Transport Guide

Belfield, the main University College Dublin campus is located 4km south of Dublin city centre. The UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate School of Business is located on the campus at Blackrock, County Dublin. ​

Google Maps is a great resource for showing you how to get to or from the UCD Campus using a combination of Dublin Bus, Luas and DART links and even walking!

The UCD Commuting Services Map shows all the bus stops in and around UCD, all DART, LUAS and train stations, as well as car, bicycle and disabled parking areas on campus. You can get directions directly to those points and also check the real-time information in some of the stops.

Leap cards are transport cards that have significantly reduced fares for young adults (16-24 years old) that you preload with money and use for all the above mentioned transport. You apply for this online and it gets posted out to you. If you are over 24 and a student you can still apply if you’re in full time education. The link to this is HERE . You can top it up on your phone using the Leap Top Up app.

TFI has also recently introduced a 90 Minute Fare which applies to a trip, or multiple trips, across eligible services that:

  • Are more than 3km, and/or

  • Involve transfer across eligible services as long as your touches on their last journey within 90 minutes of their first.

Getting to/from UCD By…..

  • The bus routes that serve UCD are: 17, 175, 145, 155, 39a, 46a, X25, X27, 164, 824, X28, 32X, 7B, 7D, 27X, 41X, 46E, 47, 116, 118, 180, 845, X30

    These routes are operated by Dublin Bus, GoAhead and a number of private bus companies. Some are more reliable than others. Bus companies have struggled to recruit enough drivers since the pandemic so just be aware that your planned bus might ghost you.

    Check out their timetables HERE

    Bus Éieann provides a nationwide bus service with most major areas having a regular link to Dublin. The majority of Dublin services terminate in Busáras (Central Bus Station, Dublin) from where it is a short walk to O'Connell Street for connecting buses to UCD. Several Bus Éireann services from the Greater Dublin area directly serve the UCD Belfield Campus during morning peak times.

    Check out their website HERE

    Aircoach operates a bus service from Dublin Airport to Leopardstown/Sandyford/Stillorgan which passes UCD.

    Check out their website HERE

  • Dublin Bikes don't cover the areas around UCD yet but Bleeper is a similar bike rental scheme.

    You only need your smartphone to use the service and they cover Belfield and the neighbouring areas.

    Learn all about Bleeper HERE

    If you would rather buy your own bike, you can get a second hand one on campus at the Belfield Bike Shop and you can make back the cash with their scheme. They'll buy it back from you after a year's use or when you're finished college.

    There are tons of bike stands around UCD but make sure you lock up well. You'll also find public bike repair stands with air pumps and tools scattered through Belfield campus. Showering and changing facilities exist in the Sports Centre and Science. Science also has free lockers for cyclists.

  • If you want to park in UCD regularly, you'll need to buy a parking permit on SISWEB.

    Please be aware that if you live on campus, UCD will not allow you to purchase a parking permit.

    Please note that parking on the Belfield and Blackrock campuses is extremely limited, so get in early!

  • There is usually an adequate number of taxis in operation in the City Centre at any given time. It is possible to hail a taxi from the street, but convenient taxi ranks are located on O'Connell Street, Middle Abbey Street, Dame Street and St Stephens Green.

  • Dublin is served by two main railway stations: Connolly Station and Heuston Stations. It is a short walk from Connolly Station to O'Connell Street, where the Dublin Bus numbers 11 and 46A can be boarded for UCD.

    The route 145 provides a direct route from Heuston Station to Belfield via the city centre.

    Check out rail times HERE

  • The DART (Dublin Area Rapid Transport) is a commuter rail railway network serving the coastline and city of Dublin and the closest stop is Booterstown, which is a 20 minute walk to UCD. It's pretty reliable and goes from Greystones to Malahide/Howth.

  • We also have a Luas stop a 30 minute walk away called Windy Arbour. The Luas is kind of like a tram. (It is not free though! There was a misinformation campaign about this and you will be fined if you’re caught without a ticket.)

    There are two Luas Lines, Green and Red. for the South side and Red for the North side. They are not connected although O’Connell street (green) and Abbey street (red) are about a two minute walk from each other if you need to change between them.