For many adventurists Dublin is the first stop in Ireland. The capital and its surroundings have a lot to offer even if the outdoors are not as spectacular as the green fields and sharp mountains and cliffs of the west coast.
Starting with Dublin city centre, you can make your own way around town by hiring a bicycle from one of the many locations offering rental bikes these days. While Dublin is still not comparable in cycle or pedestrian friendliness to many other European cities, recent decade has seen an increase in cycle lanes and equipment on offer. In 2009 Dublin also saw its first self service bicycle rental scheme emerge, with Dublin Bikes now available in 44 stations around the city. On a bicycle, you can easily reach any sight the city has to offer. Take care on the roads as the cars can turn without indicating and the doubledecker busses have a habit of curving in front of you to stop unexpectedly but if you take it easy, cycling can easily be the most convenient way to get around town. Other transport options include the Luas (tram), busses, the Hop on/off tourist bus or if you fancy, one of the many empty taxis driving around the city centre streets. If you're looking to venture further along the Dublin coastline, towards Howth or Bray, you can hop onto the Dart service, a local train serving seaside locations both south and north of the city. To reach more secluded adventure spots around the country, renting a car is the best option with prices starting from as little as €15 a day.
Dublin is surrounded by mountaneous hills offering some beautiful hikes in Wicklow. You can take a Dublin bus 44b to Ireland's highes pub, Johnny Foxes, or travel deeper into the mountains with one of the bus companies offering hike-friendly shuttles. Tony Doyle has a service running to forest and Wicklow Way walks and St Kevins can take you to Glendalough for a day. Other easier and shorter walks can easily be done with the help of the Dart train service. Bray to Greystones walk is a pleasurable couple of hours on the south side of the city, taking in seaside scenery and a small hill. On the north side, you can hop off at Howth Junction and walk all the way up to Howth Head and again down to the seaside village along the cliff walk in a couple of hours or take the bus straight to Howth Head and walk the cliffs in less than an hour. Both walks are easy and can serve as a nice picnic trip on a sunny day.
Along the Dublin Bay and the greater Dublin area there are plenty of beaches and seaside locations with water quality increasing the further from Dublin Bay you travel. While surfing is a rare pleasure here, and can mainly only be practiced thanks to wind swell or extreme luck, the Dublin area is known for good windsurfing and kitesurfing conditions. In the north you can start in Bull Island and try your skills in various spots towards Malahide and Skerries. In the south Sandymount, Dun Laoghaire, Killiney or other spots towards Bray and Wicklow are an option. Be wary of tidal changes particularly in Dublin Bay, as low tide might mean a walk of several hundred meters to reach the water. More urban activities, such as stand up paddling (SUP) in the waves of the incoming passenger ferries, are starting to take shape in Dublin so you shouldn't get bored even if the wind is low.
Portmarnock beach is long and you can kite in the north end or alternatively head to the Sutton stretch in the south in E and NE winds. Sutton side is quite tidal and can have currents.
Salthill beach by Dun Laoghaire is good for slalom sailing in anything from NE to NW winds (NE is on shore). Waves are rare but there is short chop at times getting flatter behind the peer. Also a spot for beginners during summer months. In N winds, experienced...
Rush is located to the north from Dublin and has two beaches, north and south. Both have small to medium waves and are flat in between with shallow access. There are some restricted areas, where you should only launch past the soft sand sign.
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