- National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin; One of Ireland’s premier botanical institutions, these renowned 19.5-hectare gardens lie just 3km from the city centre. Home to over 15,000 plant species from around the world, they feature exquisitely restored Victorian curvilinear glasshouses (including the magnificent Palm House), rockeries, rose gardens, herbaceous borders, a pond, river walks, and exotic collections such as succulents, cacti, and tropical rainforest plants. A scientific haven with educational value, it’s free to enter and perfect for immersive horticultural exploration throughout the seasons.
- Iveagh Gardens: Often called Dublin’s ‘secret garden’, this hidden Victorian gem sits behind the National Concert Hall in the city centre. Designed by Ninian Niven in 1865, it blends formal French and English styles with striking features including Ireland’s only purpose-built archery field, a charming miniature yew maze, a rosarium, fountains, a dramatic cascade waterfall over rocks from all 32 Irish counties, and a sunken lawn. Restored and conserved, it offers a peaceful, romantic escape with seasonal floral displays and a sense of historic wonder.
- Airfield Estate: This unique 38-acre working farm and visitor attraction in Dundrum features over 6 acres of diverse gardens, including an ornamental walled garden, an extensive organic-certified food garden with fruit and vegetables, meadows, and naturalistic spaces. Set amid urban surroundings, it provides a vibrant, sustainable showcase of productive and decorative planting, with year-round appeal for families and gardeners seeking inspiration from edible landscapes and biodiversity.
- Phoenix Park Walled Garden (Victorian Kitchen Garden): Located within Europe’s largest enclosed urban park, this impeccably maintained Victorian walled garden near the Ashtown Visitor Centre revives traditional productive horticulture. Enclosed by high walls, it displays bold, colourful beds of vegetables, fruit, herbs, and ornamental flowers in classic layouts, complemented by the vast parkland’s deer herds, mature trees, and trails. It offers a tranquil contrast to the park’s open spaces, highlighting historical estate gardening techniques.
- Malahide Castle and Gardens: Surrounding the historic medieval Malahide Castle north of the city, these impressive grounds include a restored walled garden bursting with seasonal colour, a renowned butterfly house (Ireland’s only one), extensive lawns, woodland walks, and diverse plant collections. The formal and informal planting, combined with the castle’s heritage, creates a delightful family-friendly destination with vibrant borders, rare species, and peaceful paths, a perfect blend of horticulture and history.
Gardens to Visit
Antrim – Armagh – Carlow – Cavan – Clare – Cork – Derry – Donegal – Down – Dublin – Fermanagh – Galway – Kerry – Kildare – Kilkenny – Laois – Leitrim – Limerick – Longford – Louth – Mayo – Meath – Monaghan – Offaly – Roscommon – Sligo – Tipperary – Tyrone – Waterford – Westmeath – Wexford – Wicklow
Dublin:
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