First pick
Phoenix Park
Park or garden
704 ha93.1 km of path
20 h 40 minto walk all 93.1 km of path
3.9 km north-westfrom the centre
Khyber RoadTinkler's PathKaziranga Forest Trail+2 paths
Directionsto a point inside
Photo: Sonse · CC BY 2.097%near a park
Outdoors in Dublin · parks, paths & countryside
Dublin is on the coast
The sea makes up 24% of the area within 5 km. 26 waymarked trails start within 5 km of Dublin, among them the National Famine Way and Royal Canal Way. Wicklow Mountains National Park begins 2.4 km away.
Near a park
97%
of residents within 400 m
Typical Irish town: 92%
Green space
3.3 ha
per 1,000 residents
Typical Irish town: 4.1 ha
Footpaths
2,373 km
4.8 km per km², town + 1 km
Typical Irish town: 2.1 km per km²
Protected for nature
3.5%
of the land within 5 km
Nearest: North-West Irish Sea cSPA
Woodland
4.5%
of the town and 1 km around it
Typical Irish town: 2.7%
The sea
24%
of the area within 5 km
A coastal town
Character
What kind of outdoors town is Dublin?
Read from the data: what stands out first, good and bad.
On the coast24% of the area within 5 km is sea.A park on every doorstep97% of residents live within 400 m of a park or playing field.Hills close by7 named hills of 200 m or more within 2 km; the highest, Two Rock Mountain, is 536 m.Countryside close byWicklow Mountains National Park starts 2.4 km south.
Dublin’s strongest suit is the sea, followed by parks close to every home.
Against other towns
How Dublin compares with Irish towns
Each figure against Ireland’s 321 towns and city neighbourhoods of 2,500+ (city hubs left out): the marked bar is the town’s, the line the median. Ireland has no Outdoors Grade yet: the figures are described, each against other Irish towns, and none of them counts towards the overall grade.
A park within a walk97%of residents within 400 m (a 5-minute walk)
60out of 100
Public green space3.3 haper 1,000 residents: parks, gardens, playing fields, play spaces
43out of 100
Footpaths4.8 kmper km², the town and 1 km around it
73out of 100
Protected for nature3.5%of the land within 5 km
62out of 100
Woodland4.5%of the town and 1 km around it, as mapped
72out of 100
The sea24%of the area within 5 km
85out of 100
Parks, paths and woods: OpenStreetMap; residents: CSO Census 2022 Small Areas; protected sites: NPWS; sea: CSO and ONS land outlines. A 0 means nothing is mapped.
Towns its size
Dublin has the 14th most footpaths per km² of 40 towns its size
The 40 Irish towns nearest in population (18,644 to 1,263,219 residents), by km of footpath per km². Hover for each one’s protected land and woods; click for its page.
From Esker (10.5 km per km²) to Portlaoise (0.6 km per km²).
Footpath, km per km²
Dublin4.8
Towns its size2.5
Co. Dublin towns5.4
Typical Irish town2.1
Green space, ha per 1,000 residents
Dublin3.3
Towns its size3.9
Co. Dublin towns7.6
Typical Irish town4.1
Residents within 400 m of a park
Dublin97%
Towns its size95%
Co. Dublin towns100%
Typical Irish town92%
Against towns its size, Dublin stands out most for path per km²: only 13 of the other 39 have more. It falls furthest behind on park space per resident, where 22 of the others do better.
Every town in the comparison
| Town | Paths (km/km²) | Woodland | Protected | The sea | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Esker Dublin | 10.5 | 2.1% | 0.1% | – |
| 2 | Old Bawn Dublin | 8.5 | 3% | 1.8% | – |
| 3 | Dolphins Barn Dublin | 8.4 | 2.9% | 0% | – |
| 4 | Stoneybatter Dublin | 7.5 | 1.6% | 0% | – |
| 5 | Carpenterstown Dublin | 7.3 | 11% | 0% | – |
| 6 | Blanchardstown Dublin | 7 | 3.8% | 0% | – |
| 7 | Lucan Dublin | 6.8 | 7.3% | 0.2% | – |
| 8 | Mulhuddart Dublin | 6.6 | 4% | 0% | – |
| 9 | Ballymun Dublin | 6.5 | 2.6% | 0% | – |
| 10 | Clonsilla Dublin | 6.4 | 3% | 0.1% | – |
| 11 | Jobstown Dublin | 6.3 | 1.9% | 2.2% | – |
| 12 | Rathmines West Dublin | 6 | 1.7% | 0.1% | 5.8% |
| 13 | Crumlin Dublin | 5.4 | 0.8% | 0% | – |
| 14 | Dublin Dublin | 4.8 | 4.5% | 3.5% | 24% |
| 15 | Clondalkin Dublin | 4.6 | 3.3% | 0% | – |
| 16 | Stepaside Dublin | 4.3 | 15% | 6.4% | 5.9% |
| 17 | Sandymount Dublin | 3.6 | 1.2% | 3.6% | 35% |
| 18 | Kilkenny Kilkenny | 3.1 | 3.8% | 2.4% | – |
| 19 | Beaumont Dublin | 2.9 | 2% | 3.4% | 9.7% |
| 20 | Swords Dublin | 2.6 | 2.6% | 1.1% | – |
| 21 | Celbridge Kildare | 2.4 | 6.9% | 0.5% | – |
| 22 | Greystones-Delgany Wicklow | 2.2 | 11% | 5% | 35% |
| 23 | Bray Wicklow | 2.1 | 13% | 3.4% | 37% |
| 24 | Balbriggan Dublin | 2.1 | 1.6% | 0% | 37% |
| 25 | Naas Kildare | 1.9 | 1.4% | 0% | – |
| 26 | Navan Meath | 1.7 | 4.7% | 2.2% | – |
| 27 | Douglas Cork | 1.7 | 4.6% | 5% | – |
| 28 | Dundalk Louth | 1.4 | 1.7% | 3.6% | 23% |
| 29 | Ballincollig Cork | 1.3 | 8.4% | 0% | – |
| 30 | Athlone Westmeath | 1.3 | 6.1% | 14% | – |
| 31 | Sligo Sligo | 1.2 | 6.1% | 9.5% | 18% |
| 32 | Tralee Kerry | 1.1 | 2.4% | 21% | 6.4% |
| 33 | Wexford Wexford | 1.1 | 3.8% | 13% | 22% |
| 34 | Drogheda Louth | 1 | 1.8% | 3.8% | 5.5% |
| 35 | Carlow Carlow | 0.9 | 1.3% | 2% | – |
| 36 | Mullingar Westmeath | 0.8 | 8.9% | 3.3% | – |
| 37 | Ennis Clare | 0.7 | 9.6% | 7.8% | – |
| 38 | Letterkenny Donegal | 0.7 | 4.9% | 4.3% | 5.3% |
| 39 | Newbridge Kildare | 0.6 | 1.6% | 4.9% | – |
| 40 | Portlaoise Laois | 0.6 | 2.6% | 1.1% | – |
The map
Parks, woods, footpaths & countryside
Tap a number to zoom to a park. Tap a layer to hide it. The dashed line is Dublin’s city boundary.
Green: parks, gardens, playing fields, play spaces and woods, named or not.© OpenStreetMap contributors · NPWS · Sport Ireland · CSO
Places to walk
Parks to walk in, in and around Dublin
The biggest is Phoenix Park, 704 ha (1,739 acres).
All 30 named parks and woods by size: 1,989 ha (4,914 acres) and 321 km of path
Parks & gardens 1,989 ha
The two biggest, Phoenix Park and Corkagh Park, are 42% of the named green space and carry 106 km of path between them.
Tymon Park
Park or garden
131 ha22.1 km of path
4 h 55 minto walk all 22.1 km of path
5.4 km south-westfrom the centre
Mayor's MileTymon LaneEnchanted Walk
Directionsto a point inside
Corkagh Park
Park or garden
136 ha12.7 km of path
2 h 50 minto walk all 12.7 km of path
9.2 km westfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
St Anne's Park
Park or garden
120 ha19.1 km of path
4 h 15 minto walk all 19.1 km of path
8.1 km north-eastfrom the centre
Forest PathRidge WalkRiver Path+5 paths
Directionsto a point inside
Marlay Park
Park or garden
84 ha18.5 km of path
4 h 5 minto walk all 18.5 km of path
7.1 km southfrom the centre
Footpath (Under Construction)
Directionsto a point inside
Saint Catherine's Park
Park or garden
99 ha10 km of path
2 h 15 minto walk all 10 km of path
13 km westfrom the centre
Woodland Walk
Directionsto a point inside
Tolka Valley Park
Park or garden
56 ha11.3 km of path
2 h 30 minto walk all 11.3 km of path
4.6 km northfrom the centre
Tolka Greenway
Directionsto a point inside
Dodder Valley Park
Park or garden
52 ha9.7 km of path
2 h 10 minto walk all 9.7 km of path
7.3 km south-westfrom the centre
Balrothery Weir WalkJim Lawlor Bridge
Directionsto a point inside
All 30 named parks and green spaces
Phoenix ParkPark or garden · 704 ha · 93.1 km of path
DirectionsTymon ParkPark or garden · 131 ha · 22.1 km of path
DirectionsCorkagh ParkPark or garden · 136 ha · 12.7 km of path
DirectionsSt Anne's ParkPark or garden · 120 ha · 19.1 km of path
DirectionsMarlay ParkPark or garden · 84 ha · 18.5 km of path
DirectionsSaint Catherine's ParkPark or garden · 99 ha · 10 km of path
DirectionsTolka Valley ParkPark or garden · 56 ha · 11.3 km of path
DirectionsDodder Valley ParkPark or garden · 52 ha · 9.7 km of path
DirectionsKilliney Hill ParkPark or garden · 45 ha · 8.1 km of path
DirectionsKiltipper ParkPark or garden · 46 ha · 6.3 km of path
DirectionsKilbogget ParkPark or garden · 41 ha · 6.8 km of path
DirectionsSantry DemesnePark or garden · 35 ha · 7.7 km of path
DirectionsShanganagh ParkPark or garden · 33 ha · 7.6 km of path
DirectionsWaterstownPark or garden · 36 ha · 5.6 km of path
DirectionsCabinteely ParkPark or garden · 32 ha · 7 km of path
DirectionsFernhill Park and GardensPark or garden · 32 ha · 5.4 km of path
DirectionsFarmleighPark or garden · 32 ha · 4.9 km of path
DirectionsGriffeen Valley ParkPark or garden · 27 ha · 6.8 km of path
DirectionsHartstown ParkPark or garden · 27 ha · 5.6 km of path
DirectionsSean Walsh ParkPark or garden · 24 ha · 6.5 km of path
DirectionsBushy ParkPark or garden · 22 ha · 6.3 km of path
DirectionsNational Botanic GardensPark or garden · 19 ha · 7.4 km of path
DirectionsBallymount ParkPark or garden · 22 ha · 4.3 km of path
DirectionsMillennium ParkPark or garden · 21 ha · 4.5 km of path
DirectionsBelcamp ParkPark or garden · 23 ha · 3 km of path
DirectionsPoppintree ParkPark or garden · 19 ha · 5 km of path
DirectionsFairview ParkPark or garden · 19 ha · 3.8 km of path
DirectionsRoyal Hospital KilmainhamPark or garden · 17 ha · 4.3 km of path
DirectionsFather Collins ParkPark or garden · 16 ha · 4.4 km of path
DirectionsLady's Well Park / Mick Walsh ParkPark or garden · 17 ha · 3.2 km of path
DirectionsNamed parks, gardens, commons and woods in the town or within 400 m of it, from OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL); pieces of one name that touch are one place. Sizes are the whole site; directions go to a point inside.
Close to home
Almost everyone in Dublin lives within a 5-minute walk of a park
Each square is 1 in 100 residents: green lives within 400 m of a public park, garden or playing field (CSO Census 2022 Small Areas against OpenStreetMap).
Within 400 m (97%)Further (3.1%)
Dublin97%
Co. Dublin towns100%
Typical Irish town92%
About 39,000 people live further than that. Playing fields count, so a park within reach isn’t always one with paths or trees.
Protected areas
Protected sites cover 3.5% of the land within 5 km of Dublin
Special Areas of Conservation, Special Protection Areas and Natural Heritage Areas designated by the National Parks and Wildlife Service, within 5 km of the town’s edge.
Inside Dublin2%
Within 5 km3.5%
Co. Dublin towns0.2%
Typical Irish town1.8%
22 protected sites lie within 5 km of Dublin. Proposed Natural Heritage Areas cover 2.6% of the land within 5 km as well; many have been proposed since 1995 and aren’t counted here. Ireland’s National Parks have a block of their own on this page; much of their land also lies inside these sites.
North-West Irish Sea cSPASpecial Protection Area (birds) · 2,333 km² · reaches Dublin
NPWS pageRockabill to Dalkey Island SACSpecial Area of Conservation · 273 km² · reaches Dublin
NPWS pageSouth Dublin Bay and River Tolka Estuary SPASpecial Protection Area (birds) · 22 km² · reaches Dublin
NPWS pageNorth Bull Island SPASpecial Protection Area (birds) · 19 km² · reaches Dublin
NPWS pageNorth Dublin Bay SACSpecial Area of Conservation · 15 km² · reaches Dublin
NPWS pageSouth Dublin Bay SACSpecial Area of Conservation · 7.3 km² · reaches Dublin
NPWS pageBaldoyle Bay SACSpecial Area of Conservation · 5.3 km² · reaches Dublin
NPWS pageHowth Head SACSpecial Area of Conservation · 3.8 km² · reaches Dublin
NPWS pageBaldoyle Bay SPASpecial Protection Area (birds) · 2.6 km² · reaches Dublin
NPWS pageHowth Head Coast SPASpecial Protection Area (birds) · 2.1 km² · reaches Dublin
NPWS page12 more sites are within 5 km.
Protected sites: National Parks and Wildlife Service designated site boundaries (CC BY 4.0), 2026; land within 5 km from CSO Small Areas and, over the border, ONS. Overlapping sites are counted once.
National Parks
Wicklow Mountains National Park is 2.4 km away
Ireland’s National Parks within 100 km, and the nearest always, by direction and distance from the town’s edge; circle size shows each park’s area.
National ParkThe 5 km around the town
National Park
Wicklow Mountains National Park
2.4 km south223 km²
National Park boundaries: National Parks and Wildlife Service, generalised to 50 m (CC BY 4.0, © Government of Ireland), 2022. Distances from the town’s outline (CSO Small Areas).
Footpaths and woods
2,373 km of footpaths cross Dublin
Footways that aren’t pavements, paths, bridleways, steps and tracks open on foot, and mapped woods and forest, in the town and 1 km around it, each beside the county’s and Ireland’s typical town of 2,500+.
Footpaths
2,373 km
over 497.4 km² of town and the 1 km around it
Woodland
4.5%
about 22.3 km² of mapped woods
Registered trails
26
walking trails within 5 km
Km per km², town and 1 km around · mapped on OpenStreetMap
DublinCo. Dublin townsTypical Irish town
Footpaths4.8
03.57 km per km²
Share of the land · mapped woods and forest
DublinCo. Dublin townsTypical Irish town
Woodland4.5%
0%50%100%
Dublin has more footpath per km² than 73% of Irish towns and more woodland than 72% of Irish towns.
Footpaths and woods: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), Geofabrik extract, October 2026. Woods are mapped cover, private and Coillte forests included.
Footpaths & trails
Dublin is on the National Famine Way
2,373 km of footpaths are mapped in Dublin and the kilometre around it, 4.8 km for every square kilometre (the typical Irish town has 2.1).
Long-distance wayGreenwayWalking trail
National Famine Way168.6 km
Royal Canal Way146.3 km
Wicklow Way128.1 km
Royal Canal Greenway Walking Trail121.4 km
Grand Canal Way117.1 km
Dublin Mountains Way41.2 km
Howth - Bog of Frogs Loop12.1 km
Royal Canal Greenway - Drumcondra - Ashtown - Castleknock8.9 km
Howth - Black Linn Loop8.1 km
Howth - Cliff Path Loop7.8 km
Howth - Tramline Loop7.0 km
Carrickgollogan - Lead Mines Way - (Orange)2.3 km
Carrickgollogan - Mountain Access route2.0 km
Barnaslingan - Scalp Lookout Trail (Red)1.4 km
Plus 12 more trails within 5 km.
The National Famine Way (169 km end to end) passes through Dublin. For a shorter walk, the Howth - Bog of Frogs Loop is 12.1 km, graded strenuous. 3 cycling or paddling trails also start within 5 km.
17 more waymarked walks on OpenStreetMap
NationalLocalOther waymarked
European long distance path E8 - part Ireland23.4 km
The Royal Canal Way19.2 km
Howth Bog of the Frogs Loop12.2 km
Howth Cliff Walk11.7 km
Howth Black Linn Loop8.1 km
Howth Cliff Path Loop7.8 km
Howth Tramline Loop7.0 km
Dublin Mountains Way Hellfire & Massey Spur5.4 km
Tymon Park Purple Slí4.5 km
Sli Na Sláinte Leixlip Sli4.0 km
Tymon Park Red Slí3.1 km
Tymon Park Yellow Slí2.3 km
Plus 5 more waymarked walks on the map.
Trails: Sport Ireland National Trails Register (CC BY 4.0), registered trails within 5 km; footpaths: OpenStreetMap (ODbL). More waymarked walks: OpenStreetMap route relations (ODbL) within 2 km, those already on the register left out. Coillte’s own forest trails and recreation sites aren’t included: Coillte’s terms limit its data to research or private study. Its trails on the National Trails Register are listed.
When to get out
The best walking months in Dublin: May to September
Met Éireann’s 1991–2020 averages for the town’s 1 km square and the daylight at its latitude. Outlined months have long days, highs of 15 to 30 °C and little rain for the place.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daylight (h) | 8.0 | 9.7 | 11.7 | 13.9 | 15.8 | 17.0 | 16.5 | 14.8 | 12.6 | 10.4 | 8.5 | 7.5 |
| High (°C) | 9 | 9 | 11 | 13 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 18 | 14 | 11 | 9 |
| Rain (mm) | 63 | 53 | 52 | 51 | 55 | 63 | 58 | 66 | 62 | 76 | 84 | 73 |
April is the driest month (51 mm) and July the warmest (highs of 20 °C). Winter days are short, about 7.5 hours of daylight in December, and 84 mm of rain falls in November, the wettest month. The climate in Dublin →
The coast
The coast and bathing waters near Dublin
24% of the area within 5 km of Dublin is sea. 12 bathing waters are within 5 km, each with its latest class.
Dollymount StrandGood (2025) · In town
beaches.ieForty Foot Bathing PlaceExcellent (2025) · In town
beaches.ieHalf MoonExcellent (2025) · In town
beaches.ieSandymount StrandSufficient (2025) · In town
beaches.ieSeapointExcellent (2025) · In town
beaches.ieWhite Rock BeachExcellent (2025) · In town
beaches.ieSandycove BeachGood (2025) · 0.0 km from town
beaches.ieKillineyExcellent (2025) · 0.0 km from town
beaches.ieClaremont BeachSufficient (2025) · 0.1 km from town
beaches.ieSutton, Burrow BeachExcellent (2025) · 0.2 km from town
beaches.ie7 of the 12 are rated excellent, Forty Foot Bathing Place among them.
Bathing water classes: EPA, latest season (CC BY 4.0). Sea: the area outside CSO and ONS land outlines. Check today’s water quality on beaches.ie
Things to do
58 viewpoints, 20 hills and peaks and 12 waterfalls
Mapped on OpenStreetMap in the town and 2 km around it; each count per resident beside Irish towns’ typical town of 2,500+. Beaches are on the coast’s list, from the EPA.
58Viewpointsabout the typical Irish town, per resident20Hills and peaks12Waterfalls16Nature reserves22Picnic sites550Playgrounds0.3× the typical Irish town, per resident19Dog parks2Campsites6Slipways
The highest named top on the map is Ben of Howth, at 171 m, in town.
Every named place, with directions
Viewpoints 58
Cliffs of Howthin town
DirectionsDalkey Island Viewpoint & Telescopein town
DirectionsDolphinsin town
DirectionsFormer swimming areain town
DirectionsGeographic Pointerin town
DirectionsRed Rockin town
DirectionsThe Mound0.7 km from town
DirectionsPlus 51 viewpoints without a name on the map.
Hills and peaks 20
Ben of Howth171 m · in town
DirectionsDalkey Hill140 m · in town
DirectionsKilliney Hill154 m · in town
DirectionsMullins Hillin town
DirectionsShielmartin Hill163 m · in town
DirectionsTelshaun Hill0.4 km from town
DirectionsCarrickgollogan Hill328 m · 0.5 km from town
DirectionsThree Rock Mountain444 m · 0.6 km from town
DirectionsPlus 12 hills and peaks without a name on the map.
Waterfalls 12
Plus 12 waterfalls without a name on the map.
Nature reserves 16
Booterstown Marsh0.9 ha · in town
DirectionsBooterstown Nature Reserve0.1 ha · in town
DirectionsBull Island Wildlife Only Area87 ha · in town
DirectionsDingle Glen7.8 ha · in town
DirectionsFitzsimon's Wood14 ha · in town
DirectionsLoughlinstown Woods8.0 ha · in town
DirectionsRoche's Hill11 ha · in town
DirectionsThe Grove0.1 ha · in town
DirectionsPlus 8 nature reserves without a name on the map.
Picnic sites 22
Hawk Cliffin town
DirectionsToni'sin town
DirectionsPlus 20 picnic sites without a name on the map.
Playgrounds 550
Ballymount Playgroundin town
DirectionsBalrothery Play Areain town
DirectionsBright Horizonsin town
DirectionsChildren's Playgroundin town
DirectionsElmpark Playgroundin town
DirectionsFernhill Woodland Adventure Playgroundin town
DirectionsHamilton Gardens Public Playgroundin town
DirectionsHill Street Playgroundin town
DirectionsPlus 542 playgrounds without a name on the map.
Dog parks 19
Bark Parkin town
DirectionsDog runin town
DirectionsDog walking area of Belgrave Squarein town
DirectionsLarge Dogin town
DirectionsSean Walsh Dog Parkin town
DirectionsSmall Dogin town
DirectionsPlus 13 dog parks without a name on the map.
Campsites 2
Camac Valley Tourist Caravan & Camping Park0.2 km from town
DirectionsLarch Hill International Scout & Guide Centre1.6 km from town
DirectionsSlipways 6
Plus 6 slipways without a name on the map.
Source: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), Geofabrik extract, October 2026. Unnamed places are counted, not listed.
Gardens & nature
15 gardens and nature sites to visit near Dublin
Gardens, national parks, nature sites and islands within 15 km of the town’s edge, each with its own page.
Airfield EstateGarden · In Dublin
Its pageDublin Garden TrailGarden · In Dublin
Its pageIveagh GardensGarden · In Dublin
Its pageMerrion SquareGarden · In Dublin
Its pageMornington GardenGarden · In Dublin
Its pageNational Botanic GardensGarden · In Dublin
Its pageSaint Anne's ParkGarden · In Dublin
Its pageSaint Enda's ParkGarden · In Dublin
Its pageSaint Stephen's GreenGarden · In Dublin
Its pageSt Anne's Park and Rose GardensGarden · In Dublin
Its pageWar Memorial GardensGarden · In Dublin
Its pageFestina Lente GardensGarden · 0.3 km from town
Its pagePlaces to visit: Fáilte Ireland open data (CC BY 4.0), OpenStreetMap and Wikidata.
Next door
Next to Dublin
The nearest towns of 1,000+ within 20 km, coloured by the share of the land within 5 km protected for nature.
The LibertiesChristchurchDolphins BarnTemple BarPortobelloStoneybatterDublin
Under 1%1–10%10–25%25–50%50%+
| Town | Near a park | Green space, ha per 1,000 | Paths (km/km²) | Protected within 5 km |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dublin | 97% | 3.3 | 4.8 | 3.5% |
| The Liberties 0.3 km | 100% | 0.9 | 7.4 | 0% |
| Christchurch 0.8 km | 100% | 1.1 | 7.8 | 0.1% |
| Dolphins Barn 0.8 km | 100% | 40.8 | 8.4 | 0% |
| Temple Bar 1.3 km | 100% | 3.1 | 7.9 | 0.1% |
| Portobello 1.5 km | 100% | 3.6 | 7.2 | 0.1% |
| Stoneybatter 1.7 km | 100% | 38.8 | 7.5 | 0% |
None of the neighbours has many more of its people near a park than Dublin. Dolphins Barn and Stoneybatter have at least twice Dublin’s green space per resident.
How to read these numbers
What this data can and can’t tell you
- Green space nearby. The share of residents (CSO Small Areas, by where people live) within 400 m of a park, garden, common or playing field mapped on OpenStreetMap. Mapping is uneven: a town whose parks nobody has mapped looks greyer than it is.
- Protected areas. Land in a Special Area of Conservation, Special Protection Area or Natural Heritage Area within 5 km, overlaps counted once. Protected for nature doesn’t always mean open to walkers.
- Footpaths and hiking routes. Footways that aren’t pavements, paths, bridleways, steps and tracks open on foot, in the town and 1 km around it, from OpenStreetMap. Trails are the registered ones within 5 km; a trail often follows mapped paths, so the two aren’t added.
- Woodland. Woods and forest as OpenStreetMap maps them, private and Coillte forests included: mapped cover, not access.
- No grade yet. Ireland’s grades don’t include the outdoors yet: these figures describe the town and stand beside the median Irish town.
Questions about the outdoors in Dublin
What is the biggest park in Dublin?
Phoenix Park, 704 ha (1,739 acres). Corkagh Park (136 ha) is second. 30 named parks, gardens and playing fields are in the town or within 400 m of it.
Is there protected countryside near Dublin?
Yes: 3.5% of the land within 5 km is protected, across 22 sites. North-West Irish Sea cSPA reaches Dublin.
What are the best walks near Dublin?
26 waymarked trails start within 5 km, including the National Famine Way, Royal Canal Way and Wicklow Way.
Where can you swim near Dublin?
The nearest bathing water is Dollymount Strand, In town: Good (2025). Check beaches.ie before swimming: a notice can close a beach for the day.
How many people in Dublin live near a park?
97% of residents live within 400 m, about a 5-minute walk, of a park or playing field; in the typical Irish town it is 92%.
When is the best time of year for walking in Dublin?
On the town’s 1991–2020 averages and its daylight: May to September, when days are long, highs reach 15 °C and rain is light for the place.
Is Dublin near a National Park?
The nearest of Ireland’s six National Parks is Wicklow Mountains National Park, 2.4 km south of the town’s edge; it covers about 223 km².
What is there to do outdoors around Dublin?
Within 2 km, OpenStreetMap maps 58 viewpoints, 20 hills and peaks, 12 waterfalls, 16 nature reserves and 22 picnic sites; the named ones are listed under Things to do, with directions.
Sources
Where Dublin’s outdoors figures come from
- Parks, woods and paths. OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL): parks, woods and footpaths, Geofabrik extract, October 2026
- Protected sites. National Parks and Wildlife Service: designated sites (SAC, SPA, NHA), 2026
- Trails. Sport Ireland: National Trails Register, 2026
- Residents. CSO: Census 2022 Small Areas (residents)
- National Parks. National Parks and Wildlife Service: National Park boundaries, generalised to 50 m (CC BY 4.0), 2022
- Things to do. OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL): viewpoints, hills, waterfalls, nature reserves, picnic sites, playgrounds, campsites and waymarked walks, Geofabrik extract, October 2026
- Bathing water. EPA: bathing water quality, 2025 season
- Weather. Met Éireann: 1991–2020 averages (Copyright Met Éireann)
Protected sites: National Parks and Wildlife Service (CC BY 4.0). Trails: Sport Ireland National Trails Register (CC BY 4.0). Bathing water: EPA (CC BY 4.0). Parks, woods and paths: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).
Not on this page yet: Coillte’s forest trails (its terms) and bike routes.
Contains Central Statistics Office (CSO) data, Census 2022, and Tailte Éireann boundaries (CSO Urban Areas, Small Areas, local electoral areas, constituencies), under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0).