Dublin
We’ve compiled the best of the best in Dublin - browse our top choices for the top things to see or do during your stay.
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1. National Museum of Decorative Arts and History
Phoenix Park and EnvironsHere, in one gigantic treasure chest, is the full panoply of the National Museum's collection of glass, silver, furniture, and other decorative arts, along with some items from the country's military history. The setting is spectacular: the huge Collins Barracks, named for the assassinated Irish Republican leader Michael Collins (1890–1922). Built in the early 18th century, and designed by Captain Thomas Burgh, these erstwhile "Royal Barracks" were stylishly renovated to become a showcase for the museum, which opened in September 1997. The displays are far-ranging, covering everything from one of the greatest collections of Irish silver in the world to Irish period furniture—you'll see that the country's take on Chippendale was far earthier than the English mode. Soldiers and Chiefs: The Irish at War and a thousand years of Irish coins are other highlights. Headlining the collections are some extraordinary objects, including the Fonthill Vase, the William Smith O'Brien Gold Cup, and the Lord Chancellor's Mace. There is also a small military museum.
Dublin, Co. Dublin, Dublin 7, Ireland01-677–7444Sight Details
Rate Includes: Free, Closed Mon. -
2. Phoenix Park
Europe's largest enclosed public park, which extends about 5 km (3 miles) along the Liffey's north bank, encompasses 1,752 acres and holds a lot of verdant green lawns, woods, lakes, and playing fields. Sunday is the best time to visit: games of cricket, football (soccer), polo, baseball, hurling (a traditional Irish sport that resembles a combination of lacrosse, baseball, and field hockey), and Irish football are likely to be in progress. Old-fashioned gas lamps line both sides of Chesterfield Avenue, the main road that bisects the park for 4 km (2½ miles), which was named for Lord Chesterfield, a lord lieutenant of Ireland, who laid out the road in the 1740s. The beautiful, pristine 1896 Victorian Tea Rooms near the Avenue still serve dainty dishes for park visitors. To the right as you enter the park is the People's Garden, a colorful flower garden designed in 1864. Rent bikes (including tandems) at the main gate to get the most from the park's hidden corners. Within Phoenix Park is a visitor center, in the 17th-century fortified Ashtown Castle; it has information about the park's history, flora, and fauna. Admission to the center is free, and it runs guided tours of the park throughout the year. There is also the wonderful Phoenix Cafe beside the old walled garden.
View Tours and ActivitiesIreland01-677–0095-visitor centerSight Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and Tues. in Jan. and Feb. -
3. Arbour Hill Cemetery
Dublin WestAll 14 Irishmen executed by the British following the 1916 Easter Rising are buried here, including Pádraig Pearse, who led the rebellion; his younger brother Willie, who played a minor role in the uprising; and James Connolly, a socialist and labor leader wounded in the battle. Too weak from his wounds to stand, Connolly was tied to a chair and then shot. The burial ground is a simple but formal area, with the names of the dead leaders carved in stone beside an inscription of the proclamation they issued during the uprising.
Dublin, Co. Dublin, Ireland01-821–3021Sight Details
Rate Includes: Free -
4. Dublin Zoo
Dublin WestFounded in 1830, Dublin Zoo may be the third-oldest public zoo in the world but the modern incarnation is an exciting, humane, and well-thought-out wildlife adventure. Animals from tropical climes are kept in unbarred enclosures, and Arctic species swim in the lakes close to the reptile house. Some 700 lions have been bred here since the 1850s, one of whom became familiar to movie fans the world over when MGM used him for its trademark. (As they will tell you at the zoo, he is in fact yawning in that familiar shot: an American lion had to be hired to roar and the "voice" was dubbed.) The African Plains section houses the zoo's larger species; the Nakuru Safari is a 25-minute tour of this area. Sea Lion Cove is one of the most popular destinations, especially at feeding time. In summer the Lakeside Café serves ice cream and drinks.
View Tours and ActivitiesDublin, Co. Dublin, Dublin 8, Ireland01-474–8900Sight Details
Rate Includes: €18.25 -
5. Farmleigh
Dublin WestThis 78-acre Edwardian estate, situated northwest of Phoenix Park and accessed via the main park road, includes Farmleigh House (which is full of antique furnishings and historic art, now used to accommodate visiting dignitaries), a working farm, walled and sunken gardens, wonderful picnic-friendly grounds, a regular organic food market, and a restaurant in the boathouse. Guided tours of the house last 45 minutes and are offered hourly on a first-come, first-served basis but are limited in size; moreover, the house may be closed on short notice if it is in use by the government.
Castleknock, Dublin, Co. Dublin, Dublin 8, Ireland01-815–7255Sight Details
Rate Includes: Free, €8 guided tour., Closed Jan. and Feb. -
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