Key takeaway
Ireland has bus, rail, tram, and ferry services. The Leap Card gives discounted fares across most services. The TFI Journey Planner is the best tool for planning trips.
Key things to know
- Get a Leap Card — it gives you discounted fares on buses, trains, Luas, and DART.
- The TFI 90-minute fare lets you make unlimited transfers within 90 minutes on one fare.
- Under-19s travel free on public transport — register at transportforireland.ie.
- A monthly TFI commuter ticket caps your spending and is the most cost-effective option for regular commuters.
- Plan journeys with the TFI Journey Planner app or journeyplanner.transportforireland.ie.
The Leap Card
A Leap Card is a reusable smart card that gives you discounted fares across virtually all public transport in Ireland — Dublin Bus, Go-Ahead, Luas, DART, Irish Rail, Bus Éireann, and more. You can use it as a pay-as-you-go card or load a monthly/annual commuter ticket onto it.
Buy a Leap Card online at leapcard.ie, at most newsagents, or at transport stations. Always tap on and tap off to ensure the correct fare is deducted.
Services by Region
Dublin
- Dublin Bus / Go-Ahead: Extensive city-wide network. Real-time arrivals via the TFI app.
- Luas: Two tram lines — Red Line (Saggart/Tallaght to the Point) and Green Line (Bride's Glen to Broombridge). Fast and reliable in the city.
- DART: Commuter rail along the coast from Greystones (south) to Malahide and Howth (north). Frequent and popular.
- Dublin Area Rapid Transit (DART+): A major expansion of the rail network is underway — check irishrail.ie for updates.
Outside Dublin
- Irish Rail (Iarnród Éireann): Intercity trains connecting Dublin to Cork, Galway, Limerick, Waterford, Belfast, and other cities. Also serves suburban commuter lines in Cork and Limerick.
- Bus Éireann: National and regional bus network serving towns and rural areas across Ireland. Expressway routes connect major cities.
- City Bus Services: Cork, Galway, Limerick, and Waterford each have local bus networks.
TFI 90-Minute Fare
On Dublin Bus, Go-Ahead, and Luas, a single Leap Card tap starts a 90-minute window during which you can make unlimited transfers on the same network for one flat fare. This is excellent value for anyone making journeys that require changing bus or tram.
Free Travel for Under-19s
All children and young people under 19 can travel free on public transport using a TFI Young Adult Card or Child Leap Card. Register and verify age at transportforireland.ie. Free travel applies on Dublin Bus, Go-Ahead, Luas, DART, Irish Rail, and Bus Éireann.
Monthly Commuter Tickets
If you commute regularly, a monthly or annual Leap Card commuter ticket caps your fares significantly compared to pay-as-you-go. Load one onto your Leap Card via the Leap website or app. The TFI 90-Day Ticket is particularly good value.
Planning Your Journey
Use the TFI Journey Planner at transportforireland.ie or the TFI Live app for real-time departures and journey planning across all modes.
Official Sources
Sources: transportforireland.ie, leapcard.ie, irishrail.ie
General guidance only. Always verify with official sources — gov.ie, citizensinformation.ie, hse.ie.