The best viewpoints in Dublin give you a glimpse of the Irish capital that, in many cases, you won’t get from the busy tourist trail. Most will involve a bit of travel and a bit of walking as well. So if you want to stretch your legs and see Dublin from another perspective, this is where to go.
Lurking as you fly to Dublin
One of the best glimpses of Dublin can be obtained from a plane flying into the Irish capital, as long as the Irish weather decides to play along and it doesn’t descend through clouds and fog.
Many planes cross the Irish Sea a little north of Howth. In this case, you will have a good view of Howth, Dublin Bay, the Wicklow Mountains, and Dublin City from the windows on the left.
The other main flight path takes you through Meath, approaching Dublin from the west. Definitely less exciting, but you may only see glimpses of the city.
Taking the slow boat for a view of Dublin
Approaching Dublin by ferry is also exciting, although fast ferries tend to be a bit challenging when it comes to viewing platforms. The slower ferries, however, generally still have an open ‘deck’ at the top and the view from here can be excellent.
As you cross Dublin Bay, you will see Dun Laoghaire, Sugarloaf Mountain and the (often covered) Wicklows Harbor (on the left), Howth and Bull Island to starboard (on the right). There is also a great view of Dublin Docklands and the city beyond when docking.
Dun Laoghaire Harbor and Dublin Bay from the South
While the fast ferry to Dun Laoghaire won’t provide the best views, Dun Laoghaire harbor itself is excellent. You can walk down to the docks (quite exhilarating experience at times) and enjoy the view of Dun Laoghaire and Dublin Bay, the 40 foot baths and Joyce Tower to the east, Howth across the bay and the beaches and finally Dublin to the northwest. Note that the East Pier is better for a stroll, but the more rugged hike to the West Pier offers a good view of the lighthouse. It is usually less crowded.
By Train: Take the DART to Dun Laoghaire Station for the East Pier, to Salthill & Monkstown Station for the West Pier.
By Dublin Bus: From the city center, take 46A to Dun Laoghaire.
By car: follow the signs for Dun Laoghaire and the ferry.
Howth’s Hill (Dublin Bay from the North)
Howth Harbor has some good views, but he plays Howth Hill’s second fiddle, the “Summit.” Here you can look across Dublin Bay towards Dun Laoghaire and the Wicklow Mountains, see parts of Dublin City, and enjoy the spectacular view of the Bailey Lighthouse below you (‘below’ is the operative and signal word ). The Howth Cliff Walk is a great idea, but there are steep drops directly into the ocean (or rocks) so be careful.
By Train: Take the DART towards Howth, then walk down Abbey Street and Thormanby Road to the Summit.
By Dublin Bus: The 31st will take you directly to the Summit.
By car: Follow R105 towards Howth, at Sutton Cross turn right onto Greenfield Road and continue until reaching the Summit.
Out to Poolbeg lighthouse (a walk around Dublin Bay)
The closest to walking on the water, a walk to the Poolbeg lighthouse, situated at the end of a long boardwalk right in the middle of Dublin Bay, has great views all around it. The downside (s): You’re on low ground (and you can’t really see that far at sea level), you’re whipped by the winds, and walking can be a bit wobbly on old stones at times. But an experience to definitely enjoy.
By Train: Take the DART to Grand Canal Dock or Lansdowne Road, then walk east (bring a map).
By Dublin Bus: Bus number 1 will take you to Poolbeg Power Station, the seawall starts east of the station.
By car: Drive to the Poolbeg power station and find a convenient space to park behind it.
Phoenix Park, high above the Liffey
Most people travel to Pope’s Cross in Phoenix Park and enjoy a glimpse of the Wicklow Mountains, but if you’re up for a little hike, find the towering Magazine Fort towering over Liffey. From here you can look out over the river valley and see the War Memorial Gardens. Since Magazine Fort is not as easily accessible by car as other locations in Phoenix Park, you’ll find more peace of mind here too.
By Train: Take the LUAS to Museum or Heuston Station (also a suburban and interurban station) and walk to Phoenix Park, then follow the signs.
By Dublin Bus: Routes 10 or 31 (among others) will take you to the park entrances.
By car: From Chesterfield Avenue, take Wellington Road to the fort, or enter via Chapelizod Gate and take the winding military road.
Run for the Hills: Seeing Dublin from the Wicklow Mountains
A splendid view of almost all of Dublin can be found when you take the road to the Wicklow Mountains through Glencree. Right where the R115 takes a sharp turn uphill and to the right, you will see an unattractive parking lot on the right. Zoom in here (be careful, many bottles fill the area at times and are not tire friendly), then cross your path (again guarding traffic) to a point of view that seems to have been neglected and forgotten. Still, the trees and shrubs are occasionally trimmed and the view from here gives you a great overview of Dublin city.
By car: take the R115 towards Sally Gap.
Guinness Warehouse: the easy option with a pint included
So you really don’t want to drive, take the bus, walk? Well then stay in Dublin, head over to the Guinness Storehouse and go up to the Gravity Bar. Grab a pint of the black stuff while enjoying the view over the rooftops. Just be careful … unlike all the other viewpoints mentioned above, this one comes at a price!
By Train: The closest LUAS stations would be Museum and Heuston Station.
By Dublin Bus: All buses along South Quays pass by the Brewery. Also most of the tour buses.
By car: do not use a car in central Dublin.
