A rocky cove and stepped bathing platform at the tip of Sandycove peninsula, made famous as the opening setting of James Joyce's Ulysses — the nearby Martello tower is now the James Joyce Tower & Museum. The 40 Foot has been used for open-water swimming since at least the 1880s.
| Distance | 13 km from city centre |
|---|---|
| Getting there | DART to Sandycove & Glasthule (25 min; ~€2.60 with Leap Card / ~$2.86); 5-min walk to the 40 Foot |
| Best season | Year-round — the 40 Foot is famous for Christmas Day swims; summer brings the largest crowds |
| Address | Sandycove, County Dublin, A96 Ireland |
Amenities
- Outdoor café (summer)
- Toilets nearby
- Year-round wild swimming
- No lifeguard
Good to know
- Water
- Deep water close to the steps, calm on most days but exposed to swell in easterly winds; genuinely cold outside summer
Weather through the year in Ireland
Best time Shoulder Worth avoiding
Average daytime temperature in °C. Figures are for Ireland.
Location
Sandycove, County Dublin, A96 Ireland
53.2866, -6.1107 View on map
Highlights
- The James Joyce Tower & Museum sits directly above the cove, in the same Martello tower where Ulysses opens
- Year-round swimmers ('the regulars') gather here daily, including a well-known Christmas Day swim
- No sand — swimmers enter via stone steps into deep, clear water, historically a men-only bathing spot until the 1970s
Tips for visiting
- There is no beach here — bring water shoes, as entry is over rock and via the concrete steps
- Water is cold year-round (below 10°C / 50°F in winter); first-time visitors should ease in gradually and never swim alone in winter