Helping your Students Navigate Public Transport in Dublin
Dublin’s public transport network is key to helping students explore the city with confidence and independence.
Supporting Independence with Simple Guidance
One of the most valuable things you can do as a host family is help your international student feel confident getting around their new city. For students aged 17 to 25 who are unfamiliar with Dublin, navigating public transport for the first time can feel daunting.
Fortunately, with a little guidance most students quickly learn how to get where they need to go—whether it is to ADC College, work placement, or a city landmark they want to explore.
Here is how you can help them find their feet, gain independence, and feel safe while travelling in Dublin.
1. Start with the basics
Take a few minutes to explain the different types of transport in Dublin. The main ones are:
Dublin Bus – the most commonly used service for commuting to school and placements
Luas – a light rail system with Red and Green lines
DART – the coastal train that connects the city centre with seaside towns like Howth, Dun Laoghaire, and Bray
Show your student where the nearest stops are and how to recognise each type of transport.
2. Explain the Leap Card
We arrange Leap Cards for our students (unless we are specifically told my group leaders not to do this) and hand them to students shortly after arrival at the airport.
If students do not have a Leap Card with them, explain to them where they can buy them.
Also, let your students know that tapping on and off is essential, especially on the Luas and DART lines.
3. Give them confidence
If possible, talk your guests through the journey—especially if their English is limited or they seem nervous. If possible, walk with them to the closest bus or train station and show them where to get on and off, how to read the bus display, and how to ask the driver for help. This small gesture builds their confidence and shows that you care about their safety and independence. When supporting your student with planning their daily commute, try to avoid making comments about how long the journey might take. In many cases, there is a reason for longer travel times—for example, accommodation preferences, shared living arrangements, or specific placement types required by their school. If your student seems unsure or anxious about the commute, reassure them and remind them that using public transport is a great way to become more familiar with the city. If concerns remain, you can encourage them to speak with one of our team members during their check-in session.
As a general guide, students may need to travel up to 1.5 hours to reach their work placement during peak hours. In some cases where travel times are unusually long, we may be able to arrange a reduction in working hours to ease the burden.
4. Teach them to use Google Maps and TFI Journey Planner
Google Maps and the Transport for Ireland (TFI) Journey Planner are incredibly helpful tools for planning routes and tracking real-time transport updates. If your student is unfamiliar with apps like these, take a few minutes to walk them through how they work.
5. Safety tips for travelling alone
Reassure your student that Dublin is generally a safe city, but it is still smart to follow basic travel safety tips:
Travel with friends when possible, especially at night
Keep valuables zipped away or close to the body
Be aware of surroundings when using headphones
Always have their phone charged before leaving the house
You can even give them a small card with your address and contact number, in case they get lost or need help. At the same time, do not scare students – we would not place them anywhere, including at work, if we did not think it was safe. Joking remarks may be taken out of context and can make students or their group leaders feel anxious.
6. Encourage exploration
Once they are confident with transport, encourage them to explore some of Dublin’s highlights—Phoenix Park, Trinity College, the coastline, or a local museum. Independent exploration is part of what makes a placement abroad so memorable. Your guidance gives them the tools to make the most of it.
7. Check in after the first week
After a few days or a week, ask how their commuting is going. Are they managing the route to school or work comfortably? Have they found their favourite lunch spots? Just checking in shows your continued support and opens the door in case they need help adjusting.
Helping your student navigate public transport is about more than getting from A to B—it is about helping them feel capable and independent in a brand-new environment. With just a bit of time and care, you can turn something unfamiliar into something empowering.
If you are ever unsure about how to help your student with their commute, reach out to us—we are always happy to guide you and your student through it.
If you are curious about hosting, check out our other blog posts or sign up to become a host family. We would love to hear from you!