Dublin

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

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 outside.

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

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…

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. Admission is free.

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 Green is dotted with memorials to eminent Dubliners. The 1887 bandstand is still the focal point for free daytime concerts in summer.

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.

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