DUBLIN CAN BE  heaven with coffee at 11 alright, but that’s not the only time it’s a pleasure to spend time in the city.

As the good weather and the long evenings are here now (hopefully to stay) there’s never been a better time to explore the city. Here are seven wonderful ways to take advantage of the city in the summer time.

1. An ice-cream in the Iveagh Gardens

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The Iveagh Gardens, just off Harcourt Street and not far from Stephen’s Green, is a tucked-away little park in the middle of the city. Filled with wooded walkways, a fountain and a large lawn perfect for laying around with a book, it’s also just the place to indulge in an ice-cream during your lunchtime or after work.

2. A stroll along Sandymount strand

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Dublin has an abundance of great beaches all along its coastline and the walk along Sandymount strand definitely stands up as a nice gentle one to do. It’s mostly flat, and if you’re feeling fit you can walk all the way to the Poolbeg towers and enjoy the view looking back into Dublin.

3. Peer at the deer in Phoenix Park

Reuben Gray Reuben Gray

Phoenix Park, the largest enclosed park in Europe, is home to a huge herd of deer and they can easily be spotted from the main road through the park. While they are by no means tame, they can often be seen grazing quite close to people and a wonderful way for kids (or adults) to get up close-ish to some real wildlife, almost in the heart of the city.

4. Food markets on the canal

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One of the perks of a sunny day is being able to have your lunch outside and where better to grab a bite to eat than alongside one of the canals? Conveniently there are food markets on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday in and around the Grand Canal, so if you live or work around there you’ll be spoilt for choice.

5. Hike around Howth

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If you fancy a hike of a more serious nature, you could make your way to Howth head. There are a number of walks around the head depending on your fitness level and desire to get back to the village for some well-deserved fish and chips.

6. Dawdle in Dún Laoghaire

andrewcparnell andrewcparnell

Dún Laoghaire, another gem on the Dublin coastline, is well worth a trip out to have a walk along the pier, a coffee in one of the gorgeous cafés, or a mooch through some of the many shops and boutiques along the main street.

7. Coffee in Stephen’s Green

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How could you not do what the song tells you and have a coffee and a stroll around Stephen’s Green? It doesn’t have to be at 11 of course, any time of the day will do. From the many walks through and around the park, to the ponds where you can feed the ducks and swans, or the children’s playground, there’s enough in there to keep you occupied for the whole day.

8. People watch down by the Docklands

Rob Hurson Rob Hurson

There’s a diverse range of Dubliners down by Grand Canal Dock these days – from salt of the earth true blue Dubs to newer tech-focused inhabitants of our little city. This makes for some amazing people watching on a warm summer’s day . Best to do it with with a coffee in one hand, sambo in the other, nestled in a spot reclining by the red sculptures by the theatre.

What’s your favourite thing to do in Dublin in the summer?

Let us know in the comments…

Dublin is always changing and improving and to create the vital connection between the Green and the Red lines across O’Connell Street, we have to close a section of the Red Line between Jervis and the Point from the 21st May  to the end of July. Bus transfers will be available for passengers. For further information go to luas.ie and luascrosscity.ie