought tickets at the Visitor Centre on the day but you can also buy them in advance on the official website.

✅ If you prefer to go on an organised tour, this tour will take you to both Malahide and Howth for a full-day trip.

Three ornate wooden chairs with green velvet seats are placed in front of tall, arched windows with diamond-patterned glass panes. The windows frame a view of lush green gardens and distant fields under a cloudy sky.

Getting to Malahide

Getting there was easy as we used the DART (Dublin Area Rapid Transit). We bought our tickets at the machine at Tara St station, the nearest to our hotel, and hopped on a direct train. The journey took around half an hour and couldn’t have been easier.

A green DART (Dublin Area Rapid Transit) train numbered 8125 arrives at a covered platform with overhead electric lines at a city station. Two passengers sit on a bench to the left, and the platform markings and surrounding urban architecture are clearly visible.

Visiting Malahide Castle Gardens

From the station it’s just a short walk to Malahide Castle Gardens and then another few minutes to reach Malahide Castle itself. You can enter the park for free and make use of the lawns, play areas, enjoy the wooden sculptures, go on walks and play golf or tennis.

  • Visitor map of Malahide Castle and Gardens showing walking trails, castle, walled garden, visitor centre, and park facilities in both English and Irish.
  • Wooden sculpture of a stag’s head carved from an old tree trunk in the gardens of Malahide Castle, Dublin, set against a backdrop of greenery.

As we planned to visit the castle and gardens, we went straight to the Visitor Centre where we bought full entrance tickets for €17.00 for an adult and €9.00 for a child up to 17. Family packages are also available and you can buy tickets for access to specific areas.

The full entrance tickets covered the castle tour, the walled garden, the Victorian conservatory and butterfly house and access to the large lawn behind the castle and the fairy trail.

Front view of Malahide Castle in Dublin, Ireland, featuring grey stone walls, crenellated towers, and arched lattice windows surrounded by lush green ivy and trees. The blue sky and soft clouds frame the historic architecture, enhancing its medieval charm.

Touring Malahide Castle

The castle tour itself lasted about 45 minutes. Our guide shared the fascinating history of the property and its owners. The title of castle may conjure up a vision of a huge fortress. In reality, it’s more like a large and elegant stately home that has been lived in by many distinguished inhabitants over the centuries and is filled with history, art and craftsmanship.

A medieval-style wooden gate set in a stone archway is flanked by two life-sized statues of armoured guards holding swords and shields. The weathered stone wall is partially covered in ivy, with a grey building and castle-like structure visible above.

The rooms included salons, drawing rooms, bedrooms, dressing rooms and a large dining hall. Look out for the bright colour which was created for the Talbots and became a trend across wealthy homes in the 19th century. It is still known as Malahide Orange.

  • Historic room inside Malahide Castle, Dublin, featuring a wooden table with carved chairs, candelabra, bookshelves, chandelier, and patterned wallpaper with floral designs.

You’ll also notice influences of other style in the architecture and interior design. When the castle was bought by the city council at the time, their budget didn’t stretch to cover all of the contents but they bought what they could and much of the furniture and many of the paintings are still there.

Crystal chandelier and ornate plaster ceiling in a richly decorated room at Malahide Castle, surrounded by framed portraits on orange walls.

One part of the tour I especially enjoyed was learning about the later heirs of the Talbot family. A cousin unexpectedly inherited the estate and he was a passionate hobby botanist. He collected plants from around the world, especially Australia and Asia, and many were planted in the walled garden and Victorian conservatory where you can still them today.

Other owners also left their mark. The Talbots held Malahide for almost 800 years, apart from a short spell under Cromwell, before the last heir, Rose Talbot, sold it to Dublin County Council in 1976, opening it up for the public to enjoy.

  • The grand dining hall of Malahide Castle, Dublin, with a long table set with white linen, chandeliers hanging from a high beamed ceiling, and portraits on the walls.
  • The grand dining hall of Malahide Castle, Dublin, with a long table set with white linen, chandeliers hanging from a high beamed ceiling, and portraits on the walls.
  • Dark wood-panelled room at Malahide Castle featuring an intricately carved fireplace with angels and figures above, and a wooden chair to the side.

And of course, it has its own ghostly inhabitant, Puck, but you’ll have to visit yourself to learn more about him! Some say there are several more.

On the ground floor of the castle is a small museum that walks you through the timeline. It added a bit of context to what we’d already heard on the tour. You could visit this either before or after your tour. Personally, I found it useful visiting it after as I could remember things the tour guide had mentioned and it all seemed to fit together.

  • Museum panel titled “1690 – A Century of War” features portraits of two monarchs and a dramatic painting of a cavalry battle, set against a deep red background beneath a rough stone wall.
  • Exhibit panel titled “An Unusual Interlude” focuses on Oliver Cromwell with a painted portrait, stylized illustration, and text describing his role at the castle, displayed on a muted gray and gold background.

My daughter loved both the castle itself and the stories the guide told of its owners, which brought the history to life. I enjoyed it too but I think my favourite part was the gardens.

Tip – if you’re visiting on your last day before heading to the airport, the castle has a luggage room where you can leave your bags as you tour the castle. People were also able to leave them there until they’d finished outside too, makes it a practical stop if you want to enjoy your day before heading to the airport for a later flight, or you arrive on an early one.

The Walled Gardens, Conservatory and Butterfly House

A lush garden bursts with layers of texture and colour, including bright purple flowers in the foreground, silvery lamb’s ear, feathery red grasses, and spiky green yucca under a clear blue sky. Dense trees and shrubs form a natural backdrop, creating a peaceful, tropical atmosphere.

I was in my element in the walled garden with its beautifully landscaping, hidden ponds and bridges and a wide variety of trees, shrubs, grasses and flowers, many of which I’d never seen.

  • A small wooden structure with a peaked roof is nearly hidden beneath thick green tr
  • A vibrant botanical garden scene features a mix of shrubs, flowering plants, and tall trees, with sunlight filtering through the foliage on a clear, blue-skied day.
  • A lush green wetland with tall grasses and dense vegetation surrounds a moss-covered pond, with the partial remains of a stone castle wall visible through the trees in the background.
  • Tall flowering spikes of Acanthus plants with purple and white blossoms rise from glossy green foliage along a neatly edged garden path. In the background, manicured hedges, ornamental grasses, and large shade trees create a serene, sunlit park setting.

Within the garden is a glass house with dozens of species of butterflies fluttering around the tropical plants.

  • Two black butterflies with vibrant red markings and red bodies are mating while clinging to large green leaves in a dense tropical garden.
  • A black butterfly with a single row of pale yellow spots on its wings rests on textured green leaves in a shaded garden setting.
  • A brown butterfly with orange-ringed eye spots on its wings perches on a bright yellow flower, surrounded by glossy green foliage.

The Victorian Conservatory has yet more exotic plants, many of which were brought back by the later heir Milo Talbot while on his travels overseas.

The Fairy Trail at Malahide Castle

The fairy trail and dotted with wooden sculptures, wound through the gardens, often with surprises around the corner. It’s fun for children, but we enjoyed it just as much!

  • A wooden bench shaped like butterfly wings, painted with green and orange accents, sits shaded beneath tall trees in a forested area.
  • A whimsical wood-carved statue of a smiling man in a red suit and top hat stands on a tree stump among dense forest greenery.
  • A tall, ornately carved wooden chair features butterfly and flower motifs, with engraved text that reads, “Those who don’t believe in magic will never find it,” surrounded by leafy forest plants.

We didn’t spend time on the lawn ourselves but a few visitors were stretched out with picnics or just sunbathing in the sunshine.

You can also buy tickets for the Fairy trail or Fairy Trail and Butterfly House without the castle tour.

  • A bright orange wooden footbridge stretches over a lush green stream, surrounded by dense forest and framed by a low, arched bamboo fence in the foreground.
  • A group of colorful miniature fairy houses sit on tree stumps beneath a large tree with sprawling branches in a quiet, wooded area.
  • A small, arched wooden door stands slightly ajar within a dense bamboo grove, inviting visitors to step through onto a dirt path surrounded by leafy green ivy and scattered bamboo leaves.

Malahide Abbey

Before the entrance to the castle are the ruins of the 15th century Malahide Abbey.

Stone ruins of an old medieval church stand under a cloudy sky, with arched windows and a bell tower partially intact. The grassy foreground shows remnants of graves and uneven stones, giving the site a quiet, historic feel.

Lunch

After our visit to the Castle and Gardens, we stopped at Café Avoca at the visitor centre for lunch.

They had lots of healthy options and I thought was surprisingly good value for the quality. I had salmon en croûte for about seven euros, a generous portion and tasty too. My daughter opted for cake. You can dine in or take your food for a picnic in the gardens.

Outdoor lunch on a rustic wooden table featuring a box with a slice of salmon en croute topped with poppy seeds, a fruit tart with fresh kiwi, strawberries, blueberries, and orange slices, a bottle of pear and apple juice, and an iced coffee with a red striped straw. A small planter labelled "Garden" adds a decorative touch in the background.

Exploring Malahide Village

Afterwards, we wandered through the village, where terraces were full of people enjoying long lunches and drinks. As we’d already eaten, we found a quiet spot on the green, sat with our books and enjoyed the peaceful surroundings.

A bronze sculpture of a reclining mermaid cradling a large nautilus shell rests on a circular tiled platform in a grassy public park, with people relaxing on benches and a church clock tower visible in the background.

Malahide Beach

From there, we carried on to the waterfront and walked along Malahide Beach. The stretch of sand seemed to go on forever, though we only walked part of it before turning back.

  • Marina filled with white boats and yachts docked at floating yellow piers, set against a calm blue harbor under a partly cloudy sky. Waterfront buildings sit on the left, framing the peaceful coastal scene.
  • Wide sandy beach under a clear blue sky with scattered clouds, where people are walking and relaxing near the shoreline. The calm sea stretches along the left while a row of houses is visible in the distance to the right.

There were several families out and opposite the stretch of water you can see a golf course on the other side. A short walk along the shore was a lovely end to our visit to Malahide.

Other Things to Do in Malahide

There’s more to see in Malahide than we managed. Here are some extra options.

  • Casino Model Railway Museum – A small but fascinating museum in a restored 19th-century cottage, featuring the Cyril Fry collection of handmade model trains and a history of Irish railways.
  • The marina – Take a stroll among the boats and enjoy the relaxed atmosphere of Malahide’s waterfront.
  • Malahide Golf Club – One of Ireland’s oldest golf clubs, visible across the waterfront, offering scenic fairways for those keen on a round.
  • Lunch on the terraces in the village or along the waterfront.
  • Take the Malahide miniature train for a 25-minute tour, starting at the DART trains station and going through the village to the beach (Adult fare €7)
  • Explore local walks – see routes here.
A bright red tourist train with open carriages full of passengers drives through a charming town center, passing shops and pedestrians on a sunny day. The train has a vintage-style engine and is marked with signs for local attractions and businesses.

If you have a full day and set out earlier than we did, you could also combine Malahide with nearby Howth for a two-in-one coastal outing.

Look out for fun events at Malahide Castle too, such as the Hunts Dinner and Halloween fun.

Where to stay in Malahide

If you decide to stay there for a night or two, there are several options but why not treat yourself to a night at the Grand Hotel. Originally built in 1835, it has views over sea and a mix of classic and contemporary interior.

The Grand Hotel, a large cream-colored historic building with multiple stories and traditional architectural details, stands under a blue sky with scattered clouds and is fronted by trimmed hedges and a glass entryway.

Alternatively, book a room at Malahide Guest Rooms, with excellent reviews, in the village or go for a different experience at The Lodge at Bodenlodge.

Wrap-up on visiting Malahide from Dublin

Our day in Malahide turned out to be one of the most enjoyable parts of the trip. I loved the gardens, my daughter was captivated by the castle and its history and we both enjoyed the atmosphere of a small but lively seaside town.

It’s an easy, independent day trip from Dublin that doesn’t need a tour booking, but still feels like a different experience and you can still book a tour to Malahide if that’s what your prefer. We went expecting a short visit, but Malahide gave us a whole day’s worth of fun, learning and memories.

What next? Read about our day trip to Glendalough and Kilkenny here.

PLAN YOUR TRIP WITH MY FAVOURITE RESOURCES

– Best accommodation site – Booking.com
– Book day tours at Viator.com
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