Dublin’s Top 3 Free Activities—So Good It Feels Illegal

Summer’s approaching, and remember when you used to sit on a bike outside the local Mace for hours or ring strangers’ doorbells for the day just to get your steps in? You do—don’t lie. That was your cardio. Maybe you even nabbed a few dusties that “fell off” your mad neighbour’s Toyota Avensis for the collection. That was a top-drawer afternoon. No money. No plan. Pure bliss.

Well, that proves it: as an adult, you don’t have to spend €300, forget your PIN number, and make friends in a smoking area with a bloke named Colin from finance every time you want to enjoy yourself. There are free activities in Dublin just WAITING for you. Here are our top three!

1. Marlay Park Putting Green

Fully free, fully open, and fully Pádraig Harrington-approved. Rock up, grab a putter (they’re usually lying around), and give it a lash. Bring a few mates and pretend you’re prepping for the Masters. No dress code. Zero expectations.

2. The National Botanic Gardens

A peaceful stroll through 20,000+ plants and not one cent spent. Great place to clear the head, take a deep breath, or pretend you know what an orchid is. Bonus: the greenhouses make you feel like you’re in a nature documentary.

3. Hugh Lane Gallery

Free art, and a lot of it. Bacon’s studio is there, untouched chaos—like your room but curated. Great if you’re trying to seem cultured on a date or need somewhere quiet to scroll.

You’re welcome lads and ladies.