Malahide: A Lovely Coastal Getaway near Dublin

At the heart of the town is Malahide Castle, a striking 12th-century estate set within a sprawling parkland containing lovely gardens—a great place to spend a relaxing afternoon and even enjoy a picnic. The village itself has excellent selections for dining with seafood restaurants, cozy pubs, and cafés lining the main street and waterfront, many with fresh catch straight off the local boats.

Malahide Castle

The Grand Hotel Malahide

In Malahide, I recommend staying at the Grand Hotel. It is the perfect base for exploring Malahide and its surroundings. A lovely breakfast buffet is served every morning in their main restaurant. The Marksman Bar in the hotel is a great stop for some before dinner cocktails. You can also enjoy Afternoon Tea in the hotel’s lounge.

A must-do activity in Malahide is taking a ride on “Toots the Train”. It is a fun way to get to the castle and the nearby beach. Everyone in town smiles and waves as you pass by! You can ask the front desk at the Grand Hotel to arrange for the “train” to make a stop at the hotel for you.

Toots the Train

Temple Bar Area in Dublin

One day we took a 20 minute taxi ride into Dublin for some sightseeing. Taking the train from Malahide to Dublin is also an option, but because we wanted a lazy morning, we opted for a taxi to drop us off at the Jameson Distillery for our scheduled whiskey tasting and tour. Highly recommend the experience if you like Irish whiskey. Afterwards, we strolled the famed Temple Bar area and enjoyed a wonderful pub lunch followed by some shopping. We didn’t do the Guinness Storehouse on this visit since had done that previously, but if you haven’t been to Dublin before it is another great option.

For an active holiday, Malahide has both golf and tennis: Malahide Golf Club offers a full 18-hole course, while Malahide Castle Golf & Tennis adds a 9-hole par-3 course and five tennis courts right on the castle grounds. In town, Malahide Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club, one of Ireland’s oldest tennis clubs, adds even more court time.

Malahide is an ideal base for your Ireland coastal getaway—relaxed seaside living, easy rail access to Dublin’s sights, and plenty to keep golfers and tennis players happy in between.

Park Path at Malahide Castle

Recommended dining in Malahide:

• Town Yard Modern Bistro

• The Greedy Goose

• The Greenery Malahide

• Old Street Restaurant

• Siam Thai Restaurant.

Reservations strongly recommended for weekend dining.

For more inspiration and insider recommendations, visit our Ireland page.