Ireland has always been considered a magical country, and Dublin is a special city. This city is definitely worth a visit to get acquainted with the culture of the Celts, and imbued with the spirit of its nature.
Dublin has many interesting places, but the next 7 deserve special attention. So grab an umbrella or a raincoat, some money and enjoy green Dublin!
Phoenix Park
Location: Dublin, 8 Ireland
Parking is available for € 1,50 (per hour) at Heuston Station, St John’s Road West
Working hours: 24 hours/day
Length of visit: 1-2 hours
Entry: free
Phoenix Park in Dublin is the largest fenced park in Europe, with an area of 707 hectares. Phoenix Park was opened in the mid-17th century. The most amazing thing that you will see is a huge herds of deer living here. Just imagine a city center and deer in it!
Deer feel pretty comfortable with the visitors, and tourists use to take pictures very close to them. Phoenix Park area allows to carry out various sports as well as entertainment events. Different events take place in Phoenix Park every week, for example, a competition of flying kites, so you will not be bored.
Iveagh Gardens
Location: Clonmel St., Dublin 2, Ireland
Parking is available for € 2.90 (per hour) at Glover’s Alley, Dublin 2
Working hours: Mon–Sat 8.00 am – 6 pm
Length of visit: 1-2 hours
Entry: free
If you are searching for a quiet and cozy place then go to Iveagh Gardens. Here you will always find silence and serenity.
Iveagh Gardens was founded at the beginning of the XIX century by Count Clonmel, but no one paid enough attention to that garden. Benjamin Guinness, son of the founder of the famous brewery, in 1863, engaged in landscaping the garden. The new project of the park was developed by Ninian Nive, he combined the French and English styles of landscape.
Nowadays Dubliners come to Iveagh Gardens to enjoy nature, enjoy the coolness sitting near the fountain and a small waterfall or just spending a quiet romantic evening.
By the way here you can find a wonderful rose garden.
Newgrange
Location: Newgrange, Donore, Co. Meath Ireland
Working hours: 24 h
Length of visit: 1 – 1.5 hours
Entry: free
Newgrange is a man-made burial mound created about 5000 years ago. This unusual construction is covered with grass, has a diameter of 85 meters and a height of 13.5 meters. There is 19-meters gallery inside, which indicates strongly in the south-east, and leads into the hall that has cruciform shape. There is a certain version of the construction of this building, but most believe that it is was a funeral building.
Newgrange together with the neighboring Knowth and Dowth are included into UNESCO World Heritage List. Whatever it is, without any doubt it is really worth to see, to touch. It is gorgeous!
Black Rock Park
Location: 11 Rock Rd, Ireland
Parking is available for € 5 (per day) at O’Connell’s Terrace Killarney
Working hours: from 8 am. to sunset
Length of visit: 1-1.5 hours
Entry: free
If you are looking for a place where you can relax or just want to play a classic English game – golf, then do not miss Blackrock Park!
This is one of the favorite places of recreation for residents of Dublin, where every member of the family will find something interesting. There are several playgrounds, 6 football fields, tennis courts and a 9-hole golf course. In addition, you can visit some open air concert that usually take place right here, as well as a place for chamber concerts in Marlay House.
Dublin Botanical Garden
Location: Glasnevin, Dublin 9 Ireland
Parking is available for € 12,50 (per day) at Driveway On Glasnevin Park, 11
Working hours: Mon – Fri 9 am – 5 pm, Sat, Sun , Public Holidays 10 am – 6 pm
Length of visit: 1-3 hours
Entry: free
You should definitely include Dublin Botanical Garden in the list of objects to visit. This attraction is also called “the green island” in the city. It has an area of 19.5 hectares, part of which is the natural floodplain of the river Tolka. The garden contains more than 20,000 plants of all possible species and varieties, including rare and endangered, imported from around the world.
There are famous carefully restored greenhouses such as Turners curved greenhouse (built from 1843 to 1869) and the Great Palm House that was award winning Europa Nostra for outstanding achievements in the conservation of architecture.
Simply enjoy the beauty of nature, exotic plants growing in the greenhouse, just take a walk in the park.
Garden of Remembrance
Location: Parnell Sq E, Dublin 1, Ireland
Parking is available for € 2,80 (per hour) at 23 Upper O’Connell Street
Working hours: 7 days/week 8.30am – 6pm
Length of visit: 1-2,5 hours
Entry: free
Garden of Remembrance is a favorite place to have a walk for Dubliners. This unusually beautiful park got its name because of memorial installed on its territory. This monument is dedicated to all those who died for Irish freedom.
In spite of a grim history of the garden it is full of life-affirming splendor of nature: here you will find a lot of wide avenues with comfortable benches, lush trees and a remarkable number of plants, including exotic. In addition you can fell free to have a picnic here.
Wicklow Mountains National Park
Location: Kilafin, Laragh, Co. Wicklow, Ireland
Working hours: Mon – Fri
Length of visit: 2 hours
Entry: free
Take comfortable and closed-toe shoes, a jacket, a raincoat and go hiking to the Wicklow Mountains National Park! The park has paths that are marked by arrows and are divided into 4 categories. Light trails are nearly flat on the surface (for example, you can go around the Lower Lake on the perimeter). Routes average level of difficulty – a short walk next to a beautiful waterfall with a slight slope and the rise in the mountains.
There are also trails for long walks their length are from 4 to 8 km, and the conquest of the hills are for the advanced demands good physical training and experience in orientation.
How to see all these attractions in Dublin?
Don`t miss your chance, discover all the beauty of the green nature of Dublin! To do this you should rent some car, of course, if you don`t want to waste money on expensive taxis or your time waiting for buses.
Check car booking in Dublin Airport and choose a car that will satisfy your needs. Car rental offers are really cheap, and you will always have a big variety of cars in different sizes.
Book now and a car will be waiting for you upon your arrival.
Lily Berns is a travel writer. She uses every chance she gets to travel around the world with her family and friends. Experiencing new places and cultures, meeting new people and learning something new every day – are her life aims.
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