Ireland · DUB
Flights to Dublin
The shortest hop to Europe, and US immigration cleared before you fly home
Dublin is the closest European capital to the United States, with flights from Boston and New York coming in under seven hours. That short crossing, combined with no language barrier, makes it one of the gentlest introductions to European travel there is.
Its distinctive feature is on the way back. Dublin has a US preclearance facility, so you complete American immigration and customs in Ireland and land at home as a domestic passenger. It saves a queue at the US end and costs you time at the Irish one.
Getting to Dublin
Airports
Dublin Airport (DUB) is the only one serving the city, with two terminals joined by a landside walkway. Terminal 2 handles long-haul flights and contains the US preclearance facility.
Flight time
Roughly 6h 50m non-stop from New York, around 6h 30m from Boston, about 7h 50m from Chicago, and approximately 10h 40m to 10h 50m from the west coast.
Into the city
There is no rail link. The Airlink and Aircoach express buses reach the city centre and main hotel districts in twenty-five to forty-five minutes with luggage holds. Local buses are cheaper and slower; a taxi takes twenty to forty-five minutes depending on traffic.
When to go
Demand rather than price is described here on purpose. Any fare we show you comes from a live search on your own dates, so a fixed figure on this page would be out of date before you read it.
Best balance
May to June, September
The longest days and the driest months such as they are, with less pressure on accommodation than midsummer. Late spring is genuinely the best time here.
Busiest
July to August, and mid-March
Peak summer brings the crowds and the prices. The St Patrick's Day period is its own spike and books out unusually far ahead.
Quietest
November to February
Wet, windy and dark by mid-afternoon, with the lowest demand of the year. The pubs are the point in these months, and they are better for it.
Good to know
- Currency
- Euro (EUR) — note that Northern Ireland uses pounds sterling
- Language
- English and Irish
- Time zone
- GMT, or IST from late March to late October
- Power
- Type G plug, 230V
- Entry for US passports
- Short visits are visa-free. Ireland is not in the Schengen area, so entry is handled separately from continental Europe. Confirm current requirements with Irish immigration before you fly.
Entry requirements change and we are not an immigration authority. Always confirm the current rules for your nationality with the relevant government before you book or travel.
Worth sorting before you fly
Allow much more time for the flight home
US preclearance means clearing American immigration and customs at Dublin before boarding. It is a full process, not a formality, and the standard airport arrival time is not enough for it.
Ireland is outside Schengen
Entry to Ireland is separate from continental Europe, which affects onward travel and any assumptions about a single European entry. It matters on a multi-country trip.
There is no train from the airport
Every option is a road journey. The express coaches are frequent and have luggage space, but they sit in the same traffic as everything else.
The country is small and the trains are good
Galway, Cork and Belfast are all a few hours away by rail. Basing yourself in Dublin and taking day trips works better here than in most countries.
Other destinations
FAQ
Dublin — common questions
Airports, timing, and when it is worth talking to an agent.
What is US preclearance at Dublin and how does it affect me?
On flights from Dublin to the United States you clear US immigration and customs at Dublin Airport before boarding, then land at a domestic gate in the US with no arrival queue. It is a genuine convenience at the American end. The cost is that you must be at Dublin considerably earlier than for a normal international departure, because the process happens inside your departure rather than on arrival.
How long is the flight from the US to Dublin?
Around six and a half hours from Boston and just under seven from New York, which makes Dublin the closest European capital to the United States. From Chicago it is about eight hours, and from the west coast closer to eleven.
When is the best time to visit Dublin?
May, June and September give the longest days and the least rain, with fewer crowds than peak summer. July and August are busiest and most expensive, and the St Patrick's Day period in mid-March books out unusually early. Winter is wet and dark but cheap, and the indoor culture holds up well.
How do I get from Dublin Airport into the city?
There is no rail link, so it is a bus or a taxi. The Airlink and Aircoach express services run frequently to the city centre and main hotel areas with luggage holds, taking twenty-five to forty-five minutes. Local buses cost less and take longer, and a taxi runs twenty to forty-five minutes depending on traffic.
Still have a question? We're happy to explain — just call.
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