How to get the best photographs of Dublin City
A Local Photographer's Guide to Dublin City
Street photography, hidden corners, and the best spots to capture the capital
Dublin is a city that rewards the wandering photographer. From the Georgian elegance of Merrion Square to the neon-lit streets of Temple Bar, there's always something to capture. I've been walking these streets with a camera for over 13 years, and this guide shares my favourite routes, hidden corners, and practical tips for photographing the Irish capital. Whether you're visiting for a weekend or you're a local looking for fresh inspiration, this one's for you. If you're travelling internationally, consider getting an eSIM from Airalo to stay connected without expensive roaming charges, and compare car rental prices on Rentalcars.com if you're planning to explore beyond the city.
Being a photographer in Dublin, I often get asked about cool places to go and photograph the city. While there are loads of locations that you can go to capture images of Dublin, there is no one particular route that I take every time. Dublin is pretty small, so it is easy to get to most places on foot and there are plenty of moments on the streets just waiting to be captured.
We are fortunate enough here in this city to be on the East coast of the country, so getting up good and early will be your best bet. There are some magic spots to capture the sun rising over the city, but, me being me, I simply can't get out of bed in the morning. It's a simple matter of liking the warmth of my bed WAAAY more than the idea of photographing an epic sunrise image of Dublin. A habit I am still to break!
To make up for the lack of sunrise images, here is a little video I put together while out and about in the city. Hopefully, this will wet your appetite for the awesomeness to follow.
In saying all that though, we also enjoy some epic light over Dublin during the golden hour, sunset and some fantastic evening blue hour light too. So here, I will be sharing with you all, a few routes I like to walk and the particular spots I like to stop at. I live only about a 30-minute bus/tram ride from the city centre of Dublin so it's really easy for me to get in and out.
First thing I will say is to wrap up warm. Dublin gets pretty cold in the evening time and having your hands out to control the camera feels like how the T-1000 would have felt when all the liquid nitrogen spilled all over him. Fr-fr-freeeeeezing!
Sunset over Dublin — the city's golden hour is worth braving the cold for.
Sunset over Dublin Castle — golden hour in Ireland's capital city.
Start as You Mean to Go On
My journey usually starts at St. Stephen's Green Park (one of Dublin's best green spaces). Taking a walk around 'The Green' is usually the first thing I do. There are always locals and tourists chilling out in here (when the sun is out of course). Doing a loop around this park can give you a good insight into how people spend their lunchtime away from work and you can find some interesting characters.
After the park, heading east away from the main entrance, you find yourself on Merrion Row and, turning left onto Merrion Street, you'll see some fine museums and the Dáil (our National Parliament building).
The Dáil — Georgian architecture meets the heart of Irish politics.
Dáil Éireann government buildings — Georgian architecture in Dublin's city centre.
This whole area is packed full of Georgian Architecture which, in any light or weather can offer fantastic juxtaposition with the surrounding modern buildings, or offer an old-world aesthetic to your images.
St. Stephen's Green — a peaceful escape in the heart of the city.
The park is full of characters — both local and visiting.
The Georgian architecture provides a stunning backdrop.
Modern life meets old-world charm at Stephen's Green.
Street photography in Dublin — always something happening.
The grandeur of Dublin's government buildings.
The people of Dublin — always a story to tell.
Walking the streets — Dublin is best explored on foot.
Rainy days in Dublin — embrace the gloom, it adds atmosphere.
The people make the city — don't be shy about asking for a photo.
A Detour Through Trinity College
If you are in and around this area you will be hard pressed to not arrive at Trinity College. The college campus should definitely be on your list of things to visit while in Dublin. Trinity has a fascinating history and beautiful architecture that lends itself so well to the lens. I would highly recommend a walk through while on your way to the river.
Given the grandeur of the grounds, shooting at the wider end suits this location best.
Trinity College — history and architecture.
The grandeur of the college grounds.
Wide-angle shots work best here.
The details of Trinity — always worth a closer look.
Light and shadow in the college grounds.
Trinity College — one of Dublin's must-visit locations.
Trinity College Dublin — historic architecture in the heart of the city.
And on we go, Liffey bound
Next, I would recommend turning towards the river Liffey where you will find yourself walking on the historic O'Connell Bridge, one of Dublin's most iconic landmarks. It offers commanding views up and down the river so be prepared to navigate your way through a gauntlet of selfie sticks! From here I simply just like to take my time walking down one side of the Liffey and walking back up the other side.
Reflections of a city — Dublin from the river.
Dublin Bikes — a colourful addition to the streetscape.
The Custom House — a stunning building along the Liffey.
The Custom House — a classic Dublin landmark.
The Liffey at sunset — worth the wait.
Blue hour over the Liffey — magical light.
The Famine Boat — a reminder of Dublin's history.
Old Dublin — the city is full of forgotten corners.
Views along the Liffey — always changing.
The river is the heart of the city.
Samuel Beckett Bridge at Sunset
I always try to keep in mind that I would like to be on the Samuel Beckett Bridge for the sunset. Looking west along the Liffey can offer some stunning sunset photos over the city skyline. While using a tripod to set up a long exposure is perfect for this location, you will have to time your shots with the traffic lights as the bridge can vibrate when cars pass over. Being around this area after the night has set in, offers great opportunities for time lapses.
Samuel Beckett Bridge at sunset — pure magic.
Sunset over the city — looking west along the Liffey.
The bridge is a modern icon of Dublin.
Moonrise over the city — a magical moment.
The bridge at night — a different kind of beauty.
Samuel Beckett Bridge at night — modern architecture illuminated.
Bord Gáis Energy Theatre & Grand Canal Dock
From here, getting the blue hour in and around the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre is well worth checking out. Here you will find some interesting modern buildings that contrast very well with the blue hour light along with the reflections on the Grand Canal dock.
Bord Gáis Energy Theatre — modern architecture at its finest.
Grand Canal Dock — reflections and modern design.
A lone viewer — taking in the city from the dock.
The Liffey — always a source of inspiration.
Modern Dublin — sleek and reflective.
The city is full of interesting shapes and lines.
Even the tech giants have a presence in Dublin.
Grand Canal Docks — a photographer's playground.
The docks at blue hour — stunning reflections.
The theatre — a beacon in the docklands.
Grand Canal Dock — where modern Dublin meets the water.
Grand Canal Dock — modern architecture meeting the water in Dublin.
The City at Night
After I've soaked in all I can in this area I like to put on my 50mm f/1.8 lens and just walk around capturing things here and there. Dublin can come alive after the sun sets, so capturing some street life is lots of fun.
The Liffey at night — reflections and city lights.
Bridges over the Liffey — always a great subject.
The Convention Centre — a modern Dublin icon.
Late night rickshaws — a fun addition to the streets.
The streets come alive after dark.
Even the quiet streets have a story to tell.
A Trip Through Temple Bar
I would be remiss if I didn't mention Temple Bar in a blog post about Dublin City. While I don't really spend too much time in this part of the city, as it is mostly for tourists, there are still plenty of photo opportunities to be had. Buskers, iconic bars, neon lights and cobbled streets can make for some interesting compositions.
The people we meet — Temple Bar is full of characters.
Temple Bar — neon lights and cobbled streets.
The people of Temple Bar — always entertaining.
The pubs of Temple Bar — iconic and full of atmosphere.
Cobbled streets and colourful characters.
The details of Temple Bar — always worth capturing.
Taking Things to the 'North Side'
The 'North Side' (as in, North of the river) has plenty of photographic opportunities as well. When heading over to the north side of the city I like to try and practice more of a street photography style. The North Side, heading west from Gardiner Street to Capel Street is always busy with shoppers so there are numerous opportunities to photograph people.
You will cross O'Connell Street where The Spire makes a great centre point to images as it can be seen from many of the surrounding streets. Using the narrow streets, the buildings on either side can create great leading lines that end at The Spire, producing more of a compelling image.
The Spire — a modern landmark on O'Connell Street.
The North Side — busy streets and endless photo opportunities.
Leading lines and urban geometry.
The city is full of interesting angles.
Street photography — capturing the everyday.
The streets of Dublin — always busy, always interesting.
Finding the story in the everyday.
The North Side — a different perspective on the city.
North Side Dublin — a different perspective on the capital.
Moore Street & The Royal Canal
Along this route you will also find Moore Street, one of the city's oldest and most popular market streets. It's full of true Dublin characters yelling their famous "5 for 50" bargains on fruit and veg. There's loads of variety here with shops selling anything from wigs to phones and everything in between.
O'Connell Street Bridge — a historic crossing.
Dublin is growing — construction sites can be interesting subjects.
The DART — Dublin's coastal railway.
Old Dublin — the city's history is everywhere.
Walking the streets — the best way to discover Dublin.
Every street has a story.
The city's streets are full of life.
Light and shadow — always a great combination.
Moore Street — full of Dublin characters.
The city's energy is infectious.
Journeying further into the North-side along the Royal Canal (a lovely slice of nature in the city) there are some fantastic opportunities for some Architectural style photography. Croke Park is a mighty structure and looks really nice from the low vantage point of the canal. I really like the King's Inns too. This is a great building to walk around.
Croke Park from the Royal Canal — a great vantage point.
The canal offers a peaceful escape from the city.
Dublin's architecture — a mix of old and new.
Arches and details — always worth a second look.
The Single Lens Challenge
Some days I will go to town with only one lens as a challenge to myself to concentrate more on the compositional elements of the images I am taking. I have two Nikon lenses that I have an adapter for to use on my Sony a7R V, a 50mm f/1.8 and a 135mm f/2.8. These are both manual focus lenses. Using these gives me a different perspective of the city and helps to hone my skills as a photographer.
I would highly recommend to anyone who is new to photography, get at least one prime lens and on random days only go out with that one lens. You will be surprised how it makes you think harder about images. It's great fun!
📷 My Dublin Street Photography Gear
- Sony a7R V — My go-to body for street photography
- Sony 50mm f/1.8 — A compact prime for low-light street shots
- Nikkor 135mm f/2.8 — Vintage manual-focus lens for a different perspective
- Sony to Nikon Lens Adapter — For using Nikkor glass on Sony bodies
- 3 Legged Thing Winston Tripod — For long exposures and blue hour shots
- Peak Design Capture Clip — For carrying the camera securely while walking
- KF Concept Alpha Sling Bag 10L — Compact bag for city walks
- Rain Cover for Camera — Essential for Dublin's unpredictable weather
- Headlamp with Red Light — For evening walks and blue hour shoots
The people we meet — Dublin's faces tell a thousand stories.
Street photography is about the people.
A moment captured — the essence of street photography.
Rainy days in Dublin — embrace the atmosphere.
The streets are always alive.
Finding the story in the everyday.
Dublin Port — a different side of the city.
Buskers — the soundtrack of Dublin's streets.
Looking down the street — leading lines everywhere.
Busking on the street — Dublin's creative energy.
On the street — life happening everywhere.
Everyday moments — the heart of street photography.
Cheers to the End of the Day
After the day has come to an end, Dublin has many, many watering holes where you can soak up the atmosphere and chill out with a few pints. So please do explore and have a drink for me!
The Custom House — a fitting end to a day of exploring Dublin.
The Custom House Dublin — a stunning landmark on the River Liffey.
This is by no means a comprehensive guide to Dublin City. This is simply a post for people coming to Dublin that would like a bit of an insider's perspective about photographing the city. I have wandered the streets of Dublin with camera in hand for the past 13 years or more, so the best piece of advice I can give you is to simply just walk, enjoy the views and be ready to fire off a shot.
Dublin is moving fast, growing up quickly and even over the last ten years has become a whole new city. Around any corner can give you a great photo opportunity and also don't be shy about asking people to take a picture. You will find them most accommodating.
🏠 Plan Your Dublin Stay
Whether you're visiting for a weekend or planning a longer stay, find the perfect accommodation in Dublin city centre.
Search Hotels on Booking.com →Planning your own trip? Before you go, make sure you have comprehensive travel insurance for peace of mind. I use EKTA Travel Insurance for all my adventures — it's reliable, affordable, and covers the unexpected.
If you're considering moving to Dublin or maybe just spending a little longer than a few days, there are plenty of resources online to help you plan your stay.
Please feel free to leave any questions or comments and I'd be delighted to help you and offer any advice, if I can. Please do share your experience as I'd love to see some of your Dublin images.
Want to Shoot Dublin With Me?
Whether you're a local looking for fresh inspiration or a visitor wanting to see the city through a photographer's eyes, I'd love to help you discover Dublin's hidden corners. Join me on a workshop and let's explore together.
Explore Ireland Workshops →
If you would like to see more from behind the lens you can read more below.
Take it easy, cheers
