The Best Christmas Light Displays in Dublin 2025
There’s something truly magical about Dublin at Christmas. The city glows with warmth, and the sound of Christmas carols echo around the bustling streets. If you’re staying at The Mercantile Hotel on Dame Street, you’re perfectly placed to explore the city’s most dazzling Christmas light experiences. From glowing castles to lantern-lit parks, here’s your guide to Dublin’s brightest and most beautiful displays this winter, plus how to get there easily by public transport.
Wild Lights at Dublin Zoo
Dublin Zoo’s Wild Lights has become one of Ireland’s most beloved Christmas traditions, and it’s easy to see why. Each year, the zoo transforms into a glowing wonderland, with hundreds of illuminated sculptures and installations lighting up the paths after dark. For 2025, the theme is “The Wild Kaleidoscope,” featuring 13 spectacular zones filled with giant lanterns, glowing animals, and magical photo opportunities for the whole family.
The event runs from 6 November 2025 to 31 January 2026, with opening times from 5 pm to 9 pm (last entry at 8 pm). Tickets are priced at €26 for adults and €21.50 for children, while infants under one year go free (though you’ll still need to book a free ticket for them). You can secure your tickets directly through the official Dublin Zoo Wild Lights booking page.
Getting there from The Mercantile is simple. Walk or take a short Luas (tram) ride to Heuston Station, then hop on a bus heading into Phoenix Park. The zoo is well signposted from there. The journey takes around 30 minutes in total, making it a perfect evening outing.
Wonder lights at Malahide Castle & Gardens
If you’re craving something straight out of a fairy tale, then Wonder lights at Malahide Castle is a must-see. This immersive trail for Christmas Lights winds through the castle’s historic woodlands and gardens, blending nature, sound, and technology into a spectacular visual experience. The 2025 theme, “Once Upon a Glow,” promises glowing tunnels, colourful projections, and dazzling interactive displays.
Wonderlights at Malahide opens on 14 November 2025, running throughout the festive season. Tickets range from around €15–€25.50 for adults and €15–€24 for children, with under-2s going free. You can grab your tickets from the official Wonderlights website.
To reach Malahide Castle from The Mercantile Hotel, take the DART train from Connolly Station (a short bus or Luas ride from Dame Street) heading north toward Malahide. Once you arrive, it’s a pleasant 10–15 minute walk to the castle entrance. The entire journey takes about 50 minutes door-to-door, perfect for a magical evening away from the hustle and bustle of the city centre.
Dublin Winter Lights & Merrion Square Park
Each December, Dublin City Council turns the city into a canvas of light and colour with its Winter Christmas Lights festival. Over 20 buildings, including the Custom House, Trinity College, and the Samuel Beckett Bridge, are transformed into glowing landmarks thanks to beautifully designed light projections. This masterpiece of art and technology takes Christmas Lights to the next level in Dublin City. It’s all free to enjoy and easy to explore on foot from The Mercantile.
Getting there is a breeze: Merrion Square is only a 15-minute walk from The Mercantile. Alternatively, you can hop on the Luas Green Line to St. Stephen’s Green and walk from there; it’s a lovely stroll through Dublin’s festively lit streets.
DoDublin Christmas Lights Tour
For a cosy and cheerful way to take in Dublin’s festive glow, hop aboard the DoDublin Christmas Lights Tour. This open-top bus journey takes you through the city’s most beautifully lit streets and landmarks, including Grafton Street, O’Connell Street, College Green, and Christchurch Cathedral, all twinkling in their seasonal best. The guided tour is full of Christmas music, stories, and sing-alongs, making it a joyful experience for visitors of all ages.
The tours run from November 29th until 20 December 2025, departing between 16:30 and 18:30 from DoDublin’s City Sightseeing Stop on Upper O’Connell Street. Tickets are priced at €20 for adults and children. You can book directly on the official DoDublin website.
From The Mercantile Hotel, it’s an easy trip to the departure point. Just a 10–15 minute walk across the River Liffey to O’Connell Street, or a short hop on any bus heading northbound from Dame Street. After the tour, you can stroll back through the glowing streets of Temple Bar and finish your evening with a drink or dessert at the hotel.
Wonderlights at Marlay Park
If you’re staying a little longer in Dublin and want to experience another incredible light trail, Wonderlights at Marlay Park is well worth the short trip south of the city. Set against the park’s leafy woodlands, this immersive outdoor light show combines music, projections, and over a million sparkling bulbs to create an unforgettable evening walk. Each section tells part of a visual story through colour and sound, making it a favourite with families and couples alike. The 2025 edition runs throughout November and December, following the success of last year’s sold-out events. Tickets start at around €15–€25 per person and can be booked on the official Wonderlights website. To get there from The Mercantile Hotel, hop on a Dublin Bus heading toward Rathfarnham or Marlay Park; the journey takes roughly 40 minutes.
Christmas Twinkling Lights Trip (Vintage Tea Bus)
For something truly unique, climb aboard the Vintage Tea Bus for a festive spin through Dublin’s best-lit streets, complete with afternoon tea served as you ride. This beautifully restored double-decker takes you past the GPO, Trinity College, and Grafton Street, all shimmering in their Christmas finery, while you sip tea and nibble pastries beneath fairy lights inside the bus. Tickets are approximately €60 per person and can be booked here.
The Vintage Tea Bus departs from St Stephen’s Green North, which is only a 10–15 minute walk from The Mercantile Hotel. Simply head up Dame Street toward Trinity College, continue through Grafton Street, and you’ll reach St Stephen’s Green at the top of the shopping district. Alternatively, hop on the Luas Green Line from Dawson Street (a few minutes from the hotel) to St Stephen’s Green if you’d prefer to save your steps.
After your evening ride, you can easily walk or take a short taxi back to The Mercantile, It’s only about 10 minutes away. The route back passes some of the best-lit areas in Dublin, so you’ll likely find yourself pausing for a few extra photos along the way.
Christmas at the Guinness Storehouse
This winter, the home of Ireland’s most famous stout will sparkle with festive spirit, offering visitors a magical mix of tradition and creativity. It’s an immersive, atmospheric celebration that perfectly blends Irish heritage with Christmas wonder.
Getting there from The Mercantile Hotel is simple: walk to the Dame Street / Lord Edward Street bus stop and take the 123 Dublin Bus toward Walkinstown, getting off at James’s Street right beside the Storehouse. The trip takes around 15–20 minutes. You can also take the Luas Red Line from Jervis to St. James’s Hospital, followed by a short five-minute walk.
When you’re ready to head back, buses and trams run frequently to the city centre, or you can grab a taxi and be back at The Mercantile in about 10 minutes, just in time for a nightcap in the bar.
Tickets can be booked on the official Guinness Storehouse booking page.
Bonus: Strolling the Streets of Dublin
Even without a ticket, Dublin’s streets offer plenty of Christmas magic for free. Grafton Street glitters under its famous chandeliers, Henry Street shines with overhead lights, and Temple Bar (just around the corner from The Mercantile) glows with fairy-lit pubs and festive shop windows. Wrap up warm, grab a hot chocolate, and take a slow stroll through the city centre. You’ll feel like you’ve stepped straight into a Christmas card.
After a day spent exploring Dublin’s festive lights and Christmas trails, return to the comfort of The Mercantile Hotel, right in the heart of the city. Its central location makes it the ideal base for discovering Dublin at its most magical, with the best seasonal events, shops, and restaurants just a short stroll away.
Book your stay at The Mercantile Hotel and enjoy a Christmas break surrounded by the city’s winter sparkle.
Book Your Christmas Dinner at the top restaurants in Dublin
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