Dublin - Cool things to see and do within 50Km

Dredd_J

I have relatives from the US for two weeks.

I wont be around most of the time to entertain them. But i'll give them my car and they can entertain themselves for most days.

So im looking for suggestions for things for them to do, say within 50Km of Dublin city center.

I was thinking

Glendalough
Botanic Gardens
Kilmainham Jail
Newgrange
Walk on Howth Head
Cliff Walk in Bray

Any other suggestions of nice things to do within 50km of Dublin City.
This thread could be for anyone in Dublin looking for a day out really.

Tiriel

City Centre
* Trinity - Book of Kells and the Long Hall
* Dublin Castle & Chester Beatty
* Stephens Green
* Little Museum of Dublin
* National Art Gallery/National History Museum/Merrion Square
* Christchurch & nearby Viking areas

North Co. Dublin
* Malahide & Malahide Castle - lovely for lunch/quick wander around, Avoca in the castle is nice
* Howth - walk the head/piers and again, nice spot for food

South Co. Dublin
* Dun Laoghaire - walk the pier
* Sandymount beach/Dalkey/Killiney/40 foot - nice drive/walks/views

Wicklow
* Glendalough - graveyard/round tower, follow the walks and do Poulanass Waterfall by the Upper Lake

Others -
Nice to visit Trim - see the castle
Newgrange - Knowth/Dowth trip
Monasterboice etc. in Meath also really nice to visit
Bettystown beach
Get a boat out to Ireland's eye from Howth if you have a day

I'm sure others will add to this!

Thoie

If you'd be willing to go an extra 5km, how about the Japanese Gardens/National Stud/St Fiachra's Gardens in Kildare?
http://irishnationalstud.ie/visitors/207/living-legends.html

Castletown House out in Celbridge: http://www.castletownhouse.ie/

Dredd_J

Brilliant suggestions.
I might go visit a few of those myself.

grimm2005

Powerscourt Gardens and Waterfall in Wicklow would be another good choice if the weather is decent.

Dredd_J

Just did a walk around Blessington lakes today.
Lovely.

spurious

Well outside your 50km, but an easy drive away is Carlingford and the Cooley Peninsula in general. Lovely spot.

Dredd_J

spurious wrote: »

Well outside your 50km, but an easy drive away is Carlingford and the Cooley Peninsula in general. Lovely spot.

Oh those are lovely places. I think they could stretch to there.
I must visit there myself again too.

Carawaystick

Skerries Harbour on a sunny evening, Only place on the east coast to see the sun setting over the sea...

Castletown house is very easy to get to, it's about 500m from the motorway exit at Leixlip West J6

Phoenix park, You've the visitors centre for a bite to eat/look around, the pope's cross/us ambasadors house, aras an Uachtaran and loads of deer ambling around all in a short space

If they're in the city centre, the dead zoo/natural history museum is worth a look, more for the creaking old building than the exhibits, and it's free, so you can leave if ye don't like it!

tricky D

Carawaystick wrote: »

Skerries Harbour on a sunny evening, Only place on the east coast to see the sun setting over the sea...

*Cough* Howth

Redpunto

If they have kids, Newbridge Farm is lovely day out and has the playground as well.

Id second Malahide Park - go for lovely walk then head into Malahide, get some chips and wash it down with a pint.

jamo2oo9

Cork_girl wrote: »

City Centre
* Trinity - Book of Kells and the Long Hall
* Dublin Castle & Chester Beatty
* Stephens Green
* Little Museum of Dublin
* National Art Gallery/National History Museum/Merrion Square
* Christchurch & nearby Viking areas

North Co. Dublin
* Malahide & Malahide Castle - lovely for lunch/quick wander around, Avoca in the castle is nice
* Howth - walk the head/piers and again, nice spot for food

South Co. Dublin
* Dun Laoghaire - walk the pier
* Sandymount beach/Dalkey/Killiney/40 foot - nice drive/walks/views

Wicklow
* Glendalough - graveyard/round tower, follow the walks and do Poulanass Waterfall by the Upper Lake

Others -
Nice to visit Trim - see the castle
Newgrange - Knowth/Dowth trip
Monasterboice etc. in Meath also really nice to visit
Bettystown beach
Get a boat out to Ireland's eye from Howth if you have a day

I'm sure others will add to this!

Monasterboice is in Louth.


Others have suggested Cooley/Carlingford and I can't disagree with them. It really is a beautiful place to stay in with glorious views of the lough. Would recommend them to stay there for a night. Speak of this as I live in Cooley and it can't get as nice as you can get really

Tiriel

jamo2oo9 wrote: »

Monasterboice is in Louth.


Others have suggested Cooley/Carlingford and I can't disagree with them. It really is a beautiful place to stay in with glorious views of the lough. Would recommend them to stay there for a night. Speak of this as I live in Cooley and it can't get as nice as you can get really

Yep, that's why it's listed under 'Others' along with Trim castle, Newgrange etc.

This is a great thread, lots to visit!

You could also add a few amazing beaches, Portmarnock & Dollymount Strand on the northside and Sandycove, Sandymount and Seapoint to the south!

Dredd_J

Went up the Big Sugar Loaf in Wicklow on Sunday.
Wow.

BKWDR

A jaunt out to the Poolbeg lighthouse? Gives a great view of the city

InTheTrees

I think the big ones outside Dublin have to be Newgrange and Glendalough.

Although why restrict them to 50km's? They're americans, they're used to long road trips. You can get to Clonmacnoise or Cashel Rock pretty easily on the motorway.