Dublin travel guide — where to stay, what to do, and where to eat in Dublin, Leinster, Ireland.
Top beaches
A ranked editor’s shortlist of the coastline worth planning a day around in Dublin.
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- Wild, open, and windswept — a genuine nature reserve that happens to have a beach, popular with kitesurfers, dog walkers, and birdwatchers rather than sunbathers
- Car park
- Toilets
- Café at nearby Royal Dublin Golf Club
- Lifeguards (summer)
- Dog-friendly (most areas)
Dollymount Strand (Bull Island)
A 5 km sweep of sand and dunes on Bull Island, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in the middle of Dublin Bay, reached by a wooden causeway bridge from Clontarf. The strand is wide and firm at low tide, backed by Ireland's oldest dune system and the Royal Dublin and St. Anne's golf links.
Editor’s tip. Check tide times before visiting — at high tide the swimming area narrows considerably and firm sand for walking disappears
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- Broad, breezy, and sporty — golfers, kitesurfers, and long-distance walkers outnumber sunbathers
- Car park
- Toilets
- Lifeguards (summer)
- Café kiosk (summer)
- Kitesurfing school
- Dog-friendly
Portmarnock Beach
Known locally as the Velvet Strand for its fine golden sand, Portmarnock is a 5 km beach on a broad peninsula between the Irish Sea and the Baldoyle Bay estuary, backed by dunes and two championship links golf courses.
Editor’s tip. Kitesurfing lessons run from the beach car park in summer — steady onshore winds make it one of Ireland's best-known launch spots
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- Relaxed and family-friendly — a village beach for a stroll, a coffee, and a paddle rather than serious swimming
- Car park
- Toilets
- Cafés in Malahide village
- Dog-friendly (most areas)
Malahide Beach
A sheltered 2 km beach on Coast Road, next to Malahide's estuary and marina, with a promenade and dune path running its full length. Calmer than the open-sea beaches further north, making it a favourite for families and casual paddling.
Editor’s tip. Low tide exposes wide sandbanks good for walking but check the tide table before wading out, as the estuary channel current picks up on the ebb
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- A small, characterful institution rather than a beach outing — a mix of hardy locals, tourists retracing Joyce's steps, and sea swimmers of all ages
- Outdoor café (summer)
- Toilets nearby
- Year-round wild swimming
- No lifeguard
Sandycove Beach & The 40 Foot
A rocky cove and stepped bathing platform at the tip of Sandycove peninsula, made famous as the opening setting of James Joyce's Ulysses — the nearby Martello tower is now the James Joyce Tower & Museum. The 40 Foot has been used for open-water swimming since at least the 1880s.
Editor’s tip. There is no beach here — bring water shoes, as entry is over rock and via the concrete steps
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- Scenic and low-key — better for a coastal walk, a picnic with a view, or a bracing swim than for a full beach day
- Car park (limited)
- Toilets
- Small kiosk (summer)
- No lifeguard
- Dog-friendly
Killiney Beach
A long shingle-and-sand beach curving beneath Killiney Hill, often compared to the Bay of Naples for its backdrop of headlands and hills. Dalkey Island and the Wicklow Mountains are visible across the water, and the beach runs south toward Shanganagh.
Editor’s tip. The beach is shingle, not sand — sturdy footwear or sandals make the walk down from the DART station easier
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- Small-town and unhurried — a fishing harbour beach with market-town cafés rather than a big-city day trip
- Car park
- Toilets
- Cafés in Skerries town
- Lifeguards (summer)
- Dog-friendly
Skerries Red Island Beach
A sandy beach at the northern end of Skerries South Strand, on a small headland overlooked by a Napoleonic-era Martello tower. Skerries is a working fishing harbour and market town, giving the beach a quieter, more local feel than the beaches closer to the city.
Editor’s tip. Combine the beach with a walk around the harbour, where the town's fishing fleet still lands crab and lobster
Things to do at the beach
Beyond swimming and sunbathing — the activities that make a coastal day in Dublin memorable.
What to bring
A short packing list for a comfortable beach day — adjust for season and the specific spot.
- Sun protectionHigh-SPF sunscreen, hat, polarised sunglasses, light long-sleeve cover-up.
- HydrationReusable bottle, salty snacks for longer days, electrolyte sachets if it’s hot.
- FootwearWater shoes for pebble or rocky entry, flip-flops for sand, dry pair for the trip home.
- Swim & coverQuick-dry towel or sand-resistant mat, change of swimwear, light cover-up for restaurants.
- Cash & valuablesSmall notes for beach clubs and rentals; waterproof pouch for phone, keys, cards.
- ExtrasReef-safe sunscreen near protected coastline, a book, a small first-aid kit for jellyfish or scrapes.
Beach safety
Hard-earned guidance — read this before you swim, especially if you’re unfamiliar with the coast.
Critical
Swim where lifeguards are posted and follow flag warnings — green is safe, yellow is caution, red means no swimming. Rip currents are the leading beach hazard worldwide.
Caution
Watch for tide changes and marine life — jellyfish blooms, sea urchins on rocky entries, occasional shark or stingray advisories. Don’t swim alone, especially at dawn or dusk.
Tip
Reapply sunscreen every 90 minutes and after every swim. Take shade between 11 am and 3 pm — the sun is harsher than people expect, even when the air is cool.
Practical
Keep valuables out of sight or back at the accommodation. Beach theft is a small-but-real risk at busy beaches; never leave bags unattended while you’re in the water.