Dublin is full of picture-perfect moments just waiting to be captured. From colourful Georgian doors and quirky statues to sweeping coastal views and unmissable public art, this city has backdrops for every kind of family photo.
The best way to explore is on foot — the city centre is compact and easy to navigate — while the bus, DART and Luas will take you further afield to the coast, the hills and beyond. Here are 30 of the best photo spots and Instagram places in Dublin to add to your list.
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30 Best Photo Spots and Instagram Places in Dublin
1. Poolbeg Lighthouse
This vibrant red lighthouse sits at the mouth of the River Liffey, at the end of the Great South Wall. A scenic 4km walk from the car park brings you out to some of Dublin’s best coastal views.
2. Poolbeg Chimneys
Standing at just over 207 metres, the iconic Poolbeg Towers are visible across the Dublin skyline from almost every direction, making them one of the city’s most recognisable landmarks.
3. St Stephen’s Green
St Stephen’s Green is a green oasis right in the middle of the city, with a history linked to figures like Arthur Guinness and Countess Constance Markievicz. Look out for the sculptural monuments dotted throughout, and let the kids loose on the playground and duck ponds.
4. Ha’penny Bridge
Built in 1816, the Ha’penny Bridge is one of Dublin’s best-loved landmarks, crossing the River Liffey in the heart of the city. It gets its name from the halfpenny toll once charged to cross it.
5. Trinity College
Set on a beautiful campus in the city centre, Trinity College is Ireland’s top-ranked university and a stunning spot to pause as you explore Dublin on foot.
6. The Library at Trinity College
The Long Room at Trinity is one of the most beautiful libraries in the world and home to the Book of Kells, one of Ireland’s greatest cultural treasures. As you move through the exhibition, you’ll learn about the 1,200-year-old manuscript and the artistry behind it.
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7. Howth Harbour
Howth is a working fishing village with trawlers and fish shops lining the pier. It’s easy to reach by DART, and there’s a market to browse, Howth Head to hike, and seals to spot in the harbour.
8. Deer in the Phoenix Park
The Phoenix Park is one of the largest enclosed public parks of any capital city in Europe, originally laid out as a royal hunting ground in the 1660s and opened to the public in 1747. The 1,750-acre park is home to Dublin Zoo, Áras an Uachtaráin, Victorian flower gardens, walking and cycling trails, playgrounds and the Papal Cross.
Its most photographed residents are the herds of fallow deer that roam freely through the park. They’re a wonderful sight as you walk or cycle through — just remember to keep a safe distance and never feed them.
9. Martello Towers
There are 29 Martello towers along the county’s coastline. Built in the early 1800s as lookout posts, some are privately owned today while others have fallen into disrepair. 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.
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10. Umbrellas on Anne Lane
For a genuinely unique backdrop, head to the canopy of colourful umbrellas on Anne Lane, just off South Anne Street in the city centre.
11. Georgian Doors
Dublin’s Georgian doors are instantly recognisable, especially around Merrion Square and Fitzwilliam Square. See how many colours of the rainbow you can capture as you stroll past.
12. Portmarnock Beach
Known as the Velvet Strand, Portmarnock Beach 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.
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13. Dublin Convention Centre
The striking, ever-changing light display at the Dublin Convention Centre in the Docklands is a sight to behold. Lit up in seasonal or themed colours, its reflection on the Liffey after dark makes for a fantastic photo.
14. Grand Canal
The Grand Canal stretches from Dublin’s Grand Canal Dock all the way to the River Shannon. Within the city, it winds through Ringsend, Ballsbridge, Ranelagh, Rathmines, Harold’s Cross and Crumlin. It’s a lovely path for walking and cycling, and the traditional locks and barges along the water add plenty of character.
15. Christ Church Cathedral
Christ Church Cathedral has stood at the heart of Dublin for more than 1,000 years and holds a famous 12th-century crypt, one of the oldest and largest in Britain and Ireland. The unique footbridge linking the Cathedral to Synod Hall is especially eye-catching.
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16. Patrick Kavanagh Bench
This seated statue commemorates Irish poet and novelist Patrick Kavanagh along the Grand Canal, on the north bank between Baggot Street Bridge and the upstream Eustace Bridge.
17. Dublin Zoo
Located in the heart of the Phoenix Park, Dublin Zoo opened 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 plenty to see. Check the feeding schedule on the day for a great chance to learn more about the animals — and maybe catch a photobomb along the way.
18. Killiney Hill
Killiney Hill is a favourite for walkers and hikers, thanks to its spectacular views: Dublin to the northwest, the Irish Sea (and the mountains of Wales on a clear day) to the east, and Bray Head and the Wicklow Mountains to the south.
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19. Grand Canal Square
Grand Canal Square features a striking red “carpet” that extends from the theatre out over the dock, with bright red light sticks that are eye-catching by day and glow beautifully 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.
20. Oscar Wilde Statue
This lifesize, colourful statue of the Irish poet and playwright can be found in Merrion Square, opposite his childhood home at 1 Merrion Square.
21. The Spire
The Spire of Dublin, also known as the Monument of Light, is a stainless steel monument standing 390 feet tall on O’Connell Street.
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22. The Hungry Tree
Found on the grounds of the Honorable Society of King’s Inns, Ireland’s oldest school of law, the Hungry Tree is an 80-year-old London Plane tree slowly “eating” a cast-iron bench. As the tree has grown, its gnarled bark has overtaken parts of the bench, making it look as though the seat is being swallowed into the trunk. The grounds are open to the public, so you can see it for yourself.
23. 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 16 transatlantic voyages during the Famine years, she carried 2,500 Irish emigrants to North America. Today you can climb aboard the authentic replica in Dublin’s Docklands for a tour, or simply use it as a striking photo backdrop.
24. 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 imaginative, inclusive portraits of iconic Irish figures, past and present. These creative pieces are displayed on the walls of the streets leading up to the Icon Factory Gallery.
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25. Butterfly House at Malahide Castle
Step inside Ireland’s only butterfly house at Malahide Castle & Gardens, where you can watch butterflies fly among tropical plants and spot their individual markings. With over 20 species housed here, it’s a treat for casual visitors and keen enthusiasts alike.
26. Iveagh Gardens
Known as Dublin’s “Secret Garden” thanks to its almost hidden location at the top of Harcourt Street, behind the National Concert Hall, Iveagh Gardens began life as an earl’s lawn before hosting the Dublin Exhibition Palace in 1865. Many original features remain or have been restored, including the yew maze, the rosarium and the fountains.
27. EPIC Sign
EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum is housed in the CHQ Building, a beautifully restored 200-year-old Georgian warehouse. Inside, discover why over 10 million people left Ireland, where they went, and the stories they carried with them across 20 interactive galleries. The EPIC sign out front is a popular photo spot in its own right.
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28. Buskers on Grafton Street
Buskers are part of the fabric of Grafton Street, with everything from traditional Irish music to pop and rock on offer. Many well-known Irish musicians started out here, including Damien Rice, Glen Hansard and Bono. You might still spot a familiar face — most notably around Christmas Eve, when some of Ireland’s biggest names have been known to join an impromptu busking session for charity.
29. Kilmainham Gaol
Kilmainham Gaol opened in 1796 as Dublin’s County Gaol. While most prisoners held here were common criminals, it also held political prisoners central to 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 it’s a popular attraction with guided tours and a museum to explore.
30. Dun Laoghaire Pier
Image courtesy Fionn Mc Cann
The East Pier of Dun Laoghaire Harbour is a favourite with walkers, joggers and anyone after a sea breeze. Look out for the Victorian shelter and bandstand, first built in 1890 and since restored.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most photographed spot in Dublin?
Landmarks like the Ha’penny Bridge, Trinity College and the Long Room Library are among the most photographed spots in the city, along with newer favourites like the colourful umbrellas on Anne Lane and the Icon Walk in Temple Bar.
Are these photo spots suitable for kids?
Yes — most of these spots are family-friendly and easy to reach on foot, by bus, DART or Luas. A few, like Killiney Hill and Howth Head, involve some walking, so they suit families with older kids or little ones happy to be carried or pushed in a buggy for part of the way.
Do you need to pay to visit these Dublin photo spots?
Many of the outdoor spots — parks, beaches, bridges, statues and street art — are free to visit. Some attractions mentioned, such as Dublin Zoo, Malahide Castle’s Butterfly House, EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum and Kilmainham Gaol, charge an entry fee, so check directly with the venue before you go.
What’s the best way to get around Dublin to visit these spots?
The city centre is compact and very walkable, so many of these spots can be combined into one day out on foot. For destinations further afield, like Howth, Dun Laoghaire, Killiney and Portmarnock, the DART is usually the easiest option.
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- Things to Do with Preschoolers in Dublin
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