St Stephen's Green, Dublin, Visitor Guide & Things to Do Nearby

St Stephen's Green is a landscaped public park in the centre of Dublin, entered from the top of Grafton Street through the granite Fusiliers' Arch. It began as common ground at the edge of the medieval city and has been a place for strolling since it opened to everyone in 1880. It is one of the easiest places in the city to slow down, with lawns, a lake and plenty of benches.

The story behind it

The Green started as open common land on the edge of medieval Dublin. In 1664 Dublin Corporation enclosed it and let the plots around the edge for building. That is why the terraces around the square are grand and regular. For a long time afterwards it was a railed promenade for the households around it, not a public park. Access opened up after an Act of 1877 backed by Sir Arthur Guinness, and the park as we know it opened to the public in 1880.

The arch at the Grafton Street corner is younger than the park. It was put up in 1907 as a memorial to the Royal Dublin Fusiliers who died in the Second Boer War, which ran from 1899 to 1902. Its design is often said to echo the Arch of Titus in Rome, and the names of the fallen are inscribed on it. At a time of rising Irish nationalism, a monument to men who had fought for the British Empire was not welcomed by everyone, and Dubliners gave it the nickname Traitors' Gate.

What to look for

• The Fusiliers' Arch itself, a granite gateway where you can look up at the inscriptions and the names of the soldiers it remembers.
• The lake, where ducks gather and the paths curve around the water, with the waterfall nearby.
• The Victorian-style gazebo, a pretty spot for photographs.
• The bust of James Joyce, for anyone who loves Irish writing.

Tips for your visit

• Entry to the park is free, and you can wander in and out through several gates, so there is no need to plan around a visit time. Check current opening hours before you go.
• Allow 30 to 60 minutes for a relaxed loop, longer if you want to sit by the lake or have a picnic on the grass.
• Go in the morning for quieter paths, or on a dry afternoon when the lawns fill with people. In warmer months there are sometimes concerts and events, so look for local listings.
• Grafton Street is right beside the arch for shops and cafes, and the Georgian streets around the square are worth a slow walk afterwards.

See it on a quest

Romantic Dublin: Cupid’s Quest Walking Tour & Escape Game is a good fit if you are visiting as a couple. You reach the Green on foot as one stop of a longer route through the area, the app tells you about each place as you arrive, and you solve a puzzle on the spot. It is a paid quest, and one ticket covers the whole group.

Murder Mystery: Death in the Shadows in Dublin suits anyone who likes their sightseeing with a mystery attached. You walk between real places in the city, hear about each one as you get there, and solve a puzzle in front of what you see. It is a paid quest, and one ticket covers the whole group.

Dublin Detective Mystery: Infiltrate a Secret Society. turns the streets around the Green into a detective trail. You travel on foot from stop to stop, the app tells you about each place on arrival, and you work out a puzzle on the spot. It is a paid quest, and one ticket covers the whole group.