Timeline
15:06
Grab a drink or light meal at Nancy Hands. It is a family-friendly pub right by the Phoenix Park entrance, making it a convenient start before heading into the grounds.
15:21
Walk into the northeast section of Phoenix Park to Dublin Zoo. The zoo grounds offer open spaces and tree lines that frame the western sky perfectly as the light begins to fade.
16:36
Find a spot within the zoo or the surrounding parkland facing southwest. At 16:36 the sun sets toward the SW, casting a final golden glow over the habitats and trees.
17:21
Return to Nancy Hands to wind down. The pub stays open until 23:30 on weekdays and Sundays, offering a warm place to finish the evening after the chill of the sunset.
Local tip
The zoo closes at 18:00, so ensure you have your ticket or entry sorted before the moment passes. Nancy Hands is open late, so you can linger there as long as you like after the sun goes down.
Check before you go
- Dublin Zoo is open Mo-Su 09:30-18:00.
- Nancy Hands is open Mo-Th and Su 12:00-23:30; Fr and Sa 12:00-00:30.
Built from places in the Wikivoyage guide to Dublin (CC BY-SA 4.0), with open map data from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).