Capture all the best bits of your Dublin days out with some truly iconic backdrops. From unique statues and historical buildings to animal photo bombs and unmissable street art, these are the best photo spots and Instagram places in Dublin — perfect for family days out and memories you’ll want to keep.
One of the best ways to discover Dublin is on foot. The city centre is small and easy to explore, while the bus, DART and LUAS will take you further afield to see even more of what the county has to offer.
YOU MAY ALSO ENJOY: Guide to Dublin for Families: Where to Eat, Stay, Play and Explore
Best Photo Spots and Instagram Places in Dublin
Poolbeg Lighthouse
The vibrant red lighthouse at the mouth of the River Liffey can be found at the end of the Great South Wall. A 4km walk from the car park takes you out to some truly scenic views.
Poolbeg Chimneys
At just over 207m high, the well-known Poolbeg towers are visible across the Dublin skyline from most directions, making them one of the city’s most recognisable landmarks.
St Stephen’s Green
St Stephen’s Green is an oasis in the middle of the city. This historic park and garden has links to many important figures, including Arthur Guinness, 1st Baron Ardilaun, and Countess Constance Markievicz.
Keep an eye out for a number of notable Irish sculptures, while younger visitors will enjoy the playground and the duck ponds.
Ha’penny Bridge
Built in 1816, the Ha’penny Bridge is a landmark pedestrian bridge crossing the River Liffey. Named after the original toll paid to cross it, the bridge is now crossed by thousands of people every day.
Trinity College
Set on a beautiful campus in the heart of Dublin city centre, Trinity College is Ireland’s oldest university and one of its most prestigious. It’s a stunning setting to visit as you walk through the city.
The Library at Trinity College
!The Long Room, Trinity College Library, Dublin
The Long Room at Trinity is one of the world’s most beautiful libraries. It’s also home to the Book of Kells, one of Ireland’s greatest cultural treasures. As you explore the exhibition, you’ll learn about the 1,200-year-old manuscript and the rich symbolism and artistry behind it.
YOU MAY ALSO ENJOY: Unique Places to Learn About Irish History, Heritage and Culture with Kids
Howth Harbour
Howth is a working fishing village, with trawlers and fish shops lining the pier. Easily reached by DART, there are markets to explore, Howth Head to hike, and seals to spot in the harbour!
Deer in the Phoenix Park
!Deer in the Phoenix Park, Dublin
The Phoenix Park is one of the largest enclosed public parks in any capital city in Europe. It was originally a royal hunting park in the 1660s and opened to the public in 1747.
Open daily, all year round, the 1,750-acre park has plenty to see and do, including Dublin Zoo, Áras an Uachtaráin, Victorian flower gardens, walking and cycling trails, playgrounds, the Papal Cross and more.
Although the park is home to the Irish President, its most-photographed residents are the thousands of fallow deer. The large herd can be seen as you walk or drive through the park — just remember to keep your distance and never feed them. Let them photobomb from afar!
Martello Towers
There are 29 Martello towers running the length of the county. Built in the early 1800s, they were originally designed as lookout posts. Today some are privately owned, some are disused, and a few are open to visit — including the Ye Olde Hurdy Gurdy Museum of Vintage Radio in Howth and the James Joyce Tower and Museum in Sandycove.
YOU MAY ALSO ENJOY: 40 Fun and FREE Things to Do in Dublin with Kids
Don’t miss: Looking for what’s on for families in Ireland? Enjoy hours of family fun with our monthly round-up of events and things to do.
Umbrellas on Anne Lane
!Umbrellas on Anne Lane, Dublin
For a truly unique backdrop, this canopy of colourful umbrellas on Anne Lane, off South Anne Street in the city centre, is well worth a visit.
Georgian Doors
Georgian doors are synonymous with Dublin, and can be seen prominently around Merrion Square and Fitzwilliam Square. The vibrant colours are fun to spot — can you get a photo with the whole rainbow?
Portmarnock Beach
Portmarnock Beach, known as the Velvet Strand, is a stunning sandy Blue Flag beach in North County Dublin. Stretching five miles from Baldoyle towards Malahide, it’s popular for swimming, walking and watersports.
YOU MAY ALSO ENJOY: Ireland’s Blue Flag Beaches are Perfect for Family Seaside Fun!
Dublin Convention Centre
The unique design and ever-changing light display of the Convention Centre Dublin, in the Dublin Docklands, is a real showstopper. Lit up in seasonal or themed colours for events, its reflection on the Liffey at night makes for a fantastic photo spot.
Grand Canal
The Grand Canal stretches from Dublin’s Grand Canal Dock all the way to the River Shannon. In Dublin, you can follow it through areas like Ringsend, Ballsbridge, Ranelagh, Rathmines, Harold’s Cross and Crumlin.
While the canal itself is a scenic path to walk and cycle, the traditional locks and barges along the water are a sight to behold.
Christ Church Cathedral
!Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin
Christ Church Cathedral is one of Ireland’s most historic buildings, standing in the heart of Dublin for more than 1,000 years.
The cathedral is home to a famous 12th-century crypt, one of the oldest and largest in Britain and Ireland. While the cathedral itself is a showstopper, the footbridge joining it to Synod Hall is particularly eye-catching.
YOU MAY ALSO ENJOY: 30 Fun and Family-Friendly Things to Do In Leinster
Patrick Kavanagh Bench
!Patrick Kavanagh statue, Dublin
Irish poet and novelist Patrick Kavanagh is commemorated with this unique seated statue along the Grand Canal, on the north bank between Baggot Street Bridge and the upstream Eustace Bridge.
Dublin Zoo
Dublin Zoo, in the heart of the Phoenix Park, was opened by the Zoological Society of Ireland in 1831 and still operates as a charity today.
With areas like the Gorilla Rainforest, African Plains, Sea Lion Cave, Flamingo Lagoon and the elephants’ Kaziranga Forest Trail, there’s so much to discover, learn and see. Check the scheduled feeding times when you visit — a great way to learn more about the animals. Who knows, you may get photobombed by one of the residents!
Killiney Hill
Killiney Hill is a popular spot for walkers and hikers, thanks to its spectacular views over the surrounding areas: Dublin to the northwest, the Irish Sea and the mountains of Wales (on a clear day) to the east and southeast, and Bray Head and the Wicklow Mountains to the south.
YOU MAY ALSO ENJOY: Best Outdoor Places in Dublin for Families
Don’t miss: Start planning your trip with our Guide to Dublin for Families — we’ve got all the details on where to eat, stay, play and explore!
Grand Canal Square
Grand Canal Square features a striking red “carpet” extending from the theatre out over the dock. Bright red angled light sticks are eye-catching by day, but a real stand-out when lit up at night.
Designed by American landscape architect Martha Schwartz, the 10,000 sq metre square is one of the largest paved public spaces in Dublin city.
Oscar Wilde Statue
The life-size, colourful statue of Irish poet and playwright Oscar Wilde can be found in Merrion Square in Dublin’s city centre, opposite his childhood home at 1 Merrion Square.
The Spire
The Spire of Dublin, also known as the Monument of Light, is a stainless steel monument standing 390ft tall in the centre of O’Connell Street.
YOU MAY ALSO ENJOY: How to Have a FREE Family Day Out in Dublin
The Hungry Tree
The Hungry Tree is found on the grounds of The Honorable Society of King’s Inns, Ireland’s oldest school of law. This London Plane tree is in the slow process of “eating” a cast-iron bench.
As the tree has grown, it has overtaken and swallowed parts of the bench in its path. Its gnarled bark now spills over the back of the seat, making it look as though the bench is being sucked into the trunk.
The grounds are open and accessible to the public, so you can visit The Hungry Tree for yourself!
Jeanie Johnston
The original Jeanie Johnston made her maiden voyage from Blennerville in Tralee, Co. Kerry, to Quebec, Canada, in 1848, carrying 193 passengers. Over the Famine years, she carried some 2,500 Irish emigrants on 16 transatlantic voyages to North America.
Today, you can climb aboard the authentic replica Jeanie Johnston in Dublin’s Docklands for a tour — or simply use this landmark ship as a phenomenal photo backdrop.
The Icon Walk, Temple Bar
Image © Fáilte Ireland/Tourism Ireland. Courtesy of Paola Floris
The Icon Walk in Temple Bar is a public art project made up of a series of imaginative, inclusive snapshots of iconic Irish historical and contemporary figures. These creative portraits of cultural icons, past and present, are displayed on the walls of the streets leading up to the Icon Factory Gallery.
YOU MAY ALSO ENJOY: 30 Terrific Things to Do in Dublin for Teens and Older Kids
Download: Plan a whole range of family days out with this brilliant checklist of 99 fantastic places to visit around Ireland!
Butterfly House at Malahide Castle
!Butterfly House, Malahide Castle
Step inside Ireland’s only butterfly house at Malahide Castle & Gardens. Watch the butterflies fly among tropical plants and spot their individual markings — a treat for amateur enthusiasts and experienced lepidopterists alike.
Iveagh Gardens
Iveagh Gardens are known as Dublin’s “Secret Garden”, thanks to their almost hidden location at the top of Harcourt Street, behind the National Concert Hall.
From modest beginnings as an earl’s lawn, the gardens went on to host the splendour of the Dublin Exhibition Palace in 1865. Many original landscape features remain in place, or have been restored since 1995 — including the yew maze, the rosarium and the fountains.
EPIC Sign
!EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum sign, Dublin
EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum is housed in The CHQ Building, a beautifully restored 200-year-old Georgian warehouse. Discover why over 10 million people left this island, where they went and what they brought with them, through stories of adventure, adversity and triumph across 20 interactive galleries.
One particular photo hotspot is the EPIC sign out front!
YOU MAY ALSO ENJOY: These Are the Best Museums in Ireland to Visit with Kids
Buskers on Grafton Street
Buskers are an integral part of life on Grafton Street, from traditional Irish music to pop and rock you can sing along with. Many of Ireland’s best-known musicians started out here, including Damien Rice, Glen Hansard and Bono.
You can still spot familiar faces on occasion — most notably on Christmas Eve, when some of the biggest names host an impromptu busking session for charity.
Kilmainham Gaol
Kilmainham Gaol opened in 1796 as the new County Gaol for Dublin. While most of its prisoners were common criminals, it also held political prisoners involved in Ireland’s struggle for independence, including Robert Emmet, Anne Devlin, the Fenians, Charles Stewart Parnell, Countess Markievicz and the leaders of the 1916 Easter Rising.
Today, the gaol is a popular visitor attraction with guided tours and a museum to explore.
Dun Laoghaire Pier
Image courtesy Fionn Mc Cann
The East Pier of Dun Laoghaire Harbour is a popular spot for walkers, joggers and pleasure-seekers. The pier has a Victorian shelter and bandstand, first built in 1890 and since given extensive renovations.
YOU MAY ALSO ENJOY: Things to Do with Preschoolers in Dublin
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most Instagrammed spot in Dublin?
Popular favourites include the Ha’penny Bridge, the colourful Georgian doors around Merrion Square and Fitzwilliam Square, and the Icon Walk in Temple Bar — all easy to reach on foot in the city centre.
Are these photo spots suitable for kids and buggies?
Most of the city-centre spots, like St Stephen’s Green, the Ha’penny Bridge and Grand Canal Square, are flat, paved and buggy-friendly. A few, such as Killiney Hill and the Great South Wall walk to Poolbeg Lighthouse, involve longer walks over uneven ground, so they suit older children better.
Can you get to these Dublin photo spots without a car?
Yes. Many are within walking distance of each other in the city centre, and the DART and LUAS make it easy to reach spots further out, such as Howth, Dun Laoghaire and Killiney.
Is it free to visit these photo spots?
Most of the outdoor spots — parks, bridges, statues, the canal and beaches — are free to visit. Some attractions mentioned, such as Dublin Zoo, EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum and Kilmainham Gaol, charge an admission fee.
Related Articles
- Guide to Dublin for Families: Where to Eat, Stay, Play and Explore
- 40 Fun and FREE Things to Do in Dublin with Kids
- Best Outdoor Places in Dublin for Families
- 30 Terrific Things to Do in Dublin for Teens and Older Kids
Save These Ideas for Your Next Dublin Day Out
Not heading out today? Save this list and come back to it when you’re planning your next family day trip around Dublin — or browse our other Dublin guides for more inspiration.
Don’t Miss a Family Day Out
Want more days-out inspiration delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up for the MyKidsTime newsletter for weekly ideas, events and family-friendly spots across Ireland.
