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19th December 2025
01:37pm GMT
Brought to you by Dublin City Council
Nothing beats strolling through Dublin city during the festive season. Between the hustle and bustle of the crowds, the chorus of music from Carol singers and buskers, or the twinkling trees and lights, the city has a unique atmosphere like no other.
With Christmas just a stone's throw away, there is no better time to come into the city and experience the Christmas spirit!
So, if you are looking to get any last-minute presents, want to have a browse through the shops and markets, or grab a festive bite with old friends, hop into town and see what the city has to offer?
While you're there, you can also check out some of the fabulous free events taking place all over the city hosted by Dublin City Council.
If you're looking for some inspiration, here are some of our fav events happening across Dublin city centre throughout the festive period.
Dublin City Council Dublin Winter Lights
With great city centre locations, spectacular lights and interactive activities, get ready to see Dublin like never before.
Iconic Dublin buildings like the GPO, Custom House, Hugh Lane Gallery and City Hall have been transformed by magical colourful light projections.
The Samuel Beckett Bridge, James Joyce Bridge, Ha’penny Bridge and Millennium Bridge have also been brought to life by a series of eye-catching visuals and lights, transforming the River Liffey into a dazzling attraction.
These magical light installations and epic projections have been designed by world-class national and international artists such as Anthony Murphy and Jack Phelan.
The Dublin City Council Dublin Winter Lights has also taken over Merrion Square Park, transforming it into an interactive walk-through experience with lighting installations that the whole family can enjoy.
Tickets for Merrion Square Park are just €2 per adult, with 2 children free and can be purchased here; however, the rest of the city centre locations are free to enjoy!
You can find the full list of locations here.
TwinkleTown in partnership with Dublin City Council
Smithfield Square has been utterly transformed into TwinkleTown, a magical Christmas experience. TwinkleTown has everything you need to get you feeling festive.
Within this festive wonderland, you can lace up your skates and hit the ice or take a spin on the Ferris Wheel and really take in the lovely lights and the breathtaking sights as Smithfield Square comes to life this Christmas.
There's also the option to sit back and enjoy the fun-packed production of Santo Panto and the Magic Present Machine. Join Santa and his team of mischievous elves on an epic journey of music, magic and Christmas cheer for just €5 per person (plus booking fee).
All the little ones who attend Santo Panto will also get a special early Christmas present from Santa’s workshop, how exciting!
To finish off the adventure, you can sip on a hot chocolate and take a stroll around their Christmas Market, which is the perfect place to pick up some last-minute presents.
TwinkleTown is open until January 4th.
So what are you waiting for?! Plan your visit to this festive wonderland today.
Dublin City Council TwinkleTrail
Running until December 31st, TwinkleTrail gives you the chance to explore Dublin in a brand new light.
Dublin has been transformed with beautiful light cubes, stunning displays and inspired illuminations, allowing the city centre to really twinkle this festive season.
The three main TwinkleTrail locations are O’Connell Street, the Mansion House and Barnardo Square. Each space has been decorated with different festive decorations, making sure every stop is a unique visual experience.
Walk along O’Connell Street to see colourful story cubes and sparkling festive shooting stars, perfect for photo ops!
At the Mansion House you can expect to find Carol Performances filling the courtyard along with the city's iconic IFA Live Animal Crib, where you can meet the delightful donkeys, sheep, and goats. How cute!
Barnardo Square is alive with light – grab a selfie at the giant star, admire the huge children’s art gallery of Christmas drawings and countdown to Christmas with the giant advent calendar light projection
The full trail can be found here.
To discover what’s happening in the city for Christmas visit DublinCity.ie
