DART-line towns in 25–40 minutes from Dublin Airport
Dublin Bus 102 is the airport link for Sutton, Baldoyle, Portmarnock, and Malahide without going into Dublin city centre. The route runs between Dublin Airport and Sutton Station, passing through Swords, Seatown, Holywell, Kinsealy, and along the coast. Typical travel time from Dublin Airport to Malahide is around 30–35 minutes, and to Sutton Station around 40 minutes depending on traffic.
The 102 stops outside both T1 and T2 in the main bus zone, alongside other Dublin Bus services like the 16 and 41. Look for the stop marked for route 102 toward Sutton Station or Dublin Airport, depending on direction. The bus is standard Dublin Bus stock with Leap card readers at the front door and luggage space mostly limited to whatever you can keep by your seat.
Services normally run every 20–30 minutes during daytime on weekdays, with reduced frequency in late evenings and on Sundays. First departures from Sutton Station toward the airport are typically in the early morning around 05:30–06:00, with last buses close to 23:30, but you should check the current timetable by date. If you land after midnight, assume the 102 is not an option and plan on a taxi or night service instead.
Leap fares on the 102 are cheaper than paying cash; a typical adult Leap fare for the full airport–Sutton run sits in the standard Dublin Bus stage band, usually a few euros less than a taxi’s flag fall. Cash payment is still possible, but it is exact coins only and the driver issues a paper receipt, not change. A Leap Visitor Card bought at the airport also works on the 102, same as on the 16, 41, and city buses.
For rail connections, Sutton Station at the 102 terminus links straight into DART services toward Howth and Bray, and Malahide station sits about 600–800 metres from some of the Malahide stops. If you are heading for Portmarnock, watch stop names carefully: the village stops sit around 1–1.5 km from Portmarnock DART station, which is across the estuary at Baldoyle.
One practical tip: screenshot the current 102 timetable and route map while on airport Wi‑Fi in T1 or T2, then check the real-time display at the bus stop before boarding to confirm you are on a Sutton-bound or airport-bound bus in the correct direction.