Attractions in Dublin & East Coast
Viking treasures, city buzz, and ancient green valleys 🏰🦌
Showing 64 attractions · Sorted by importance
Airfield Estate
📍 Dublin
🐄 FarmA 38-acre urban farm and gardens in the city offering hands-on livestock encounters and sustainable food education.
Brú na Bóinne (Newgrange & Knowth)
📍 Donore
🏘 Town / VillageA UNESCO World Heritage site featuring Neolithic passage tombs older than the Pyramids, providing an extraordinary look into Ireland's prehistoric culture and astronomical precision.
Dublin Castle
📍 Dublin
🏰 CastleThe historic seat of British rule in Ireland for 700 years, now showcasing magnificent state apartments and medieval structures.
Dublin Zoo
📍 Dublin City
🦁 ZooOne of the world's oldest zoos, offering a sprawling urban escape with diverse animal habitats like the African Savanna.
Emerald Park
📍 Ashbourne
🎢 Theme ParkIreland's premier theme park and zoo, featuring the famous Cú Chulainn wooden roller coaster and a wide array of family-friendly attractions.
Glendalough Monastic Site
📍 Glendalough
🏰 CastleA serene 6th-century monastic settlement nestled in a scenic valley, featuring an iconic round tower and ancient stone churches.
Ha'penny Bridge
📍 Dublin
🏛 LandmarkDublin's most iconic pedestrian bridge, a white cast-iron structure built in 1816 over the River Liffey.
Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA)
📍 Dublin
🖼 Art GalleryLocated in the historic Royal Hospital Kilmainham, IMMA features a dynamic range of modern and contemporary art in a stunning heritage setting.
Kilmainham Gaol
📍 Dublin
🏰 CastleAn evocative former prison that tells the story of Irish nationalism and the struggle for independence through guided tours.
Malahide Castle
📍 Malahide
🏰 CastleA stunning 12th-century castle set in 260 acres of parkland, featuring an interactive fairy trail and a butterfly house for children.
National Botanic Gardens
📍 Dublin
🌿 GardenFamous for restored Victorian glasshouses and extensive plant collections, this garden offers a peaceful and educational escape for families.
National Gallery of Ireland
📍 Dublin
🖼 Art GalleryHousing a world-class collection of European and Irish art, this museum offers free access to masterworks from the Middle Ages to the present.
National Museum of Ireland - Natural History
📍 Dublin City
🔬 ScienceKnown as the 'Dead Zoo', this atmospheric Victorian museum houses an extensive collection of taxidermy and skeletons showcasing Ireland's biological diversity.
Newbridge House and Farm
📍 Donabate
🐄 FarmA traditional 18th-century working farm with rare breeds, interactive paddocks, and a grand Georgian estate.
Newgrange (Brú na Bóinne)
📍 Donore
🏰 CastleA 5,000-year-old Neolithic passage tomb that aligns with the winter solstice, offering a magical glimpse into prehistoric Ireland.
Phoenix Park
📍 Dublin City
🌲 NatureOne of the largest enclosed public parks in any European capital, home to wild fallow deer and the Dublin Zoo.
Powerscourt Estate
📍 Enniskerry
🏰 CastleA magnificent 18th-century estate known for its grand Palladian mansion and world-class gardens featuring a massive waterfall.
River Liffey
📍 Dublin
🏔 Scenic ViewThe historic river flowing through the heart of Dublin, lined with iconic bridges and providing scenic views of the city's architecture.
The Military Road (R115)
📍 Rathfarnham
🚗 Road Trip58km paved mountain road (1.5-2 hours) through the core of the Wicklow Mountains. Highlights include Glencree Valley, the Sally Gap crossroads, Lough Tay (the Guinness Lake), Glenmacnass Waterfall, and the monastic site of Glendalough.
Wicklow Mountains National Park
📍 Laragh
🌲 NatureIreland's largest national park offering vast mountain vistas, peat bogs, and scenic hiking trails for all ages.
Wicklow Way
📍 Marlay Park, Dublin
🥾 Hiking & Cycling131km strenuous multi-day trek with 3,320m elevation gain, typically taking 5-7 days. It crosses the Wicklow Mountains through Glendalough and ends in Clonegal. Equipment transport: Wicklow Way Baggage (wicklowwaybaggage.com).
AquaZone at the National Aquatic Centre
📍 Dublin
🌊 Water ParkOne of Europe's largest indoor water parks, offering high-speed slides, a surf machine, and a pirate-themed play area for year-round family fun.
Beyond the Trees Avondale
📍 Rathdrum
🧗 AdventureA high-profile treetop walkway and a 38-meter high viewing tower with a 90-meter spiral slide, offering panoramic views of the Wicklow Mountains.
Boyne Valley Drive
📍 Circular
🚗 Road Trip225km paved touring loop (1-2 days) exploring Ireland's Ancient East. Key stops include the UNESCO World Heritage site of Brú na Bóinne (Newgrange and Knowth), the Hill of Tara, Trim Castle, Slane Castle, and the Battle of the Boyne site.
Bray Seafront and Bray Head
📍 Bray
⛱ BeachA popular Victorian promenade leading to a scenic cliff walk and a hilltop cross with panoramic views of the coastline.
Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre
📍 Donore
🔬 ScienceAn award-winning discovery centre that uses interactive technology to explain the Neolithic astronomical science and engineering behind the Newgrange passage tomb.
Explorium - National Sport & Science Centre
📍 Dublin
🔬 ScienceA massive interactive discovery centre featuring over 300 exhibits including a G-force centrifuge, planetary science displays, and hands-on physics experiments.
Glendalough Valley
📍 Glendalough
🏔 Scenic ViewA stunning glacial valley featuring a 6th-century monastic settlement, twin lakes, and family-friendly walking trails through ancient woodlands.
Howth Head Cliff Walk
📍 Howth
⛱ BeachA breathtaking coastal loop offering dramatic views of the Irish Sea, the Baily Lighthouse, and abundant marine wildlife.
Malahide Castle Gardens
📍 Malahide
🌿 GardenFamilies will enjoy the interactive Butterfly House and the sprawling walled gardens set within the grounds of an 800-year-old castle.
Powerscourt Gardens
📍 Enniskerry
🌿 GardenThis world-renowned estate features spectacular Italianate terraces and a Japanese garden that fascinates visitors of all ages.
St. Patrick's Festival
📍 Dublin
🎭 EventMid-March (around March 17th), 5-day duration, celebration of Ireland's culture and patron saint, attracts over 500,000 annual visitors, family-friendly street parades, funfairs, and live music performances throughout the city.
The Spinc and Glenealo Valley Loop
📍 Glendalough
🥾 Hiking & Cycling9km moderate to challenging day hike with 450m elevation gain, taking 3-4 hours. Features a steep climb via wooden sleepers to a high ridge overlooking the monastic site and lakes.
Zipit Forest Adventures
📍 Dublin
🧗 AdventureHigh-ropes adventure park with over 100 obstacles including zip lines and swinging bridges set in the pine forest of the Dublin Mountains.
Brittas Bay
📍 Brittas Bay
⛱ BeachOne of the finest beaches on the East Coast, featuring 5km of white sand and high dunes perfect for family outings.
Chester Beatty
📍 Dublin
🖼 Art GalleryThis unique museum showcases an incredible collection of manuscripts, rare books, and artworks from across the globe within the grounds of Dublin Castle.
Dublin Mountains Way
📍 Shankill
🥾 Hiking & Cycling42km moderate to strenuous trail with 1,200m elevation gain, taking 1-2 days. It traverses the ridge of the Dublin Mountains from Shankill to Tallaght, visiting Fairy Castle and Three Rock Mountain.
Hill of Tara
📍 Navan
🏰 CastleThe ancient ceremonial and burial site that served as the sacred inauguration place for the High Kings of Ireland.
Hugh Lane Gallery
📍 Dublin
🖼 Art GalleryRenowned for its collection of modern and contemporary art, including the reconstructed studio of painter Francis Bacon.
Irish National War Memorial Gardens
📍 Dublin
🌿 GardenOne of the most famous memorial gardens in Europe, designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens with symmetrical sunken rose gardens.
Iveagh Gardens
📍 Dublin
🌿 GardenKnown as Dublin’s 'Secret Garden,' these beautifully restored Victorian gardens feature a sunken lawn, wilderness, and a waterfall.
Killiney Hill Park
📍 Killiney
🏔 Scenic ViewA scenic coastal park known for its iconic stone obelisk and views of Killiney Bay, often compared to the Bay of Naples.
Killruddery House & Gardens
📍 Bray
🌿 GardenA rare example of a 17th-century formal garden with long ponds, canals, and high beech hedges that are perfect for exploration.
National Botanic Gardens Kilmacurragh
📍 Kilbride
🌿 GardenThe sister site to Glasnevin, this historic arboretum is world-renowned for its collection of exotic trees and vibrant rhododendrons.
Powerscourt Waterfall
📍 Enniskerry
🏔 Scenic ViewIreland's highest waterfall is set within beautiful parklands at the base of the Wicklow Mountains, offering ideal spots for family picnics.
The Spire of Dublin
📍 Dublin
🏛 LandmarkA pin-like stainless steel monument standing 120 metres high as a striking symbol of modern Dublin on O'Connell Street.
The Wicklow Gap (R756)
📍 Hollywood
🚗 Road Trip26km paved mountain pass (45 minutes) connecting West Wicklow to Glendalough. One of only two east-west passes through the Wicklow Mountains, offering views of Turlough Hill reservoir, lead mines, and the high-altitude glacial landscape.
Trim Castle
📍 Trim
🏰 CastleIreland's largest Anglo-Norman castle, offering impressive ruins to explore and a fascinating history of medieval warfare.
Ballinastoe Mountain Bike Trails
📍 Roundwood
🥾 Hiking & CyclingA mountain bike trail network managed by Coillte with Blue, Red, and Black grade trails. The Red route covers approximately 30km with 750m elevation gain, taking 2-4 hours. Set in scenic Wicklow Mountain terrain with views towards Lough Tay. Bike rental: Biking.ie (biking.ie).
Causey Farm
📍 Navan
🐄 FarmAn immersive rural experience featuring traditional Irish activities like turf cutting, brown bread making, and interactive animal farming.
Funtasia Theme Park
📍 Drogheda
🎢 Theme ParkA large indoor and outdoor entertainment complex featuring a massive waterpark, bowling, and fairground rides near the Boyne Valley.
Howth Head
📍 Howth
🌲 NatureRugged coastal headland designated as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC), offering spectacular views of Dublin Bay and popular walking paths through wild gorse and cliff-top terrain.
Mount Usher Gardens
📍 Ashford
🌿 GardenA world-class example of Robinsonian wild gardening, showcasing thousands of plant species along the banks of the River Vartry.
Newgrange Farm
📍 Slane
🐄 FarmA working family farm located in the Boyne Valley where visitors can feed livestock and explore rural heritage near the UNESCO site.
North Bull Island Nature Reserve
📍 Clontarf
🌲 NatureA UNESCO Biosphere Reserve famous for its sandy beach and diverse bird populations in the heart of Dublin Bay.
Winter Solstice at Newgrange
📍 Donore
🎭 EventLate December (around December 21st), 1-day peak within a 6-day window, ancient solar alignment spectacle where the rising sun illuminates a 5,000-year-old tomb, attracts global media attention, family-friendly visitor center tours and sunrise gathering.
Baily Lighthouse
📍 Howth
🏛 LandmarkA historic landmark at the tip of Howth Head offering dramatic coastal views and a glimpse into Ireland's maritime past.
Bray Head
📍 Bray
🌲 NatureA prominent headland offering a popular cliff walk with dramatic coastal views and a landmark stone cross.
Clara Lara FunPark
📍 Rathdrum
🎢 Theme ParkAn outdoor adventure park in the Wicklow Mountains offering water-based obstacle courses, rowing boats, and zip lines in a natural forest setting.
Dalkey Castle & Heritage Centre
📍 Dalkey
🏘 Town / VillageA 14th-century fortified townhouse where costumed actors bring history to life through interactive performances showcasing medieval crafts and daily village life.
North Bull Island and Dollymount Strand
📍 Clontarf
⛱ BeachA UNESCO Biosphere Reserve featuring a long sandy beach and a wooden bridge, ideal for birdwatching and kite surfing.
Royal Canal Way
📍 Dublin City
🥾 Hiking & Cycling130km easy flat cycling/walking route with minimal elevation gain, taking 2-3 days to reach Longford. The 'Greenway' section starts in Maynooth. Bike rental: Royal Canal Bike Hire (royalcanalbikehire.ie).
Russborough House & Parklands
📍 Blessington
🖼 Art GalleryA magnificent Palladian mansion containing one of the most important private collections of fine art, furniture, and tapestries in Ireland.
