Dún Laoghaire
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Destination Dún Laoghaire
Dún Laoghaire is a coastal town situated 11 km (7 miles) from Dublin City centre and easily accessible by train, bus or car.
The Harbour, bounded by two granite piers, is one of the largest working harbours in Western Europe. Most visitors will take a stroll along the West Pier, which is home to a Victorian bandstand. At the start of the East Pier, there are coffee huts and food stalls, so you can stock up before you embark on the 1 km walk to the end of the pier. There’s a Victorian lighthouse at the end of the pier and, should you need to bribe children to complete the walk, there is also Teddy’s Ice Cream (more on that later).
National Maritime Museum
You'll explore are ship models, instruments, engines and all the paraphernalia necessary to cross the seas. See the 10-tonne revolving Baily Lighthouse Optic (mentioned by James Joyce). How did they put the ships into all the bottles? View the Titanic exhibit, the re-created Radio Room, the Royal Navy Prisoners' Docks and the War Memorial.
Places to Eat
People’s Park is a great picnic setting, so it would be a shame not to eat al fresco when the opportunity allows. The Gourmet Food Parlour sells all manner of takeaway bits, from grilled halloumi sandwiches to buttermilk pancakes. If you feel like eating inside, their main restaurant has great views out over the sea.
For a café lunch or brunch shore-side, walk up to the Dún Laoghaire outpost of Portobello brunch spot Bibi's. Or dry off from a dip in the sea off with a coffee and a toastie on the terrace at neighbouring Happy Out Dún Laoghaire Baths overlooking the water.
You’ll find more formal fare at Casper & Giumbini’s on the promenade, an old school brasserie serving up chargrilled steaks and thick burgers, along with a long list of specialty cocktails. Further along the seafront, Oliveto specialises in Italian dishes with an Irish twist, like Killary Fjord mussels cooked with Amalfi lemon and pancetta. Their gorgonzola risotto and giant homemade focaccia is top notch, as are the cocktails served up in the Parlour Bar. You'll also find exceptional Italian dishes in cosy La Dolce Italia on Patrick Street.
Dublin Bay Cruises
Also situated at the start of the West Pier is Dublin Bay Cruises. They provide a variety of destinations from Dun Laoghaire including back to the city centre, over to Howth or down to tour around Dalkey Island. They run from March to September and full details and prices can be found on their website.
Great Walks
Kick things off with a stroll along the East Pier, which gives you prime opportunity to have a look at the yachts lined up in the harbour. It’s most magical at sunset, when the Victorian bandstand is silhouetted against the darkening sky. During the day, take a wander around the People’s Park, where you can amble between the flowers and fountains or sit on one of the antique benches with a cup of coffee in hand. On Sundays, the park is partially taken over by the Dún Laoghaire CoCo Market, with stalls packed with artisan crafts and gifts. The market’s food stalls are set up around the Lexicon, a library on the seafront that’s an architectural landmark in itself. Just follow the scent of warm, fresh doughnuts in the air.
The People’s Park
The People’s Park, situated towards the end of the town, hosts a market every Sunday with a wide variety of food available. There’s a second market, also on Sunday, with stalls scattered around the Lexicon Library. Throughout the town, there are numerous restaurants, cafés and bars, so you won’t go hungry or thirsty.
Dún Laoghaire Baths
If you want to brave the elements, and many do, there are a few places where people gather to swim. North of Dún Laoghaire is Sandycove which is shallower and has a slipway into the sea. Recently opened in the centre of the town are the Dún Laoghaire Baths. Further east from there is the famous 40 Foot, but it should be noted that it would be for the stronger swimmers as currents and wave heights can be strong at times. However, situated beside the 40th Foot is Sandycove beach which is ideal for children
James Joyce Museum
Overlooking the beach is a Martello Tower which is home to the James Joyce Museum The writer stayed in the tower and his renowned book, Ulysses, opens on the roof of this Martello Tower.
Should you want to explore further, the next village down the coast is Dalkey which is 4 km along the coast. In Dalkey there is a DART station co you can hop on there to bring you back to the City Centre.
Teddys Ice Cream
No visit to Dún Laoghaire would be complete without a visit to the legendary Teddys Ice Cream. It’s been serving 99’s since 1950 and there are outlets scattered throughout the town. If you are looking for a modern take on ice cream, you can always drop into Scrumdiddly’s which is toward the West Pier.