We all love Dublin, but there are times when the pace of the capital is a little bit too much.
Worry not, because JOE and DublinTown.ie have the lowdown on all of the great places to go in the city when you just want to chill out.
Phoenix Park
Why: As one of Europe’s largest walled parks, Phoenix Park is full of wonder, nature and variety. While visiting, you may bump into some deer, a sportsperson making their way to one of the park’s many facilities, or maybe even the President.
Expert tip: As you enter the park, there is a bicycle-renting store. Here you can rent either single or tandem bikes at a very reasonable rate. This makes getting around the vast confines of the park much easier.
Merrion Square
Why: Dublin is famous for its Georgian squares and this is one of the city’s finest. Daniel O’Connell and W.B.Yeats both lived in the houses surrounding the square, while there is a wonderful statue of Oscar Wilde just inside the park.
Expert tip: Visit on a Sunday when local artists hang their creations off the garden gates.
Clip via CommonsLaneFilms
Take a stroll down the Grand Canal
Why: The Grand Canal, which runs along the south side of Dublin’s inner city, provides an incredibly charming walk. Rustic boats, excellent riverside restaurants and the odd duck or two will greet you as you make your way down the famous waterway.
Expert tip: Catch a selfie beside the statue of legendary Irish poet, Patrick Kavanagh, whose famous poem ‘Lines Written On A Seat On The Grand Canal’ was written in these parts.
National Botanic Gardens
Why: The Botanic Gardens is one of the most beautiful places in all of the country and amazingly, many people don’t even realise that it’s right on their doorstep.
Expert tip: Admission is free, so pack a lunch and have a day out that costs you absolutely nothing.
Iveagh Gardens
Why: One of Dublin’s least-known parks, the Iveagh Gardens are a haven of calm just a stone’s throw away from the far more popular St. Stephen’s Green.
Expert Tip: The National, St. Vincent and Bell X1 are just a few of the great acts that have gigged in the Gardens in recent years. It’s a wonderful venue, so if you can catch a concert here, you definitely should.
Clip via BA’sChannel
Visit DublinTown.ie for more information on things to do around Dublin.
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