Things to do in Swords
Attractions, heritage sites and walks around Swords, drawn from open data. Distances are straight-line from the town centre.
In brief
Swords is a town in County Dublin about 12 km from Dublin city centre. Open datasets list 75 Fáilte Ireland visitor attractions within 10 km, seven national monuments open to visitors within 20 km, one nationally rated heritage building in the town. Everything below comes from published sources, refreshed regularly.
Attractions near Swords
Visitor attractions listed by Fáilte Ireland within 10 km (top 12 of 75).
- Swords Castle has stood in the centre of Swords in North County Dublin since 1200 A.D. It was built by the first Norman Archbishop of Dublin, John Comyn, who…
- The Swords Round Tower dates from the 9th century and marks the site of an old monastery founded by St. Colmcille in the year 560 A.D. Next to it is the 14th century…
- The Garden House is a premium garden centre located in Malahide, County Dublin. It offers a curated selection of stylish outdoor furniture, BBQs, plants and homeware.…
- Visit Casino Model Railway Museum, home to Cyril Fry's collection of model trains, in the refurbished thatched Casino Cottage located in the heart of Malahide…
- St Doulagh’s Church is the oldest stone roofed church still in use in Ireland. It occupies the site of a 7th century monastic settlement established by its namesake.…
- Donabate Beach which is also known as Balcarrick Beach is located in Donabate, North County Dublin. It is a south east facing, gently sloping sandy beach…
- The Wild Fowl Reserves in the natural valley in which most of north County Dublin lies, results in large areas of wetlands, where slow flowing rivers and the sea meet…
- Velvet Strand, Portmarnock is a long sandy beach, backed by wonderful dunes which harbour fascinating flora. It is located in Portmarnock, County Dublin and is…
- Casino Marino is a miniature architectural masterpiece. The Casino, meaning small house, was commissioned by Lord Charlemont in the mid 18th century. It is a…
- Malahide Castle and Gardens is on 250 acres of parkland in the pretty seaside town of Malahide in County Dublin. It was both a fortress and a private home for nearly…
- Newbridge House & Farm is a beautifully preserved 18th century Georgian mansion set within 370 acres of scenic parkland in County Dublin. Visitors can enjoy woodland…
- The Rediscovery Centre is an eco friendly centre located in Dublin City. The centre provides guided tours that give an in depth overview of the environmental…
Heritage and monuments
National monuments open to visitors within 20 km, plus nationally rated buildings in Swords from the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage.
- Lusk Heritage Centre comprises of a 9th century round tower, a medieval belfry and a 19th century church. They form a unit, although they were built over a period of almost a thousand years.
- The Casino was designed by Sir William Chambers as a pleasure house for James Caulfeild, 1st Earl of Charlemont.
- St. Mary's Abbey is one of Dublin's best kept secrets. It was once the wealthiest Cistercian Abbey in Ireland. Today only two rooms remain - the Chapter House and the Slype.
- Sited in the heart of the walled medieval city, St Audoen's Church is the only remaining medieval parish church in Dublin. It is dedicated to St Ouen the 7th century bishop of Rouen and patron saint of Normandy.
- One of the largest unoccupied gaols in Europe, covering some of the most heroic and tragic events in Ireland's emergence as a modern nation from 1780s to the 1920s.
- The original castle at Rathfarnham dates back to the Elizabethan period and was built for Archbishop Adam Loftus, an ambitious Yorkshire clergyman, who came to Ireland as chaplain to the Lord Deputy and quickly rose to…
- Today Monkstown Castle is situated in the suburbs of Dublin. In medieval times the castle here was the centre of a large farm owned by the Cistercian monks of St.
Walks and nature
Waymarked trails from Sport Ireland's National Trails Register and NPWS parks and nature reserves, starting near Swords and across Co. Dublin.
- Ireland's largest national park and the only one in the east, almost 23,000 hectares of blanket bog, heath, oak woodland and upland lakes south of Dublin.
- North Bull Island Nature ReserveA UNESCO biosphere on a sandy island in Dublin Bay, internationally important for wintering wildfowl and waders.
- Rogerstown Estuary Nature ReserveA tidal estuary near Rush that is a key roost for Brent geese and other wintering birds.
- Baldoyle Estuary Nature ReserveA sheltered north Dublin estuary and saltmarsh, important for wintering waterfowl.
Plan around Swords
- What's on across Leinster this week, refreshed every Monday.
- Thinking of moving here? Living in Swords covers prices, rents and schools. Median sale price €468,000.
- See every nationally rated heritage building and monument in our heritage guide to Co. Dublin.
Attraction data from Fáilte Ireland Open Data (CC BY 4.0), last refreshed 13 July 2026. Monuments from the National Monuments Service and heritage buildings from the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage (both data.gov.ie, CC BY 4.0). Trails from Sport Ireland's National Trails Register. Parks and reserves from the National Parks and Wildlife Service. Opening hours and admission can change; check the linked site before travelling.