Capture all the best bits of your Dublin days out with some truly iconic backdrops. From landmark statues and historic buildings to animal photobombs and unmissable street art, these are the photo spots and Instagram places in Dublin you won’t want to miss.
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 uncover even more of what the county has to offer.
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Best Instagram Places in Dublin
Poolbeg Lighthouse
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
Standing at just over 207m high, the iconic Poolbeg towers are visible across the Dublin skyline from almost every direction — one of the city’s most recognisable landmarks.
St Stephen’s Green
St Stephen’s Green is a green 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 several significant Irish monuments, while younger visitors will love the playground and 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 charged to cross it, the bridge is now used 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 highest-ranked university and a stunning spot to visit as you explore the city.
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 the 1,200-year-old manuscript and the rich symbolism and artistry behind it.
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Howth Harbour
Howth is a working fishing village, with trawlers and fish shops lining the pier. Easily reached by DART, it has markets to explore, Howth Head to hike, and seals to spot in the harbour.
Deer in the Phoenix Park
Phoenix Park is one of the largest enclosed public parks in any capital city in Europe. Originally 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.
The park’s most-visited residents are its thousands of fallow deer. The herd can often 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 as lookout posts, some towers 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.
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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.
Georgian Doors
Georgian doors are synonymous with Dublin, and can be seen prominently around areas like 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.
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Dublin Convention Centre
The striking design and ever-changing light display at 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.
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. The canal itself is a scenic path for walking and cycling, and the traditional locks and barges along the water are a sight to behold.
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. It’s home to the famous 12th-century crypt, one of the oldest and largest in Britain and Ireland — and the unique footbridge joining the cathedral to Synod Hall is particularly eye-catching.
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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.
Dublin Zoo
Dublin Zoo, in the heart of 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, learn and see. Check out the scheduled feeding times for a great way to learn more about the animals — you might even get photobombed by one of the residents!
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 (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
Grand Canal Square features a striking red “carpet” extending from the theatre out over the dock. The bright red, angled light sticks are eye-catching by day and a real stand-out when lit 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 lifesize, 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.
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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 veteran London Plane tree is slowly “eating” a cast-iron bench beneath it — as the tree has grown, its gnarled bark has overtaken parts of the structure, making the seat look as though it’s being swallowed 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 with 193 passengers on board, and went on to carry 2,500 Irish emigrants across 16 transatlantic voyages during the Famine years. Today, you can climb aboard the authentic replica in Dublin’s Docklands for a tour, or simply use the landmark ship as a phenomenal photo backdrop.
The Icon Walk, Temple Bar
The Icon Walk in Temple Bar is a public art project made up of a series of imaginative, inclusive portraits of iconic Irish figures, past and present. These creative representations are displayed on the walls of the streets leading up to the Icon Factory Gallery.
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Butterfly House at Malahide Castle
Step inside Ireland’s only butterfly house at Malahide Castle & Gardens. Watch them fly among tropical plants and spot their individual traits and markings — with over 20 species housed here, it’s a paradise for amateur enthusiasts and experienced lepidopterists alike.
Iveagh Gardens
Iveagh Gardens are popularly 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 since 1995, including the yew maze, the rosarium and the fountains.
EPIC Sign
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, across 20 interactive galleries of adventure, adversity and triumph. One particular photo hotspot 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 singalongs. Many of Ireland’s most famous 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 Ireland’s biggest stars host an impromptu busking session for charity.
Kilmainham Gaol
Kilmainham Gaol opened in 1796 as the new County Gaol for Dublin. While most 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
The East Pier of Dún Laoghaire Harbour is a popular spot for walkers, joggers and pleasure seekers. It boasts a Victorian shelter and bandstand, first built in 1890 and since restored through extensive renovations.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most Instagrammable place in Dublin?
There’s no single answer — it depends what you’re after. For colour and street art, Temple Bar’s Icon Walk and the Anne Lane umbrellas are hard to beat. For classic Dublin landmarks, the Ha’penny Bridge, Trinity College and The Spire are firm favourites.
Are these photo spots suitable for kids?
Yes, most of the spots on this list are family-friendly and easy to reach on foot or by public transport. A few, like Killiney Hill or the Great South Wall walk to Poolbeg Lighthouse, involve a longer walk, so they suit older kids or families happy for a bit of a hike.
Do I need to pay to visit these photo spots?
Many of the spots on this list — including parks, bridges, statues, beaches and public art — are free to visit. A few, such as Dublin Zoo, Malahide Castle’s Butterfly House, EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum and Kilmainham Gaol, are paid attractions, so it’s worth checking current opening hours and admission details directly with the venue before you go.
What’s the best way to get around Dublin to visit these spots?
The city centre is very walkable, and many of these locations are within easy reach of each other on foot. For spots further out, like Howth, Dún Laoghaire, Killiney and Malahide, the DART is a scenic and simple option, while buses and the Luas cover much of the rest of the county.
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- Best Outdoor Places in Dublin for Families
- 30 Terrific Things to Do in Dublin for Teens and Older Kids
- Things to Do with Preschoolers in Dublin
Save This for Your Next Dublin Day Out
Ticking off even a handful of these spots makes for a brilliant themed day out with the kids — snap your favourites, tag us in your photos, and bookmark this page so you’ve always got fresh ideas for your next trip into the city.
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