National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin

The National Botanic Gardens in Glasnevin are one of the loveliest free days out in Dublin, and the perfect partner to a visit to Glasnevin Cemetery next door. Founded in 1795 by the Dublin Society to promote the scientific study of plants for agriculture, medicine and industry, the gardens now hold many thousands of plant species and cultivars across almost twenty hectares beside the River Tolka, about three kilometres north of the city centre. They are run by the Office of Public Works and are free to enter, open every day of the year except Christmas Day. The great attraction is the glasshouses, among the finest in Europe. The Curvilinear Range, an elegant sweep of curved cast iron and glass designed and built by the Dublin ironmaster Richard Turner in the mid-nineteenth century, was restored to its original splendour in the 1990s, and the Great Palm House, a lofty Victorian glasshouse, shelters palms, tropical plants and a collection of orchids and cycads. Smaller houses hold cacti and succulents, alpines, and giant waterlilies. Outdoors, the gardens are laid out as a series of themed areas: herbaceous borders, a rose garden, a rockery, a pond, a yew walk, a vegetable garden and an arboretum with trees from around the world, linked by paths that wind down to the river. The gardens also have a place in Irish history: in 1845, the curator David Moore was among the first to record the potato blight that caused the Great Famine. Allow at least two hours, longer in spring and summer when the borders and roses are at their best.

Visiting well: the gardens open from morning to late afternoon on weekdays, with later opening and closing at weekends and on bank holidays in summer and earlier closing in winter, so check the current hours, especially for the glasshouses, which can close a little before the gardens. Start with the glasshouses, which are welcoming on a cold or wet day, then explore the outdoor gardens, following the river. Guided tours run at certain times, and the gardens host exhibitions, sculpture shows and seasonal events, including a popular Christmas craft market in December. The gardens can close at short notice in severe weather, so check before setting out on a stormy day. There is usually a tearoom or café on site, but bring a snack in case.

Getting there: the gardens are on Botanic Road in Glasnevin. Dublin Bus routes from the city centre stop close by, and it is about forty minutes' walk from O'Connell Street through Phibsborough. Drivers should check parking options before setting out. Families will find the gardens easy with buggies, and children enjoy the glasshouses, the pond and the river paths, though this is a garden for strolling rather than a playground park.

Combining: the cemetery is right next door, so a morning tour at Glasnevin Cemetery, lunch, and an afternoon in the gardens is a natural plan, finished with a pint at John Kavanagh's, the Gravediggers pub, by the old cemetery gate. The gardens also have a second, wilder site at Kilmacurragh in County Wicklow, famous for its rhododendrons, which can be combined with a trip to Glendalough. For a green day in the city itself, pair the Botanic Gardens with Phoenix Park or St Stephen's Green. Photographers should bring a wide lens for the Curvilinear Range, whose long curving front is best seen from the lawn in front of it, and allow time inside the Great Palm House to look up into the canopy of its tallest palms. On a grey Dublin day, stepping from the cold into the warm, damp air of the tropical houses is a small pleasure in itself, and the gardens rarely feel crowded even at weekends.