How to Get to Slane Castle for a Concert

Slane Castle is one of Ireland’s most iconic concert venues, located approximately 50 km (31 miles) northwest of Dublin City Centre.

Over the years, Slane Castle has hosted acts including Queen, David Bowie, Guns N' Roses and Oasis. Major concerts attract tens of thousands of people to the area, so plan your transport in advance.

There's no train to Slane, so on concert day you'll have to travel by road. For concert-goers travelling from Dublin, Marathon Coaches operate dedicated return concert buses to Slane Castle, so your trip home after the show is already booked.

Marathon Coaches run return buses to Slane Castle from Common Street, behind Connolly Station in Dublin 1. The bus brings you directly back to Dublin after the show.

This guide explains how to get to Slane Castle on concert day and how to get home afterwards.

Current Slane Castle concert bus services

Book your Slane Castle concert bus in advance to secure your seat.

Fontaines D.C. at Slane Castle

26 June 2027 and 27 June 2027

Book your bus: https://marathongroup.ie/collections/buses-to-fontaines-at-slane-castle 

Oasis at Slane Castle

4 September 2027 and 5 September 2027

Book your bus: https://marathongroup.ie/collections/buses-to-oasis-at-slane-castle 

Quick facts on how to get to Slane Castle concerts

Distance from Dublin city centre	About 50 km (31 miles)
Bus pick-up in Dublin	Common Street, Dublin 1, behind Connolly Station (bus stop 5140)
Departure times	Every 30 minutes from 11am to 4pm
Bus journey in normal traffic	About 35 minutes
Concert-day bus trip, Marathon average	43 minutes
Concert-day bus trip, Marathon longest	1 hour 5 minutes
Car or taxi on concert day	Allow up to 2.5 hours
Walk from the coach and car parks to the concert	About 30 minutes
Bus back to Dublin	Included in your ticket
Train station in Slane	No. The nearest is in Drogheda

How to get to Slane Castle from Dublin by bus

Slane is a small village and major concerts can attract approximately 80,000 people to the area! Traffic on concert day is much heavier than normal. Marathon Coaches operates a dedicated large-scale concert transport service from Dublin City Centre. Coaches use event traffic-management routes and are prioritised as part of the concert transport operation.

Where the bus leaves from

Buses leave from Common Street, Dublin 1, at bus stop 5140 behind Connolly Station. Connolly is one of Dublin's main train stations and is close to Busáras, the city's central bus station.Get there at least 15 minutes before your bus leaves. Look for the Marathon Coaches check-in area, where our team will check you in and help you board.

Bus times

Buses leave Dublin every 30 minutes from 11am to 4pm. You pick your departure time when you book and it's shown on your booking confirmation.

How long the bus takes from Dublin to Slane Castle

In normal traffic, the bus from Dublin to Slane takes about 35 minutes. Concert traffic makes it longer. When Luke Combs played Slane in 2026, our buses took 43 minutes on average and the longest trip took 1 hour 5 minutes.

If you're driving, you need to allow up to 2.5 hours at peak times on concert day as priority is given to buses.

Where the bus drops you

The bus drops you at the coach drop-off area set by the concert organisers. From there it's usually about a 30-minute walk to the concert.

The organisers and local authorities set the final traffic plan for each concert, including the exact drop-off and collection point. We'll send the details to everyone with a ticket once the plan is confirmed.

What your ticket includes

Your Marathon Coaches ticket includes:

• a reserved seat on the departure time you choose
• the bus from Dublin to Slane Castle
• the bus back to Dublin after the concert
• help from our team before and during your trip
• travel updates for your concert

How our Slane bus works

Marathon Group has operated transport services to major concerts and events for decades. In summer 2026, Marathon Coaches transported more than 70,000 passengers to outdoor concerts across Ireland. 

For Slane Castle concerts, our dedicated bus service works like this:

1. Book your ticket
   Choose your concert, select your preferred departure time and book your return coach ticket online.
2. Arrive in Dublin
   Make your way to the Marathon Coaches departure point on Common Street, behind Connolly Station.
3. Check in
   Look for the Marathon Coaches check-in area and customer-care team. Follow the designated queuing system before boarding your coach.
4. Travel directly to Slane
   Your coach travels from Dublin directly towards Slane Castle using the designated event traffic-management arrangements.
5. Enjoy the concert
   Once dropped at the official event coach area, continue to Slane Castle and enjoy the concert.
6. Return to Dublin
   Tens of thousands of people leave Slane at the same time after a concert, so expect to wait while buses load and traffic moves.

After the concert, follow signs and staff instructions to the designated Marathon Coaches collection area. 

Return coaches operate after the concert until passengers have been collected.

Passengers are returned to Dublin City Centre, with the usual return drop-off located near Connolly Station.

Fontaines DC

Book your bus: https://marathongroup.ie/collections/buses-to-fontaines-at-slane-castle 

Oasis at Slane Castle

Book your bus: https://marathongroup.ie/collections/buses-to-oasis-at-slane-castle  

Other ways to get to Slane Castle

You can also drive or take a taxi. There's no train station in Slane. The nearest is in Drogheda and from there you'd need a bus or taxi to get to Slane.

Driving

If you drive, allow plenty of extra time and check the organisers' latest travel and parking information before you set off. There are traffic restrictions on the roads around Slane on concert days.

Taxis

Taxis are hard to get in Slane after a concert and the fare back to Dublin can be high. Slane is a small rural village and tens of thousands of people leave at once. Traffic restrictions around the venue also mean cars can only collect passengers in set areas.

A return bus means your trip home is booked before you arrive. 

How to get to Slane Castle from Dublin Airport

Dublin Airport is the nearest major airport to Slane Castle. From the airport, take a bus or taxi into Dublin city centre, then catch our Slane bus from Common Street, behind Connolly Station. Buses run between the airport and the city centre all day.

If you're flying in, staying in Dublin before the concert also gives you far more hotels to choose from.

Where to stay for a Slane Castle concert

Dublin city centre has plenty of hotels and hostels within easy reach of our pick-up point on Common Street, behind Connolly Station. Areas to look at:

• Temple Bar
• O'Connell Street
• Docklands
• Smithfield
• St Stephen's Green

Staying in Dublin also means you can see the city before and after the concert. 

Slane and the towns around it have far fewer places to stay. Rooms can sell out soon after a concert is announced, so if you want to stay near the castle, book as early as you can.

What to expect on concert day

Before you leave:

• bring your concert ticket
• check the organisers' latest information, including bag and security rules
• dress for Irish weather, which can change quickly
• wear comfortable shoes
• charge your phone
• leave plenty of time to get to the bus

Good to know:

• There's no bag storage at the venue.
• There are security checks at the concert entrances.
• The organisers handle accessibility at the venue.
• The organisers set the under-16 rules for each concert. On our buses, under-16s must travel with an adult.

About Marathon Coaches

Marathon Group has run buses to concerts and other big events in Ireland since 1995. In summer 2026, Marathon Coaches carried more than 70,000 passengers to outdoor concerts in Ireland, including Luke Combs at Slane Castle.

If you need help planning how to get to Slane Castle on concert day, email orders@marathoncoaches.ie or call +353 1 475 5010. 

Book your Slane Castle concert bus

Travelling to a Slane Castle concert from Dublin? Book your Marathon Coaches return bus in advance and take the hassle out of concert-day transport.

Fontaines DC

Book your bus: https://marathongroup.ie/collections/buses-to-fontaines-at-slane-castle 

Oasis at Slane Castle

Book your bus: https://marathongroup.ie/collections/buses-to-oasis-at-slane-castle  

Questions about how to get to Slane Castle

These answers apply to our 2027 buses from Dublin to Slane Castle. 

How far is Slane Castle from Dublin?

Slane Castle is approximately 50 km from Dublin City Centre.

The journey normally takes around 35 minutes, but concert-day traffic can significantly increase travel times. Marathon Coaches recorded an average journey time of 43 minutes during the Luke Combs concert in 2026. 

Is there a bus from Dublin to Slane Castle?

Yes. Marathon Coaches operates dedicated return concert buses from Dublin City Centre to Slane Castle on major concert days.

You can book your return ticket online and select your preferred departure time.

Where does the Slane Castle bus leave from?

Marathon Coaches buses depart from Common Street in Dublin 1, behind Connolly Station.

Look for the Marathon Coaches check-in area and customer-care team. 

What time do the buses leave Dublin for Slane?

Marathon Coaches services typically operate between 11:00am and 4:00pm, with departures approximately every 30 minutes.

You select your preferred departure time during the booking process.

Where does the bus drop passengers at Slane Castle?

The coach will use the official event coach drop-off area at Slane Castle.

The exact location is confirmed as part of the event traffic and transport management plan.

Ticket holders will receive updated information once the final location has been confirmed.

Does the Slane Castle bus return to Dublin after the concert?

Yes. Marathon Coaches tickets are return tickets.

Return coaches operate after the concert and bring passengers back to Dublin City Centre. 

Can I get a taxi from Slane Castle to Dublin?

Yes, but taxis can be difficult and expensive to arrange after a major concert because of the volume of traffic and the rural location of Slane.

Booking your return coach in advance means your transport back to Dublin is already arranged.

Can I bring a bag on the Slane Castle bus?

Small bags are generally permitted on the coach, but the rules for entering Slane Castle are determined by the concert organiser.

Always check the latest event-specific bag policy before travelling.

Is the Marathon Slane Castle bus wheelchair accessible?

Accessible coach travel can be arranged. 

If you require accessible travel, please contact Marathon Coaches at orders@marathoncoaches.ie before booking so our team can assist with your requirements.

Can I change my Slane Castle bus booking?

Yes. Booking changes can be made through your booking confirmation. A fee applies to booking changes and a new ticket will be issued.

Is there a train to Slane Castle?

No. Slane does not have a train station.

The nearest railway connections are in Drogheda, after which you will need onward transport to Slane.

How early should I book my Slane Castle bus?

We recommend booking as early as possible. Major concerts at Slane Castle attract tens of thousands of visitors and dedicated concert transport can be in high demand.