Ireland (IE)

Ireland is a parliamentary republic and island nation on the western edge of Europe — the only English-speaking country in the Eurozone — celebrated for its warmly welcoming culture and legendary pub life, dramatic Wild Atlantic Way coastline and emerald green rolling countryside, a remarkable literary tradition from Joyce to Beckett, and its role as the European headquarters for the world's leading technology companies including Google, Apple, Meta, Microsoft, and LinkedIn.

Capital: Dublin

Region: Europe

Language: English

Currency: EUR (€)

Cost of living: Expensive (index 80)

Emergency: 112

Getting Around

Transport options for living in Ireland.

Public Transport Overview

Dublin has a reasonable public transit network comprising the DART (coastal rail), Luas tram lines, and a bus network. Outside Dublin, public transport is limited — many towns are served only by Bus Éireann (national bus) and Irish Rail intercity trains. Rural Ireland is almost entirely car-dependent. The TFI (Transport for Ireland) Leap Card is the essential contactless travel card for all public transport.

Main operators:

Irish Rail (Iarnród Éireann) — national rail operator: intercity trains and the DARTDublin Bus — city and suburban bus services in the Greater Dublin AreaLuas — Dublin light rail/tram: Red Line (Tallaght–The Point) and Green Line (Bride's Glen–Broombridge)Bus Éireann — national coach and regional bus servicesGo-Ahead Ireland — bus services in parts of Dublin and Kildare under TFI contractTFI Local Link — demand-responsive rural bus servicesDublin Bikes — public bicycle hire in Dublin city centre (Bleeper Bikes and Moby as alternatives)

🎫 Transit Passes

TFI Leap Card Free card issuance; top up from €5. Standard fares 20% cheaper than cash.

Dublin Bus, Luas, DART, Irish Rail (commuter zones), Go-Ahead, Bus Éireann in many areas, and most urban bus services nationwide.

💡 Essential for anyone using public transport regularly in Dublin. Available at Payzone outlets, DART/Luas stations, and online. Register your card online to protect credit if lost. Child, student, and visitor variants available.

TFI 90 Minute Ticket €2.00 (Leap) / €2.50 (cash) for a 90-minute unlimited transfers in Dublin

Dublin Bus and Go-Ahead Ireland services within fare zones

💡 Introduced in 2022 as part of government fare reduction. Excellent value for Dublin urban travel — allows multiple transfers on buses within 90 minutes for a single fare.

Monthly / Annual Leap Card pass Monthly: from €100 (short hop zone) to €200+ (broader zones). Annual: significant discount.

All TFI services in selected zones

💡 Monthly commuter passes are available for rail, Luas, and bus combinations. Annual passes offer 20%+ saving. Available on the TFI website or at DART stations.

Free Travel Pass Free (for eligible persons)

Free travel on all public transport in Ireland for those aged 66+ and certain disability allowance recipients

💡 One of Ireland's most valued social benefits. Issued by DSP. Also allows one companion free travel at certain times. Valid on all public transport including Luas, buses, and rail.

Taxi & Rideshare

Taxis are licensed by the National Transport Authority (NTA). Dublin taxis are plentiful but expensive — expect €15–25 for a typical city journey. Surge pricing does not apply (metered), but airport transfers cost €25–35 from Dublin Airport. Taxi apps: Free Now (most widely used in Ireland), Lynk. Traditional taxi ranks at major locations. Outside Dublin, taxis must often be pre-booked.

Rideshare (Long-distance)

Uber does not operate standard rideshare in Ireland (drivers must be taxi-licensed). Free Now is the dominant ride-hailing platform. BlaBlaCarBus operates some intercity routes. Ride-sharing for long-distance trips can be arranged through Facebook groups or Liftshare.ie.

Cycling

Dublin Bikes provides affordable public bicycle hire at over 100 stations in Dublin city centre — €3.50/3 days or annual subscription. Third-party schemes include Bleeper Bikes (dockless) and Moby Bikes. Cycling infrastructure in Dublin is improving rapidly under the Cycling and Active Travel programme. Outside Dublin, cycling is primarily recreational — roads lack cycle lanes. Helmets are recommended but not legally required for adults. Cycle to Work scheme allows employers to purchase bikes tax-efficiently for employees.

Intercity Trains

Irish Rail runs intercity services from Dublin Heuston (to Cork, Limerick, Galway, Waterford, Westport, Tralee) and Dublin Connolly (to Belfast, Sligo, Wexford, Rosslare). Journey times: Dublin–Cork: 2h 25m; Dublin–Galway: 2h 10m; Dublin–Belfast: 2h 10m. Book in advance at irishrail.ie for best fares (Saver tickets). Intercity trains are comfortable but less frequent than mainland European countries. The Enterprise service connects Dublin Connolly to Belfast Central.

Driving

Ireland drives on the LEFT. Roads vary considerably: motorways are modern and well-maintained; many rural roads are narrow with passing places. Speed limits: 50 km/h in towns and villages, 80 km/h on regional roads (L and R roads), 100 km/h on national roads (N roads), 120 km/h on motorways. The M50 motorway ring road around Dublin uses barrier-free electronic tolling (eFlow) — ensure you pay within 24 hours or face a fine. Insurance is compulsory (third-party minimum). National Car Test (NCT) required every 2 years for vehicles under 10 years old, annually after.

Airports

Dublin Airport (DUB) is Ireland's main international hub — Europe's 5th busiest airport in 2025. Two terminals (T1 and T2). Aer Lingus and Ryanair are the dominant carriers. Transport to Dublin city: Airlink bus (747/757 — about 40 minutes to city centre, every 10 minutes, €10), taxi (€25–35), or car. Cork Airport (ORK) serves Munster. Shannon Airport (SNN) serves Limerick/Clare. Belfast Airport (BFS/BHD) in Northern Ireland serves the north and is easily accessible from Dublin. Pre-clearance for US flights is available at Dublin and Shannon airports.