RunCity

Dublin on foot: a self-guided walking route

This route takes you past 11 of Dublin's best-known sights, including Custom House, Spire of Dublin, Ha'penny Bridge and more. It is about 5.5 km on foot, roughly 2 hours at an easy pace with short stops. Follow the list on your own, or play it as a free GPS checkpoint game with RunCity and race the clock on the Dublin leaderboard.

  • 11Stops
  • about 5.5 kmDistance
  • 2 hoursWalking
  • about 55 minRunning
Play Dublin in RunCity

Free during launch. Runs in your phone's browser; the app is in English, German and Hungarian.

Dublin
Photo: 瑞丽江的河水 · CC BY-SA 4.0

This walk crosses Dublin's compact centre on both banks of the Liffey in about 5.5 km, flat all the way. It starts at the Custom House, a long neoclassical front with a copper dome on the north quays, and goes up O'Connell Street to the Spire before crossing the river on the white Ha'penny Bridge. Temple Bar's cobbled lanes are on the other side, and Molly Malone with her barrow stands a few minutes away on Suffolk Street.

The old city comes next: Dublin Castle's Upper Yard and Record Tower, then Christ Church and St Patrick's, the two medieval cathedrals. From St Stephen's Green, entered through the Fusiliers' Arch, the route reaches the bonus stop, Oscar Wilde lounging on his rock in Merrion Square, and ends at the front gate of Trinity College on College Green. Bring a rain jacket whatever the forecast says; the pubs along the way are a good fallback.

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Download the route as GPX (for Komoot, Strava or a watch)

The stops

A suggested order. In the game you can visit them in any order.

  1. Custom House

    Custom House

    The long neoclassical façade and copper dome beside the Liffey.

    Photo: Bjørn Christian Tørrissen · CC BY-SA 4.0

  2. Spire of Dublin

    Spire of Dublin Photo

    The needle-thin spire rising over O'Connell Street.

    Photo: User:Vmenkov · CC BY-SA 3.0

  3. Ha'penny Bridge

    Ha'penny Bridge Photo

    The white cast-iron footbridge over the Liffey.

    Photo: Unknown author · Public domain

  4. Temple Bar

    Temple Bar

    The cobbled streets and red-fronted pub in the heart of the quarter.

    Photo: William Murphy · CC BY-SA 2.0

  5. Molly Malone statue

    Molly Malone statue Photo

    The bronze fishmonger with her barrow.

    Photo: Marek Śliwecki · CC BY-SA 4.0

  6. Dublin Castle

    Dublin Castle Photo

    The Record Tower and the Upper Yard.

    Photo: J.-H. Janßen · CC BY-SA 3.0

  7. Christ Church Cathedral

    Christ Church Cathedral Photo

    The medieval cathedral from the lane on its south side.

    Photo: Ingo Mehling · CC BY-SA 4.0

  8. St Patrick's Cathedral

    St Patrick's Cathedral

    The spire and nave of Ireland's largest church.

    Photo: Diliff · CC BY-SA 3.0

  9. St Stephen's Green

    St Stephen's Green Photo

    The Fusiliers' Arch at the park's main entrance.

    Photo: Unknown author · CC BY 3.0

  10. Oscar Wilde statue, Merrion Square

    Oscar Wilde statue, Merrion Square Bonus

    Oscar Wilde lounging on his rock in the corner of the park.

    Photo: Napoleon Sarony / Adam Cuerden · Public domain

  11. Trinity College

    Trinity College

    The Georgian front gate on College Green.

    Photo: Stephen Bergin steve_ · CC0

Play Dublin in RunCity

Leaderboard

    Questions

    Can you see Dublin on foot in one day?

    Yes. The 11 stops on this route add up to about 5.5 km, roughly 2 hours at an easy pace with short stops.

    Is this self-guided walking tour free?

    Yes. The route and map on this page are free, and the RunCity game for Dublin is free during launch.

    How does the RunCity game work in Dublin?

    Open Dublin in RunCity, walk to a stop and tap Validate: your phone's GPS confirms you are there. Some stops also ask for a photo. Timed runs go on the Dublin leaderboard.

    Where does the route start?

    This page suggests starting at Custom House and finishing at Trinity College. In the game you can take the stops in any order.

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