Page 374 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Ireland

372  SUR VIV AL GUIDE

Travelling within Cities Tickets and Fares
Purchasing a Leap Visitor Card is
The historic centres of Dublin and Belfast are compact and a convenient way to prepay for
very easy to navigate. Both are well served by public transport, public transport services in
whether by bus, commuter train or, in the case of Dublin, tram. Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick,
Each city can be explored in a leisurely fashion on foot – a little Waterford and Wexford. Valid on
Luas, DART and commuter rail
less so by bicycle. Both cities offer plenty to see in a small area, services as well as Dublin Bus,
as well as easy access to the mountains. the cards can be purchased at
Dublin Airport and some tourist
Travelling within Dublin offices, retail outlets displaying
the Payzone sign, and online
(www.leapcard.ie). Fares are
Bus
to be completed by the end discounted by about 15 per
A Dublin Bus double-decker is of 2017. The Red line runs from cent when com pared to buying
still the best way to see the city. The Point in the Docklands to single tickets and start from
You can buy prepaid tickets the suburb of Tallagh and €10 for a one-day pass.
(including one-, two- and three- connects with Heuston and
day passes) in newsagents, or Con nolly railway stations, and
pay as you board. It is best to with the DART at Connolly. The Driving in Dublin
have the correct fare, otherwise Green Line runs from St Stephen’s Driving a car in Dublin’s
you will be given a receipt for Green, going down Harcourt congested city centre is best
the excess amount, which can Street and on to the avoided. The short distances are
only be cashed in at Dublin Bus southeastern suburbs of more easily covered on foot, or
HQ in O’Connell Street. Fares Dundrum and Sandyford. by bus or Luas. If you do need
start at €2 and depend on how Tickets can be bought at to drive, there are plenty of
far you travel. Buses run from ticket ma chines at Luas stops, multistorey car parks, and a
about 6am to 11.30pm; Nitelink and a return fare starts from system of pay-and-display
buses run through the night at €3.50. A one-day Luas pass on-street parking which
weekends. Bus routes and costs €6.80. costs €2–€5 per hour,
timetables are displayed at each depending on the zone.
bus stop. For bus tours see p370. Costs are shown on the ticket
DART machines in the street. Make
The electric rail commuter sure you return to your car on
LUAS system DART (Dublin Area time as clamping is common.
The Luas (luas is the Irish word Rapid Transit) serves 30 stations The M50 ring road around
for speed) light rail system, along the coast from Malahide Dublin is a barrier-free, no-cash
com pleted in 2004, is a and Howth on the north side to toll road. Tolls must be paid
comfortable and speedy way to Greystones on the south, with online within 48 hours
get around. Quicker than buses several stops in the city centre. (www.eflow.ie).
and avoiding traffic congestion, Services operate every
it has two on-street lines, the 15 minutes all day. Trains follow Cycling in Dublin
Red line and the Green line. the Irish sea coast for much of
Another Luas line connecting their journey, making for a very Dublin has many cycle lanes,
both these lines is under scenic route. Avoid rush hour and ever more people travel
construc tion and is scheduled for great views of the bay. to work by bike. Dublinbikes
is a self-service bike rental
scheme with more than 40 hire
stations around the city. The
first 30 minutes of hire are free;
after that the subsequent
service charge fee is debited
from your credit card.
A good place for the
uninitiated cyclist is along
the paths on either side of
the River Liffey below the
Custom House. Local shops,
such as Cycle Ways, rent
bikes to tourists. Alternatively,
try Neill’s Wheels in Dublin,
which offers bicycle rentals
and provides maps of scenic
Luas light rail station, Dublin cycle routes.

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Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Practical template “UK” LAYER
(Source v1.5)
Date 5th November 2012
Size 125mm x 217mm