The Forty Foot - Wild Swimming at Sandycove

What to Expect

The Forty Foot at Sandycove is one of Dublin’s most beloved and enduring outdoor experiences, a natural sea swimming inlet on the south side of Dublin Bay where Dubliners have been swimming year-round for generations. Free to use and open every day, it draws swimmers from across the city during summer mornings and evenings, and maintains a dedicated community of year-round cold water enthusiasts who make it one of the more distinctive social hubs in coastal Dublin.

The swimming area sits on a rocky promontory at the southern end of Sandycove beach, just below the Martello tower where the opening scene of James Joyce’s Ulysses is set. This literary association has made the Forty Foot a cultural landmark as much as a swimming spot, and the combination of the tower, the rocks, the clear water and the backdrop of Dublin Bay is genuinely beautiful on a fine day.

The best time to visit is summer mornings when the water temperature rises to its peak and the early sunshine hits the rocks before the crowds arrive, though weekend afternoons in June, July and August are busy with a lively and communal atmosphere. The water here is consistently clean and the rocky nature of the swimming area means it is more suited to confident swimmers; the drop into the water is steep. A small number of steps and ladders assist entry and exit from the sea.

The Forty Foot is a short walk from Sandycove and Glasthule DART station, making it a straightforward day trip from the city without needing a car.

Good to Know

• Free and open year-round; no booking required
• The entry is from rocks; steep drops, best for confident swimmers
• Water temperature peaks June-September
• Arrive early on summer weekends to find a spot on the rocks
• Nearby Caviston’s deli and Glasthule village offer excellent coffee and food post-swim
• The James Joyce Tower beside the swimming area is open to visitors (ticketed)

Getting There

Sandycove and Glasthule DART station is approximately ten minutes on foot from the Forty Foot. Regular DART services run from Connolly, Tara Street and Pearse stations, with the journey to Sandycove taking approximately 30 minutes. By car, Sandycove is off the R119 coast road through Dun Laoghaire. Parking is available on Sandycove Avenue and nearby streets; it can fill up on warm summer weekends.