From outside Trinity College, take Nassau Street (N11) for about 150 metres then turn right following the signposts for the R118. Follow the R118 (also known as Mount Street which becomes Merrion Road) for approximately 2km. The RDS Main Complex will be situated on the right hand side.
To go to the Simmonscourt Complex continue along the Merrion Road and turn right into Simmonscourt Road. The RDS Simmonscourt Complex is situated on the left hand side after the two office buildings.
The RDS is serviced by several bus routes nationally (see Bus Éireann) and locally by Dublin Bus. The direct Dublin Bus routes to RDS Ballsbridge from Nassau Street outside Trinity College:
4 From Harristown To Monkstown Avenue via Ballsbridge (Anglesea Rd.)
7 From Mountjoy Sq. Towards Loughlinstown/ Cherrywood via Ballsbridge (Anglesea Rd.)
18 From Palmerstown (Old Lucan Rd.) Towards Sandymount via Ballsbridge (Anglesea Rd.)
8 From Mountjoy Sq. via Ballsbridge (Anglesea Rd.)
27X From UCD Belfield To Clare Hall Via RDS Ballsbridge
There are also multiple routes serviced to and from the nearby Stillorgan Road, Bus Garage stop 772 which is only 10 minutes walking distance from the RDS.
For further details view our access guide or for more information on local Dublin Bus routes visit www.dublinbus.ie or call +353 (0)1 873 4222.
Dublin DART (Dublin Area Rapid Transport)
The DART service operates from the City Centre to Ballsbridge. Lansdowne Station and Sandymount Station are approximately a 5 minute walk from the RDS.
Directions from Sandymount Station:
Follow the exit signs and turn right onto Sandymount Avenue. Continue until you reach the traffic light – the Clayton Hotel Ballsbridge will be directly in front of you. For the Main Complex, Halls 1-7, turn right onto Merrion Road and the entrance will be on your left. For the Simmonscourt Complex, Hall 8, continue straight ahead from the crossroads, passing the Clayton Hotel Ballsbridge on your left. The Simmonscourt Complex is down the road on the left.
InterCity Rail services run from 2 different Dublin stations: Heuston Station and Connolly Station.
Heuston Station has trains to and from to Ballina, Westport, Galway, Limerick, Tralee, Cork, Waterford,
Portlaoise and Kildare.
Connolly Station has trains to/from Belfast, Sligo, Dundalk, Kildare, Longford and Rosslare Europort.
The Luas Red Line links the two stations door to door.
The RDS is linked to the train stations by the Dart at Connolly Station. Connolly Station also has bus connections, DART and LUAS terminals.
Dublin Port is on the north of the city approximately ten minutes drive from the RDS.
Dun Laoghaire Port, south of the city, is twenty minutes drive from the RDS.
The number 7 bus has bus stops at the corner of Merrion Road and Simmonscourt Road to access the Simmonscourt Complex and on the Merrion Road for the Main Complex. The number 7 bus continues into the City Centre.