Surround yourself with the sylvan beauty and natural charm of Dublin’s expansive city park.
At 1,752 acres, Phoenix Park is twice the size of New York’s Central Park and one of the largest enclosed city parks in Europe.
Spot herds of wild fallow deer roaming across the open grasslands of the park.
Rent a bike and explore at your own pace – it’s a great way to discover highlights such as Dublin Zoo and the park’s historic landmarks.
Wild deer drift amongst centuries-old trees. A still pond lies within a leafy glen. Locals jog along sun-dappled paths. This is Phoenix Park – an oasis in Dublin city that feels a million miles away from the urban bustle and buzz. Created as a royal hunting park by the Duke of Ormond in the 17th century, its grasslands and woodlands make you feel as though you are deep in the countryside. But Phoenix Park is not just a place of nature, gardens, fields and footpaths; it it’s home to a wealth of attractions and is open 24 hours a day, all year round.
Clock Tower, Phoenix Park, Dublin
Courtesy Rob Durston
Hire a bike and explore the 14km network of cycle trails that criss-cross the park. One of the most popular stops is Dublin Zoo. Established in 1830, it’s the fourth-oldest zoo in the world, covers around 69 hectares and today focuses on modern conservation, animal welfare and breeding programmes.
Offering a completely different experience is Áras an Uachtaráin, a mid-18th-century house that serves as the official residence of the President of Ireland and is open to the public every Saturday. Farmleigh House and Estate, the Irish State Guesthouse, which has hosted dignitaries including the Obamas and Prince Albert of Monaco, is also open for guided tours.
Other highlights include the Wellington Monument, the largest obelisk in Europe, and the Phoenix Park Visitor Centre, which traces the park’s history from 3500BC to the present day. A stroll in the People’s Flower Gardens, a celebration of Victorian horticulture, complete with a large ornamental lake, is a must.
And don’t forget that Phoenix Park is a place to enjoy some of the city’s best cultural life. From festivals and events to park runs and guided tours, there’s always something going on.
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Tea Rooms at the Phoenix Park, Dublin
Courtesy Fionn Davenport
Dubliners like to hang out in Phoenix Park at the weekend, walking its paths and enjoying the natural beauty of the surroundings. Picnics are popular with plenty of places to spread out a blanket or sit on a bench, particularly in the People’s Flower Gardens. For something a little more organised, visit the beautiful Victorian Tea Rooms, located along Chesterfield Avenue. Built in the late 1800s as a refreshment kiosk for visitors to the park, the Tea Rooms now serve hot food and drinks, both in the scenic areas outside and inside the building itself.
Located within the grounds of the Visitor Centre, the Phoenix Park Café is surrounded by beautiful trees and sits beside Ashtown Castle and the Victorian Walled Garden, from which it sources some of its produce. At Farmleigh House and Estate, the Boathouse Restaurant has a particularly lovely setting, with a deck overlooking an ornamental lake.
Phoenix Park is also close to the lively neighbourhoods of Smithfield and Stoneybatter, where you’ll find an excellent array of restaurants, cafes, pubs and delis. Shop for picnic supplies at Lilliput Stores, enjoy great fish and chips at Fish Shop, or enjoy a menu dominated by Irish produce at the popular gastropub of L Mulligan Grocer.
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Guinness Storehouse, St James’s Gate, Dublin
Courtesy Riccardo Rea
Beyond the gates of Phoenix Park, you’ll find some of Dublin’s coolest neighbourhoods – Smithfield, Stoneybatter and the Liberties, home to the Guinness Storehouse. Also nearby is the historic district known as Dublin’s “Golden Triangle”, so called for its abundance of brewing and distilling businesses.
Other must-sees include eerie Kilmainham Gaol, which played a key role in Irish history; the absorbing tenement museum at 14 Henrietta Street; and the impressive St Patrick’s Cathedral, where the author of Gulliver’s Travels, Jonathan Swift, was once dean.
One of the closest attractions to the park is the National Museum of Ireland – Decorative Arts and History. Located within the spectacular surroundings of Collins Barracks, which dates back to 1702, the museum is home to an interesting collection of objects, from Eileen Gray chairs to 17th-century Irish silverware, as well as exhibitions that trace Ireland’s military history.
Pack a picnic, hire a bike and immerse yourself in the natural beauty of Phoenix Park, then venture beyond its gates to experience the vibrant neighbourhoods, historic attractions and great restaurant and pub scene that make Dublin such an exciting place to visit.
