There is no escaping the fact that Dublin is an expensive place to live. It seems like everywhere you go the prices are skyrocketing including supermarkets, restaurants, bars, shops. This is why it is always nice to find fun activities you can do in Dublin that won’t immediately drain your bank account.
Below we have listed our top five things to do in Dublin that are free and fun!
Phoenix Park
It is the largest enclosed city park in Europe and for decades it has been a favourite spot for walkers, cyclists, families, and anyone who loves fresh air. You can enjoy the cultural and historic sites, spot roaming herds of deer, and even (maybe) see the President of Ireland. And if you go on Saturday, Áras an Uachtaráin (the president’s house) offers free guided tours. They do need to be booked in advance, however. So, grab your raincoat and sunglasses (you just never know with the Irish weather) and check it out. You’ll want to come back again and again – and not just because of its size!
To get to Phoenix Park, take the 145 bus from Ashton Quay and get off at Heuston Station. Or you can take the Luas heading towards Tallaght from Abbey Street and get off at Heuston Station. From there it is just a few minutes walk around the corner, and you will be there.
The Dead Zoo
Considering it’s only a five-minute walk around the corner from Trinity, you’d be silly to miss out on visiting the Dead Zoo. Officially named the National Museum of Ireland – Natural History, the museum has been recently refurbished and partially reopened. Its current collection includes over 2 million specimens in total, and you can find 10,000 of them in its current exhibition. This includes meteorites, artistic creations, taxidermised mammals, insects, and birds, and the skeletons of huge ancient deer. A bonus is it is only a few minutes’ walk from the Trinity campus, so you’ve no excuse to miss it.
The National Gallery
Winter in Ireland is a place of grey, rainy days. But take that as an opportunity to spend the day in the warm confines of the National Gallery on Merrion Square.
In the four wings of the museum, you will find works by Rembrandt, Picasso, Vermeer, and Goya. A personal favourite is the Caravaggio’s The Taking of Christ (1602), which unbelievably lay undiscovered in a house on Leeson Street for 60 years!
There is also a very good café (easily accessed via the Gallery’s Clare Street entrance) where you can caffeinate after.
Like The Dead Zoo, the National Gallery is conveniently located only a few minutes walk from the main campus. Exit through Lincoln Gate behind the Pav, turn right, and follow the road up to the corner. Here you can cross the road and will find the National Gallery (a building with a granite exterior).
National Botanic Gardens
Quiz question, can you find a tropical rainforest in Ireland?
Shockingly the answer is yes, at the National Botanic Gardens in Glasnevin. Founded in 1795, the 50-acre gardens are home to a series of curvilinear glasshouses dating from 1843 and 1869 – the Turner Curvilinear Range and the Great Palm House. Here you can find thriving orchids, bananas, and cacti. There are free guided talks on Sundays and if you visit their website, you will also find free audio guides illuminating the flora of this slice of forest in the heart of the city.
There are several buses you can take to the National Botanic Gardens. On Westmoreland Street, just around the corner from Front Square, you can find the 319 bus stop. Take the 83, 83A, 155, or 9 bus to get to the National Botanic Gardens. Keep a close eye on your stops!
First Wednesday of the Month Heritage Site Visits…
On the first Wednesday of every month, the Office of Public Works (OPW) Heritage Sites provides free admission for individuals / families to many popular cultural attractions. These include Farmleigh House, an Edwardian mansion in Phoenix Park. This was once home to the Guinness family and is now used as a guest house by the Irish state. Or you can take in the neo-classical architecture of Casino Marino and the Custom House.
All tickets are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis so make sure to get in there quickly. The full list of attractions is on their site and includes many places around the country if you fancy venturing further afield.
There are three OPW Heritage Sites which are not too far from Trinity College Dublin. The Custom House is only a short ten-minute walk from campus over the Liffey. Farmleigh House is a little further and is located on the far side of Phoenix Park. The most direct way to go would be to take the 37 bus from the 793 bus stop on Dawson Street (exit campus via the Nassau Street exit). To get to Casino Marino, you can take the 27 bus from the 1358 bus stop on Dame Street which is just a five-minute walk from the Front Square of campus.
There are many more insights on the ins-and-outs of student life at Trinity in our blog. Discover what makes Trinity such a unique place to be by reading more today.
