Dublin City

Golf

Dublin has an abundance of top quality golf clubs, both near to the city centre, and a little further afield. Try Castleknock; Druids Glen Golf Club; Luttrellstown Castle Golf Club; Malahide Golf Club; and Portmarnock Golf Club - they all offer spectacular golf and scenery.

Iveagh Gardens

Dubliners-in-the-know hit the pretty Iveagh Gardens in summer for relaxed picnics and lazy afternoons. It’s a true urban oasis.

Merrion Square, Dublin

A beautiful park right in the heart of the city surrounded by Georgian buildings. On the weekend Merrion Square becomes an impromptu art gallery with local artists selling their wares along the railings.

National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin

Occupying a beautiful 48-acre site on the banks of the Tolka River, the gardens are a favourite with Dubliners and contain over 20,000 different plant species.

Phoenix Park

Dublin's playground and the largest urban enclosed park in Europe with a total area of 1,760 acres. Livestock graze peacefully on pasturelands, deer roam the forested areas and horses settle scores on polo fields. Bliss…

Riding

Surrounded by mountains and coastlines, County Dublin is a delightful spot for horse trekking. Try the highly recommended Paddocks, which is BHS approved and overlooks the city and bay.

Sailing, Windsurfing & Power-boating

Test your skills on the water, or learn new ones at the Fingal Sailing School. Established in 1973, it’s got a stunning location on the picturesque Broad Meadow Estuary.

Sea Swimming

Dublin’s waters may look icy, but that doesn’t put off the locals who swim at South County Dublin spots like Seapoint (with its Blue Flag), and the 40ft at Sandycove right throughout the winter – Christmas Day sees swimmers taking the plunge by the dozen. You may prefer the more temperate months of August and September when the Irish sea glistens a beautiful blue.

St Anne’s Park & Rose Gardens, Raheny

Covering some 270 acres in addition to extensive woodlands, water features and recreational facilities, St Anne’s Rose Gardens are of international importance and are at their peak in June, July, August and September.

St Stephen’s Green

First enclosed in 1664, the 22 acre park was laid out in its present form in 1880. Landscaped with flowerbeds, trees, a fountain and a lake, the 1887 bandstand is still the focal point for free daytime concerts in summer.

Talbot Botanic Gardens, Malahide

The gardens were largely created by Lord Milo Talbot in the years 1948 to 1973, and cover an area of over eight hectares of shrubbery and walled gardens.

The Liffey Challenge

Take part in the Liffey Challenge when the river swells and some of the world's greatest paddlers and rowers take to the water.

The Malahide Sea Safari

Hold on to your seat and enjoy a fantastic speedboat ride around Dublin Bay while getting up close to Dublin’s birds and sea life.

Walking Tours of Dublin

With its compact size, Dublin is ideally suited for exploration on foot. Try a traditional music or a historical walking tour.

Water-skiing & Cycling

Make the most of Dublin’s natural surroundings with water-skiing at locations around Dublin Bay, or maybe take a bike along Grand Canal Way, the Phoenix Park or the expansive seafront.

Lambert Puppet Museum, Monkstown

Founded by master ventriloquist Eugene Lambert, this theatre presents puppet shows designed to delight.

Open Top Bus Tours

Pack in all of Dublin’s attractions with a bus tour that takes in the Guinness Storehouse, Phoenix Park, Dublin Zoo, the Irish Whiskey Trail at the Old Jameson Distillery, Christ Church Cathedral, St Patrick’s Cathedral and more.

The Bram Stoker Dracula Experience

The Dublin-born author of Dracula lived very near to this new hi-tech centre, which is devoted to his life and works.

The Dublin Horse Show

The magnificent Dublin Horse Show is Ireland’s largest equestrian event featuring riders from across the globe.

The Viking Splash Tour

For a particularly peculiar view of the city, take to the water in a reconditioned World War II amphibious “Duck” vehicle and explore Dublin’s historic sights on land. Plus, you can also enjoy scaring unsuspecting passers-by with the rather boisterous Viking Splash Tour “roar”!

Dublin Writers Museum

Discover Dublin’s rich literary history with a celebration of the lives and works of renowned poets, authors and playwrights, such as Jonathan Swift, George Bernard Shaw, Oscar Wilde and W B Yeats.

Festivals

Enjoy Dublin cultural life at its best with one of the city’s top festivals including the Taste of Dublin, the Dublin Theatre Festival; the Dublin Film Festival; the excellent Fringe Festival; the Bulmers International Comedy Festival and the BudRising Music Festival.

Irish Museum of Modern Art

A must for modern art fans, IMMA houses an innovative range of international and Irish 20th century arts within the spectacular 17th-century Royal Hospital Kilmainham.

James Joyce Museum

Located by the sea near the pretty village of Sandycove, the James Joyce Tower (the setting for the first chapter of Ulysses) was used by the author as a residence and is one of a series of impressive Martello towers built to withstand a possible Napoleonic invasion.

National Gallery of Ireland

The beautifully grand National Gallery houses Ireland's national collection of Irish art and European Masters. The more recent addition of the modern Merrion Wing has enlivened the gallery with a bright, dynamic space.

National Museum of Ireland

Ireland’s new museum on the banks of the River Liffey is home to a glittering national collection of decorative arts and history.

St Patrick’s Festival

Test your stamina with a full-on five-day party, which transforms the streets of Dublin with a spectacular selection of music, fireworks, funfairs, street theatre and dance.

The Civic Theatre

Out in the suburbs of Tallaght, this bright, modern theatre will reward you with fine productions both in the main theatre and the smaller studio.

The Gaiety Theatre

This lovely 19th-century theatre is centrally located near to Stephen’s Green and Grafton Street and plays host to a wide variety of musical comedy, ballet, pantomime, and drama.

The Gate Theatre

Established as a theatre in 1928, the Gate stages a broad range of Irish and international plays, and was the starting point for such luminaries as Orson Wells and James Mason.

The National Concert Hall

The National Concert Hall is Ireland’s most prestigious music venue offering weekly performances by the National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland.

Fine Dining

Indulge your palette at Dublin’s finest restaurants. Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud is the top place to dine in the city with two Michelin Stars and modern classic cuisine. L’Ecrivain is an award-winning spot that has built a steady reputation for innovative Irish/French food. Chapter One serves up innovative and delicious food in an elegant dining room with exposed granite walls and fine art. Thornton’s Restaurant overlooking Stephen’s Green also enjoys two Michelin stars Dubliners also continue to enjoy perennially popular spots like The Tea Rooms at U2’s Clarence Hotel, and One Pico.

Food halls and markets

If you like to browse around before deciding where to eat, then try the top floor of the elegant Powerscourt Townhouse Centre with an abundance of casual spots; or the very popular Epicurean Food Hall with everything from towering bagels to spicy Indian feasts. Also worth a visit is the lively Temple Bar Food Market on Saturdays in Meeting House Square, with excellent food stalls serving global and Irish cuisine.

Luxurious Hideouts

Dublin is awash with exceptional hotels that provide a tranquil retreat from the urban buzz. The Morrison, The Clarence, and The Morgan are all hip, stylish spots smack in the centre of the city and popular with the young and the fashionable. For utter luxury, try the Westin with an unbeatable location in a converted bank just near Trinity College; the Westbury in the heart of Dublin’s shopping district; the chic and minimalist Fitzwilliam; the elegant Merrion Hotel and the opulent Four Seasons, which is just outside the city centre in the district of Ballsbridge. For those after a more intimate experience, try La Stampa, Brooks, or Brownes.

Nightlife

Dublin kicks off after-dark with a hopping nightlife scene, which takes in everything from cool jazz theatre to heavy rock. Some of Dublin’s best live music venues include The Ambassador, Crawdaddy, Whelan’s, The Village, Vicar Street, and The Sugar Club. Also, try JJ Smyth’s for a spot of jazz right through the week. If you want to hit a club, then some of Dublin’s hottest venues include the ever popular Lillies Bordello and Renards; the massive superclub Spirit, or the very chic Spy. For dance music and visiting DJs, try The Vaults, Wax and The Hub.

Pub life

Dublin’s pubs are legendary and are at the heart of the city’s social life. If you want to see where the writers hung out you could always try the Literary Pub Crawl. Otherwise, for a slice of authentic pub life, head to Kehoe’s; Mulligan’s; the Stag’s Head; Grogan’s Castle Lounge; Neary’s; Peter’s Pub; and the Palace.

Dragon Bar (64 South Great George’s Street)

The newest, flashiest bar to hit Dublin’s gay scene.

Dublin Pride

Parade with outdoor concerts and events in June.

Frankies Guesthouse (8 Camden Place)

Exclusively gay and lesbian guesthouse located in the centre of Dublin.

Front Lounge (33 Parliament Street)

A stylish, elegant, airy bar with plush sofas and a straight-friendly vibe.

Gay and Lesbian Film Festival

A plethora of screenings are held annually at this very popular festival held at the Irish Film Institute.

GUBU (7-8 Capel Street)

Mixed gay, lesbian and straight bar with hip décor and a laid-back vibe.

Hilton Edwards @ SPY (Powerscourt Townhouse Centre).

Cool, plush surrounds and good tunes. This gay club night is on every Bank Holiday Sunday night.

Slattery’s Bar (129 Capel Street)

Trendy bar with gay night every Saturday.

Stonewallz, Molloy’s Bar

Friday nights are women only.

The George (89 South Great George’s Street)

One of Dublin’s longest running gay bars, The George is now an institution with a bar and nightclub over two levels. Dubliners still head there for Bingo with a twist on Sunday nights.

Venu (61-63 Capel Street)

New women’s bar next door to Yello.

Yello (61-63 Capel Street)

Bright, fashionable bar with good atmosphere.

Department stores

Dublin has enough department stores to keep even the most die-hard shopper happy. Brown Thomas on Grafton Street is a salubrious spot with an enormous shoe hall and top designer labels. Arnotts on Henry Street has re-invented itself in the last decade and is now a gleaming behemoth, with more emphasis on high-street labels than designer. Branches of British department stores House of Fraser and Harvey Nichols in Dundrum Shopping Centre, Debenhams in Dublin are all worth exploring. Roches Stores, meanwhile, is a large, well-stocked department store with a large branch of Spanish chain store Zara.

Government Buildings

The imposing offices of the Government Departments (including an Taoiseach’s office) are open to the public at certain times. Guided tours are available on Saturdays and admission is free.

Guinness Storehouse

The air around the Guinness Storehouse is heavy with the smell of hops, and this hi-tech home of the Black Stuff offers a fascinating insight into 250 years of brewing history. The tour finishes up with a complimentary pint in the spectacular 360degree Gravity Bar.

Ha’penny Bridge

Accepted as the symbol of Dublin, the charming Ha'penny Bridge (officially Wellington Bridge) arcs across the Liffey and was opened in 1816. The bridge was the only pedestrian bridge until 2000, when the modern Millennium Bridge opened up.

Malahide Castle

Set on 250 acres of parkland, Malahide Castle was both a fortress and a private home for nearly 800 years and is an interesting mix of architectural styles.

Newbridge House & Traditional Farm, Donabate

This delightful 18th-century manor is set on 350 acres of parkland, 12 miles north of Dublin city centre, and boasts one of the finest Georgian interiors in Ireland.

Old Jameson Distillery

Nestling in the heart of old Dublin lies the old Jameson Distillery, with origins dating back to 1780. Tours are available.

The Dublin Experience

Get interactive and uncover Dublin’s fascinating history with this exhibition, which covers Viking times to the present day.

The River Liffey

The River Liffey is one of the main features of the city and has undergone considerable regeneration in recent years. It rises in the Sally Gap near Kippure in County Wicklow, travels 125km through the centre of Dublin, into Dublin Bay and finally the Irish Sea.

Trinity College

Founded in 1592, Trinity College Dublin sits on a beautiful campus with lots of delightfully historic buildings set amongst the greenery and cobblestones. You can ramble around for a few hours or else seek out heritage attractions including the Book of Kells and The Dublin Experience.