Hotels near Phoenix Park

Phoenix Park, at 707 hectares, is roughly twice the size of New York's Central Park and one of the largest enclosed city parks in Europe. It contains the official residence of the President of Ireland (Aras an Uachtarain), the residence of the US Ambassador, the 62-metre Wellington Monument obelisk, and a free-roaming herd of around 600 fallow deer descended from a 17th-century stock.

For a half-day visit, rent a bike at the Parkgate Street entrance and follow the Chesterfield Avenue spine 4 km to the Papal Cross, with side trips to the Victorian People's Flower Gardens and the Phoenix Monument at the centre. Dublin Zoo, founded in 1831, sits inside the park and is one of the oldest zoos in the world.

Pro Tip: Free 75-minute tours of Aras an Uachtarain run on Saturdays year-round but must be booked in advance through the Office of Public Works - they are one of the few opportunities to see inside a working European presidential residence at no cost.