11 ways to enjoy spring in Dublin

When the sun is shining, Dublin’s parks really come into their own. If you’re something of a botanist, then a stroll around the National Botanic Gardens will give you plenty of planting inspiration, whether you prefer the succulents in the glasshouse or the wisteria growing in the pergola. And if you want to (quite literally) stop and smell the roses, head to the southern edge of the Iveagh Gardens, where the various roses will be in bloom – it’s a great spot for a picnic, too.  

Media captionSmell the freshly cut grass in the Iveagh Gardens.

Just around the corner, St Stephen’s Green is a city favourite for a reason – you can see the seagulls pretending to be ducks in the pond, people-watch from the benches or scan the QR codes in the park to make use of the free audio guide. Nearby, Merrion Square is a lovely spot for a stroll, particularly on Thursdays when the street food market sets up shop. In Kilmainham, the War Memorial Gardens, laid out as a monument to the soldiers who died in WWI, are a fabulous place for a contemplative wander, with sunken rose gardens and a huge variety of trees. And then, just over the Liffey, there’s the Phoenix Park, Dublin’s largest expanse of green and perfect for a spring walk. While here, you can have a ramble around the 78-acre Farmleigh House and Estate, which includes a walled garden and three trails that spotlight the rich collection of trees, from cedars to sequoias. When you’re done exploring, you can stop for a coffee and a bun in the Phoenix Park Tea Rooms by the Victorian bandstand in The Hollow.   

Media captionBreathe in the fresh air in Dublin's parks.

While they’re great on a drizzly day, several of Dublin’s museums and galleries are even better when the sun is shining. Why? Because they have some of the prettiest gardens in the city. Head to the Chester Beatty and you can visit their rooftop garden for free – it’s a calm, meditative space with fragrant herb bushes and planters, and they regularly hold Qigong workshops either there or in the Dubh Linn Garden below.  

The garden at the Museum of Literature Ireland (MoLI) is similarly peaceful, with benches under ancient trees where you can sit and read – you can even relax by the ash tree where James Joyce had his graduation photo taken. There are plenty of beautiful outdoor spaces in Kilmainham, like the gardens between the Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA) and Kilmainham Gaol. The grounds of the Royal Hospital Kilmainham combine formal gardens, meadows and sculptures from IMMA, where there are also outdoor events held in the warmer months.  

Media captionStroll the gardens of Dublin's museums.

If there’s one thing Dublin isn’t short of, it’s great walks. And there’s nothing quite like the Howth Cliff Walk in the spring, when the gorse bushes are in full bloom and the sloping clifftop is purple with flowering heather. If you really want to celebrate the season, finish your walk with a dip in Balscadden Bay, right by the trailhead, before heading into Howth Market for a coffee from Bodega or an ice cream at Amore.  

There’s another cracker of a coastal walk down in Killiney – for the full effect, get the Dart to Dalkey and head down to the sea to walk towards Killiney Hill, before taking the cat’s ladder steps up to the park. From there, you get a killer view along the coast, particularly from the Obelisk.  

Media captionTake on the Howth Cliff Walk.

And if you prefer your walk to have even more purpose, spring is the ideal time for a spot of foraging: Howth Foraging organises dedicated walks around the peninsula that include deep dives into the properties of various plants and fungi. On the south side, the Killiney coastline is the setting for foraging walks with Wild Food Events, where you’ll learn how to turn wild edibles into home remedies and botanicals for a range of tasty cocktails.  

And that’s just scratching the surface of seaside walks in Dublin – tick off more by checking out the Dublin Coastal Trail, with loads of walks you can access without a car.  

Dublin’s spring festival season kicks off with the big one – St Patrick’s Festival runs across a long weekend and incorporates live music, circus shows and, of course, the parade. In April, Dublin’s literary credentials are celebrated during One Dublin, One Book - where everyone is encouraged to read a selected book connected to the city. The festival also includes readings, interviews and walking tours.  

Media captionAdd Dublin's array of festivals to your spring calendar.

The bookish theme continues in May with the International Literature Festival Dublin. Most of the action takes place in and around Merrion Square, with live author events, panels and workshops, alongside outdoor yoga and literary walking tours. Also in May, the 10-day long Dublin Dance Festival brings local and international performers to the stages of Dublin’s major theatres to showcase the best in classical and contemporary dance.   

Spring in Dublin is not complete without the riot of colour that comes with the flowering of the cherry blossoms. The season usually runs in April or early May, but it can happen in March if the temperatures are especially mild. The highest concentration of cherry blossom trees is in Herbert Park in the south city suburb of Ballsbridge, and in full bloom the tree-lined paths are transformed into tunnels of pink and white petals – the ideal spot to experience a little hanami – the cherished Japanese tradition of blossom viewing. You’ll also find cherry blossoms in the Phoenix Park, the grounds of Trinity College, the War Memorial Gardens and even inside the small garden of Marsh’s Library, where the flowers bloom along the old stone walls.  

Media captionSoak up the vibrant colours of Herbert Park's cherry blossoms.

Stretching for 3km out to the Wooden Bridge to Bull Island, the car-free Clontarf Promenade is an ideal spot for a waterside bike ride. It’s flat, wide and you’re cycling right alongside the water, with fantastic views out over Dublin Bay. When you reach the end of the prom, you can cycle on to Bull Island to keep the good times rolling and get a coffee and a toastie at Happy Out to refuel.  

Fancy something with a bit more of an adrenaline rush? The mountain biking trails at Ticknock are perfect for thrillseekers. You can rent bikes from Biking.ie and go it alone, or take one of their guided MTB tours. Either way, you’ll bike over the forest trails for great views out over the mountains and Dublin Bay.  

Media captionGet your adrenaline pumping on the mountain bike trails at Ticknock.

Want to see as much of the city as you can in a day? The best way is on an open top bus tour, and in the spring, the most coveted seats are the ones upstairs. Nab a good one and you’ll get a front row view of Dublin as you drive between the sights – most tours start on O’Connell Street, so if you board there you’ll likely get first pick. From there, you’ll move between landmarks like the Guinness Storehouse and the Phoenix Park on to distilleries in the Liberties and the city’s museums.  

Media captionExplore the city from the comfort of a bus tour.

Keep an eye out for bonus experiences on your ticket, too – the DoDublin pass includes free entry to the Little Museum of Dublin and a bonus bus tour of the Docklands, and Big Bus Dublin offers a complimentary walking tour.   

The weather is warmer, but not always dry, so you may need some indoor activities to escape those spring showers. Fancy personalising your own mug? At the Dublin Pottery Painting Studio, you can book in for an afternoon or evening session where you choose your blank canvas (like a bowl, plate or even a flower pot) and let your artistic streak run wild. For something a little more hands on, you can book into the wheel throwing or hand building workshops, where you’ll get your hands dirty with the clay, Ghost style.  

If you’re doing a spring clean, then you might want to bring any unwanted bits to Change Clothes, where they run regular clothes swapping events as well as workshops in practical skills like darning, felting and button making. In the Fumbally Stables, there are a wide variety of workshops taking place in everything from breathwork and block printing to sound baths and tension relief movement. They run a monthly vintage homeware market, too.  

Spring is the season to dust off your clubs and set out for a round of golf, and there are a few options in Dublin where you can perfect your game. The best of the lot is Portmarnock Golf Club, an elegant links that opened for play in 1894 and has since hosted dozens of pro tournaments (rumour has it that it may even be a future host of the Open Championship). On the far side of the estuary, the recently revamped and renamed Jameson Golf Links is another wonderful test, while, closer to the city, Bull Island is home to two great golf courses – Royal Dublin and St Anne’s. For top class golf at moderate rates, Corballis Links in Donabate is one of the best public golf courses in the country.    

Media captionBag a birdie at Portmarnock Golf Club.

Though most run year-round, Dublin’s markets kick off in earnest in spring, when you can get yourself a picnic and enjoy it in the park. The largest farmer’s market in Dublin takes place every Saturday in the Victorian Red Stables in St Anne’s Park, with over 50 stalls selling everything from breads and baked goods to fresh fruit, flowers and vegetables – as well as crafts and treats for the dog.  

Sunday’s Herbert Park Market has a mix of hot food stalls and produce stands, so you can also pick up freshly baked bread or seasonal veg for the week. If you get there early enough in the season, you’ll also catch the tail end of the cherry blossom season. There’s a similar set up at the Bushy Park Market in Terenure, with stalls selling cheese toasties, artisan hot dogs and crêpes.  

Media captionBrowse the markets in Temple Bar and St Anne's Park.

On Thursday lunchtimes, there are several traders set up by the canal at Mespil Road, where you can grab a freshly made falafel, Korean BBQ or a curry from Kerala Kitchen, before eating by the water’s edge. And every Saturday, you can head to Temple Bar for a browse of the secondhand book stalls as well as the food market in Meeting House Square, for sausage sandwiches and fresh, seasonal produce from McNally's Family Farm.   

It seems like the moment the clocks go forward, Dubliners dig out their togs and Dryrobes ready for the first sea swim of the season. There are plenty of great places to swim in Dublin, but one of the most popular is the Forty Foot in Sandycove – and if you find the water a little chilly, you can always head into the saunas at Sandycove Store & Yard afterwards. Down in Killiney, the Hot Box sauna is right on the beach, so you can alternate sweating and swimming, or you can head further up the shore to the Vico Baths for a quick dip. But wherever you’re swimming, be sure to follow the guidelines from watersafety.ie.  

Media captionGo for a dip at the Forty Foot.

Dine Al Fresco  

Want to make the most of the fine weather? Check out our guide to the best outdoor dining spots in Dublin.