General Information » Getting Around » Walking

In 2002, a fifth of all commutes were made on foot. The city centre is compact and there are several pedestrianised areas, making the postal code areas of Dublin 1 and 2 easily accessible on two legs. Most roads leading away from the very centre are flanked with good pavements, but not all are safe – especially at night. Avoid badly lit streets and don’t walk through any of the notoriously crime-ridden inner city areas if you can help it. While you may not want to splash out on a taxi, bear in mind that it is always better to be safe than sorry. Keep your eyes open and stay well clear of any gatherings of dodgy-looking characters or any suspicious-looking activity.

During the day, however, walking may be your best and quickest way of getting around the city centre. There are many pedestrian bridges, including Dublin’s most famous, the Ha’Penny Bridge, and numerous shortcuts unavailable to your fellow commuters on wheels. You’ll be surprised how quickly you can get from Henry Street to Dame Street on foot if you cut through Temple Bar. Jaywalking is common practice among seasoned locals who can nip across busy roads, but unless you know what you’re doing it’s very dangerous, so don’t follow the person in front of you aimlessly. If you happen to forget from which direction to expect traffic, Dublin City has thoughtfully printed ‘look right’ and ‘look left’ onto the street for you.