Overview
Phoenix Park is a vast urban oasis on the north side of the River Liffey, covering 707 hectares (1,752 acres) – roughly twice the size of New York’s Central Park. The park is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and entry is free. Its wide, tree‑lined avenues, expansive grasslands and a network of 14 km of cycle trails make it a favourite spot for walkers, cyclists, families and history lovers alike.
History
The land that is now Phoenix Park was originally owned by the Knights Hospitaller at Kilmainham in the Middle Ages. After the Dissolution of the Monasteries it passed to the Crown and, in 1662, the Duke of Ormond turned it into a royal hunting park, enclosing it with a wall that cost £31,000 by 1669. The park’s name derives from the “House of the Phoenix” built by Sir Edward Fisher in 1611, not from the mythical bird. In 1745 the Earl of Chesterfield opened the grounds to the public, a tradition that has continued ever since.
The 19th‑century English landscape architect Decimus Burton reshaped the park’s pathways, gate‑lodges and tree‑planting schemes, a period described by the park’s official site as the most significant landscape change since its creation. The park was the scene of the infamous 1882 Phoenix Park murders, and in 1979 Pope John Paul II celebrated an outdoor Mass before a crowd of over one million at the newly erected Papal Cross.
What to See & Do
- Áras an Uachtaráin – the official residence of the President of Ireland, built in 1754 and open for free guided tours on Saturdays.
- Dublin Zoo – one of the world’s oldest zoos (opened 1831), home to more than 400 animals across 69 acres.
- Wellington Monument – a 62 m obelisk, the tallest in Europe, commemorating the Duke of Wellington’s victories.
- Papal Cross – a 166‑ft white steel cross erected for the 1979 papal Mass.
- People’s Flower Gardens – a 9‑hectare Victorian garden with ornamental lake, playground and seasonal bedding schemes.
- Magazine Fort – an 18th‑century powder magazine on St Thomas Hill, now open for guided tours from the Visitor Centre.
- Ashtown Castle & Visitor Centre – a restored 15th‑century tower house with a self‑guided exhibition on the park’s 3,500‑year history.
- Farmleigh House – the state guesthouse with Edwardian interiors, a working farm and a walled garden; tours are available daily.
- Furry Glen – a tranquil woodland walk centred on a small lake, popular for bird‑watching (jay, buzzard, great‑spotted woodpecker).
- Deer spotting – a herd of 400‑450 fallow deer roams the western fields; keep a 50‑metre distance and do not feed them.
Cycling is one of the easiest ways to cover the park’s length. Bikes can be hired at the Parkgate Street entrance (Phoenix Park Bikes – €6 / hour, €10 / 3 hours, €15 / day). Guided bike tours and Segway tours are also offered from the Visitor Centre.
Practical Information
| Facility | Details |
|---|---|
| Opening hours | Park: 24 hrs daily, all year. Visitor Centre: 09:30 – 18:00 (last admission 17:00). People’s Flower Gardens: seasonal hours (generally 08:00 – 21:30 in summer, 08:00 – 18:30 in winter). Biodiversity Centre: Wed & Sun 09:30 – 17:30. |
| Admission | Free for the park, Visitor Centre, People’s Gardens and Magazine Fort tours. Dublin Zoo and Farmleigh House tours have separate fees. |
| Website | https://www.phoenixpark.ie |
| Contact phone | +353 182 13021 |
| Parking | Main car parks near the Papal Cross (often free) and at the Visitor Centre. |
| Public transport | [Dublin] Bus routes serve the Parkgate Street entrance; Heuston Station is a short walk away. Since October 2023 the Route 99 shuttle links the Visitor Centre with Parkgate Street. |
| Accessibility | Most main avenues (Chesterfield Avenue, Parkgate Street) are wheelchair‑friendly. The Visitor Centre, People’s Gardens and the Victorian Kitchen Walled Garden have wheelchair‑accessible toilets. |
| Facilities | Restrooms (including disabled toilets), cafés (Phoenix Café, Victorian Tea Rooms), free Wi‑Fi at the Visitor Centre, playgrounds, picnic areas and a universal‑access playground at Ashtown Castle. |
Getting There
- By car: Enter via the Papal Cross gate (A5) or the Parkgate Street gate (A1). Parking is available near the Papal Cross and at the Visitor Centre.
- By bus: Multiple Dublin Bus routes stop at Parkgate Street; the new Route 99 shuttle runs every 15 minutes between the Visitor Centre and the city‑side gate.
- By train: Heuston Station is a 10‑minute walk from the Parkgate Street entrance.
Visitor Highlights
- Shuttle service – launched in August 2023 (Route 99) provides a quick link between the Visitor Centre and the city‑side gate.
- Lamplighters – Phoenix Park still retains 224 Victorian gas lamps maintained by the Flanagan family; the soft glow is a unique nocturnal feature.
- Award‑winning status – the park received the Gold International Large Parks Award in 2020, recognising its design, heritage and community value.
Whether you’re cycling the 14 km trail, picnicking beside the ornamental lake, or joining a guided tour of Áras an Uachtaráin, Phoenix Park offers a blend of natural beauty, historic intrigue and modern recreation that makes it a must‑see destination for any Dublin itinerary.
Opening Hours
- Park: Open 24 hrs daily, all year.
- Visitor Centre & Ashtown Castle: 09:30 – 18:00 (last admission 17:00).
- People’s Flower Gardens: Seasonal (08:00 – 21:30 in summer, 08:00 – 18:30 in winter).
- Biodiversity Centre: Wed & Sun 09:30 – 17:30.
Admission
- General park entry: Free.
- Visitor Centre, People’s Gardens, Magazine Fort tours: Free.
- Dublin Zoo: Ticketed (prices vary).
- Farmleigh House tours: €8 adult, €6 senior, €4 child/student, €20 family.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair‑friendly main avenues and Visitor Centre.
- Accessible toilets at Visitor Centre, People’s Gardens and Ashtown Castle.
- Dogs must be kept on a lead.
Contact
- Phone: +353 182 13021
- Website: https://www.phoenixpark.ie
Coordinates: 53.35574, -6.31542