18 Best things to do in Phoenix Park in beautiful Dublin, Ireland

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Are you planning your Dublin itinerary and wondering whether you should include Phoenix Park in Dublin Ireland? Well, this post on the best things to do in Phoenix Park is exactly what you need and will convince you to add Phoenix Park to your travels.

As romantic travelers and living abroad enthusiasts, Eric and I have lived in Dublin for 4 years and loved going to Phoenix Park on the weekend. It’s a place in Dublin that is great to visit year-round whether that’d be during a beautiful day in spring or to get a breath of fresh air during winter in the city.

In this post, we go over the 18 best things to do in Phoenix Park, what to expect and how to have the best visit.

Quick facts about Phoenix Park, Dublin

Phoenix Park is a 1752 acres large park located on the West end of Dublin. It is more than twice bigger than Central Park in New York City, making it the perfect place for a Dublin city break without having to rent a car.

Phoenix Park is a mix of fields, forests ponds and gardens. It offers lots of things to do including some of the best walks in Dublin.

Admission toPhoenix Park is free and the park is open 24/7.

18 Best things to do do in Phoenix Park

1. Stop by the Visitor Centre

The Visitor Centre of Phoenix Park is located in the back of the Park, on the North side, past the main roundabout. The Visitor centre is where you can learn about everything concerning Phoenix Park. There is an exhibition on the history of the park which also covers everything you need to know about the wildlife in the park.

There is a coffee shop and toilet facilities on site along with some picnic tables. There is also a carpark available although you can always park on Chesterfield Avenue. 

2. Meet the Phoenix Park deer, one of the best things to do in Phoenix Park 

One of the main attractions in Phoenix Park is its herd of about 600 deer. Tourists actually usually come to Phoenix Park to see the deer hence why I added at the beginning of this list.

Depending on the season you are visiting, you might see bucks and fawns. To see fawns, I would recommend visiting in late spring or mid-summer. July should be a good month. I would also recommend visiting either early in the morning or on the weekdays when the park is a bit quieter. On weekends, it does get busier and the deer tend to hide a bit more in the back of the park. 

Finding the deer in Phoenix Park is actually not very difficult but it is always a gamble. Coming in the morning or during the week will increase your chances to see them. I would also recommend intending to stay in the park for about two hours to have a chance to see them. They move around quite a bit so if you leave too fast, you might miss them by just a few minutes.

Seeing the deer of Phoenix Park is all cute and fun but there are a couple of rules that are important to always remember. The Phoenix Park deer are wild deer so you should not try to touch them or feed them. There are a few signs in the park but it is good to keep it in mind. Despite the signs, you will sometimes see people feed them. Don’t take this as a sign that it is okay. People like to feed them to get better photos or amuse their kids. Unfortunately, even if you feed them vegetables like carrots, they can still get sick. So the bottom line is just to treat them as wild animals and appreciate our luck that we get to see them and hang out with them. 

3. Furry Glen

The Furry Glen is an area located all the way in the back of Phoenix Park. It is a very quiet part of the park perfect if you need to catch a break from the city. It is surrounded by tall trees and a few different paths. There is also a lovely pond that you can walk around.

The Furry Glen is a great spot to have a picnic or to come to on your bike. If you don’t want to walk or ride your bike, you can actually drive all the way to the Glen and park at a small car park nearby. 

The Furry Glen is one of the several spots where you can sometimes see the Phoenix Park deer. If not, you might be lucky enough to spot some squirrels and birds.

4. Walk on the trails of Phoenix Park

As you’ve seen, Phoenix Park is really big and as it should, such a big park comes with lots of different trails. Of course, Chesterfield Avenue is the main path to follow when in Phoenix Park as it goes across the Park. That said, if you want to get away from cars, there are lots of trails on each side of Chesterfield Avenue.

There isn’t one better than another. It mostly depends on what you are looking for whether that be a pond, fields or a forest patch. 

The trails are well maintained and don’t get muddy in the Park. So you can easily come with your city shoes, even to walk on Fifteen Acres (see below). That said, make sure they are comfortable as you could be walking for a while!

5. The People’s Gardens

The Victorian People’s Gardens are one of the best things to do in Phoenix Park if you like walking around in a nice atmosphere. The gardens are extremely well maintained and the flowers are beautiful. This section of the park is about 9 hectares big. It also includes a large lake which is perfect for walks. 

The Gardens can be found on your right when entering the park and will lead you to the Tea Room and the Dublin zoo. 

6. Farmleigh House and Estate

The Farmleigh House and Estate belongs to the Guinness family . It is used for entertaining the public but also for government meetings or hosting visiting guests of the country. 

If you are coming to Dublin during Christmas time, the Farmleigh Estate is one of the places to see as it is beautifully decorated and organises Christmas activities. 

7. Áras an Uachtaráin – The President’s Residence

Surprisingly, there are lots of important buildings in Phoenix Park and one of the best things to do in Phoenix park is checking them out! That includes the House of the President of the Republic of Ireland. In Irish, this is called the Áras an Uachtaráin. I will not tell you how to pronounce that as I have no idea!

The President’s house was built in 1751. It is located on the right hand side of Chesterfield Avenue and the Dublin postcode for this residence is D08 E1W3. To find it you’ll have to walk along the Avenue all the way up to the roundabout and you’ll find it on your right. 

Originally, it was a brick house used by the chief ranger of Phoenix Park. Later on, the brick house transformed into the current white mansion. The front is very similar to the famous American White House, home of the President of the USA. There is a long lasting relationship between the USA and Ireland so it is not surprising! The first time an Irish President moved into this house was in 1938. 

The President’s house is a great building to check out whether you are walking or riding your bike through Phoenix Park. That said, if you get the chance, you should also visit it! The visit is free and guided which is great if you are traveling on a budget. The free guided tours are open to the public and take place every Saturday as long as it doesn’t interfere with official State business. Tour tickets are issued on the day of the visit at the Visitor Centre on a first come first served basis. 

8. The Tea Room

The Team Room is a small café located right before Dublin zoo just a little bit after the entrance of the Park. At first sight, you might think this is just another small café place with nothing special. You couldn’t be more wrong! The Tea Room is an adorable café built in a bit of a vintage style and that serves delicious drinks and food. As part of their food offering, you will find quite a few vegan treats. They also serve organic coffee and hot chocolate. 

You can sit inside. However, the Tea Room as arranged the outside quite nicely with cute wooden booths. You can sit under the trees and enjoy your snack comfortably. It is the perfect place to catch a break after a day cycling or walking around Phoenix Park. 

9. Go to the Zoo

Dublin Zoo is a great thing to do in Phoenix Park. The zoo is located right behind the Tea Room a few minutes after the park entrance. Dublin zoo is quite big with lots of different animals and areas. Our favourite part of Dublin zoo is the Savanna animals with rhinos, giraffes and zebras. It’s a big part of Dublin zoo and it has nice benches and booths to have lunch with a view on the giraffes. 

Another of our favourite parts of the zoo is the sea lions. They are so cute and very funny to watch play in the water. 

In comparison to other zoos, Dublin zoo tickets are actually very reasonable in price, which makes it a great activity to do in Phoenix Park. Tickets start at €17,75. The zoo is open daily from 9.30am to 3pm and the last admission is at 1pm. You need to book a specific time slot in advance as capacity is limited.

10. Ride a bike 

Dublin City is big on bicycles and it is no different for Phoenix Park. One of the best things to do in Phoenix Park is renting a bicycle and ride your bike around Phoenix Park. This is a great way to discover the park and cover a lot more grounds than by walking. 

You have a couple of options to rent a bike in Phoenix Park. The first one is to rent a bike in Dublin City. There are lots of Dublin Bikes stations spread around the city. You can visit the Dublin bikes website for more information.

Your second option is to rent a bicycle in Phoenix Park. Right after the entrance, you will find a rental shop where you can rent your bicycle. There are several types of bikes you can rent including standard bikes, tandem bikes and electric bikes. One hour rental with a standard bikes costs €6. Helmets are provided as well. You will need to provide an ID for the length of the rental.

11. Check the American Embassy

Just like for the Irish President, the American Ambassador’s residence is also located in Phoenix Park. The American Embassy is located just a few minutes from the President’s house. To get to it, walk to the first roundabout and you will find it to your left.

You cannot visit the Ambassador’s Residence. However, when approaching you’ll be able to get a glimpse of the gardens and beautiful mansion on the other side of the portal. 

The mansion was built back in 1776 and was the home of Chief Secretaries until 1922, year of Ireland’s independence. After that date, the building became the home of the American Ambassador.

12. Papal Cross view on Fifteen Acres

The Papal Cross is a large white cross located on top of a small hill in the centre of Phoenix Park. It was erected in 1979 for the Papal visit of the same year. Hundreds of people have gathered here several times for important events such as the death of Pope John Paul II in 2005. 

The reason why it is one of the best things to do in Phoenix Park is because of the view it provides. From the Papal Cross, you get an amazing view on Fifteen Acres which is the patch of fields at the bottom of the hill. From up there, you also have somewhat of a view on Dublin. 

To get to the Papal Cross, follow Chesterfield Avenue all the way to the American Embassy. Then take a left and follow the short trail under the trees. From there you will start seeing the stairs that take you to the cross.

In the summer, you will often find an ice cream truck near the stairs. If you feel like it, I highly recommend ice cream!

13. Ashtown Castle

Ashtown Castle is located right next to the Visitor Centre. It is a medieval tower house. Until 1978, in that place was a Georgian mansion known as Ashyown Lodge. Ashtown Lodge was the residence of the Under Secretary for Ireland. This was before Ireland’s independence. Ashtown castle was hidden inside Ashtown Lodge and was discovered when Astown Lodge was destroyed. 

Ashtown Castle is now open for visits throughout the year. It takes about one hour to visit. Visiting hours are Wednesday to Sunday from 9:30am to 6pm from November to April. From May to October, Astown Castle is opened daily with the same visiting hours. This is one of the best free museums Dublin offers so don’t hesitate to head there if you’re on a budget.

14. Victorian Kitchen Gardens

If you are going to visit Ashton Castle, you might want to jump on the opportunity to visit the Victorian Kitchen Garden. This is a garden built in a Victorian layout. The garden focuses on the growing of fruits, vegetables and flowers. 

15. The Wellington Monument

The Wellington monument is located on the left Chesterfield Avenue and is an impressive obelisk of a 62 meters height. This monument was built to commemorate the victories of the first Duke of Wellington. It is one of the tallest obelisks in Europe. 

This is one of the first things to do in Phoenix Park as it is not far from the entrance. You will often see people picnicking here. 

16. Watch Irish sports 

Phoenix Park is one of the best spots for local kids to play sports. As a visitor, one of the best things to do in Phoenix Park is watch a game or two to immerse yourself in the culture. Whether you want to watch a Gaelic Football game, cricket or polo, you will find something that you may have not seen before! 

17. The Phoenix Monument

Your visit to Phoenix Park would not be complete without checking out the Phoenix Monument. If you are going to go check out the President’s Residence and the American Ambassador’s Residence, there is no way to miss the Phoenix Monument as it is located on the main roundabout on Chesterfield Avenue. It marks the centre of Phoenix Park. 

The monument consists in a column made of stone with a Phoenix bird at the top. If you look closely, the Phoenix bird is rising from the ashes. 

18. The Magazine Fort

The Magazine Fort is a fort located in the South East of Phoenix Park. This is where the Phoenix Lodge was built in 1611. It was destroyed in 1734 and became a bastion fort and a magazine, where ammunition could be stored. Until Ireland’s independence, it was occupied by British Armed Forces. This is a site with a lot of history!

The fort is sometimes opened for limited guided tours. 

How to get to Phoenix Park

Phoenix Park is located at the West end of Dublin City, Ireland. Although it is a bit outside of the touristy city centre, it is easily accessible for anyone. Here are the ways to access Phoenix Park.

By car

If you read my 2 days in Dublin itinerary, you know that renting a car is not always necessary when visiting Dublin. That said, if you do rent a car for your stay then you can use it to go to Phoenix Park. 

To get to Phoenix Park by car, drive along the Liffey River all the way to Heuston Station. Then take a right across the bridge. Turn left on Parkgate Street. On your right, you will see the Criminal Courts and right after the entrance to Phoenix Park.

If you decide to drive to Phoenix Park, make sure to avoid rush hour as traffic can get crazy around the Liffey at those times. 

The best place to park in Phoenix Park is on Chesterfield Avenue. If you plan on doing one of the specific visits such as Ashtown Castle, you can park there directly. There is also a carpark at the Visitor Centre.

By walking

On a nice day, walking from Dublin city centre to Phoenix Park is actually very lovely. Dublin has build wooden boardwalk along the Liffey making the walk quite pleasant. You’ll have to pass O’Connell Street and walk along the Liffey all the way to Heuston Station and then continue to the Park. From Custom House, this walk takes about 40 minutes. I would recommend wearing comfortable shoes as there will be more walking around the park. 

By tramway

This is probably the best option if you are on a budget, don’t want to rent a car but also don’t feel like walking this much. The tramway in Dublin is called the Luas. There are two lines in the city. The green Luas takes you from the North to the South and the South to the North. The red Luas takes you from the East to the West and the West to the East.

If you are in the city centre, you will need to take the red Luas in direction of Heuston Station. From Heuston Station, you can walk just for a couple of minutes to the entrance of the park.

Luas tickets are usually between €2,10 and €5 depending on what zone you are coming from. If you are visiting for a couple of days, you can get a Leap Visitor card which gives you unlimited travel over a certain period of time. The Leap card can be used on the Luas. 

By taxi

If you prefer, taxis are another way to go around Dublin. Although more expensive, they are comfortable and easy to find. Taxis are a great option if you are staying in an area of Dublin far from the Luas. 

There are two best ways to get a taxi in Dublin. One is by stopping one on its way. The other is to book one through the FreeNow mobile application. You can book one for now or for later with a specific time. This is also handy if you need to flight out in the middle of the night and want to book a taxi in advance to go to the airport. 

Taxis are usually more expensive though (especially if you get stuck in traffic) so if you are on a budget, some of the other options will suit you better. 

By bicycle

A I mentioned before, riding bicycles is a very common way to go around Dublin and is relatively cheap. That said, it is not always the most comfortable especially when it’s raining or really windy, which happens more than we’d like in Ireland. 

You can rent a bicycle through the Dublin bikes stations. You can buy your ticket online and then charges apply per hour, with the first 30 minutes free. 

Where to eat in Dublin

Unfortunately, there aren’t a lot of places to eat around Phoenix Park except for the Tea Room. Although the Tea Room does serve delicious treats, it is not really the best place to have a proper meal as it is more of a café. 

Fortunately, Dublin isn’t short of pubs or restaurant. The best way to plan your trip to Phoenix Park is to go in the morning and then head back to the city centre for lunch where you will have all the best choices of brunches, lunches and dinners in Dublin. 

Any questions on the best things to do in Phoenix Park? Drop them in the comments or on insta and we will get back to you asap.