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9th April 2025
04:39pm BST
There’s a specific kind of person who voluntarily wakes up at sunrise. They're either spiritually awakened, deeply anxious, on a wellness bender, or just trying to feel something before the workday starts. And honestly? We respect it.
A sunrise is a whole different game from sunset. Sunsets are casual. Full of 'ah sure will we' type happenstance. Something you appreciate while holding a pint or pretending to enjoy your walk home. But sunrise?
Sunrise requires intent. Alarms. Layers. Logistics. The kind of preparation your type A friends reserve for 6am Ryanair flights. But it also comes with a unique high. The rarest strain of smugness. The kind usually only felt by people who got 600 points in the Leaving Cert, hit a PB on Strava, or managed to get a last-minute table at Forest Avenue.
If seeking a moment of quiet before your inbox explodes, planning a post-swim flat white with strangers, or just in the mood to romanticise your life, here’s our definitive list of where to catch the best sunrise in the city. F
From beaches to hills to car parks on the side of a cliff, this guide will help you start the day with a little bit of awe at the majesty of nature and maybe even a warm pastry.
If you’re serious about sunrises (or at least sunrise selfies), head to Howth. The tombolo layout (yes, we used “tombolo” in a sunrise guide) means you can position yourself based on the season. East-facing views year-round. From the Summit car park, you can wander to the Ben of Howth. Or down the cliff path for cinematic drama. There’s breakfast waiting at Howth Market once the light’s up, and if you’re lucky, the reiki girlos doing cacao shots might share with ya. Making this clearly one of the Best Sunrise Views in Dublin
For: Cliff energy, deep exhalations, and maybe a post-sunrise hash brown
Killiney Hill is the romantic’s choice. If Taylor Swift was in Dalkey she's have written "Take me to Killiney Hill where all the poets went to Hyde", because its accosiated with Yates, Douglas Hyde, and the founding of the Irish Literary Society. These days Killiney Hill is one of those rare spots that makes you feel like you're in a postcard, except with fewer gondolas and more dogs wearing fleece. It’s elevated, accessible, and has a view that includes Bray Head, the Irish Sea, and the urban sprawl in a soft morning glow.
Bonus points if you quote Yeats before 7am. Double them if you call him a hack and quote Sally Rooney instead.
For: Your inner poet
It’s long, it’s got a big red end, and it’s a bit of a pilgrimage. The Great South Wall is one of Dublin’s more surreal sunrise spots. You’ll walk past container ships, rusted ladders, and occasional fishermen before reaching the iconic lighthouse. There’s no public transport this early, so you’ll need a mate with a license or to live locally. But once you’re there, the horizon is all yours.
For: Apocalypse Now vibes (but make it tranquil)
If you’re the type who wants to earn their sunrise, this is your spot. A short but steady uphill hike through woodland brings you to the aerials at the top of the Fairy Castle trail. The views stretch across the entire city. It’s one of the first places to catch the sun. Not to be confused with actual castles, or actual fairies, though we can’t rule either out completely.
For: Hikers, romantics, and people who know their circadian rhythms
Swimmers. Salt air. The whole “I’m alive!” thing. Dublin’s sunrise swimmers are a breed apart. They are up, they are glowing, and they are in the water by 6am year-round. Join them, or just quietly observe them from a dry perch at Seapoint or the Forty Foot. The sunrise here is often gold-streaked and deeply peaceful.
For: The ‘let’s just get in the sea’ crowd
Not as famous as Killiney or Howth, Carrickgollogan is one of Dublin’s most easterly hills, with views stretching from Bray to Portmarnock. It’s a short 10–15 minute walk from the car park, and it feels like a hidden gem (which is exactly what you’ll say in your Insta caption). Also excellent for sunset if you decide the morning just isn’t for you.
For: A coastal view with minimal effort
Look, sometimes the only sunrise you’re catching is from a bridge while holding a breakfast roll and thinking about your inbox. But you know what? The pink sky reflecting off the glass towers, the Liffey still as glass. It’s kind of beautiful. Especially from the bridges near the EPIC Museum. Bring your own moment of calm to the city’s morning rush. People will be hooshing past with their KeepCups in that way that suggests they pay for Substack newsletters. Shoelane Coffee on Tara Steet opens at 6:30am, meaning you can be caffeinated before the light even hits the water.
For: One of the Best Sunrise Views in Dublin on your way to the office
Portmarnock beach makes for an ideal sunrise perch. It’s quiet, flat, and very ‘RTE weather segment’. If you’re brave (or unhinged) enough, go for a dip after. There’s space for towels, flasks, and existential questions. The bus and DART both serve the area, so it’s surprisingly doable for a pre-commute moment of serenity.
For: Big sky energy and post-swim smugness
Not as wild as Bull Island, not as crowded as Seapoint, Sandymount is the city’s middle-ground sunrise spot. The strand is wide, flat, and calm. You’ll likely be joined by dog walkers, joggers, and at least one person in a branded puffer jacket eating acai. The Poolbeg chimneys in the background give it that iconic industrial romance aura.
For: Dublin Bay’s most laid-back sunrise
Perched in the Dublin Mountains, this abandoned hunting lodge looks like a gothic novel or a low-budget horror film. Which is part of the charm. Arrive 40 minutes before sunrise and hike up through pine forest and what awaits is a view over the entire city, bathed in slow-moving light. Sometimes, there’s snow. Sometimes, there’s fog. Always, it’s worth it.
For: Drama, ghosts, and a good uphill slog to one of the Best Sunrise Views in Dublin
If you love the idea of watching the sunrise but don’t fancy standing alone with a Thermos and your intrusive thoughts, there’s Sunrise Social. It’s a free, phoneless meet up group that gathers at places like Sandymount and Seapoint for communal sunrise swims and chats. They're warm, and generally welcoming. Plus it’s an excellent reminder that other people in this city also like to feel good before 9am.
For: Community
