Route 41 runs 24 hours between Dublin Airport and city centre
Bus 41 is the local workhorse to O’Connell Street, running day and night between Dublin Airport and the city. It serves both T1 and T2 from the same bus stop zone, and you can pay with a Leap card or cash in euro coins. The route runs along the northside through Swords Road, Santry, Whitehall, and Drumcondra, which suits anyone staying near those areas rather than right in town.
From the airport, Bus 41 stops at the main Dublin Bus stands just outside Terminal 1 arrivals, typically signed “41 City Centre.” It also picks up at T2 via the same forecourt area, a short walk of around 3–5 minutes under cover. Services run 24/7, with more frequent departures in the daytime and a thinner timetable late at night. The last city stop is close to O’Connell Street, roughly 10–15 minutes’ walk from Temple Bar.
Cash fares on Bus 41 usually run under €3–€4 for the airport–city ride, and with a Leap card you pay less again depending on the zone. You pay the driver when boarding, and exact coins are strongly preferred since change can slow the line. Journey time into the centre is typically around 35–45 minutes, but can stretch past one hour in peak traffic along Swords Road and Drumcondra.
Step-by-step: using Dublin Bus 41 at DUB
- 1. After you exit arrivals in T1, follow signs for “Bus / Coach” and walk about 2–3 minutes to the Dublin Bus stands.
- 2. Look for the green Dublin Bus stop marked with route 41 to City Centre / O’Connell Street.
- 3. Have your Leap card or cash (coins under about €5) ready before the bus arrives.
- 4. Board at the front door, tell the driver your destination, tap your Leap card or pay the fare, and take the paper ticket.
- 5. Ride for roughly 35–45 minutes; keep an eye out for Drumcondra or stay on until O’Connell Street near the river.
- 6. For the return to the airport, catch Bus 41 from the same streets on the northside, checking the front display for “41 Airport”.
One practical tip: if you land during rush hour (around 07:30–09:30 or 16:30–18:30), build an extra 20 minutes into your timing, or grab an earlier Bus 41 to avoid sweating your hotel check-in or last train connection.