The high ground around the bay falls into two coastal groups and one inland. North of the city, Howth sits on a headland about thirty minutes out on the DART, with a working fishing harbour, seafood restaurants along the piers and five colour-coded walks out along the sea cliffs. The Baily Lighthouse stands on the southern tip of the same headland, an 1814 granite tower still working as a beacon; you cannot get in, but the cliff path passes close and the summit car park looks across the bay to Dún Laoghaire and Bray.
Directly across the water, Killiney Hill rises 153m to the obelisk John Mapas put up in 1742 as famine-relief work, reached by a short climb from Burton Road. Inland, the hills begin around eight kilometres from the city core: Carrickgollogan is a walk through Coillte woodland to a 360-degree summit and the last granite flue chimney left from the old lead-mining trade, and Tibradden is a marked 2.4 km climb through pine forest to a full sweep of Dublin Bay.
Howth and Killiney need no car. The mountain summits, and the eight stages of the Dublin Mountains Way running 42.6 km from Shankill to Tallaght, are easier with one. Cold, clear days are what all of these views depend on; low cloud closes them off entirely.
A headland thirty minutes out on the DART, with a working fishing harbour, seafood on the piers and five colour-coded cliff walks.
A short climb from Burton Road to a 153m obelisk, taking in the city to the north and Bray Head and the Wicklows to the south.
An 1814 granite tower on the southern tip of Howth Head, gated off to visitors but passed closely by the cliff path.
A short woodland walk to a 360-degree summit and the only surviving long-run flue chimney from Ireland's 19th-century lead-mining trade.
Forested valleys, open heath, the Hellfire Club ruins and the old Military Road, all about eight kilometres from the city core.
19 of 20 shown — tap a pin for the place.
Howth, dublin
Howth sits on a headland 30 minutes from Dublin by DART, with a working fishing harbour, seafood restaurants on the piers and five colour-coded walks out along the sea cliffs. Grey seals hang around the boats, seasonal ferries run to Ireland's Eye, and the summit looks clear across Dublin Bay to the Wicklow Mountains.
Killiney, dublin
Killiney Hill rises 153m over Dublin Bay, crowned by an obelisk John Mapas built in 1742 as famine-relief work for the poor. The short climb from Burton Road gives one of the best panoramas near Dublin - the city to the north, Bray Head and the Wicklows to the south, and the Welsh mountains on a clear day.
Howth, dublin
Baily Lighthouse sits on the southern tip of Howth Head, an 1814 granite tower that's still an active beacon over Dublin Bay. You can't go in – it's private and gated off about 100 metres short – but the cliff path passes close, and the view from the summit car park over the bay to Dún Laoghaire and Bray is one of the best near Dublin.
Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown, dublin
A short walk through Coillte woodland leads to a summit viewpoint with a clear 360° sweep from Dublin Bay to the Wicklow ridge, and to a lone granite chimney - Ireland's only surviving long-run flue from the 19th-century lead-mining trade. It's free, and under half an hour from the city centre.
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Just eight kilometres from Dublin’s core, the Dublin Mountains offer a rugged escape of forested valleys, open heath and historic trails. Walk the waymarked Dublin Mountains Way, explore the ruins of the Hellfire Club, or follow the old Wicklow Military Road for sweeping city views.
Dublin, dublin
The Dublin Mountains Way crosses the hills from Shankill to Tallaght in 42.6 km, past wedge tombs and Bronze Age cairns, granite ridges and the highest pub in Ireland. Sport Ireland rates it strenuous and it splits into eight stages, so most people walk a section at a time rather than the lot. The full route opened in 2010; it is free and waymarked with a yellow walking-man on black.
Dublin Connolly (County Dublin) – Rosslare Europort (County Wexford), dublin
Dating back to 1834, the Dublin-Rosslare line is Ireland’s oldest railway and the world’s first commuter service. Today it carries daily DART and intercity trains past dramatic cliffs, historic market towns, and sunny beaches, while summer heritage steam trips keep its Victorian spirit alive.
Dublin, dublin
Ireland's only direct rail line to the northwest, opened in full on 3 December 1862 by the Midland Great Western Railway. InterCity 22000 Class trains run from Dublin Connolly to Sligo Mac Diarmada up to eight times a day, covering 216 km (134 miles) in about three hours through Mullingar, Longford and Carrick-on-Shannon. The midland scenery is ordinary until the Shannon crossing and the first sight of Benbulben near Sligo.
Various, dublin
Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown runs from the harbour piers of Dún Laoghaire up into the Dublin Mountains. Walk the East Pier, climb Killiney Hill for the Bay views, and visit the free National Maritime Museum and DLR Lexicon, all a short DART ride from the city.
Sandyford, dublin
Explorium is a 110,000 sq ft interactive centre on Blackglen Road above Sandyford, holding more than 300 science and sport exhibits across junior, science and sport zones. Draws include a Tesla coil, gravity rooms, a 360-degree loop bike, F1 simulators and paid extras like climbing and indoor caving. It's an indoor, all-weather day out best for children aged roughly four to fourteen, though it gets dear once the add-ons stack up.
Henrietta Street, dublin
Founded by Henry VIII in 1541, King's Inns is Ireland's oldest school of law and James Gandon's final building. The courtyard is free and open daily; there you'll find the 'Hungry Tree', a London plane that has folded itself around a cast-iron bench. The grand interiors open only a handful of days a year.
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The 'ancient' chamber at Tibradden's summit is really a Victorian rebuild, but the Bronze-Age burial beneath it was real. A short, well-marked 2.4 km climb through Coillte pine forest gets you there, and to a full sweep of Dublin Bay – one of the easiest big views near the city.
Phoenix Park, dublin
The Wellington Monument is a 62-metre granite obelisk in Phoenix Park, honouring Dublin-born Field Marshal Arthur Wellesley, victor of Waterloo. Free to visit during park hours, it carries bronze plaques cast from cannons captured at the battle – though its interior staircase has never opened to the public.
Dublin, dublin
Dalkey, dublin
Dublin to Wicklow, dublin
Dublin Mountains, dublin
Naul, dublin
South Dublin, dublin
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