South Dublin
Introduction
South Dublin is a county in Ireland, within the province of Leinster and the Eastern and Midland Region. It is one of three successor counties to County Dublin, which was disestablished for administrative purposes in 1994, and South Dublin County Council is its local authority.
The county holds two very different landscapes: dense suburbs of Dublin on one side, and stretches of unpopulated mountains on the other. That contrast shapes what you can do here, moving between built-up areas and open, empty hills within the same county.
Getting around
South Dublin plugs directly into Dublin's transport network rather than sitting off on its own, so you'll be relying on buses, trams and commuter rail. There is no underground metro, and MetroLink is not expected until the early 2030s. The Luas Red Line is the key service for this side of the city, running from The Point in the Docklands out to Tallaght and Saggart, and also serving Heuston Station, the National Museum at Collins Barracks and Kilmainham. The Green Line passes O'Connell Street and Dawson Street near St Stephen's Green and serves Dundrum Town Centre. O'Connell Street is the central interchange, where many bus routes and the Green Line converge, and most buses pass O'Connell Street or the quays, making those the natural points to switch between the north and south sides. Dublin Bus runs the citywide network of yellow double-deckers, with the 15 and 65 serving southside areas including Rathmines and Terenure. Buses generally run from early morning until around midnight, with Nitelink late-night services on Friday and Saturday nights. Contactless bank cards and mobile payments are accepted on most services but do not get you Leap daily fare capping, and buses require either a Leap Card or exact change in coins — notes are not accepted. The TFI 90-minute fare lets you take multiple buses, trams or trains with transfers within 90 minutes for a single payment, and there is a daily fare cap; the Leap Visitor Card is the simplest option for a short visit. On the Luas you must tap on and tap off at the platform validators. Taxis are metered and can be hailed on the street, picked up at a rank or booked through an app. The city centre is compact and walkable, but note that South Dublin also contains stretches of unpopulated mountains, so away from the built-up suburbs plan on using transport rather than relying on footpaths.Three days in South Dublin
Day one begins in the city centre, where you can use the Luas Red Line to reach Heuston Station and the National Museum at Collins Barracks, then continue to Kilmainham. From Connell Street you can pick up the Green Line towards Dawson Street and St Stephen's Green, or take Dublin Bus services through Rathmines and Terenure. In the evening, the Red Line runs out to The Point and the Docklands.
- Luas Red Line to Heuston Station, the National Museum at Collins Barracks and Kilmainham
- Green Line from Connell Street to Dawson Street and St Stephen's Green
- Dublin Bus through Rathmines and Terenure
- Red Line to The Point and the Docklands
Day two takes you south and west across South Dublin, using the Red Line to Tallaght and Saggart, and Dublin Bus for the surrounding areas. You can also travel out to Dundrum Town Centre on the Green Line. Buses and the Nitelink cover later journeys, with contactless payment, Leap and the Leap Card accepted across the TFI network.
- Red Line to Tallaght and Saggart
- Green Line to Dundrum Town Centre
- Dublin Bus and Nitelink for later journeys
- Contactless, Leap and the Leap Card across the TFI network
Day three is a good time to move between the city centre and the county's outer reaches, linking the Green Line and Red Line with Dublin Bus routes. MetroLink is part of the wider network serving the Dublin area, alongside the Luas and bus services. On Friday and Saturday, the Nitelink makes it easier to stay out later before heading back.
- Green Line and Red Line connections with Dublin Bus
- MetroLink as part of the Dublin area network
- Nitelink on Friday and Saturday