Things to do in Malahide

Malahide is a quick train ride from the city centre and the station is conveniently located in the heart of the action. Make your way down past the pastel painted houses and the steeple of Saint Sylvester's Church to Malahide Beach, where you can potter around on the sand or set off on a lengthier stroll along the Coastal Route to Portmarnock. This 4km trail is set on an elevated path with parkland on one side and the sea on the other, taking you past Velvet Strand and the Martello towers at Portmarnock and Robswall. At the latter, you can head inland to the Robswall Park Hillside Hike. The path skirts green fields dotted with shaggy Highland cows and provides great views of the sea.

Back on the other side of the village, the estate of Malahide Castle & Gardens is filled with walking trails that snake through 260 acres of parkland. Before you even get to the 800-year-old castle, there are the wide green fields of the West Lawn lined with wooden sculptures and rare trees. The giant Cedar of Lebanon is a particular beauty, its low twisting branches thick with pine fronds. On a sunny day, stop off here for a picnic, or continue on to the sweeping playground fit for kids of all ages.

Media captionTake in sweeping views on the Malahide Coastal Route.

Stick around Malahide Castle because there’s far more to see than just the grounds. The highlight is the castle itself, which was home to the Talbot family from 1185 until 1973. Take a tour of the castle and get a glimpse at how the other half lived in grand halls and drawing rooms filled with antiques and oil paintings. The walled gardens are also home to the only butterfly house in Ireland, where rare species flutter all around you in a glasshouse filled with tropical plants.

Media captionExplore Malahide Castle with its extensive grounds and butterfly house.

The nearby Casino Model Railway Museum is set inside the thatched Casino Cottage, so quaint it could be on the cover of a children’s book. Inside, there are around 350 model trains, some of which run on tracks overhead. Keep the railway theme going on the Malahide Road Train, known as Toots. This red road train takes you through the village to the beach and back to the castle on a relaxing ride that’s a great way to see the sights with younger kids.

If you’re travelling with a group, get yourself over to Lambay Island and visit Ireland’s only herd of wild wallabies. The marsupials were introduced in the 1950s and have thrived on the island ever since. You’ll need to book a private group tour in advance, but it’s worth the planning to spot the wallabies alongside other wildlife like seals, deer and puffins. As an aside, the crab fished around the shores of Lambay is considered the finest by Ireland’s top chefs, so snap it up if you see it on a menu. 

Media captionHop over to Lambay Island to spot some unique wildlife.

Media credit@noccopix

If all that activity builds up an appetite, you’re in luck. The main stretch of Malahide has plenty of restaurants, many of which have outdoor seating. The al fresco section in Old Street is one of the finest, with chairs draped in faux fur and wooden beams decked with fairy lights and twisting vines. The menu is packed with bistro classics like beer battered fish and chips and steak ciabatta, with little twists like pickled daikon and a relish made from dates and miso.

Savour the Parisian vibe over at Déjà vu, where the daily brunch menu features savoury crepes and pain perdu dripping in maple syrup. Or embrace the spice at Jaipur, an award-winning restaurant that serves authentic Indian dishes with a twist, like tandoori monk fish, lamb shank nihari and chingri butter masala.  

For the freshest local ingredients served tapas style, stop by The Greedy Goose. Choose from dishes like seared Kilmore Quay scallops with crispy pork belly croquettes and garlic, honey and chilli-glazed chicken wings.

Media captionChoose from plenty of restaurants on Malahide's main street.

You’ll need a good dose of caffeine before a day of adventure, so head to A Dó, where they serve up Ariosa coffee and dirty iced chai tea spiked with a double espresso. If that doesn’t put a spring in your step, nothing will. 

For a pint at the end of the day, head to Gibney’s, a maze of a pub with various lounges and cosy rooms, one with its very own well in the middle. Next door, their adjoining off license sells a decent variety of wines as well as hosting the occasional tasting event in their wine room.

Media captionQuench your thirst at Gibney's after a busy day.

Explore more of Dublin's coastal villages with our guide to the Dublin Coastal Trail.