Dublin is full of picture-perfect moments waiting to be captured — from iconic bridges and colourful doors to leafy parks, historic buildings and the odd friendly deer photobombing your shot. Whether you’re spending a day in the city centre or heading further afield along the coast, these are our favourite photo spots and Instagram-worthy places in Dublin for families.
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 out to uncover even more of what the county has to offer.
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Best Photo Spots and Instagram Places in Dublin
Poolbeg Lighthouse
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The vibrant red lighthouse at the mouth of the River Liffey sits at the end of the Great South Wall. A 4km walk from the car park takes you out to enjoy the scenic views.
Poolbeg Chimneys
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At just over 207m high, the famous Poolbeg Towers are visible across the Dublin skyline from almost every direction, making them one of the city’s most recognisable landmarks.
St Stephen’s Green
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St Stephen’s Green is a green oasis in the middle of the city. This historic park has links to many important figures, including Arthur Guinness, 1st Baron Ardilaun, and Countess Constance Markievicz.
Keep an eye out for a number of significant Irish sculptures, while younger visitors will enjoy the playground and duck ponds.
Ha’penny Bridge
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Built in 1816, the Ha’penny Bridge is a landmark pedestrian bridge crossing the River Liffey. Named after the original toll charged to cross it, the bridge is now used by thousands of people every day.
Trinity College
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Set on a beautiful campus in the heart of Dublin’s city centre, Trinity College is Ireland’s highest-ranked university and a stunning backdrop as you walk through the city.
The Library at Trinity College
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The Long Room at Trinity is one of the world’s most beautiful libraries and 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 artistry behind it.
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Howth Harbour
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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
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The Phoenix Park is one of the largest enclosed public parks in any capital city in Europe. Originally formed as a royal hunting park in the 1660s, it opened to the public in 1747.
Open daily all year round, the 1,750-acre park offers 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-visited 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 the deer. Let them photobomb from afar!
Martello Towers
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There are 29 Martello towers running the length of the county. Built in the early 1800s as lookout posts, some are now privately owned while others 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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Umbrellas on Anne Lane
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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
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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 photos with the whole rainbow?
Portmarnock Beach
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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.
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Dublin Convention Centre
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The unique design and ever-changing light display of the Dublin Convention Centre in the Docklands is a real sight to see. Lit up in seasonal or themed colours for events, the reflection on the Liffey at night makes for a fantastic photo spot.
Grand Canal
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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 or cycle, the traditional locks and barges along the water are a sight to behold.
Christ Church Cathedral
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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 the 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.
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Patrick Kavanagh Bench
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Irish poet and novelist Patrick Kavanagh is commemorated with this unique seated statue along the Grand Canal, situated on the north bank between Baggot Street Bridge and the upstream Eustace Bridge.
Dublin Zoo
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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. Check the scheduled feeding times for a great way to learn more about the animals — who knows, you might get photobombed by a resident or two!
Killiney Hill
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Killiney Hill is a popular spot for walkers and hikers, thanks to spectacular views over the surrounding areas: Dublin to the northwest, the Irish Sea and, on a clear day, the mountains of Wales to the east and southeast, and Bray Head and the Wicklow Mountains to the south.
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Grand Canal Square
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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, and a real stand-out when glowing 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
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The lifesize, colourful statue of Irish poet and playwright Oscar Wilde can be found in Merrion Square, opposite his childhood home at 1 Merrion Square.
The Spire
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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.
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The Hungry Tree
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The Hungry Tree is located on the grounds of The Honorable Society of King’s Inns, Ireland’s oldest school of law. This 80-year-old London Plane tree is in the slow process of “eating” a cast-iron bench.
As the tree has grown, it has overtaken parts of the bench, its gnarled bark spilling over the back of the seat so it looks like the bench is being pulled into the trunk. The grounds are open to the public, so you can go and see it for yourself.
Jeanie Johnston
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The original Jeanie Johnston made her maiden voyage from Blennerville in Tralee, Co. Kerry to Quebec, Canada in 1848 with 193 passengers on board. She carried around 2,500 Irish emigrants across 16 transatlantic voyages during the Famine years.
Today, you can climb aboard the authentic replica Jeanie Johnston in Dublin’s Docklands for a tour, or simply use the landmark as a striking 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 imaginative, inclusive snapshots of iconic Irish historical and contemporary figures. These creative representations of cultural icons past and present are displayed on the walls of the streets leading up to the Icon Factory Gallery.
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Butterfly House at Malahide Castle
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Step inside Ireland’s only butterfly house at Malahide Castle & Gardens. Watch the butterflies fly among tropical plants and spot their individual markings. With over 20 species housed at Malahide, it’s a paradise for amateur enthusiasts and experienced lepidopterists alike.
Iveagh Gardens
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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 since been restored, including the yew maze, the rosarium and the fountains.
EPIC Sign
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EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum is located 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 20 interactive galleries of adventure, adversity and triumph.
One particular photo hotspot here is the EPIC sign out front!
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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
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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 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 features a Victorian shelter and bandstand, first built in 1890 and since extensively renovated.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the best time of day to visit these Dublin photo spots?
Early morning and late afternoon tend to give the softest light and the smallest crowds, especially at busy city-centre spots like Trinity College, Grafton Street and Temple Bar. Coastal spots like Howth Harbour and Dun Laoghaire Pier are lovely at any time, though sunrise and sunset add extra colour to the sky.
Do I need to pay to visit these locations?
Many of the spots on this list — parks, bridges, beaches, streets and public art — are free to enjoy. A number of attractions, including Dublin Zoo, EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum, the Butterfly House at Malahide Castle, Kilmainham Gaol and the Book of Kells exhibition at Trinity College, charge an entrance fee. Check each attraction’s own website for current opening hours and ticket prices before you go.
Are these spots suitable for buggies and younger children?
Most of the parks, canal walks and city-centre streets are buggy-friendly, though cobbled areas like Temple Bar and some coastal paths can be trickier going. Phoenix Park, St Stephen’s Green and Iveagh Gardens are especially good options for families with younger children, with space to run around as well as photo opportunities.
How do I get around to see them all without a car?
Dublin’s city centre spots are best explored on foot, and many are within easy walking distance of each other. For spots further out, like Howth, Killiney, Dun Laoghaire and Portmarnock, the DART is a simple and scenic option, while buses and the LUAS cover much of the rest of the county.
Can we fit several of these into one day?
Yes, especially if you group locations by area. The city-centre cluster (Trinity College, St Stephen’s Green, the Spire, Grafton Street, Temple Bar and the Ha’penny Bridge) can easily be combined in a single walking day, while the coastal spots (Howth, Dun Laoghaire, Killiney, Portmarnock) work well as a separate seaside day out.
Related Articles
- Guide to Dublin for Families: Where to Eat, Stay, Play and Explore
- Best Outdoor Places in Dublin for Families
- 40 Fun and FREE Things to Do in Dublin with Kids
- Things to Do with Preschoolers in Dublin
- 30 Terrific Things to Do in Dublin for Teens and Older Kids
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