Skyline experiences to enjoy
A city skyline can set the heart racing and while Dublin might not be one of the world’s tallest cities, there are still plenty of ways to enjoy the scenic views scattered across the county from above. Twinkling, spine-tingling sights await at the top of Croke Park, on its 17-storey high, Skyline Tour.
The rooftop walk is pure Insta-magic offering views across the city, spreading out from the mountains to the sea.
It’s the city’s highest open-viewing platform and a perfect spot to view some of the city’s landmarks and learn a little more about Croke Park - the fourth largest sports stadium in Europe. Numbers are limited due to Covid restrictions and tickets need to be booked in advance – worth planning ahead for such an epic viewing platform experience.
If sitting back and watching the world go by is more your thing, the Marker Hotel’s rooftop bar, coupled with a cocktail, is the spot.
Take the elevator right to the top for panoramic views.
On the terrace overlooking Grand Canal Square, executive chef Gareth
Mullins has created an ‘Al Fresco with Friends’ menu, which includes its match made in heaven dish, ‘BubbleClaws’ - flame-grilled blue lobster, heirloom tomato salad with truffle and parmesan fries, washed down with some
Ayala Brut Majeur Champagne.
If a pint of the black stuff is more to your liking, head over the Gravity
Bar at the Guinness Storehouse, which reopened July 5.
Sip on a complimentary pint against a backdrop of the Wicklow Mountains (Guinness gets its fresh water for brewing here), Phoenix Park and a sliver of Dublin Bay out to Howth.
But you don’t have to stay citybased to get a taste of the high life. Head for Montpellier Hill, also known as the Hell Fire Club.
At about 1,257 feet it’s worth the climb, especially at dusk to watch the sun set and see the city light up beneath you. With a history of debauchery and the supernatural surrounding the site, you’ll find the ruins of a hunting lodge at the top. Legend has it, the devil himself once appeared here.
Worth the risk for the spectacular views. If you’re feeling energetic, there are also two looped walking tails in the Hell Fire Club forest - the Forest Loop (5.5km) and the Montpelier Loop (4km).
Back towards town, check out the Winding Stair Café for Liffey views. A landmark since the 1970s, you can get a great view of the Ha’penny bridge and wax lyrical for a few hours.
The bookshop downstairs is one of the oldest in the city and was a well-known spot for the creative community. Following a brief closure in 2005, the building was reopened as a restaurant in 2006 by Elaine Murphy.
Its Winding Stair-Legal Eagle collaboration menu launched on the first-floor terrace on June 11.
For those looking to keep their feet a little closer to the ground, the Talbot Memorial Bridge is a beautiful spot to end a day in the city centre.
With stunning views, see it at night and during the day for a blissful double dose, you can take in the old-meets-new of the Docklands, the Convention Centre, the Samuel Beckett Bridge and of course the iconic Poolbeg Towers in Sandymount.