Dublin is full of brilliant backdrops for family photos — from grand historic buildings and colourful doorways to leafy parks where the local wildlife might just photobomb your shot. Whether you’re after a scenic countryside view, a quirky city landmark, or a splash of colour for the ‘gram, this city (and county) has it in spades.
The best way to explore is on foot — Dublin’s city centre is compact and easy to wander, while the bus, DART and LUAS will happily carry you further out to the coast and countryside for even more photo-worthy spots.
YOU MAY ALSO ENJOY: Guide to Dublin for Families: Where to Eat, Stay, Play and Explore
Best 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 will take you out to see the scenic views.
Poolbeg Chimneys
At just over 207m high, the iconic 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 is linked to many important figures, including Arthur Guinness, 1st Baron Ardilaun, and Countess Constance Markievicz.
Keep an eye out for several important sculptural Irish monuments, 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 used by thousands of people every day.
Trinity College
Set on a beautiful campus in the heart of Dublin’s city centre, Trinity College is Ireland’s highest-ranked university and a stunning setting to admire as you walk through the city.
The Library at Trinity College
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
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 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 photographed residents are the 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 the deer. 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 while others lie unused. 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
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 areas like Merrion Square and Fitzwilliam Square. The vibrant colours are fun to spot — can you get photos 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 distinctive 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 light reflecting 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.
The canal itself is a scenic path to walk and cycle, 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.
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.
YOU MAY ALSO ENJOY: 30 Fun and Family-Friendly Things to Do In Leinster
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 the Phoenix Park, 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 so much to discover, learn and see. Check the daily schedule when you visit — feeding times are a great way to learn more about the animals, and you might just 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 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 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
This 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 No. 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 in Dublin is found on the grounds of the Honorable Society of King’s Inns, Ireland’s oldest school of law. This London Plane tree is slowly “eating” a cast-iron bench.
As the tree has grown, it has overtaken parts of the structure in its way. Its gnarled bark now spills over the back of the bench, making it look as though the seat 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 with 193 passengers on board. She carried around 2,500 Irish emigrants across 16 transatlantic voyages to North America throughout 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 as a phenomenal photo backdrop.
The Icon Walk, Temple Bar
The Icon Walk in Temple Bar is a public art project made up of imaginative, inclusive portraits 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.
YOU MAY ALSO ENJOY: 30 Terrific Things to Do in Dublin for Teens and Older Kids
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 at Malahide, it’s a paradise for amateur enthusiasts and experienced lepidopterists alike!
Iveagh Gardens
Iveagh Gardens is popularly known as Dublin’s “Secret Garden”, thanks to its 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 of the 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 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. Explore 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 famous musicians started out here, including Damien Rice, Glen Hansard and Bono.
You can still spot some 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 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
The East Pier of Dun Laoghaire Harbour is a popular spot for walkers, joggers and pleasure-seekers. The pier boasts a Victorian shelter and bandstand, first constructed in 1890 and since given extensive renovations.
YOU MAY ALSO ENJOY: Things to Do with Preschoolers in Dublin
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best free photo spots in Dublin?
Many of Dublin’s best backdrops cost nothing at all — St Stephen’s Green, the Ha’penny Bridge, the Spire, Georgian Doors, Grand Canal Square, and the deer in Phoenix Park are all free to visit and photograph.
Which Dublin photo spots are good for families with young kids?
St Stephen’s Green and Phoenix Park both combine great photo opportunities with playgrounds and space to run around, making them easy wins for a family day out. Dublin Zoo and the Malahide Castle Butterfly House also give little ones plenty to look at between photos.
Are these photo spots easy to reach without a car?
Yes — many are right in the city centre and within walking distance of each other. Others, like Howth, Killiney Hill, Portmarnock Beach and Dun Laoghaire Pier, are easily reached by DART from the city centre.
Can I visit all of these spots in one day?
It’s a lot to fit into a single day, especially with kids in tow. It’s worth picking a cluster of nearby spots — for example, the city centre landmarks, or the coastal spots around Dun Laoghaire and Killiney — rather than trying to see everything at once.
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
- Things to Do with Preschoolers in Dublin
Save These Ideas for Later
Got a Dublin day out on the calendar? Bookmark this page or share it with the family group chat so you’ve got your photo-spot shortlist ready to go when you head out the door.
Want More Family Day Out Ideas?
Sign up for our newsletter for weekly ideas, days out and things to do with the kids, straight to your inbox.
—
