What it is
The park covers over 700 hectares of grassland and woodland along the north bank of the Liffey. Chesterfield Avenue runs straight through the middle, past the Wellington Monument, the Papal Cross, the polo grounds and Áras an Uachtaráin, the official residence of the President.
Dublin Zoo near the Parkgate Street entrance is the main paid attraction; the deer, the Victorian People's Gardens and the visitor centre at Ashtown Castle are free.
Getting there by bus
The main gate at Parkgate Street is a 25-minute walk from O'Connell Street or a short bus ride along the quays; Heuston Station and its Luas stop are five minutes from the gate. Buses stop at Áras an Uachtaráin and along Chesterfield Avenue through the park, and others serve the Castleknock and Ashtown gates.
The park is big — hiring a bike at the Parkgate entrance is the easiest way to see it all.
