River Liffey Boat Tours Dublin | City Landmarks Cruise

River Liffey

Explore Dublin from the Water – A River Liffey Adventure!

See Ireland’s capital city like never before! Departing from Dún Laoghaire, we’ll cruise out of the harbour and across the bay, gliding past the bustling port and into the heart of Dublin.

Along the way, you’ll take in iconic sights like the Poolbeg Lighthouse on the Great South Wall, the towering Poolbeg Chimneys—one of Dublin’s most recognisable landmarks famously featured in U2’s “Pride (In the Name of Love)” music video, and the historic Pigeon House Power Station.

Then, we venture up the River Liffey itself, offering a completely fresh perspective of the capital as we journey right into its vibrant core.

Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a local looking to see the city from a new angle, this tour promises a truly unforgettable experience.

Please note tours are tide dependent, following the booking link for the full schedule.

What To Bring

We’ll provide waterproof outer gear – just come dressed in:

Warm base layers
Footwear with good grip
A woolly hat for cooler days
Sunglasses to protect you from the sun's rays

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Tour Gallery

Passengers enjoying a guided boat tour along the River Liffey with views of Dublin’s skyline

Boat tour on the River Liffey passing under a bridge with passengers enjoying the Dublin city views

View from a boat tour on the River Liffey with passengers enjoying Dublin’s riverside scenery

Passengers on a boat tour along the River Liffey enjoying views of Dublin’s waterfront and bridges

Boat cruising along the River Liffey with passengers enjoying views of Dublin’s riverside architecture

Scenic view of a boat cruising along the River Liffey with passengers enjoying the Dublin cityscape

Passengers enjoying a boat tour along the River Liffey with views of Dublin’s iconic landmarks

FAQ

What type of boat do you use

We have a fleet of 4 licensed passenger RIBS (Rigid Inflatable Boats) ranging from 5 to 12 seaters. RIBS are ideally suited for all sea conditions making your tour as comfortable as possible.

How long does the tour last

1.5 hours, however, we do have to yield to the larger ships in Dublin Port so we may be up to 2 hours in total depending on shipping movements.

What do I wear

We’ll provide waterproof outer gear, a jacket and trousers– Just come dressed in the following:

Warm base layers
Footwear with good grip
A woolly hat for cooler days
Sunglasses to protect you from the sun's rays

Where do the tours depart from

All tours depart from the Irish National Sailing & Powerboat School building on the West Pier, Dun Laoghaire Harbour, A96K7A7

Is there parking

Yes there is parking along the West Pier, please note it is metered.

What is the nearest DART Station

Salthill & Monkstown

What happens if the weather is bad

Safety comes first. If the weather isn’t suitable we’ll work with you to reschedule or offer a full refund.

Do you offer refunds or rescheduling if I can’t make it

We need 24 hours notice if you wish to cancel as our boats and skippers will be ready to go. But we’ll do our best to reschedule your booking.

What age do you have to be

We hate leaving out anybody and welcome children from the age of 4, please note all children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

How do I book

Online via our website

Do I need to book in advance

Yes, we advise booking in advance as places are limited especially when the weather is good!

What payment method do you accept

All major credit and debit cards, group bookings can be invoiced and paid by bank transfer.

Are group bookings available

Yes groups are welcome, get on board to celebrate birthdays, stags, hens, promotions, weddings, divorces!

Do you offer private or custom tours

Yes we offer private tours. We’ve done it all, from wedding proposals, to scattering your loved one’s ashes, we’ll make your event special and create lasting memories.

Do tours take place all year around

Yes we operate all year around but like us our boats need a rest too. We take them out of the water during November and get them ready for our Winter Lights tours at Christmas.

Booking Summary

Duration

1.5 to 2 hours (depending on shipping movements in the port)

Price

€45 Per Person

Meeting Point

All tours depart from and return to the Irish National Sailing & Powerboat School building on the West Pier, Dun Laoghaire Harbour.

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What Our Visitor Says

Brian K

August 18, 2025

Amazing tour of Dublin Bay with Heather, our guide for the day Wonderful tour of Dublin Bay with a super engaging, fun and kind guide, Heather. Perfect weather and day - couldn’t ask for better! Highly recommend this boat tour and getting to experience Dublin from the sea

MunsterMaeve

August 1, 2025

Fabulous experience Fabulous experience, captain was great, with lots of interesting stories. It was beautiful to see the coast from the sea. Kids loved it too.

barrakelly

July 10, 2025

Wednesday Evening Cruise Comfy padded seats on the slow cruise around the inner harbour with live historical commentary. Boat speeds up once out of the harbour en route to Dalkey Island. Seal sightings almost guaranteed. We had great weather and calm seas, but that's the luck of the draw! Nice activity. 90 minutes all in including safety briefing and returning of life jackets to the HQ

tara b

July 10, 2025

Summer evenings We had a wonderful summer’s evening with Dublin Boat Tours, lucky to catch the good weather. Departing from Dun Laoghaire, we cruised along the stunning coastline, taking in views of the 40 Foot, Dalkey Island, and more — all from the comfort of a lovely boat. It was great to see the area so lively and full of energy on a warm evening. Our skipper, Heather, was incredibly friendly and made everyone feel safe and welcome. A peaceful, scenic way to spend a few hours by the sea. Highly recommend it for locals and visitors alike — a real gem!

Liene P

July 1, 2025

Amazing Insider Experience of Dun Laoghaire waters If you had a Sailing boat or a jet ski - you would have the same experience as when touring on a Dublin Bay boat trip! You would enjoy all the must see areas from a boat -plus jump on splashing waves as if you were on a jet ski. The boat skipper really loves his job, and the receptionist is extremely nice and helpfull, too.

Rebecca Louise R

June 22, 2025

Unforgettable experience on the sea We had a wonderful experience on a beautiful sunny day with our guide Heather. We learned a lot about the area of dun Laoghaire and beyond and some historical information about some of the buildings and islands along the way. We highly recommend this tour. Was very good value as well.

Akesh G

May 19, 2025

Dublin Boat Tour honest feedback One of the best boat rides I've been on in Ireland (and trust me when I say this because I've been on many). Our skipper, Kenny, was a thorough expert man who gave us all the information about different islands and nature around. We did see several seals and he took us as close as possible to them (while fully respecting the marine animal). Overall, I still can't stop being in awe of the trip that day.Last but not the least, while I wouldn't advise carrying too much stuff as the boat is an RIB, there is space to keep your stuff and a cafe with toilet facilities as well. It's Ireland, and I fully trust the Irish, so didn't ask if they had lockers for keeping my bag (found it just the way I'd left).

NorthStar60153100032

May 5, 2025

Excellent It was a really good thrilling experience. Must recommended for sea lovers. Will be definitely visiting once again for this experience.

Toni G

February 23, 2025

Different from the norm. Highly recommend! Organised and very friendly staff. The experience itself was fun and insightful. It helped that the weather was great and got to see lots of seals. Igor given a gift card which I decided to use last minute and glad I did. Would recommend if visiting Dublin.