FamilyFree
Phoenix Park
Phoenix Park
One of Europe’s largest city parks, with a zoo and roaming deer.
- Suggested time: 2h 30m
- No booking needed
- Suits: Families
Open daily
Dublin
10 quieter places to add to the big sights: viewpoints, markets, walks, small museums and local favourites.
10 places in Dublin
Day Trips~£3
Howth Cliff Walk Day Trip
Howth (15 km)
A coastal fishing village with cliff walks, seafood and a lighthouse, by DART train.
- Suggested time: 4 hrs
- No booking needed
- Suits: Outdoor lovers · Photographers
Trains run frequently from Dublin
Day Trips~£30
Glendalough Day Trip
Wicklow (55 km)
A glacial valley of two lakes, a monastic site and walking trails in the Wicklow Mountains.
- Suggested time: Full day
- Booking recommended
- Suits: Outdoor lovers · Photographers
Tours and buses run daily
Hidden GemsFree
Chester Beatty Library
Dublin Castle
A free museum of illuminated manuscripts, Islamic art and rare books, in a peaceful setting behind Dublin Castle.
- Suggested time: 1h 30m
- No booking needed
- Suits: Culture lovers
Daily; hours vary
Hidden GemsFree
National Museum of Ireland: Archaeology
Kildare Street
A superb free museum of Irish gold, Viking finds and “bog bodies”, in a grand rotunda building.
- Suggested time: 1h 30m
- No booking needed
- Suits: Culture lovers
Tuesday–Sunday; closed Mondays
Hidden Gems~£5
Marsh’s Library
Saint Patrick’s Close
A perfectly preserved 18th-century library with dark oak bookcases and wire “cages” to lock readers in with rare books.
- Suggested time: 45 min
- No booking needed
- Suits: Culture lovers
Wednesday–Saturday; closed Sun–Tue
Hidden GemsFree
Iveagh Gardens
St Stephen’s Green
A hidden, secluded park with waterfalls, a rose garden and a maze, behind the National Concert Hall.
- Suggested time: 45 min
- No booking needed
- Suits: Outdoor lovers
Daily; closes at dusk
Hidden Gems~£12
The Little Museum of Dublin
St Stephen’s Green
An informal, guided museum of 20th-century Dublin life in a Georgian house, with a room devoted to U2.
- Suggested time: 1 hr
- No booking needed
- Suits: Culture lovers
Daily; guided tours
Hidden gems are the quieter alternatives to the headline sights. Prices, hours and booking advice are approximate, so check the official site before you go.