Dublin is full of colour, character and unmissable backdrops – from painted doors and quirky statues to sweeping coastal views and city landmarks. Whether you’re planning a family day out in the city centre or venturing further afield to the coast and the hills, these are the best photo spots and Instagram places in Dublin to capture the moment.
The good news is that most of these spots are easy to reach. Dublin’s city centre is compact and walkable, while the DART, LUAS and bus network will get you out to the coast, the mountains and everywhere in between. Bring your camera (or just your phone) and make a day of it.
Best Instagram Places in Dublin
1. Poolbeg Lighthouse
The vibrant red lighthouse at the mouth of the River Liffey sits at the end of the Great South Wall. It’s roughly a 4km walk from the car park, but the scenic views along the way make it well worth the trip.
2. Poolbeg Chimneys
At just over 207m high, 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. This historic park and garden has links to many notable figures, including Arthur Guinness, 1st Baron Ardilaun, and Countess Constance Markievicz.
Keep an eye out for the park’s sculptural Irish monuments, and let younger visitors enjoy the playground and duck ponds while you’re there.
4. Ha’penny Bridge
Built in 1816, the Ha’penny Bridge is a landmark pedestrian bridge crossing the River Liffey. It takes its name from the toll once charged to cross it, and today thousands of people walk over it every day.
5. Trinity College
Set in a beautiful campus in the heart of Dublin’s city centre, Trinity College is Ireland’s highest-ranked university and a stunning setting to explore as you walk through the city.
6. The Library at Trinity College
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 this 1,200-year-old manuscript and the rich symbolism behind it.
7. Howth Harbour
Howth is a working fishing village, with trawlers and fish shops lining the pier. Easily reached by DART, there are markets 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 a royal hunting park in the 1660s, it opened to the public in 1747.
Open daily 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 and the Papal Cross.
Although the park is home to the Irish President, its most-visited residents are the herd of fallow deer. You’ll spot them as you walk or drive through the park – just remember to keep your distance and never feed them. Let them photobomb from afar!
9. Martello Towers
There are 29 Martello towers along the county’s coastline. Built in the early 1800s as lookout posts, some are now privately owned 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.
10. Umbrellas on Anne Lane
For a truly unique backdrop, this canopy of colourful umbrellas on Anne Lane, just off South Anne Street in the city centre, is well worth a visit.
11. Georgian Doors
Georgian doors are synonymous with Dublin and can be spotted prominently around Merrion Square and Fitzwilliam Square. The bright, varied colours are fun to hunt down – see if you can get photos with the whole rainbow.
12. 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 a popular spot for swimming, walking and watersports.
13. Dublin Convention Centre
The striking design and ever-changing light display of the Dublin Convention Centre in the Docklands makes for a real vision. Lit up in seasonal or themed colours for events, the reflection on the Liffey at night is a fantastic photo opportunity.
14. Grand Canal
The Grand Canal stretches from Dublin’s Grand Canal Dock all the way to the River Shannon. Within the city, you can follow it through areas like Ringsend, Ballsbridge, Ranelagh, Rathmines, Harold’s Cross and Crumlin.
The canal itself is a scenic path to walk or cycle, and the traditional locks and barges along the water are a lovely sight.
15. Christ Church Cathedral
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 unique footbridge linking it to Synod Hall is particularly eye-catching.
16. Patrick Kavanagh Bench
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.
17. 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 plenty to discover. Check the scheduled feeding times for a great way to learn more about the animals – and you might just get photobombed along the way.
18. Killiney Hill
Killiney Hill is a popular spot 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.
19. Grand Canal Square
Grand Canal Square features a striking red “carpet” extending from the theatre out over the dock, with bright red angled light sticks that stand out 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 city.
20. Oscar Wilde Statue
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.
21. 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.
22. The Hungry Tree
The Hungry Tree can be found on the grounds of the Honorable Society of King’s Inns, Ireland’s oldest school of law. This long-established London Plane tree is slowly “eating” a cast-iron bench beside it.
As the tree has grown, its gnarled bark has spilled over the back of the bench, making it look as though the seat is being swallowed into the trunk. The grounds are open and accessible to the public, so you can visit The Hungry Tree for yourself.
23. Jeanie Johnston
The original Jeanie Johnston made her maiden voyage from Blennerville in Tralee, Co. Kerry to Quebec in Canada in 1848 with 193 passengers on board, and went on to carry thousands of Irish emigrants across the Atlantic during the Famine years.
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 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 line the streets leading up to the Icon Factory Gallery.
25. Butterfly House at Malahide Castle
Step inside Ireland’s only butterfly house at Malahide Castle & Gardens. Watch butterflies fly among tropical plants and spot their individual markings – with over 20 species on show, it’s a treat for amateur enthusiasts and experienced lepidopterists alike.
26. 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 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 Georgian warehouse. Discover why millions of people left Ireland, where they went and what they brought with them, through 20 interactive galleries of personal stories.
One particular photo hotspot is the EPIC sign out front.
28. Buskers on Grafton Street
Buskers are part of the fabric of Grafton Street, playing everything from traditional Irish music to pop and rock. Many of Ireland’s best-known musicians started out here, including Damien Rice, Glen Hansard and Bono.
You can still catch some familiar faces on occasion, most notably on Christmas Eve, when some of the biggest names host an impromptu busking session for charity.
29. 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 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 popular spot for walkers, joggers and pleasure seekers alike. It’s home to a Victorian shelter and bandstand, first built in 1890 and since restored.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best photo spot in Dublin for families?
It depends what you’re after – St Stephen’s Green and the Phoenix Park are great for relaxed family visits with plenty to do alongside the photo opportunity, while landmarks like the Ha’penny Bridge, the Spire and the Icon Walk are quick, iconic stops you can fit into any city centre day out.
Are these spots suitable for buggies and younger children?
Many of them are, particularly the parks, the canal paths and the city centre landmarks. Coastal and hillside spots like Killiney Hill, Howth Head and the Great South Wall involve more walking on uneven ground, so they suit older children and confident walkers best.
Do you need to pay to visit these photo spots?
Most of the outdoor landmarks, statues, parks and streetscapes on this list are free to visit and photograph. Some attractions mentioned, such as Dublin Zoo, Malahide Castle’s Butterfly House, EPIC and Kilmainham Gaol, are paid visitor attractions – check directly with each venue for current admission details before you go.
What’s the best time of day for photos in Dublin?
Early morning or early evening tends to give softer light and quieter streets, especially in busy spots like Temple Bar and Grafton Street. For sunset shots, the coastal spots like Poolbeg Lighthouse, Dun Laoghaire Pier and Killiney Hill are hard to beat.
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Save This for Your Next Dublin Day Out
Dublin has enough photo-worthy spots to fill a dozen family days out – so save this list, bookmark your favourites, and tick them off one by one as you explore the city and coast together.
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