A 5 km sweep of sand and dunes on Bull Island, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in the middle of Dublin Bay, reached by a wooden causeway bridge from Clontarf. The strand is wide and firm at low tide, backed by Ireland's oldest dune system and the Royal Dublin and St. Anne's golf links.
| Distance | 5 km from city centre |
|---|---|
| Getting there | Dublin Bus 130 from Lower Abbey Street to Bull Island causeway (25 min, ~€2 with Leap Card / ~$2.20); or cycle via coastal path from Clontarf |
| Best season | May–September for swimming; year-round for walking |
| Address | Bull Island, Clontarf, Dublin 3, D03 Ireland |
Amenities
- Car park
- Toilets
- Café at nearby Royal Dublin Golf Club
- Lifeguards (summer)
- Dog-friendly (most areas)
Good to know
- Water
- Shallow and gently shelving, but exposed to onshore winds that make it choppy — better suited to kitesurfing and paddling than calm swimming
Weather through the year in Ireland
Best time Shoulder Worth avoiding
Average daytime temperature in °C. Figures are for Ireland.
Location
Bull Island, Clontarf, Dublin 3, D03 Ireland
53.3670, -6.1459 View on map
Highlights
- Bull Island is a designated UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and bird sanctuary — thousands of brent geese and wading birds winter here
- Wide, flat sand exposed at low tide makes it Dublin's most popular kitesurfing and land-yachting spot
- The wooden causeway bridge (built 1964) and the older Bull Wall stone causeway both link the island to Clontarf on the mainland
Tips for visiting
- Check tide times before visiting — at high tide the swimming area narrows considerably and firm sand for walking disappears
- The interpretive centre near the causeway has free information panels on the island's wildlife and history