Dublin hotels are expensive, and pub rounds, attraction tickets and tips add up on top. Airport buses, a transit card and a day trip out of the city are what most visitors forget.
Starts with a sample trip. Change any number to match yours.
Compare hotels in central Dublin →The sample is 2 travelers for 4 nights. Your plan ($3,300) covers the main costs most people budget for, the ones you enter on the left. Costs people forget ($1,022, about 31% more for this trip) are the fees, taxes, tips and extras listed in the calculator. Prices were last checked on October 17, 2026.
Share of the $4,322 real cost. Nights and travelers multiply most of these costs, so changing either one moves the total the most.
4 of this trip's numbers link to a published price or rate. The rest are our estimates, and each one says what it is based on. You can also read how we calculate every trip.
| Cost | Default | Where it comes from |
|---|---|---|
| Airfare per person | $750 per traveler | Our estimate of a typical round-trip economy fare to Dublin from a major US airport. Fares vary widely by city and season. Our estimate |
| Hotel per night | $250 a night | Our estimate for a mid-range double room in central Dublin, one of Europe's pricier hotel cities. Our estimate |
| Food per person, per day | $80 per traveler, per day | Our estimate for cafe breakfasts, pub lunches and one restaurant dinner a day, at about $80 per person. Our estimate |
| Cost | Default | Where it comes from |
|---|---|---|
| Checked bag fees Off by default | $90 per traveler | Most economy fares to Europe include one checked bag, so this is off by default. Basic economy fares charge extra. Source |
| Passports Off by default | $165 per traveler | A new adult passport costs about $165 and can take weeks. Our estimate |
| Airport transfers | $45 for the trip | Dublin Express and Aircoach cost about €10 each way, about $45 for two people both ways. Source |
| Leap Visitor Card | $20 per traveler | The 3-day Leap Visitor Card costs €18, about $20, for buses, Luas trams and DART trains. Source |
| Book of Kells and Guinness Storehouse | $70 per traveler | Book of Kells tickets start at €19 to €25 and the Guinness Storehouse at €14, with peak slots costing more. Source |
| Pub nights | $20 per traveler, per night | Our estimate of about $20 per person per night for a couple of pints. Our estimate |
| Day tours outside Dublin | $70 per traveler | Our estimate of about $70 per person for a coach day trip to the Cliffs of Moher, Glendalough or Howth. Our estimate |
| Restaurant tips | 10% of the food | About 10% is a normal tip at sit-down restaurants in Ireland, based on common travel guidance. Our estimate |
| Phone data | $30 per traveler | An international plan or eSIM. Our estimate |
| Card fees | 3% of your plan | Many credit and debit cards charge about 3% on foreign purchases; cards with no foreign transaction fee avoid it. Our estimate |
| Travel insurance | 6% of your plan | Squaremouth says a comprehensive plan averages about 6% of the trip cost, usually 4% to 10%. Source |
| Pre-trip shopping | $60 for the trip | Our estimate for travel-size toiletries, sunscreen and small things bought before a trip. Our estimate |
| Pet boarding or sitter | $50 a day, if you check Pets | Dogster puts regular kennel boarding at about $35 to $85 a night. Overnight sitters at home cost more. Source |
For 4 nights with flights, a hotel and food, plan on about $3,300. Once you add the costs most visitors forget, like airport buses, attraction tickets, pub nights, a day tour and tips, it's closer to $4,300. Use the calculator above to change any number to match your trip.
Dublin Express and Aircoach buses cost about €10 each way. Dublin Bus routes 16 and 41 are cheaper but have little room for luggage. A taxi costs about €25 to €35. Source
If you'll ride buses, Luas trams or DART trains a few times a day, yes. It costs €8 for 1 day, €18 for 3 days and €24 for 7 days. It doesn't work on private airport coaches like Aircoach or Dublin Express. Source
Online tickets for the Book of Kells and Old Library start at €19, and the longer self-guided Book of Kells Experience starts at €25. Guinness Storehouse tickets start at €14 online for quieter time slots. Book both ahead for the best prices. Source
No. US citizens can visit Ireland for up to 90 days without a visa. Ireland is not in the Schengen area or the UK, so you don't need a UK ETA unless you also travel to Northern Ireland or Britain. Source