St. Stephen's Green, Dublin (must see)

If you're not keen on waiting for a table at one of the busy downtown restaurants, a great alternative is to grab a sandwich and a drink and head over to Saint Stephen's Green, at the southern end of Grafton Street.

Spanning 9 hectares (22 acres), it is the largest among Dublin's Georgian square parks. Once common grazing land, it was enclosed for public use in 1663, evolving into a fashionable promenade by the early 18th century. Renovated between 1877 and 1880 to align with Victorian tastes, the park now offers formal lawns, intricate gardens, shady pathways, bubbling fountains, and ample benches encircling a large ornamental lake, perfect for unwinding and feeding ducks. During the summer months, visitors can often attend open-air concerts.

Surrounded by elegant Georgian residences, the rectangular park is noted for its many statues and memorials. Statues include one honoring Sir Arthur Guinness, who donated the land for public enjoyment; a bronze likeness of Irish revolutionary Theobald W. Tone, encircled by monoliths referred to as "Tonehenge" by locals; a fountain statue depicting the Three Fates, gifted from Germany in gratitude for Ireland's aid to orphaned German children post-World War II; and sculptures of Robert Emmet and James Joyce.

Among the memorials, you'll find the Yeats Memorial Garden, featuring a statue by Henry Moore; the Fusiliers Arch, commemorating the Royal Dublin Fusiliers fallen in the Second Boer War; a tribute to Irish Republican Brotherhood member, Jeremiah O'Donovan Rossa; and a solemn memorial honoring the victims of the Great Famine that caused so much death and misery in Ireland from 1845 to 1850.

Tip:
Many cafes nearby along the road offer delightful options for a cake and coffee or tea before or after your stroll through the park.