The quirky little Seapoint Beach is my favourite of the many beaches in Dublin.
You’ll find it a short walk from Dun Laoghaire where it’s been delighting locals and tourists alike for many a year.
Although it’s popular amongst swimmers throughout the year, it tends to get hit with no-swim notices several times per year (more on this below)
Below, you’ll find info on everything from the Seapoint tides to where to grab parking (and food) nearby. Dive on in!
Some quick need-to-knows about Seapoint Beach
Although a visit to Seapoint Beach is fairly straightforward, there are a few need-to-knows that’ll make your visit that bit more enjoyable.
1. Location
Seapoint Beach is located on the southern edge of Dublin Bay. It’s a 30-minute drive from Dublin City (The Spire), a 15-minute walk from Dun Laoghaire and a 15-minute drive from both Dalkey and Killiney.
2. Parking
The nearest car park is this one at the nearby DART Station, a 4-minutes walk away. It has 100 spaces and charges around €2.60 for 2 hours (prices may change).
3. Swimming
Seapoint Beach was awarded a Blue Flag in 2023 for its water quality. It’s popular for swimming with slipways and steps provide access to the water at high tide. There have been several no-swim notices issued here over the years. For the latest info, Google ‘Seapoint Beach news’.
4. Safety
Understanding water safety is absolutely crucial when visiting beaches in Ireland. Please take a minute to read these water safety tips!
About Seapoint Beach in Dublin
Seapoint Beach is a small beach near Dun Laoghaire harbour, about 12km south of Dublin city. It’s a popular place for enjoying beach activities, watching boats and swimming.
The water is generally to a high standard of quality and consistently achieves the Blue Flag award. The beach also has a Green Coast Award for its environmental excellence. In addition, the area is a Special Protection Area (SPA) for bird life.
Seapoint Beach activities and amenities
The beach itself is sandy with rocky areas and rock pools for investigating at low tide. There are some submerged rocks at the south end, which swimmers should be aware of when swimming at low water.
Edging the beach is a promenade with facilities and access points down to the sand or water for swimming at high tide. Activities include canoeing and kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, boating, fishing and other watersports. Permits are required for jet skiing.
Martello Tower landmark
Look north from the beach and you’ll see a defensive Martello Tower overlooking Dublin Bay. It was built in the early 1800s (one of 28) to protect the area from Napoleonic invasion. This landmark round tower is now used as the HQ for the Genealogy Society of Ireland.
Things to do near Seapoint Beach
Seapoint Beach is a short spin from many of the best things to do in Dublin, from food and castles to hikes and more.
Below, you’ll find info on where to eat near the beach to where to soak up a bit of local history.
1. Grab an ice cream at Dun Laoghaire Harbour (20-minute walk)
Photo by Branislav Nenin (Shutterstock)
Dun Laoghaire harbour is a lovely place for an amble just 20 minutes south of Seapoint Beach. It has outstanding coastal views and plenty of boat activity to watch. There are several waterfront cafés and restaurants, or just choose your favourite ice cream from Scrumdiddly’s and enjoy it as you stroll.
2. People’s Park in Dún Laoghaire (30-minute walk)
Photo via Google Maps
One of the best loved parks near Dublin is the People’s Park in Dun Laoghaire. Every Sunday there’s an an excellent Farmer’s Market from 11-4pm. There are well-maintained gardens, fountains, a children’s play area, cafés and a restaurant. There’s also plenty of restaurants in Dun Laoghaire if you’re peckish.
3. Sandycove Beach (10-minute drive)
Photos via Shutterstock
On the southeast side of Dun Laoghaire Harbour, Sandycove Beach is a popular family-friendly haunt with soft sand and shallow water. The beach is best known for the Martello Tower which featured in the classic novel Ulysses By James Joyce. The writer once stayed here and there’s a small museum in honour of him in the tower.
4. The Forty Foot 10-minute drive)
Photos via Shutterstock
Known as the Forty Foot, this deep-water swimming area is now part of the Pavilion Theatre complex. It has been used as a natural open-air swimming hole for nearly 200 years. It was named Forty Foot as people thought it was the approximate depth of the water.
FAQs about Seapoint tides and swimming
We’ve had a lot of questions over the years asking about everything from when is high tide at Seapoint to where to park.
In the section below, we’ve popped in the most FAQs that we’ve received. If you have a question that we haven’t tackled, ask away in the comments section below.
Is it safe to swim at Seapoint Beach?
Yes. However, from time to, Seapoint, along with several Dublin beaches, have no-swim notices. For the latest info, Google ‘Seapoint Beach news’ or check locally.
Where do you find info on the Seapoint tides?
Your best bet for finding info on Seapoint tides is to use one of the many tide time websites (Google ‘High tide Seapoint’ and you’ll find plenty) or check locally.