Walking in Dublin at night - Aviva Stadium

[Underparmummy]

I was unsure if I should put this here or in holidays - so apologies if I am wrong.
I went for here as it is a very specific question.

My 9 year old ds and I are having a couple of days in Dublin around a football match. On the night of the football match I had planned for us to walk the 20 mins back to the hotel at the 10pm ish finishing time. Normally if you are nearish better to do that than join hordes waiting for public transport after sports events ime.

However some of the mumsnet threads have now put the fear of god into me about walking an 8 year old around Dublin at 10pm. We would be following what looks like a big road back into the centre of the city.

Can anyone advise on a 20 min walk at 10pm from the Aviva to the centre at all? Not a weekend night.

Thanks!

The Aviva stadium is in Dublin 4 a very safe area to walk in. I wouldn’t consider Dublin particularly unsafe to walk in late at night, certain areas are to be avoided in particularly around Dublin 1, O’Connell street area has become quite unsavoury.

Where is your hotel? The area around the Aviva is fine, but whether it’s safe or not will depend on where you’re trying to get to.

Omg it's so so safe.

I've walked around there with DC at night and I've walked around on my own too.

It's a very wealthy area.

And lots of big houses, hotels, taxis, nice restaurants. In general v safe.

Around the Aviva is Ballsbridge and Sandymount which are very safe. Where in the city centre is your hotel? Likely to be fine to walk to if it’s within 20 minutes of the Aviva.

Yes safe as houses. Wouldn’t occur to me to be scared walking in most areas of Dublin. There are black spots (boardwalk) of course and you could be unlucky but it is really, really unusual.

I echo the other replies- it's a very safe area. I worked in an office around there for years and regularly walked from the post work pub to Landsdowne Road DART station (right beside the Aviva) at night with no issues. Plus there will be lots of people walking in the same direction, so you could make sure you are close to another family while walking so that you feel a bit safer.

Phew! Thank you! We are in a hotel on Merrion Square so looks like a very direct route on a big road to walk back along (google calls it R185 - maybe it has a real name?!). Googling Dublin on mumsnet revealed a lot of negativity, will go back to being excited again now.

The Aviva to Merrion Square after a match will be absolutely fine. It will be very busy and you're not passing through any dodgy areas.

We stayed in a hotel in Pembroke Rd nr the Aviva recently and walked into the city centre. No problem. As others have said there will likely be a few people walking from Aviva going your way.

Aviva to Merrion Sq after a match will be fine. Certain areas on your own wouldn't be advisable like all major cities. But you will be in a well populated tourist friendly area.

Enjoy the atmosphere usually is great. I bring my boys to a lot of matches, football, rugby, GAA and there tends to be a family friendly banter around.

Absolutely fine. Well lit main roads the whole way and there will be a good few walking the same direction.
10 min walk once you're out of the stadium.
Have a good trip.

It is the one walk I WOULD do and I do not walk anywhere unless it is by force. Enjoy. You are in one of the safest parts of Dublin there :)

What else do you have planned @Underparmummy? Let us know if you want any other ideas. I have similar aged children.
There's a new pizza place opened just off Merrion Square that's supposed to be very good, I will see if I can find the name for you.
Paulie's Pizza near the stadium is also super - small and gets busy so plan ahead.
There's a very good playground in Merrion Square - enough stuff for an 8 year old as well as younger children.
Viking Splash Tour is good. vikingsplashdublin.ie

I was planning Viking Splash but its not running on Tuesdays which is the day we could go.

I was planning Guinness, Dublinia, Dead Zoo and some wandering mainly. Anything you would add reasonably centrally? I had discounted the (live) zoo as we live near a very good one in the UK. Yes, I'd found the playground on Merrion Square, looks great for some time filling!

Will look at the pizza place now, thank you!!

EPIC museum. It is brilliant.

Thank you everyone!

@Marblessolveeverything thank you! I was hoping that would be the case!

There is Collins Barracks if they are interested in History. Across the river from Guinness. The phoenix park on a.good day is amazing, lovely bakery on the way up to pick up a picnic.

Epic museum also very enjoyable.

EPIC is good. Collins Barracks, also Kilmainham Gaol - get the LUAS tram out - about 10 mins - from the city centre.
Your list sounds good.

Looks like I need to look up EPIC at this point! Thanks all.

The walk from the Aviva to Merrion Square should be fine. Lots of people around after the match.
I'd be a bit wary taking the Luas to Collins Barracks. It can have a few dodgy characters on it, sadly.

Walk up to Lansdowne Road, turn right and walk along either Shelbourne Rd which turns into Grand Canal street. Walk up to Mount Street (upper or lower mount street) and keep heading towards st. Stephen's green direction and you'll get to Merrion Square.

Google maps are your friend here 😁

Enjoy your trip!

Thank you!

I had discounted the (live) zoo as we live near a very good one in the UK
Dublin Zoo is seriously fab. It's also in the middle of the biggest park in Europe.

Guinness is not that interesting for an 8 year old. Plus it's a long walk from Merrion square. The museum on Kildare street would be a good shout, there's a Viking long boat and some dead bog bodies my kids always like to visit. The dead zoo is free but you must book a ticket all the same.

New Lego shop on Grafton street now too but bring your credit card because it's €€€€

And like the other posters have said a walk from the Aviva to Merrion square will be fine,