Dublin's largest farmers market — and easily its most dog-friendly. Over 50 stalls fill the Victorian courtyard of the Red Stables every Saturday, selling artisan food, crafts, organic produce and fresh flowers. The real pull for dog owners: multiple stalls sell doggy ice cream specifically. You'll see more dogs here on a Saturday morning than almost anywhere else in the city.

After the market, the 6km loop trail through St. Anne's Park itself takes you past the Naniken River, a rose garden (still worth seeing in late March), and a series of quirky carved tree sculptures hidden among the old trunks — an outdoor gallery your dog won't care about at all but you absolutely will.

The south side's answer to St. Anne's. Smaller and more focused, Herbert Park's Sunday market runs around the park's famous duck ponds — which means the atmosphere is genuinely beautiful. Stalls include artisan doughnuts, mac and cheese toasties, fresh produce and craft goods. The park's wide paths and well-behaved dog crowd make it one of the best casual dog-social spots in Dublin.

The west side's community market with a proper neighbourhood feel. Hot food stalls, artisan producers, woodworkers, and even tarot card readers share space in the park every Saturday. The River Dodder runs alongside — dogs go absolutely wild for it. A favourite of local dog walking groups who use it as a pre-walk meet-up point.

This is not your average dog walk. Glasnevin Cemetery spans 124 acres and holds the remains of 1.5 million people — including Michael Collins, Éamon de Valera, Luke Kelly, Brendan Behan and Countess Markievicz. Walking through it with your dog on a quiet March morning, past enormous Gothic crosses and Victorian tombs, is genuinely one of the most atmospheric experiences in Dublin, and it's completely free.

The grounds are publicly accessible at no charge. Dogs are welcome on leads throughout the cemetery grounds. Note: the guided tours and museum inside require tickets — but the grounds themselves are a world apart even without them.

Bonus: there's a hidden pedestrian gate in the cemetery wall that leads directly into the National Botanic Gardens next door — though the Botanic Gardens don't allow dogs (guide dogs excepted), so you'll want to leave your pup tied safely outside if you want a quick peek.

4km out and back along a narrow granite sea wall into Dublin Bay — ending at the iconic red Poolbeg Lighthouse. There is almost nothing else in Dublin quite like this walk. Wide open sky, sea on both sides, seabirds, distant views of the Wicklow Mountains, and a dog losing its mind with happiness at every gust of salty air. It can be blustery in March so bring a layer — but that's honestly part of the charm.

This walk goes viral on social media every spring for good reason. If you want one shareable photo of you and your dog in Dublin, it's the lighthouse shot.

The 6km Green Route cliff loop is one of the most spectacular dog walks on the east coast of Ireland. Starting from Howth DART station, it takes you past the harbour, up along dramatic heather-covered cliffs with panoramic views of Dublin Bay, Lambay Island and Ireland's Eye, and back down to the village. In late March, the first wild gorse is already blazing yellow — it's genuinely beautiful.

End at Howth Harbour to watch the fishing boats come in. The village has excellent dog-friendly cafés and chippers (Abbey Tavern, Howth Pier for fish and chips).

Dublin's Docklands has quietly become one of the best outdoor art destinations in Ireland. Walk from Grand Canal Dock DART station west through the regenerated docklands and you'll find enormous, ambitious murals on the sides of buildings — covering everything from Irish mythology to climate to portrait work of genuine international quality. It's roughly 2–3km of visual interest, and dogs can wander alongside you the whole way.

Combine it with the Grand Canal towpath for a longer loop back into the city — flat, scenic, water-adjacent, and one of Dublin's genuinely great underused walking corridors.

A 20-minute drive from the city centre takes you to Ticknock Forest in the Dublin Mountains — and the views from up here on a clear late-March day are staggering. The Dublin Mountains Way passes through, offering everything from a short 45-minute looped trail to longer connected routes. Dogs are welcome throughout, and the forest feels genuinely wild despite being so close to Dublin.

For a more dramatic option from the same area, the Carrickgollogan and Barnaslingan Loop (3.2 miles, rated 4.5 stars on AllTrails) delivers panoramic views of Dublin and Wicklow with real elevation gain — a proper adventure for an energetic dog. Note: Barnaslingan Forest itself sustained storm damage in late 2024 and some trails remain closed — check DublinMountains.ie before going.

One of Dublin's best-kept not-so-secret secrets. Bull Island is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve — a 5km barrier island just north of Clontarf with a vast, open beach on the seaward side and a UNESCO-protected lagoon on the sheltered side. Dogs are welcome on the beach year-round. On a clear March day, with the Howth headland in the distance and the light doing something extraordinary over the water, it's one of the most beautiful places in the capital.

Accessible by the wooden bridge at the end of the Bull Wall from Clontarf Road, or by bus (130 from city centre).

The Dublin Mountains Partnership runs a brilliant programme of free and low-cost guided hikes throughout the year — and they specifically run dedicated dog-friendly hike events (previously hosted at Barnaslingan Forest and other locations). These tend to book up quickly via Eventbrite, released 7–10 days before the date.

Their spring programme is typically active from March/April onwards — it's absolutely worth following their Eventbrite page and social channels this fortnight in case a March event is listed. They also run free wellness walks in partnership with Aware (mental health charity) from April 2025 onwards.

"Historical Walkies" is a dog-friendly walking tour concept listed on Eventbrite Dublin — tours of Dublin's historical landmarks specifically designed to include your dog. If dates fall in late March, these are a genuinely unique way to explore the city. Typically low-cost or tip-based.

Also worth noting: Secret Street Tours (a non-profit led by guides with experience of homelessness) is confirmed dog-friendly and runs cultural history tours of Dublin landmarks. Tickets are low-cost and the experience is excellent.

Not a free activity in the pure sense — but a great evening destination after a free afternoon. Rascals Brewing Co. in Inchicore is explicitly dog-friendly in their beer garden, beer tent and terrace. They regularly host outdoor events, live music and food pop-ups, many of which are free to attend (you just buy drinks). The combination of craft beer, wood-fired pizza and a happy dog in a lively outdoor space is a very good Saturday evening.