Discover Dublin’s Best Parks

Wherever you walk in Dublin, there’s some kind of story to be found. In the city’s sculpted Georgian squares and sprawling green spaces, you’ll learn a lot about its people. Dubliners cherish any excuse to gather outdoors, especially when the sun is shining. Therefore, when you’ve enjoyed the museums, galleries, restaurants, and distilleries, find a park to relax in and watch the stories unfold from the comfort of your picnic blanket.

Phoenix Park

Best park for families, cycling and wildlife

Measuring 709 glorious hectares, Phoenix Park is one of the world’s largest city parks. Visitors can enjoy jogging, strolling, and spotting over 300 fallow deer. In summer, grab a spot amidst the crowds in the grass by the Papal Cross, Waterloo Monument, Magazine Fort or Farmleigh. The park features cricket and polo grounds, a motor-racing track, and a Victorian tea room, adding to its charm. It also houses Dublin Zoo.

St Stephen’s Green

Best park for picnics

Dublin’s most popular city park, located on the south side of the city center next to Grafton St, is a glorious Victorian space. It boasts tree-lined paths, vibrant floral displays, and a tranquil lake home to mallard ducks, swans, and a variety of bird species. The perimeter is densely planted with trees, providing shelter from city noise, hence creating a peaceful environment for a leisurely stroll. Various sculptures, including the James Joyce Memorial, can be found in this park. Highlights include a scented garden for those with visual impairments, a children’s playground, and the Bandstand. On sunny days, this park is bustling with activity, making it a delightful way to engage with the city’s spirit.

National Botanic Gardens

Best park for nature lovers

Founded in 1795, these 19.5-hectare botanic gardens feature stunning curvilinear glasshouses from 1843 to 1869, the creation of Richard Turner. Inside these Victorian masterpieces, one can find advanced botanical techniques, including computer-controlled environments reflecting various global climates.

Iveagh Gardens

Best tranquil city park

Iveagh Gardens, designed by Ninian Niven in 1863, feature beautiful grounds including a rustic grotto, a cascade, a fountain, a maze, and a rosarium. The park is less crowded than others and hosts concerts, food, and comedy festivals in summer.

Trinity College

Best park for a date

The grounds of Trinity College are open to the public, and on a sunny day you’ll find people lounging at the edge of the cricket grounds or the grass beside the Pavilion Bar (The Pav). This bar, the college’s clubhouse, welcomes anyone for a drink or a bite to eat. Many enjoy their refreshments on the cricket grounds, turning them into Dublin’s largest unofficial beer garden.

Merrion Square

Best park for toddlers

Merrion Square is prestigious and arguably the most elegant of Dublin’s Georgian squares. Its well-kept lawns and flower beds are bordered by beautiful Georgian homes adorned with colorful doors and ornate features. Established in 1762, this stunning square is beside the National Gallery and Leinster House. A colorful statue of Oscar Wilde sits inside the northwestern corner, while the playground remains a favored spot for toddlers due to its relative quietness compared to St Stephen’s Green.

Killiney Hill Park

Best park for hiking

This picturesque park, while just outside the city center, offers breathtaking views. It is a 30-minute journey by train or bus from the city center, encompassing Killiney Hill and Dalkey Hill. It serves as a popular destination for hikers and overlooks the affluent villages of Killiney and Dalkey. On clear days, views stretch across Dublin and Bray Head, and if you’re particularly lucky, all the way to Wales.

The People’s Park

Best park for food markets

This park, located in the suburb of Dun Laoghaire, is well worth the train trip. It features a popular Sunday food market, offering organic vegetables, local seafood, Irish fruits, and farm cheeses among other artisanal goods. Street performers and musicians frequently entertain visitors, enhancing the lively atmosphere. Enjoying a slice of Neapolitan pizza or a wine and cheese board while people-watching is a perfect way to spend your day before taking a stroll down the promenade or pier for a sunset view.

The Castle Gardens

Best park for reading

Located just off Dame St in Dublin’s city center, this well-maintained park on the grounds of Dublin Castle is an excellent spot to relax after visiting the castle or the Chester Beatty Library. The main Dubh Linn garden occupies the original Black Pool site, and it is flanked by the castle’s medieval walls and surrounded by smaller memorial gardens, providing a tranquil setting perfect for unwinding.

Irish National War Memorial Gardens

Best park to escape the crowds

Hardly anyone ventures this far west, yet they miss a beautiful landscape of the War Memorial Gardens, officially designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens. This memorial honors the 49,400 Irish soldiers who perished in WWI, with their names inscribed on two granite bookrooms standing at one end.

Herbert Park

Best park for dogs

This beautiful park features flowing lawns, ponds, and flower beds, located near the Royal Dublin Society Showground. Nestled between the scenic areas of Ballsbridge and Donnybrook along the River Dodder, it’s a prime spot for dog walkers. The park also has tennis, boules, and croquet courts, along with a children’s playground. In addition, Herbert Park is Dublin’s top cherry blossom venue, showcasing the highest number of cherry trees in the capital. Its close proximity to the Aviva Stadium makes it a great place for a stroll before or after a match.

St Patrick’s Park

Best park for lunch with a view

Situated at the edge of the historic Liberties district, St Patrick’s Park offers a lovely respite during a walk back to the city center from the Guinness Storehouse or local distilleries. It’s an ideal stop for a takeaway lunch from nearby cafes, providing a charming spot facing the medieval St Patrick’s Cathedral. The park features landscaped gardens, a playground, and a Literary Parade, showcasing the work of iconic Irish authors such as Oscar Wilde, James Joyce, and others.

Blessington Street Basin

Best hidden gem

Dublin’s ‘secret garden’ is just a 15-minute walk from O’Connell Street in Phibsborough, one of Dublin’s trendiest neighborhoods. Referenced in James Joyce’s Ulysses, the park features a former reservoir turned “duck pond” where you can spot swans, Mandarin ducks, moorhens, and various other species. Three of the best coffee spots in Dublin – Two Boys Brew, Clement & Pekoe, and Bang Bang – are all within walking distance. Grab a coffee and enjoy the scenery or stroll through the surrounding parks.