Surrounded by stone walls, the Iveagh Gardens appear private at first glance. Yet the manicured lawns, cascading waterfall, circular rose garden, and miniature maze are all available to the public free of charge. Designed by Ninian Niven in 1863, the gardens hosted the 1865 Dublin Exhibition and now sets the stage for a public summer concert series as well as the annual Taste of Dublin festival. Unlike nearby St. Stephen’s Green and other green spaces throughout the city, you may not see another soul on a stroll down its polished promenades. The main Clonmel Street entrance is the easiest (though not easy) to find, and there are two others tucked behind the National Concert Hall on Earlsfort Terrace and down a flight of concrete steps on Hatch Street Upper.
Time Out tip: Even though the garden’s Guinness family namesake pronounced his name Lord “Ive-a,” most locals refer to the space as “Ivy” Gardens.
Nearby:
Dax: For French bites and fine wine in an elegant basement bar
Eirlooms: For hand-crafted souvenirs and floral arrangements
The Dean: For top-notch cocktails with panoramic views over the city