Planning to take a bus around Dublin? First, the good news: it’s generally a great experience to explore Dublin by bus, and the city’s public transport system is pretty easy to master if you know all the rules.
However, taking a bus from Dublin has its difficulties. While the stories of tourists left in the middle of nowhere in total darkness and having to struggle to return to Dublin are generally exaggerated, there may be some truth hidden in the fiction. Avoid any trouble by following this Dublin bus guide.
Get a map of the bus
Follow the old school route and look for the Dublin Bus office on O’Connell Street for a good map outlining the city bus routes. Bus maps are free so you should get one asap. Alternatively, visit the Dublin Bus website and look up your route planner to find out which bus to take; however, keep in mind that you need to know the street names of your planned initial and final destination.
Get relevant schedules
Once you have a map, you can quickly identify the routes you are most likely to travel, such as those between your hotel and the city center. You can then go to the Dublin bus office and pick up free printed timetables based on the route number. You can also visit their website and download schedules. Please note that only the main bus stops will show timetables.
Consider a jump card
If you plan to use the bus regularly and several times a day, you may want to buy a Leap card, which can be used on various private bus services. These services include LUAS, DART, and even the suburban rail network.
Stock up on change
If you don’t use a Leap card, be prepared to bring change. You can buy Dublin bus tickets when you board the bus, but the drivers will only accept the correct fare in cash. You are allowed to overpay, but there are no changes on the bus; instead, you receive a receipt allowing you to redeem the excess at the O’Connell Street office. Drivers are sometimes very reluctant to accept paper money, so have your coins ready. You cannot use credit cards.
Identify the stops
Bus stops are usually identified by a blue “lollipop sign” with the Dublin Bus logo (red signs often mark Eireann Bus stops). In a very minimalist moment, it was decided that any additional information is unnecessary at most stops, so don’t expect to find information panels, timetables, or even route maps. (That’s why collecting that information at the Dublin Bus office or website is even more important.)
Many modernized bus stops now show the approximate time the next bus will arrive. You can view that information on an LCD screen.
Check the side of the road
The Irishman drives on the left, which can lead to confusion if he is coming from continental Europe or America. Your normal sense of direction can lead you to the wrong side of the road, so instead of catching a bus into the city center, you could catch one that actually comes from there.
Stand in line or earn withering stares
People in Ireland will line up in an orderly fashion when boarding a bus, and only ticket holders will pass those waiting to pay the driver. Skip the line (called the tail, in Ireland) and you’ll be on the receiving end of withering stares and scathing comments.
Find your bus
Most bus stops serve multiple routes, so keep an eye out for oncoming buses and check the route number displayed on the illuminated sign on board. Then check the sign. Although usage can be erratic (and downright confusing), it should show the general direction. An Lar is Irish for ‘city center’, as Seirbhis for ‘off duty’ and ‘full bus’ means exactly that.
Make sure it’s the correct path
Note that some routes are divided into A, B, and C sub-routes, which run in parallel for a time and then split dramatically. If you are on Route 38C and you should be on Route 38A, you might as well have taken express service to Lhasa. When in doubt, ask the driver if the bus actually passes its destination before boarding the bus.
Shake the bus
Buses generally do not stop without your request. Unless you clearly indicate your intention to board the bus, you will remain standing at the bus stop. Shake the bus by calling the driver. And never trust other people to do it – they may be waiting for a different route or just hanging around.
Take a seat or hold on tight
The best advice after getting on a Dublin bus is “Find a seat, now!” Buses tend to go quite fast, especially around corners, and older buses tend to wobble. Unless you sit or hold on tightly, you may get thrown.
Get the IMAX experience in a Doubledecker
If possible, sit in the front seats on the upper deck of Dublin’s double-decker buses – the panoramic view is breathtaking. The view is sometimes literal, as drivers tend to prefer to stop just inches from the buses in front of them. Occasional screams of panic from Dublin’s first-time visitors are the result.
Watch your stop
Again, the buses fully lean until they are asked to stop, so this means that the last few hundred meters to your stop can be very quick. And there are no ads. When in doubt, ask the driver for help and yell at him. Most will be happy to do so.
Press the button for the bus stop
If you see your stop approaching (or know it’s next), press the ‘Stop’ button and you’ll hear a satisfying PING noise. The driver will slow down as he approaches the next stop, giving him time to get to the exit.
Be careful
Since Dublin traffic is notorious for drivers getting in and out of lanes, expect the bus to occasionally twist and wobble at any time. This is especially dangerous if you are negotiating the stairs from the upper deck down, so grip well.
Forgot something?
The Dublin bus office will assist you with all inquiries, including lost or forgotten properties on buses. Don’t expect any miracles though: many Dubliners stick to the ‘Seeker Finders’ code.
