1. Dun Laoghaire (Dun Leary)
A small, lively, fancy-schmancy coastal town in the periphery of Dublin with some palm trees, outdoor coffee places, restaurants and it’s beautiful two Piers. The East Pier is long 2.6km and most popular for a nice 20min walk (in one direction). The West Pier is a bit longer and quieter, known for the fishing spots at the lighthouse and some water activates such as stand up paddle boarding, windsurfing, kitesurfing, kayaking, etc. The fishing point is more for fun then for actual fish catching but on a rare occasions some fisherman do have a good catch of mackerel.
You can reach Dun Laoghaire by bus which would take you around 40-50min on a busy day from the city center, for us it is only 30min drive from Tallaght.
2. The viewpoint to the Guinness Lake
The real name of the lake is Lough Tay but because of it’s dark water colour and the white sand on one side, when viewed from above makes it appear like a huge pint of Guinness. To get to the view point we go by car and it is only 30min drive from Tallaght for us. You can also reach it by a tourist bus, or like some “crazy” people by bike, or even “crazier” by walk 🙂 On some occasions there is a van parked in the designated parking area where you could get a coffee, water or even something to bite.
I highly recommend that magical view and can assure you that every single person which came to visit us WAS THERE 🙂
3. Dublin city center
Well, even if I am not impressed… you can’t be here and miss that! The areas I like and would recommend to see are the St. Stephen’s Green Park which looks beautiful especially in the spring/summer when a lot of different flowers are blooming, it is very taken care of and lively. Cross the road is the St. Stephen’s Green Shopping Centre, a royal-like building worth checking on the inside (get to the top floor terrace for some special views). The only street I go for a walk there with excitement is Grafton street with some talented outdoor singers/dancers/performers for a great atmosphere and many extra expensive shops 🙂
Don’t forget to get an ice-cream and check out the Spire (the monument of light)!
4. Howth
On the other side of Dublin from us, which because of the traffic can take us a minimum of 1h to get there, is this beautiful Pier similar to the one in Dun Laoghaire but without the large wall towards the sea. You can get there by bus from the city center in around 40min.
The many things I really love there are:
- The Reid’s fish market – where you can purchase a fresh piece of tuna, lobster, octopus, etc.
- The outdoor Howth market – featuring locally made foods, souvenirs and other homemade products
- The marina – full of sailing and other boats
- The Howth hill and the easy walk around the cliffs that lead to the Lighthouse (which you can’t reach as the road is closed for the public, unfortunately).
5. Glendalough
Based in Wicklow and a bit further from Dublin, but MUST SEE!
Only 1h drive from Tallaght for us and a bit trickier to get there by bus as you won’t have a direct one, but you can book a tourist bus which offers a half day Glendalough & Wicklow mountains tour with the view to the Guinness Lake so you can kill two birds with one stone 🙂
This gorgeous place starts with a walk through an old graveyard trail, a round tower and Cathedral ruins. You can have a 30min walk either through the large bridge-like trail (our preferred way) or the natural path which both lead to the upper lake with a picnic area and a spectacular mountain, forest and lake views. If you are up to a more difficult walk or a hike, there is plenty of different trails and also you can do rock-climbing there.
6. Tibradden Wood
This is a large forest area with an exit to the mountain and various things to do:
- Walk through a different paths
- Hike up the mountain to a place called Tibradden Pyramid with some stunning, panoramic views from there
- Bike up the mountain
- Have a picnic at the designated areas with benches and fireplaces
- Visit the Zipit Forest Adventures Park
- We even did a wild camping there once (while lockdown) and it was absolutely amazing during the day, but very spooky during the night (a lot of noises making it feel that someone or something was walking around us :O)
The forest is located only 20min drive from Tallaght, I don’t think you can get there by bus.
7. The Montpelier Hill and the house ruins on top of it
Very nice, easy 20-30min walk/hike through the forest with beautiful views of the city from different points.
When you reach the hill, you will see an abounded house called the Hellfire Club.
It is also only 20min drive from Tallaght for us and I don’t think is reachable by bus.
8. Bohernabreena Reservoirs
This is where the drinking water in Tallaght comes from. Only 15min drive from our place, these reservoirs saved our mental state during the lockdowns when we could only go away 5km from home. You can do a short 20min walk to the first reservoir, see some cute sheep and country houses on the way, go to the second reservoir for a 10min longer walk or pass that one till the end and make a U-turn which is all together 9km for a much longer walk.
Reachable by bus, but pretty far from the city center.
9. Bray Head
Going a little further, just on the other side of Wicklow mountain there is a small, coastal town called Bray. Only 40min away from Tallaght by car and 1h by bus from the city center. There you can have a walk at the beach or go for a short & sweet, pretty steep hike of around 30min to the top of the hill called Bray Head with some magnificent views over the town.
Be prepared for possible strong wind when you reach the destination!
10. Brittas Bay
Only 1h away from Tallaght or 1h and a half from the city center by car you will find this beautiful, long, wild, sandy beach for a nice walk or a beach day if the weather is on your side!
We even did camping there once and were not the only ones 🙂
