Phoenix Park, Dublin: Exhibition Day's Off

Dublin has a number of parks which are popular with tourists, with one of the most popular being Phoenix Park, which lays a few miles to the west of the city centre. Phoenix Park is absolutely massive at 707 hectares, a measurement which makes it one of the biggest enclosed recreational spaces in any European city.

The first thing that strikes you when you enter Phoenix Park is the genuine beauty of the scenery and the loving nature in which the park is kept. A significant portion of Phoenix Park is made up of woodland, which creates a genuine countryside experience in the middle of the city, especially with the range of mammals which call the park home. The park is valued so highly as a residence for animals that certain areas of it are managed as a conservation area.

As well as being a must visit spot for nature lovers, Phoenix Park is also a great place to take the kids as there are a number of picnic areas, designated play spots and a series of picturesque lakes. For those who enjoy walking around in beautiful and historic locations, the flower gardens provide a perfect option. Within the 22 hectares of gardens within the park there are a vast selection of flower breeds and historic attractions such as Victorian bedding schemes.

Phoenix Park is well equipped to handle the large number of visitors who come here each year. There are cafes, toilets, car parking and visitor centre which offers audio tours of the park, giving an insight into its 350 year history.