Beaches · Dublin · Ireland
The best beaches in and near Dublin
Where to swim and spend a beach day, and when the water is warm.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Pilgab, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
The best-known beach is Sandymount Strand (About 5 km, 10 minutes by DART).
Key facts
- Beaches in this guide
- 6
- Warmest sea
- 16°C (61°F)
The beaches
About 5 km, 10 minutes by DART · Long walks
1.Sandymount Strand
A huge tidal flat in Dublin Bay where the sea retreats far out at low tide; better for long walks towards the Poolbeg chimneys than for swimming.
About 7 km, about 25 minutes by bus · Walks and birdwatching
2.Dollymount Strand, Bull Island
A 5 km sandy beach on North Bull Island, a nature reserve of dunes and salt marsh with wading birds and kite-surfers.
About 13 km, 25 minutes by DART · Year-round sea swimming
3.Forty Foot, Sandycove
A rocky promontory where Dubliners have swum in the sea year-round for generations, beside the Martello tower where Joyce set the opening of Ulysses.
About 9 km, 20 minutes by DART · A quick swim
4.Seapoint
A small, popular bathing spot with steps into the sea beside a Martello tower, a short walk from Seapoint DART station.
About 15 km, 30 minutes by DART · Scenery and walks
5.Killiney Beach
A long shingle beach below Killiney Hill with views across the bay to Bray Head, right beside Killiney DART station.
About 15 km, 35–45 minutes by bus · Families
6.Velvet Strand, Portmarnock
A wide sandy beach running for several kilometres north of Howth, popular with families and kite-surfers.
Sea temperature by month
| Month | Sea | Air high |
|---|---|---|
| January | 9°C (48°F) | 8°C (46°F) |
| February | 8°C (46°F) | 9°C (48°F) |
| March | 8°C (46°F) | 10°C (50°F) |
| April | 9°C (48°F) | 13°C (55°F) |
| May | 11°C (52°F) | 15°C (59°F) |
| June | 13°C (55°F) | 18°C (64°F) |
| July | 15°C (59°F) | 20°C (68°F) |
| August | 16°C (61°F) | 19°C (66°F) |
| September | 15°C (59°F) | 17°C (63°F) |
| October | 13°C (55°F) | 14°C (57°F) |
| November | 11°C (52°F) | 10°C (50°F) |
| December | 10°C (50°F) | 8°C (46°F) |
Staying near the beach
Getting to the beaches
- Tram — The Luas Red Line runs east–west along the north quays from the Docklands past Smithfield to Heuston station, and the Green Line runs north–south through O'Connell Street and St Stephen's Green to Ranelagh and beyond.
- Bus — Dublin Bus covers the whole city and is the main way to reach Kilmainham, Glasnevin and the coast beyond the DART line.
- Train — The DART electric railway follows the coast from Howth and Malahide in the north through Connolly, Tara Street and Pearse stations to Dún Laoghaire, Dalkey and Bray in the south.
Beach-weather months
Air temperatures rarely reach classic beach weather here: the warmest month, July, averages 20°C (68°F).
Beach safety
Dublin is generally safe for visitors, but pickpocketing and phone snatching happen around Temple Bar, O'Connell Street and on busy buses and trams. Some city-centre streets north of the river can feel rough late at night, so stick to busier routes or take a taxi. Swim at lifeguarded beaches where possible and follow local flag warnings.
Questions travellers ask
+Does Dublin have beaches?
Yes: Sandymount Strand, Dollymount Strand, Bull Island, Forty Foot, Sandycove, Seapoint, Killiney Beach and Velvet Strand, Portmarnock.
+What is the best beach near Dublin?
Sandymount Strand: A huge tidal flat in Dublin Bay where the sea retreats far out at low tide; better for long walks towards the Poolbeg chimneys than for swimming.