Is There Uber in Ireland? Getting Around in 2024
* * *
If you are planning to spend some time in Ireland, you are likely wondering how you will be able to get around the cities and country and wondering is there Uber in Ireland? The answer is not entirely straightforward, and you will want to read this article to decide what the best way for you to get around Ireland will be.
A note about the author: I spent about 4 months living in Dublin and traveling all throughout Ireland. I learned the ins and outs of what it meant to be both a tourist and a resident during my time here.
Is There Uber in Ireland?
Technically, yes, the Uber app exists in Ireland and you can use Uber in Ireland, but it does not work in the way you and I likely know Uber to work.
Ireland prohibits ridesharing (including Uber) and regulates the hiring of private cars. Ireland only allows licensed taxi and limousine drivers to operate. So, when you order a car from Uber you will simply be hiring a taxi and your ride will be metered and at taxi rates.
❗️Looking for easy transportation services in Ireland?❗️
👉🏽 Private Dublin Airport Transfer (and Tours on Request)
OR
👉🏽 Use the Hop-On Hop-Off bus when in a city
Is There Uber in Dublin?
Technically the Uber app exists in Dublin, but there are no private Uber cars in Dublin or any of the big cities in Ireland. You can use Uber and other apps to call a taxi. Luckily, Dublin is also very walkable and has plenty of other transportation options available.
Can You Order an Uber at the Dublin Airport?
Yes, you can order a taxi on Uber at the Dublin Airport.
There are official lines to get a taxi outside of the Dublin Airport, but they can be quite busy. Instead, walk across the road as you leave the airport building (it’s a 2-minute extra walk from the official taxi stop) and go where the buses depart (specifically across from where the 102 bus departs).
You will see a glass tunnel that leads to a small, closed parking lot. This is the official pickup zone for taxi apps and you can order a taxi car using Uber or FREENOW to skip the lines.
Why Is Uber Different in Ireland?
Many European countries have banned Uber from operating a private car hire service due to the fact that it disrupts the regulated taxi industry. Ireland in particular has a strong taxi driver union that protects the rights of licensed taxi drivers.
Luckily, there are plenty of taxi drivers in Ireland. Dublin alone has over 25,000 licensed taxi drivers.
Because Uber is heavily regulated, there aren’t as many taxi drivers registered with Uber as there are with other taxi apps in Ireland.
Is There LYFT in Ireland?
No, for the same reasons that Uber is banned in Ireland, LYFT is also not used in Ireland.
❗Thinking of renting a car in Ireland? CLICK HERE FOR THE BEST DEALS❗
Is There Another Way to Order a Car in Ireland?
Yes, there are a few other ways to hire a car in Ireland. The best and most reliable way is to pre-schedule your pick-up online. You can still always hail a taxi on the street or have your hotel call a taxi for you. However, it will be quicker, safer, and more convenient to schedule a taxi or private car ahead of time.
>>> JUMP TO: What to know about taxis in Ireland
How to Schedule a Car in Advance
There are three things I would suggest you look into. The first… using Emperor Chauffeurs or another car scheduling service, as the availability fluctuates (check Viator for more options). For traveling to a foreign country, I always recommend playing it on the safe side and having your transportation lined up and ready to go.
Especially when you are first familiarizing yourself with a new country, it’s always safest to have a pre-scheduled car so you don’t have to worry about figuring out which taxis are legal and safe. While taxis are generally very safe in Ireland, taxi scams are still prevalent worldwide, so why take the risk?
Emperor Chauffeurs allows you to pre-schedule a car service from quite a few different locations (such as the airport or your hotel) throughout each of the major cities. This is a great option if you don’t want to rent a car and drive in Ireland (which can be confusing to drive stick shift on the left side of the road!).
❗CLICK HERE to check out Emperor Chauffeurs❗
Second… you can book tours on Viator when you are looking to get to the main attractions. The day and shorter tours tend to be more affordable than hiring a private car and include a tour guide and sometimes food or drink and other bonuses. Search by attraction or city to find top-rated tours.
Third… If you don’t want to worry at all about transportation while traveling through Ireland, there are many excellent options to join a group tour for multiple days (and even up to a week or longer). The multi-day tours often seem like a big price tag upfront, but often include accommodation and other bonuses that, bundled with included transportation, are well worth the upfront cost for peace of mind and saving time planning.
👉🏽 Search for multi-day tours here!
At the very least, book your Dublin airport transfer for when you first arrive. It’s ideal after a long international flight to have your transportation lined up and waiting for you when you land to take you straight to your accommodation.
❗CLICK HERE to book your Dublin airport transfer ❗
What is Uber Called in Ireland? – Ireland’s Taxi Apps
The most popular taxi app in Ireland is: FREE NOW.
FREE NOW (formerly MyTaxi) works very similarly to Uber. You can call a taxi, choose the size of the car, upload your debit or credit card to pay for the ride, and pre-book your journey up to 4 days in advance.
The app works in many other major cities across Europe and the rest of Ireland as well.
A newer ride-hailing app in Dublin is called Bolt. Download the app or you can request a ride online.
How Else to Get Around Ireland Without Uber
Taxis are abundant in Dubin and the bigger cities, but taking a taxi between cities or into the Irish countryside is not very practical and can quickly become very expensive. There are a few other ways to get around Ireland besides Uber and taxis.
Rent a Car in Ireland
I always recommend that tourists to Ireland should rent a car especially if you plan on getting outside of the cities or to multiple cities across Ireland. It’s the most reliable way to get around and gives you the most flexibility for getting to all the destinations and sights that you will want to see and will allow you to stay at potentially unique accommodations in more rural parts of Ireland.
If you plan to ONLY stay in the big cities, don’t bother renting a car. It will be more of a hassle to find parking and since the cities are fairly walkable with decent public transportation in and between them, it’s not really necessary.
If you want to see anything out in nature, smaller and more rural towns, or anything off the beaten path – you will want to rent a car in Ireland.
The reason I always tell my friends and family to rent a car is so that they don’t miss out on the gorgeous scenery (such as the Gap of Dunloe) and wonderful things to do in between the big cities of Ireland!
I recommend using Discover Cars to rent a car in Ireland. They compare prices across the leading car rental companies to find you the BEST deals and LOWEST prices.
They also include insurance coverage, which is a requirement for driving in Ireland. The ease of purchasing insurance as you rent a car is something I love about Discover Cars.
❗CLICK HERE TO SEARCH FOR YOUR RENTAL CAR❗
IMPORTANT TIP WHEN USING DISCOVERCARS!
I have recently realized that unfortunately, DiscoverCars rating system is quite off and can be a bit misleading. Make sure to cross-check ratings by doing a quick Google search of the car company locally and checking their reviews there.
To be clear, DiscoverCars is still the best rental car price finder and has deals that you won’t be able to find anywhere else, BUT you will find the best company by taking the extra step of checking reviews in a second location.
Always choose a highly-rated car rental company
➡️ BOOK NOW
If you decide to drive yourself, click below for a guide to driving in Ireland.
Public Transportation in Ireland
If you plan on staying within Ireland’s big cities or simply want to move between big cities, public transportation in Ireland is an option.
All of the big Irish cities are relatively walkable as well if you are trying to avoid traveling by car, though keep in mind that public transportation will end at a certain time each day (usually around midnight), so it’s not very reliable as a way to get home after a night out at the pubs.
Infrastructure in Ireland is just OK, all the big cities have decent (but not amazing) public transportation. All of the major cities have a bus system along with the Irish Rail. Dublin has the most extensive public transportation system that includes a tram network (LUAS) and a commuter rail system (DART).
A bus ride in Ireland can range from around €12 to €25 and a train ticket around €15 to €45. There are also a few options for multi-day or multi-trip passes, the Leap Card is the best for Dublin visitors.
Between cities in Ireland, train travel will be faster but more expensive than traveling by bus, though both cover most of the major cities and towns across the country quite well. The bus system covers nearly every town in Ireland but is significantly slower, with Bus Éireann being the main bus line.
Otherwise, as I mentioned before you can pre-schedule by hiring a private car through Viator.
❗CLICK HERE to book a private car hire ❗
Hop-On Hop-Off Buses
Another alternative to Uber and taxis that is a bit easier than figuring out public transportation would be to purchase a hop-on hop-off pass. Most of the bigger cities in Ireland offer this type of bus, and if you’re mainly looking to get around the most popular areas and attractions anyway, it’s a great way to save some money and learn some interesting facts along the way.
👉🏽 Dublin Hop-on Hop-off bus
👉🏽 Cork Hop-on Hop-off bus
👉🏽 Galway Hop-on Hop-off bus
👉🏽Belfast Hop-on Hop-off bus
What to Know About Taxis in Ireland
For those familiar with using Uber, there are a few extra things to know about using taxis in Ireland, especially since scams can be more prevalent with taxis than Ubers.
First, a licensed taxi will always display a yellow “TAXI” sign on the top of the car’s roof and will have a meter in the front of the car that calculates your fare cost as you drive.
Are Taxis in Ireland Safe?
Yes, taxis in Ireland are comparatively very safe. Taxis can get a bad reputation, especially in certain parts of the world. In Ireland, you don’t need to worry much about being unsafe in a taxi so long as you pay attention to the “taxi” display sign, check the meter is working, and check for the driver’s license (which should be displayed) as you get in the car.
A taxi driver’s license should be clearly visible with their registration number, photo, and name. The best safety tip for taxis is to call and order them ahead of time instead of getting in a random car. For additional safety tips in Dublin, click here.
After COVID-19, many taxis have a screen partition in the car. Or, if you use FREE NOW, you can specifically select a car with a screen in it and review its additional safety measures.
How Much Do Taxis Cost in Ireland?
The cost of a taxi in Ireland mainly depends on what part of Ireland you are in and how long your trip will be.
Hailing a taxi in Dublin will start at ~€4.10 and includes the first kilometer. Each kilometer after that is charged ~€1.35. After 15 kilometers, the rate goes up. On even longer trips, the rate will increase again to €1.77/km. Plus, the fare will increase after 8pm and on certain public holidays.
People traveling in a group of two or more will be charged an additional €1 per passenger, with children under 12 counted as half an adult. During peak hours there might be an additional charge of €1pp in the car.
The fare prices may vary on the taxi-hailing apps, as they may charge more for bigger cars or have a varied pay scale. However, the price of a taxi will be similar.
Taxis in Ireland are most useful if you need a quick trip within the city or a ride home late at night after public transportation stops working. However, the price quickly adds up. If you want to frequently use a car in Ireland, travel between cities, or visit more rural areas, you will definitely want to save some money and the hassle by renting a car.
How Much Does a Taxi Cost From the Airport to Dublin City Centre?
The average cost of a taxi from the Dublin Airport into the city center will average about €25-40, though it varies depending on demand and price surges.
Other Ways to Exit the Dublin Airport…
Additionally, the Aircoach bus (700) runs 24-hours directly from the airport to the city center. Or, you can rent a car at the airport.
Hiring a private Dublin airport transfer will cost about €82, but the benefit is the car will be ready and waiting for you for a hassle-free pick-up.
How Do You Pay Taxis in Ireland?
For the most part, you will pay taxis with cash. If you use a taxi app such as FREE NOW or Uber, you can register your credit card within the app to pay your taxi fare.
Do you Tip Taxi Drivers in Ireland?
Tipping taxi drivers by about 10% is common in Ireland. However, taxi drivers do not expect a tip and often round down when giving back change. Taxi apps will likely give you the option to add a tip to your payment after the ride.
Wrapping Up: Uber and Transportation Services in Ireland
The answer to “is there Uber in Ireland” is a little more complicated than a simple yes or no. There are plenty of ways to get around Ireland, both within the cities and across the country. Luckily, there are decent options available for transportation to match your speed and style of travel when figuring out how to get around Ireland.
❗CLICK HERE to book a private car hire ❗
Related Posts:
A Guide to Getting Around Cork: Tips and Information
What to Know About Living in Ireland
Things to Do in Dublin for Couples
Exploring Ireland’s Mountains
Looking for resources to use for your next trip or move abroad?
CLICK HERE for my favorite travel and expat tools!
☘️FAQs About Ireland☘️
✈️ Where Can You Find the BEST Flight Deals to Ireland?
1. Scott’s Cheap Flights – FREE flight deals alert, works best if you can be flexible
2. Skyscanner – FREE search engine, great for budget flights + deal
❗Is Travel Insurance Required in Ireland?
No, it’s not.
However, it’s always recommended to have travel insurance any time you travel in case of injury, accident, lost luggage, missed flight, etc. The best and most affordable travel/expat insurance is Safety Wing.
>>>CLICK HERE FOR INFO
☔️ When Is the Best Time to Visit Ireland?
Summer (June-August) – is the warmest and rains the least but you will have the most crowds.
Spring (March-May) or Fall (September-November) – are cooler and have more rain but you will beat the crowds and see some incredible wildflowers (spring)/greenery (fall).
🏠 Where Should You Stay in Ireland?
Hotels, hostels, vacation rentals, and house sitting are all available in Ireland for accommodation. My top recommendations for each are:
• Booking.com
• Hostelworld
• Vrbo (usually better options than Airbnb in Ireland)
• Trusted Housesitters (watch a home/pets in return for a FREE place to stay)
☘️ Where Can You Find Tours?
I found incredible tours in Ireland >>>HERE for private and guided group tours of both the most popular attractions and ones that fit your specific interests.
🚘 Should You Rent a Car in Ireland?
I always tell my friends and family to rent a car in Ireland so that they don’t miss out on the gorgeous scenery and wonderful things to do in between the big cities! However, if you plan to stay only in the cities, then you should be fine getting by with buses and walking.
>>> What to know about driving in Ireland
>>> The best car rental in Ireland
🍻 Make sure to try out the pubs! Even if you don’t drink, the atmosphere, live music, and friendly people are very uniquely Irish.
