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Buses are a popular way to travel in the Emerald Isle, and as passengers become increasingly concerned about sustainability and cost, numbers will likely increase. With Omio, you can book cheap bus tickets for intercity connections across the country and even over the border into Northern Ireland.
Ireland by Bus—Book Irish Buses with Omio
In addition to being more eco-friendly than a road trip, taking the bus in Ireland will also let you enjoy the lush green scenery through your window.
The Ennis to Galway route is a prime example and has been called one of Europe’s most beautiful and scenic routes. It winds through quiet villages, soars past open landscapes, and even passes a few famous landmarks. The route takes about an hour and a half, but by the time it’s over, you’ll want to ride it all over again.
It’s not the only route that provides such beautiful views of this bucolic landscape, nor is Galway the only worthwhile destination. After all, there’s a reason that millions of tourists flock to Dublin every year, and it’s not just because the Guinness is supposed to taste better there (although that definitely plays a part).
Discover Buses in Ireland—Irish bus booking with Omio
Whether you’re a tourist or a local, and whether you’re booking a bus to a neighboring city or heading across the Irish border, you can book a cheap bus ticket in Ireland using Omio. It takes just a few seconds to search Irish bus routes and see what’s available. The price is often significantly cheaper than any other form of transport and there are many buses leaving every day.
Take the Dublin to Belfast route as an example, one that takes you from the capital of the Republic of Ireland to the capital of Northern Ireland—a border-crossing trip into the United Kingdom that takes less than two hours. You can choose from multiple departure times and destinations, including the city’s bus station and airport.
It's a bargain, we’re sure you’ll agree, and for travelers on a budget, as well as big families and groups that need a lot of tickets, it’s the only viable option. So, if you want to save money on your travels, use the bus, and if you want a cheap bus ticket in Ireland, book with Omio.
Booking Irish Bus tickets with Omio
Booking a cheap bus ticket for an Irish trip couldn’t be easier thanks to Omio.
Just enter the details of your trip, hit “Search”, and wait for our system to work its magic. It will trawl all available bus routes based on your information and these routes will then be displayed in a series of tiles. You’ll see the departure time, arrival time, total travel time, and both the departure and arrival stations. More importantly, you’ll also see the price, and if you like what you see, you can book your bus ticket directly through the Omio site.
We accept payments in a number of currencies and offer a secure payment process, with all purchased bus tickets then stored in your Omio account.
Main Bus companies in Ireland
Bus Éireann, which means “Irish Bus” or “Bus Ireland”, provides bus services throughout Ireland, including commuter services, school bus services, and airport shuttles. You will also see the Expressway logo on many Omio searches for cheap Irish bus tickets, as it covers numerous intercity routes.
One of the biggest providers offering these routes is Aircoach. It is one of Ireland’s best-loved coach operators and a popular choice for long-distance journeys. Aircoach runs over 170 services out of Dublin City Center and can connect to Dublin from all over Ireland, with buses that depart at regular intervals 24 hours a day and 7 days a week.
Book your seat on a bus in Ireland with Omio. We partner with the country’s best providers to help you compare and book cheap tickets on routes across the country.
Domestic Bus Routes in Ireland
As Ireland’s capital and largest city, it will come as no surprise to know that the most popular bus routes in Ireland begin or end in Dublin. For example:
- Cork to Dublin and Dublin to Cork: A journey of about three hours, with multiple direct routes available every day from Irish bus companies like Aircoach.
- Waterford to Dublin and Dublin to Waterford: You need about 2.5 hours to cover this route.
- Limerick to Dublin and Dublin to Limerick: This is a long journey, so it’s often done with a connection through Waterford. Use Omio to search for Irish bus journeys like this and see if there are any direct routes available.
It’s not all about Dublin though. After all, if you want to follow in the footsteps of countless millions of tourists and kiss the Blarney Stone, you need to be in Cork (or just outside of it). For the art capital of Ireland, head to Limerick, for epic cathedrals and landscapes, go to Galway. You can book a cheap bus ticket in Ireland to visit any of these locations.
Some of the other popular Irish bus routes include:
- Cork to Limerick
- Cork to Killarney
- Limerick to Cork
- Cork to Limerick
- Cork to Ennis
- Galway to Cork
- Limerick to Galway
- Limerick to Tralee
- Limerick to Killarney
- Swords to Limerick
- Galway to Swords
International Bus Routes from Ireland to other countries
International road routes are a big part of what makes Europe such a great destination. Not only can you hop on a bus and cross multiple borders, but thanks to the relatively relaxed laws concerning tourist visas, as well as the freedoms accorded by the Schengen Agreement, you don’t need to worry about getting the third degree every time you enter a new country.
But this is where Ireland’s unique position lets it down. There are no fellow EU member states accessible solely by road or rail, and if you want to travel to mainland Europe you’ll need to incorporate ferries or flights into your travel itinerary.
For instance, you can technically book a ticket on a route from Dublin to London, with one such route offered by Eurolines. If you’re looking for a cheap way to get from Dublin to London, it’s a good option, but it’s obviously not a road-only trip. You go from Busáras Bus Station to Dublin Ferryport and then you get the ferry to Holyhead in Wales. From there, the coach drives into Birmingham and then on to London.
There is one direct international route though, and it’s a pretty good one, as you can take a bus across the Irish border and into Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland is not part of the EU, it’s part of the UK, so you may need to check visa requirements before you visit. However, the UK is usually just as forgiving, and visitors from most countries can cross the border without issue.
The aforementioned Dublin to Belfast route is the most popular way to take a bus from one part of Ireland to the other. If this is what you have planned for your vacation in Ireland, the cheapest bus ticket should be available right here on Omio. Just search for your intended route at the top of this page, and then book your bus ticket!
Got another destination in mind for your cross-Irish bus adventure? Here are a few other options that will take you from the south to the north, from the Republic of Ireland to Northern Ireland, the EU to the UK:
- Dublin to Londonderry: A 4.5-hour journey on average will take you to Londonderry, also known as Derry. It is the second-largest city in Northern Ireland and the fifth-biggest on the island itself. Aircoach is one of the main providers offering this route.
- Dublin to Bangor: Aircoach also covers this route and it is much shorter, taking less than 2 hours. There are multiple buses leaving every day for this route.
- Dublin to Newry: A route that leaves several times a day. You can book your seat on this bus in Ireland for an incredibly low cost.
- Dublin to Lisburn: Another very cheap route. Aircoach covers this journey in less than 2 hours.
Wherever you go, buy your cheap bus ticket in Ireland using Omio. A few clicks is all it takes to search all available routes, compare prices from Irish bus companies, and then book!
Limerick, Ireland. Credit: Pixabay
Night Buses in Ireland
In some countries, the term “night bus” refers to buses that carry passengers long distances. They run through the night and provide a host of creature comforts, letting travelers sleep through the journey. These services are available to book through Omio, with options for countries across Europe and North America. In Ireland, it’s more commonly used in reference to regional bus services that take over traditional daytime routes but run through the night. After all, there are no long-distance night bus routes here, not unless you’re prepared to add a ferry or flight to your journey.
In Dublin, for instance, Dublin Bus runs Nitelink services that keep popular routes running even when the sun goes down. There are also bus tour companies that run during the evening hours, including Dublin Night Tour.
Bus travel tips for Ireland
After you book a seat on a bus in Ireland, check out these bus and general travel tips to maximize your vacation in the Emerald Isle.
- Get your currency in order: Ireland uses the Euro, but you will need Pounds if you’re venturing north as Northern Ireland is part of the UK.
- Off the beaten path: There is a wealth of natural beauty to explore in this country, so venture off the beaten track, explore the natural landscape, and take bus routes through more rural areas.
- Know your geography: The English and the Irish have a complicated history that we won’t get into here, As a result, the Irish don’t like it when you assume Ireland is in the UK and they are part of the same country/union. Ireland is its own country.
- Take a tour: If you want to see as much of the country as possible, consider taking a bus tour. It will go out of the way to show you more of the country. There are also walking tours in big cities, and they are great for learning more about the country.
- Plan: Plan your holiday to ensure you don’t miss anything. If you’re taking multiple Irish bus journeys, buy the tickets in advance. They will all be stored digitally in your Omio account, ensuring they are right there when you need them.
- Try the food (and drink): A full Irish breakfast, Guinness, Irish tea, Irish coffee—there are some great foods and drinks to try in Ireland. Even if you’ve had them in another country, they are sure to taste better here.
- Visit an Irish pub: A pub can give you a true taste of Ireland, provided it’s frequented by locals. They often have live music, the mood is always high, and you can chat with the locals and get some of that famed Irish craic.
- Remember that it’s not just Dublin: Finally, while Dublin is the biggest city and arguably the best for tourists, it doesn’t encompass all of Ireland. There is much more to Ireland than its capital, including cities like Cork and Limerick, as well as rural villages that seem like they are stuck in time.
Finally, remember that you can book a cheap bus ticket in Ireland any day and any time with Omio. We’ll always be here and we’ll ensure you always have access to our comparison search engine, giving you the cheapest Irish bus tickets wherever you are and wherever you’re going.
FAQs
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Waterford, Ireland. Credit: Pixabay
Main Bus Stations in Ireland
Busáras is one of the main bus stations in Ireland. Located in the center of Dublin, it runs a number of services to cities and towns across Ireland. There are also connections to Belfast in Northern Ireland.
Busáras includes toilets and accessible toilets, as well as a newsagents, café, and coffee bar, so you can buy a book/magazine for the journey and grab a cup of coffee before you depart. The station doesn’t have its own car park, and while there are ones nearby, you might not always find a space if you are traveling during busy periods. You can also get to the station using Dublin’s light rail system, which has connections throughout the city.
Parnell Place Bus Station is the main bus station in Cork. Just like Busáras, it serves both local and intercity routes, with popular routes that connect to the capital.
Letterkenny Bus Station is another station of note. It is a bus terminus for Busáras and sits in County Donegal. It provides an important service in the area as there are no rail lines, so the locals rely on bus routes.
Waterford Bus Station is in the city of Waterford and is a decent-sized station, with 16 bus stands and numerous buses that depart for regional and national destinations every day.
Book a cheap Irish bus ticket from all of these stations and more with Omio.
More Information about Buses in Europe
There are over 880,000 buses in Europe and they form part of a market that’s thought to be worth over $4.8 billion. In the last few years, there has been an uptick in the number of bus routes available across major destinations in Europe, with travelers thinking more about their wallets, as well as the environment.
A bus is a big hunk of steel powered by a mighty fuel-guzzling engine, so it might not seem like the most sustainable way to travel. That’s especially true if you’re in a rural part of Ireland traveling on a bus that looks like it was built in the 1960s. But think how much more emissions would be created if everyone on that bus took their cars instead. What’s more, companies like Aircoach have invested heavily in their fleets to make them greener and further reduce their carbon footprint.
There are also an increasing number of electric buses in Europe. By the summer of 2023, there were over 2,500 electric buses registered on the continent, and while that’s a tiny fraction of the 880k or so buses on European roads, it’s a start, and it all makes a difference.
So, to take part in this revolution of cheaper and greener travel, book your bus tickets with Omio.
Popular Journeys
A horde of tourists descend on Dublin around St. Patrick’s Day, turning the narrow streets into a wave of green and Guinness. Cork also attracts its fair share of tourists, and you can often find them lining up to kiss the Blarney Stone to get the “gift of the gab”. Ireland also draws tourists looking for the Ireland they have seen in films and TV shows, as well as the Ireland they’ve heard about in folk songs. They head to rural areas to find their own Father Ted or to see the life displayed in The Banshees of Inisherin.
They go to Dublin to see the city that birthed Oscar Wilde or travel to Cork to visit the grave of Roy Gallagher. Wherever you are in Ireland, you’re always surrounded by history and culture—there is always a story to hear. That’s what makes this country so special, and it’s why millions of tourists flock to these shores every year.
To join them, book your Irish bus ticket with Omio. Our comparison engine makes it easy to find cheap bus tickets for every route in Ireland, as well as many other countries across Europe.
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