Last updated on August 6th, 2022 at 06:44 am
When it comes to exploring beyond the centre of Dublin, there is no better way to escape the rush and noise of the inner city than by pedalling off for an hour or two on a bike ride to one of Dublin’s captivating coastal neighbourhoods. While Dublin’s bike lane infrastructure has thankfully improved in recent years, cyclists should note that the routes below are on mixed use roads shared with other traffic and should therefore take any necessary precautions while cycling.
In this post we share the ultimate north and south Dublin cycle routes.
North Dublin
Route Map
Kicking off from the city centre, head north toward Fairview Park – this charming city park marks the start of the north Dublin suburbs. Continue cycling along the Dublin bay coast into the Clontarf and Dollymount neighbourhoods, before taking a pit stop to leisurely explore St. Anne’s park, originally laid down by the Guinness family in the 19th century.
Continue your journey along the coast toward Sutton, before you roll into the shimmering harbour at Howth.
Duration: 1 hour
Coffee
Our favourite coffee spot in Howth is Bodega Coffee, which serves excellent organic, single origin coffee.
Food
When the sea-salt spray of the ocean is in the air, the only true choice for dinner is a traditional Dublin fish & chips. Park the bikes and head into Beshoff Bros for a fish supper to take away and eat sitting along the harbour wall.
South Dublin
Route Map
Starting on College Green outside the front gates of Trinity College, this route takes you from the very centre of the city to the gleaming seaside suburb of Dun Laoghaire. Once you’ve skirted around Trinity College you’ll pass by Merrion Square – feel free to head in and cycle around this charming city park, home to the famous Oscar Wilde statue.
Pushing on you pass through the leafy neighbourhood of Ballsbridge, home to a number of embassies, including the U.S. embassy, before coming into sight of the sea at Blackrock. From there, it’s a short stretch along the the coast to Dun Laoghaire.
Duration: 45 minutes
Coffee
We recommend the excellent Two Beans Cafe for a pick-me-up coffee stop at the end of your journey in Dun Laoghaire. Grab some lattes to go after locking up your bikes and take a stroll around the charming winding streets of the neighbourhood.
Food
Our favourite lunch spot in Dun Laoghaire is the charming Bailey & Pim, which serves up an excellent range of soups, sandwiches, scones, and cakes at very reasonable prices. Their coffee is also extremely good.
