The Ultimate Day Trip to Malahide: Exploring Coastal Charm Outside Dublin

Malahide is a charming coastal village located just 16 kilometres north of Dublin city center, making it easy to access from your rental car pickup location at the airport. When you arrive in Malahide, there are many places to park, hop out of the car, and take a much-needed walk to take in all that sea air, which is the perfect thing to wake you up after a long flight. Malahide Beach is the ideal spot to aim for, as it offers fresh sea air and coastal views. Take a short stroll along the beach, enjoying the soothing sounds of the water lashing the sand as you approach the main village hub. This is where you can truly connect with the local community, as you’ll find yourself in the midst of their daily lives and conversations.

Malahide Beach

Malahide Beach is the ideal spot to aim for, as it offers fresh sea air and coastal views. Take a short stroll along the beach, enjoying the soothing sounds of the water lashing the sand as you approach the main village hub. This is where you can truly connect with the local community, as you’ll find yourself in the midst of their daily lives and conversations.

a Dó

If you are hankering for a little caffeine pick-me or breakfast bite, skip the Starbucks and head to a Dó cafe. This is a local hot spot, and when we were lined up to get our morning brew, everyone in front of us was chatting with the staff about what they were getting up to over the summer and how their families were doing. That kind of lovely small-town chats made visiting small towns a treat.

Malahide Castle

If you want to explore more of Malahide, you can consider taking a peek inside Malahide Castle. Malahide Castle dates back to the 12th century and is set within over 260 acres of beautiful parkland. The castle’s gardens and grounds are perfect for strolling, and the castle itself offers a fascinating glimpse into Irish history.

Model Railway Museum

If you have kids or are interested in trains, I would personally recommend the Model Railway Museum. This museum is a personal collection of Cyril Fry, who himself hand-built model these model trains, now considered one of the finest collections in Europe. The museum’s immersive exhibits feature everything from miniature trains in motion to carefully constructed replicas of Irish landscapes and local train stations.

Exploring the Village of Malahide

If you prefer to just wander, especially after a long flight, the village is small enough to relax and save you from feeling overwhelmed with options. You can wander and pop into the little antique shops, restaurants, cafes, and pubs, all of which have calm and welcoming environments for locals and visitors alike. What’s lovely about making this your first stop instead of a big city like Dublin is the village’s small-town vibes, which inject you with that downhome Irish hospitality from the get-go.

Beshoff Bros Malahide

When you feel hungry, one of the best spots in town to grab a bite is Beshoff Bros Malahide. This high-quality fish and chips spot is right by the sea, and their amazingly fresh fish and seafood are beloved by locals. Their famous crispy battered cod to haddock, scampi, and even calamari are served with thick-cut, golden chips with what would go on to be the best tartar sauce we had throughout the entire trip! And if you’re gluten-free, they even have a dedicated batter and fryer for gluten-free options. Grab your pipping hot fish and chips and walk to the park outside the marina, where you can sit on the green and take in the sailboats bobbing up and down along the docks.

From Malahide, you can spend the night in Dublin or continue into the countryside, out to Wicklow County, or as they better call it, “the gardens of Ireland.” Malahide makes for an unforgettable getaway; whether wandering through the elegant halls of Malahide Castle, enjoying fresh seafood by the marina, or strolling along the beach, this charming seaside town has something for everyone.