Dun Laoghaire, Dublin – An Essential Travel Guide for 2025

Dun Laoghaire is a large seaside resort town sitting 14km southeast of Dublin City, known for its large working harbour. Its location makes it an easy day trip from Dublin and its two piers are extremely popular with walkers, with the east pier being particularly famous. Is there more to see here than these delightful coastal strolls?

Read on to find out!

Public Transport: The town is connected to central Dublin by train for just €5 for a return ticket, via the DART. Dun Laoghaire Station is very conveniently located just a 2 minute walk from the harbour. There is no Luas stop anywhere near the town, with the closest being a 1 hour 20 minutes walk away!

You can also reach the town via Dublin Bus routes 7, 7n, 46a, 59, 63, 75 and 111. Route 46A is the most heavily used bus route in Dublin so pick an alternative option at peak times.

Foodies will find themselves spoilt for choice here. Bistro Le Monde offers beautiful international cuisine until 9pm or 10pm every night, accompanied by a friendly atmosphere. On a menu featuring flavours from France, Italy, USA, China and many more, a Sicilian chicken will set you back €21.50 which is not too expensive for the area. We recommend trying one of the stone-baked pizzas.

If an Irish brasserie is more your taste then head to Casper & Giumbini’s on the promenade. They serve delicious fresh seafood, though it’s the hamburgers that keep us coming back for more. For comparison, a chicken supreme here will cost €23, but the hamburgers are very reasonably priced at €17 with chips. Wash your feast down with one of their particularly succulent €12 cocktails.

Dun Laoghaire is home to the famous Teddy’s Ice-Cream, one of Dublin’s premier spots for a 99. In business since 1950, they operate from a small shop and many ice-cream vans throughout the town. Grab yourself a treat to take on your walk around the East Pier or the People’s Park, but be prepared to queue!

Hot Beverages: Dun Laoghaire is unquestionably the home of incredible coffee in Dublin. Shoe Lane opens 7 days a week and crafts some of the finest specialty coffee in the county. Award-winning Two Beans on George’s Street is another popular choice for aficionados seeking a comfortable setting for a brew.

Alcohol: The Lighthouse pub oozes fun, hosting everything from live music and drag brunches to bingo. They have a games room upstairs to enjoy some pool or arcade games. Alternatively, munch on their full Irish Breakfast (€16) while sipping a creamy pint or one of their great cocktails.

A more subdued option, McKenna’s Bar, provides a traditional pub setting with some very tasty craft beer and gin offerings. Unwind in front of the fire while soaking up a fantastic atmosphere with a glass of Guinness or wine. It’s a great place to watch sports on their large screens and you can even order pizza if you are peckish!

This small park at the eastern end of Dun Laoghaire’s George’s Street is home to a playground, a bandstand, two fountains and many incredibly well-maintained flower beds. Relax on one of its many benches or visit from 11am to 4pm on a Sunday to witness the People’s Park Farmer’s Market in full swing. This Sunday market guarantees a delightful day out, where you can admire handmade crafts or indulge in delicious food while lounging on the grass.

The park features a special garden for the blind, complete with a designated walking trail. There are also free public toilets here.

Visit the People’s Park Farmer’s Market Facebook Page

Most people visit Dun Laoghaire to walk one of its two pier walls.

The West Pier is the longer of the two at 3km out and back. The rougher surface means it is quieter for walkers and is not a hugely popular tourist attraction. It still makes for a nice stroll and is home to a lighthouse, built in 1852. The West Pier is not as well maintained as it’s eastern counterpart so those with time-constraints should skip it.

Walking the East Pier is the most popular tourist activity here. The pier is 2.6km out and back and made an appearance in the 1996 film Michael Collins, starring Liam Neeson. The walk features a sundial, the famous bandstand and a lighthouse. Most days you’ll find ice-cream, fish and chips and coffee vans scattered along the pier. There are plenty of benches from which to soak in the brilliant views of the yachts on the harbour.

There is no better place to be in Dublin on a hot summer’s day. During the day revel in the serenity of the place as the crowds head off on long strolls. An abundance of dogs adds to a jovial atmosphere and the local shopkeeper’s are incredibly polite to tourists. In the evenings the East Pier takes on a romantic feel, the dim lighting provided by the gorgeous bandstand making it the perfect setting for a leisurely walk with your partner.

The pub scene in Dun Laoghaire is okay but caters more to those chasing an old-fashioned setting for a pint, rather than a party. Live music can be found in the evenings but there is no nightclub and this is not considered the most upbeat of town’s for nightlife. The atmosphere is more befitting coffee-lovers than pint-drinkers in that regard.

On Sunday’s the People’s Park Farmer’s Market brings an upbeat buzz to the place. People seem to be abundantly happy as they lounge around the grass in the park eating ice-creams and chatting to friends while the laughter of children rings in the background.

Check out our Travel Guide to nearby Dalkey

For over 100 years Dun Laoghaire has hosted Regattas, the most famous one being the biennial Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta. The harbour is home to many yacht clubs such as the Royal Irish Yacht Club and those looking to get an introduction to sailing can get involved at the Irish National Sailing School, where beginner’s from as young as 4 years-old can try their hand at sailing keelboats and dinghies. They also offer kayak or stand-up paddleboard rentals for just €30, including wetsuits!

If captaining a boat for yourself seems like too much hard work then check out Dublin Under Sail. This unique 3 hour experience sets sail aboard the 20 meter-long Brian Ború, a majestic old tall ship. You don’t have to take charge of this mighty vessel yourself, though you will be given the chance to lend a hand. This once in a lifetime experience costs €69 for a ticket and is worth every cent.

Book Lessons at the Irish National Sailing School

Book the Dublin Under Sail Experience

Mariners’ Church is home to the National Maritime Museum of Ireland, open from 11am to 5pm every day. Exhibits on display include a lightbulb from the Titanic, a lighthouse optic mentioned in Joyce’s Ulysses and items from the RMS Leinster which sank in 1918. The beautiful church building in itself is a treat to behold.

Tickets are just €8 for an adult and €6 for a student, with family rates available, making it a very cheap activity for a rainy day. The museum is wheelchair accessible too.

Dun Laoghaire Harbour has in recent times become an excellent location to spot the world’s most magnificent cruise ships, particularly during the summer months. Some famous visitors to these shores have included the RMS Queen Mary 2 (one of the largest cruise ships in the world at the time) and the MV Arcadia.

Aside from cruise ships, the harbour has also welcomed gargantuan vessels such as the USS John F. Kennedy aircraft carrier and the Queen Elizabeth 2 floating hotel, the world’s most famous cruise ship at the time. Don’t leave your ship spotting down to luck – check out the cruise schedules below!

Dun Laoghaire Harbour Cruise Ship Schedule

The iconic 324-seater Pavilion Theatre offers a diverse lineup of theater, live music, dance and comedy shows. Since its establishment in 2000 the Pavilion has become a vital part of the Dun Laoghaire arts scene, hosting both emerging and established artists. Despite being brilliantly located near the harbour there is still ample parking available nearby.

Take a 20-minute stroll southeast of Dun Laoghaire to find Sandycove Beach. Although this miniature beach is popular for paddling, it’s the surrounding views and history that make a visit here worthwhile. Take time to relax on the grass behind the beach while you watch the waves roll by. Sandycove Beach is tiny, so stay well away on hot summer days when it becomes overcrowded and parking is non-existent.

Following your visit to the beach, head to the nearby Martello Tower which, during the summer months, houses the James Joyce Museum. This little museum celebrates the writer (who once stayed in the tower) and even gets a mention in his world-renowned masterpiece Ulysses.

While near Sandycove check out the most popular attraction in the area, the Forty Foot. This natural pool welcomes brave swimmers all year, no matter the weather, and is massively popular with locals who swim here each and every day. Amazingly, women have only been allowed to swim here since 1974!