Booterstown Nature Reserve is a lovely stretch of land designated to Dublin’s large population of migratory seabirds. Located on the south side of the city, the Reserve stands close to the DART rail line. The area is home to a large stretch of marshland, with man-made nesting sites in the centre of the reserve. Booterstown Nature Reserve is home to a wide variety of waterfowl, from geese to ducks, waders to gulls. The reserve has recently undergone impressive rejuvenation, with a lovely, seated viewing area located close to the main road.

The Northside of Dublin City is a busy area with numerous attractions to suit visitors of all tastes. The historic area of O’Connell Street is home to the GPO building, which was the centre of the 1916 rising. The street is also home to numerous monuments including the modern, controversial Monument of Light  (known locally as the Spire or the Spike). The northside also boats a busy shopping area around Henry Street, and a local food market on Moore Street. The area is dotted with a wide variety of restaurants, as well as numerous museums and theatres.

On the Southside of Dublin’s City Centre visitors can find beautiful architecture, wonderful restaurants and fantastic shops. The area is home to wonderful historic sights such as Trinity College, Leinster House and Dublin Castle. For shopaholics, the busy area around Grafton Street offers plenty of high-end fashion boutiques, while the cultural quarter of Temple Bar is home to plenty of unusual shops. Southside Dublin City is dotted with restaurants to suit all tastes and budgets, as well as numerous lovely, little cafes.

The Phoenix Park Dublin is the largest city park in Europe. Located on Dublin’s northside, this picturesque park was developed in 1662 as a deer park by the British Duke of Ormonde. It was opened to the public in 1745, and today it is still a popular picnicking and walking spot for Dubliners. The Phoenix Park is home to the Papal Cross (known locally as the Pope’s Cross), where the pope celebrated a mass in 1979. The park also contains Dublin Zoo and Aras an Uachtarain, the residence of Ireland’s President. The park is also home to Ireland’s only population of red deer.

Located on a rocky outcrop above the village of Sandycove is the James Joyce Tower. This is a Martello tower built in 1804 as a defence against Napoleonic invasion. One of 15 such towers, the Martello tower at Sandycove is particularly famous as it was once occupied by the writer James Joyce. He stayed at the tower for a week, as a guest of poet, Oliver St John Gogerty. Today, known as James Joyce Tower, the tower is occupied by a small museum dedicated to the writer. The museum boasts first editions of Joyce’s novels, as well as some of his personal belongings.

Just off the coasts of the lovely town of Dalkey on Dublin’s southside, is the picturesque Dalkey Island. The island boasts a Martello tower and Benedictine church. The island is also home to a colony of wild goats, numerous bird colonies and large hare and rabbit populations. From the island, visitors are offered a wonderful view of Dublin, in particular the lovely beach at Killiney. Dalkey Island is also a popular location for anyone interested in marine life, as from the island there are regular sightings of common and grey seals, harbour porpoises and common and bottle-nosed dolphins. Boats to the island leave from Coilemore Harbour.  

One of the most familiar landmarks in the city of Dublin is, undoubtedly, the Ha’penny Bridge. This bridge crosses the River Liffey from the Temple Bar area to Liffey Street. It is a high-arched cast-iron pedestrian bridge, which was designed by British ironworker, Jon Windsor. Originally named the Wellington Bridge, it was opened in 1816. Today, its official name is the Metal Bridge, but it is known locally as the Ha’penny Bridge due to the toll that was placed on anyone who crossed it.  

Located in the lovely Phoenix Park on Dublin’s northside, Dublin Zoo is the most popular tourist attraction in Ireland, and it offers a fantastic day out for all the family. This large zoo is divided into fascinating sections such as ‘The Fringes of the Artic’, ‘The African Plains’ and ‘World of Primates’. Children and adult’s favourite animals all inhabit the zoo: from hippos to tigers, orang-utans to giraffes. Dublin Zoo also places strong emphasis on conservation as it holds the European studbooks for the likes of Golden Lion Tamarins and Moluccan Cockatoos. The zoo is also involved in international conservation and education efforts, such as offering alternatives to the Bushmeat trade.