During summer and spring you have to enjoy outside activities. The sun is a very precious thing to be wasted when you visit or live in Dublin during these seasons. If the sun is out, you should be out too. You can visit the parks, the beaches, go for a hike, go see the cliffs. The hottest month is July so you’ll have some nice and warm days.
In the city centre you can spend a couple of hours relaxing and reading a book in St Stephen’s Green, located just off Grafton Street. Other parks located in the city are Phoenix Park, Iveagh Garden, Griffith Park and more. You can use the regular buses or Luas to visit any of them.
The majority of the coffe places, bars and restaurants located in town will have tables outside too so you can enjoy the longer days having a nice meal with your friends while getting some fresh air.
If you do not want to be in the city and prefer something more adventoures, you can of course jump on a bus or train and go further out to visit the villages and other spots around Dublin.
Within just 35 minutes on the train you reach the finishing village of Howth, where you can have a delicious fish & chips as well as enjoy the walk around the cliffs or along the pier. A day in Howth would also include a visit to the local market and castle.
Another suggestion is to join one of our day tours that bring students to visit beaultiful locations outside Dublin such as Glendlough in Wicklow, a glacial valley and medieval monastic settlement, which played an important role in the religious and cultural history of Europe.
A similar tour will also bring you to see the Cliffs of Moher, which were recently voted as the seventh most wonderful heritage site in the world in a global poll conducted by UNESCO.
Some Beaches such as Dollymount, located 8km from city centre and Sandymount, 3km, are also a good option if you want to go for a walk and get away from the busy atmosphere. To get there, you can use the regular bus and you will most definitely have the chance to watch some of the kitesurfing community enjoying a day out too!
If you are over 18, get ready to take part in the night life, which include gigs, concerts and of course some musical festivals.
When the colder months come, it’s time to get cozy and think of alternative ways of enjoying Dublin. All of the activities and places mentioned above are of course available during autumn and winter but we have listed here the most popular ones for you:
One of our students favourite is Ice-skating at Dundrum shopping centre. This is usually available from October to February for groups or individuals. Dundrum is Europe’s largest shopping mall so very much worth a visit. You can get there by Luas, only 15 minutes away from city centre.
At this time of the year you will be able to enjoy the christmas atmosphere visiting the Christmas market, where you can find a selection of food, drink and craft. You may even buy the perfect gift from individual traders or seasonal pop-up shops available there.
You can also take part in the Christmas Tree and Christmas Street light ceremony, which is a free event with family entertainment for all, including live music and carol singing.
Another traditional thing to do if you are looking for traditional Irish music and dancing is to visit Johnny Foxes, located in Dublin Mountains. This is one of the oldest and most famous Irish pubs. Make sure to book in advance!
Dublin is also famous for Greyhound racing and this is great option during winter.
Rainy days are also good for cinema, restaurants and pubs so make sure to check out our social programme to know what’s on!