Dublin Port Tours
1 October 2025
Update
Our 2025 ‘Behind the Scenes Bus Tour’ season has officially ended. A sincere thank you to everyone who joined us for our first year of Dublin Port bus tours. It’s been an amazing season welcoming visitors behind the scenes to experience the hardworking heart of Dublin up close.
Our Bus Tours will be back soon. Sign up for our newsletter to be the first to hear when the new schedule for 2026 is announced.
Discover the operations in the hardworking heart of Dublin, with our 2025 bus tour season.
Dublin Port is Ireland’s busiest port, handling €165 billion worth of freight and 1.6 million passengers annually. This unique bus tour offers visitors an exclusive, behind-the-scenes look at the vital operations that keep Dublin City and our country connected to the world, ensuring Irish goods reach global markets and essential imports arrive on our shores.
From towering container ships to bustling freight terminals, you’ll uncover the hidden histories, landmarks, and rich heritage that have shaped the port and Dublin City over the past 300 years. Learn how Dublin Port supports local communities, protects Dublin Bay’s biosphere, and plays a crucial role in Ireland’s economic success.
Whether you’re interested in history, a curious local, or simply love discovering how things work, this tour will change the way you see Dublin.
Tour Details
- Dates: 2025 season has come to a close
- Duration: Approx. 120 minutes.
- Meeting Point: EPIC Hall, The Chq Building, Custom House Quay, North Wall, Dublin 1.
- Tour Type: Guided bus tour (no walking required)
- Parking: No parking available – please cycle or use public transport.
- Points: The Substation, Ocean Pier (Restricted Area), Oil Zone, Greenway Discovery Point 2, Ferry Terminals, Ro-Ro / Lo-Lo Terminals, Brexit Lands.
- Stops: Passengers will alight the bus at Discovery Point 2 of the Greenway, Ferry Terminal 1 and The Substation.
- Languages: English – All tours will be given in English.
*Schools or Charitable Group Bookings
If you are interested in making a booking for a school or charitable group, please apply for our free tour spaces by completing this form: Expression of Interest Form and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
Tour Description
1. EPIC Museum
Tours now depart from EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum, located in the landmark Stack A warehouse, part of the CHQ Building. Constructed between 1817 and 1820 as a bonded warehouse for tobacco, tea, wine, and spirits, this striking structure was completed in 1820 under the design of engineer John Rennie. Its use of a fully fire‑proof iron and brick framework, with nine vaulted chambers below, made it one of Dublin’s earliest and most remarkable industrial buildings.
The tour begins with a short introduction at the historic Substation, providing an overview of Dublin Port’s history, operations, and its role in Dublin’s development. The Substation is built over the original East Wall, a seawall constructed in 1728 to reclaim the North Lotts area. During restoration works, the remains of the wall were uncovered and preserved under glass, allowing visitors to view this significant piece of Dublin’s maritime history. This wall served as the land boundary marking the end of the city until the late 1800s.
2. Dublin’s Docklands
From here, the tour begins with a drive through Dublin’s Docklands, once the heart of the Port’s commercial trade. Today, this area reflects the dramatic transformation from maritime industry to a regenerated urban district/. Like similar dockland redevelopments in European cities like Rotterdam, Hamburg, and London, Dublin’s Docklands illustrate how former port zones have been reimagined.
The tour will go down Alexandra Road and into the North Port Common User which is a restricted operational area. Visitors will see one of Dublin Port’s busiest and most crucial operational areas of the port where €165 billion worth of imports and exports pass through here each year. A variety of large cargo vessels berth in Ocean Pier everyday including container ships, car carriers and bulk vessels. Due to safety and security reasons passengers must remain on the bus for this element of the tour.
3. The Oil Zone
The tour then enters Dublin Port’s North Estate, offering visitors exclusive access to the restricted area in Ocean Pier; a live operational environment. Highlights along the route include the Oil Zone, Ro-Ro and Lo-lo terminals and MP2 development, and ferry lanes, all illustrating the scale and complexity of modern port logistics.
The Oil Zone is a crucial area within Dublin Port where 65% of Ireland’s processed petroleum arrives and is dedicated to the import, storage, and distribution of petroleum products. The operations in this area are vital to Ireland’s energy supply, and the facilities are subject to stringent safety and environmental regulations. Visitors will learn about the infrastructure and operations that ensure the safe management of these critical resources, including essential fuel for Dublin Airport.
4. Greenway – Discovery Point 2
The tour concludes with a visit to the Tolka Estuary Greenway, Dublin Port’s newest public amenity and a key example of port city reintegration. This dedicated cycle and pedestrian route runs along the northern perimeter of the Port, overlooking the Tolka Estuary, and forms a new interface between port infrastructure and public space. The tour will make a stop at Discovery Point 2 along the Dublin Port Greenway; 2km of glorious walking and cycleways overlooking the beautiful UNESCO Dublin Bay Biosphere. This stop offers visitors an opportunity to explore a scenic and informative path for cyclists and pedestrians, showcasing Dublin Port’s ongoing efforts to integrate public access with its operations. At Discovery Point 2, visitors will gain insights into the port’s environmental initiatives and learn about the role of sustainable development in shaping the future of Dublin Port and its surrounding areas.