The Best Parks in Dublin City Centre

We know the feeling: you’ve just finished a long lecture, you’re tired but have two hours to kill before your next class. You need somewhere to relax and rejuvenate - you need to escape the city centre while not actually leaving the city centre. 

A park is the perfect place to unwind with a take-away coffee in between lectures. Dubin is brimming with them and luckily for Trinity students, a lot of the best ones are within walking distance of the university.

Below are our 5 top Dublin park picks for taking a quiet, mindful minute. 

Iveagh Gardens:

The Iveagh Gardens are a true hidden gem. Nestled away off Harcourt Street, this park is just a short walk from Grafton Street and yet on a sunny day you could be fooled into thinking you’re in the South of France. With architecture and tasteful trimmings that rival Versailles, this is the perfect spot to take a breather without traipsing too far from Trinity. It’s the park its neighbour St. Stephen’s Green doesn’t want you to know about. 

St. Stephen’s Green:

St. Stephen’s Green is one of Dublin’s most well known parks and for good reason. It’s well maintained and is bursting with colour at the height of the summer. Pre-pandemic there were lunch-time musical performances from small orchestras in the southern veranda, which were very popular and still happen on occasion now.

Dubh Linn Garden - Dublin Castle:

Dubh Linn Garden is another hidden gem in the heart of the city centre. It’s a park you might not stumble upon without knowing of its existence but one you won’t forget once you’ve found your way there. If you’re lucky enough to nab a coveted bench here, make the most of it! Tip: there’s a lovely, reasonably priced café called Silk Road Café inside Dublin Castle to grab some lunch to eat outside in the park too.

Phoenix Park:

Phoenix Park is the largest enclosed park in Europe. It houses lots of wildlife including deer, squirrels and even the Irish President! Complete with a zoo and small coffee shops, it’s a park that comes equipped with all the amenities you might need while strolling through it and given its 1,752 acre size, you will need them! It isn’t as close to Trinity as the aforementioned parks but it’s worth the walk, if you have the time.

St. Patrick’s Cathedral Park:

St. Patrick’s Cathedral is one of Dublin’s most beautiful and historic churches and it has a park to match it. Complete with bright floral schemes and a small tea room, it’s an ideal location to take a breather after a long lecture, situated just off George’s Street. 

We hope you avail of these parks and get as much out of them as you can, whenever you need to.

Stay Mindful,

TCD Mindfulness Society