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Parks and the outdoors in Dublin

7 parks, gardens, beaches and walks in and around Dublin.

Ranked with the travel guide's picks and well-known places first.

Parks and the outdoors in Dublin

  1. Do

    Croke Park Stadium

    This stages Gaelic football and hurling for Dublin County GAA and national competitions, with a playing season April-Sep. The stadium has a capacity of 82,300 yet you may struggle to get tickets for big games. Tours of the stadium and GAA museum are also available, including a chance to try out these sports. You can also take the "skyline walk" across the stadium roof.

  2. See

    Glasnevin Cemetery

    Reilig Ghlas Naíon

    This opened as an RC cemetery in 1832, in an era when the Catholics weren't allowed their own parish churches, and their burials were begrudged affairs in Protestant ground. Glasnevin has grown and grown, expanding south across Finglas road into the St Paul's section, but the famous names are north side. You can visit the cemetery free, but to make sense of it go to the visitor centre (daily 10AM-5PM, closed M Tu in winter). Walking tours visit the graves of Daniel O'Connell, Charles Stewart Parnell, Michael Collins, Eamonn De Valera and many others of historic or architectural interest. A back gate connects to the Botanic Gardens.

    Daily 9AM-5PMTour adult €14, conc or child €12

  3. See

    Hugh Lane Gallery

    Sir Hugh Lane (1875-1915) was one of the first collectors of modern art. He died in the sinking of Lusitania and this public gallery reflects his Will, which involved about as much negotiation, fudge and compromise as the Treaty for Irish independence. The permanent exhibitions are mostly contemporary Irish artists, plus Francis Bacon's studio, relocated from London in 2001. Charlemont House was built in 1763 and in 1929 its gardens were built over to create the gallery, which is wheelchair accessible.

    Tue-Sat 10AM-5PM, Sun 11AM-5PMFree

  4. See

    Irish Museum of Modern Art

    IMMA

    Modern and contemporary art, housed in the Royal Hospital of 1684. See also the elegant courtyard and formal gardens.

    Tue-Sat 10AM-5:30PM, Sun noon-5:30PMFree

  5. Drink

    Nancy Hands

    Family-friendly restaurant and bar by entrance to Phoenix Park.

    Sun-Thu noon-11:30PM, Fri Sat noon-12:30AM

  6. See

    National Botanic Gardens

    Extensive gardens favouring alkaline-loving species. The great Palm House was where Wittgenstein often came to warm his lugubrious backside. A gateway leads into Glasnevin Cemetery adjacent. The gardens also manage the arboretum at Kilmacurragh near Wicklow Town.

    Mar-Oct Mon-Fri 9AM-5PM, Sat Sun 10AM-6PM; Nov-Feb Mon-Fri 9AM-4:30PM, Sat Sun 10AM-4:30PMFree

  7. See Not mapped

    Chester Beatty Library

    Sir Alfred Chester Beatty (1875-1968) was an American mining magnate who amassed a fabulous collection of early books and manuscripts and oriental art. He moved to London and collaborated generously with the British Museum, but in 1950 there was a falling-out and he moved to Ireland. He established the library to avoid his collection being split up; it's now in the Clock Tower in the Castle gardens.

    Mar-Oct Mon Tue Thu-Sat 10AM-5:30PM, Wed 10AM-8PM, Sun noon-5:30PM, Nov-Feb closed MonDonation €10

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Dublin (CC BY-SA 4.0).