TL;DR — RACE WEEKEND GAME PLAN
- 1.Stay in Ballsbridge if you can afford it. A 5 to 7 minute walk on race morning removes every transport variable at once.
- 2.Avoid Saturday 14 November for accommodation if your wave is not on that day. Ireland v Fiji at the Aviva, 20:10 kick-off, will lift prices and fill the streets.
- 3.Set your maps app to Simmonscourt Road, not Merrion Road. Hall 8 is not at the main RDS entrance.
- 4.Buy a Leap Visitor Card at Dublin Airport on arrival. EUR 16 for 72 hours covers a spectator too.
- 5.Take Aircoach 702 or 703 from the airport straight to Ballsbridge RDS, then walk 11 minutes. From EUR 6.
- 6.Do your food shop on Saturday if you race Sunday. Spar Ballsbridge is 24 hours, everything else is not.
- 7.Shakeout on Sandymount Strand or in Herbert Park, in daylight, before 16:30. Take a light if you go early.
- 8.For an 08:00 wave: arrive 06:30, physical photo ID in hand, warm layer for the walk. Digital ID is not accepted.
- 9.For a 20:30 wave: eat your main meal by 14:00 and pre-book somewhere to eat after, because local kitchens shut at 21:00 or 22:00.
- 10.Book recovery before you fly. The Chilli Pod is the only nearby ice bath open on Sundays, and every physio near the venue is closed.
- 11.Lap count for 2026 is TBC. Re-check the technical briefing in race week before you fix a pacing plan.
QUICK TAKE — IS THIS A GOOD DESTINATION?
VERDICT: YES
HYROX Dublin runs Wednesday 11 to Sunday 15 November 2026 at RDS Simmonscourt, Hall 8, in Ballsbridge — five days of racing in a flat exhibition hall ten minutes' walk from a DART station. It suits everyone: Dublin ran 15,159 athletes in 2025, which makes it one of the biggest races on the calendar and a strong first-timer choice for the atmosphere alone, with deep Pro fields too. Travel friction is low — one airport, a direct coach to the venue door, and a flat walkable district. Cost level is high: Dublin accommodation is expensive at baseline and this is a five-day race in a rugby-international month.
⚠️ Caveat: Read this before you book anything. On Saturday 14 November, Ireland play Fiji at the Aviva Stadium, kick-off 20:10, about 1.6 km from your start line — and Saturday HYROX waves run to 20:30. If you are racing Saturday you are sharing Ballsbridge, the DART and every taxi with a sold-out international rugby crowd, and beds that night will be the most expensive of the week. Also: this is not the main RDS entrance. Set your maps app to Simmonscourt Road, not Merrion Road.
The venue sits in a quiet residential pocket with a coach stop 11 minutes away and a DART station 10 minutes away. Points added only for the Saturday rugby overlap and the sheer size of the field.
Cool indoor conditions in November, flat ground, no altitude, short transfers. The main brake is congestion in the bigger waves rather than anything environmental.
FAST COURSE?
Depends. RDS Simmonscourt is a flat exhibition hall, which is a good start. Lap count for 2026 has not been published, so run-lane width and turn count are unconfirmed — do not build a pacing plan on a lap count from another venue.
CITY VIBE — WHAT ATHLETES NEED TO KNOW
Simmonscourt Hall 8 is a large single-level exhibition hall set back from Merrion Road on a quiet side street, surrounded by embassies, offices and period housing. It is calm and easy to navigate on foot, but it is not a high-street location. Walkability is the strength: from the hall you are 5 to 7 minutes from three hotels, 10 minutes from a DART station and 13 minutes from the nearest cluster of cafés and shops on Merrion Road. Pavements are wide and lit and the ground is flat throughout. What is open early, though, is very little — Spar Ballsbridge on Merrion Road runs 24 hours and is your only reliable pre-dawn option, about 13 minutes on foot. Sunrise during race week is around 07:45 and sunset around 16:30, so early arrivals and all evening waves happen in full darkness.
TYPICAL WEEKEND COSTS
Language: English. Currency: euro. Card and contactless are accepted almost everywhere and you will not need cash. Tipping is not obligatory — around 10 to 15% in restaurants for good service, round up for taxis, and check the bill because some places add a service charge. Get a TFI Leap Card or a Leap Visitor Card on arrival: the 90 Minute Fare is EUR 2.00 on a standard Leap Card covering bus, DART, commuter rail and Luas in Zone 1 with free transfers, and the Leap Visitor Card is unlimited travel for a flat fee, which usually wins for a three or four day trip with a spectator in tow. Buy at Dublin Airport (Wrights Convenience Store, T1 Arrivals) or at Spar and Easons in the city centre. Note the Leap Visitor Card is not valid on Bus Éireann.
BEST BASE NEIGHBOURHOODS
Ballsbridge (D04)
Best for: The shortest walk and the least thinking. Quiet, safe, well lit, limited nightlife.
Sandymount (D04)
Best for: A calm base with the coast, the parkrun and a proper village of cafés and restaurants. 15 to 20 minutes to the venue.
Grand Canal Dock and Bath Avenue (D04)
Best for: Food and bars while staying inside a 30 minute walk. This is where your spectators will want to eat.
City centre (D01/D02)
Best for: Price flexibility and anyone bringing non-racing family. Add a 20 minute DART trip each way.
VENUE & LOCATION ANALYSIS
RDS Simmonscourt, Hall 8
Simmonscourt Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4, D04 E6N6
A large single-level exhibition hall on a quiet side street, set back from Merrion Road. Flat throughout, wide lit pavements, and a residential pocket of embassies, offices and period housing around it. The critical detail: this is not the main RDS entrance. The Merrion Road entrance (D04 AK83) is a different gate on the far side of the grounds, so set your maps app to Simmonscourt Road. There are no showers on site, so plan to change and go. Bag drop and athlete registration are the pinch points at a field of this size, and check-in is only possible on the day you compete — bring physical photo ID, because digital copies are not accepted and you cannot check in for anyone else.
NEAREST STATIONS
- Sandymount DART — About 810 m, roughly 10 minutes on foot. The station you want
- Lansdowne Road DART — About 1.6 km, roughly 20 minutes. Serves the Aviva Stadium, so very busy Saturday 14 November
- Sydney Parade DART — About 1.2 km, roughly 15 minutes. The quieter alternative
- Aircoach RDS stop, Merrion Road — Aircoach 702 and 703 direct from Dublin Airport, then an 11 minute walk to Hall 8
- Dublin Bus 4, 7, 7A, 27X — Serve RDS Ballsbridge from the city centre. The 7 stops at Merrion Road and Simmonscourt Road, the closest stop to Hall 8
WALKABILITY
Strong. Three hotels within 5 to 7 minutes, a DART station in 10, and cafés and supermarkets in 13. Flat, wide, well-lit pavements throughout. The only mark against it is that nothing commercial is immediately outside the door.
Quiet and residential rather than commercial. The nearest cluster of cafés and shops is on Merrion Road, about 13 minutes away, with Spar Ballsbridge open 24 hours. Mister Magpie opens 06:30 on weekdays and 07:00 at weekends, which makes it the earliest proper coffee near the venue — everything else opens from 07:00 or later.
🏃 RACE MORNING PLAN
Registration opens 90 minutes before the first start of your division, so 06:30 for the 08:00 divisions. Leave your hotel to arrive between 06:30 and 06:45. If you are staying in Ballsbridge that is a 5 to 10 minute walk; from the city centre take the DART to Sandymount and allow 40 minutes door to door. Sunrise is around 07:45, so an early arrival happens in the dark — bring a head torch if you are doing a dawn shakeout, and pack a warm layer for the walk back. Spar Ballsbridge (24 hours, 13 minutes) is the answer for a 06:00 breakfast. Bring physical photo ID: digital copies are not accepted, you cannot check in for anyone else, and check-in is only possible on the day you race.
TRANSPORT LINKS
BEST AIRPORT: DUBLIN AIRPORT (DUB)
It is the only airport, it is 10 km north of the city, and it has a direct coach to the venue. There is no second option to weigh up. Aircoach 702 or 703 both stop at Ballsbridge RDS on Merrion Road, an 11 minute walk from Hall 8, in around 40 to 50 minutes depending on traffic.
Dublin Airport (DUB)
Aircoach 702 or 703 is the lowest-stress route: both stop at Ballsbridge RDS on Merrion Road, then it is an 11 minute walk. Tickets from EUR 6 one way and EUR 8 return booked online, or buy at the terminal booth or from the driver by card. Taxis are the fastest option at 25 to 40 minutes and EUR 30 to 45, with ranks outside both terminals and most Irish taxis on the FREE NOW app.
Time to venue: 25-50 min
Bus Éireann Route 2 note (DUB)
Dublin Airport to Wexford via Busáras, stopping at Stop 417 on Merrion Road, Ballsbridge. Useful if the Aircoach timing is wrong for your flight. Note the Leap Visitor Card is not valid on Bus Éireann, so buy a separate ticket.
Time to venue: Similar transfer, fewer departures
Getting to RDS Simmonscourt, Hall 8
PUBLIC TRANSPORT TIPS
- Dublin transport is straightforward and integrated. Get a TFI Leap Card or a Leap Visitor Card on arrival rather than queueing at a machine on race morning.
- TFI 90 Minute Fare on a standard Leap Card: EUR 2.00 for adults, covering bus, DART, commuter rail and Luas in Zone 1, with free transfers inside 90 minutes.
- Leap Visitor Card: EUR 8.00 for 24 hours, EUR 16.00 for 72 hours, EUR 32.00 for 7 days, unlimited travel. For a three or four day race trip with a spectator in tow this usually wins.
- Buy at Dublin Airport (Wrights Convenience Store, T1 Arrivals) or at Spar and Easons outlets in the city centre.
- Sandymount DART is the nearest station, about 810 m and roughly 10 minutes on foot. Sydney Parade at about 1.2 km is the quieter alternative.
- Avoid Lansdowne Road DART on Saturday 14 November — it serves the Aviva Stadium and will be full of rugby supporters.
- Dublin Bus routes 4, 7, 7A and 27X serve RDS Ballsbridge from the city centre. The number 7 stops at the corner of Merrion Road and Simmonscourt Road, the closest stop to Hall 8.
- The Leap Visitor Card is not valid on Bus Éireann, so buy separately if you use Route 2 from the airport.
🚕 Taxi / FREE NOW
Normally good, and most Irish taxis are on the FREE NOW app. The exception is Saturday 14 November after 22:00, when the rugby crowd empties out of the Aviva — walk five minutes away from the stadium before you order, or just walk home. From the city centre to the venue is a short hop, but on race mornings the DART to Sandymount is more predictable than traffic on Merrion Road.
🚗 Driving
RDS car parks on Merrion Road, Simmonscourt Road and Anglesea Road charge EUR 10 per day, with published weekday hours of 07:00 to 19:00 and availability subject to what else is on site. Spaces are limited across a five-day event and the RDS states hours change around large events. Weekend hours are not published. Do not plan a race morning around getting a space — and spectators should use the DART or the Aircoach stop.
WHERE TO STAY
Clayton Hotel Ballsbridge
Near venueEUR EUR to EUR EUR EUR EUR depending on night
Best for: The shortest possible walk on race morning with enough rooms to actually be available
Merrion Road, D04 P3C3. A large property, so quiet-room requests are realistic, with on-site parking and a bar and restaurant for a late post-race feed. Honest tradeoff: guest reviews consistently flag no air conditioning and stuffy rooms, dated in-room tech, and event-week pricing that can more than double. In November the lack of A/C matters less, but ask for a room away from the Merrion Road side.
The Sandymount Hotel
BudgetEUR EUR
Best for: Keeping the bed cost down without moving out of Dublin 4
Herbert Road, D04 VN88. Buffet breakfast from 06:30 daily, a quiet residential street, on-site parking and a small gym. Honest tradeoff: two real problems. The building is a warren of narrow corridors and short staircases, and the gym is basic. More importantly it sits beside the Aviva Stadium, so on Saturday 14 November it will be full of rugby supporters and the surrounding streets will be closed. Fine for Wednesday to Friday racers, poor for Saturday.
Niche Living Ballsbridge
Mid-rangeEUR EUR to EUR EUR EUR
Best for: The single closest bed to the start line, with a gym you can use at any hour
98 Merrion Road, D04 R6YD, and the closest verified property in this guide. A 24/7 on-site gym, new build, very clean, communal areas and walkable to Herbert Park. Honest tradeoff: rooms are compact and use fold-down wall beds, and at least one reviewer describes injuring themselves manoeuvring around the bed when it is down. Service is light-touch rather than full hotel and cancellation terms have drawn complaints. Great location, small footprint.
InterContinental Dublin
LuxuryEUR EUR EUR EUR
Best for: Spending the money on sleep quality, on the same road as the venue
Simmonscourt Road, Ballsbridge — the venue's own road. Spa and massage on site, large quiet rooms on a tree-lined street, restaurant-standard breakfast and a courtyard garden. Honest tradeoff: reviewers repeatedly describe the rooms as starting to date and the air conditioning as underpowered, and rate the food as average for a five-star. You are paying for the bed, the quiet and the 7 minute walk, not for cutting-edge interiors.
PREMIER SUITES Ballsbridge
Self-cateringEUR EUR to EUR EUR EUR
Best for: Cooking your own pre-race dinner and controlling exactly what goes in
Merrion Road. Serviced apartments with kitchens and laundry, within 9 minutes of the hall. Useful if you are travelling as a doubles pair or managing your own race-week food across a five-day event. Honest tradeoff: apartment-style service rather than a full hotel, so no restaurant and no late-night kitchen — but that is the point if you are self-catering.
🏨 Looking to book? Compare prices on your preferred booking platform.
WHERE TO EAT
💡 Smart move: Very little opens early near the venue. Spar Ballsbridge on Merrion Road is 24 hours and about 13 minutes on foot — that is your 06:00 breakfast. Mister Magpie at 06:30 on weekdays is the earliest real coffee. If you finish a 20:30 wave, every local kitchen is shut, so sort a supermarket backup before you race.
Al Boschetto, Merrion Road
Athlete PickThe closest proper Italian, about 13 minutes on foot, open until 22:00 daily and until 22:30 Friday and Saturday. CRUDO in Sandymount is the better food at about 21 minutes and open daily. Foxy Bistro in Donnybrook is excellent but closed Monday and Tuesday, so check before you build a plan around it.
BuJo, Sandymount Green / Roly's Bistro, Ballsbridge
Athlete PickBuJo does burgers until 21:00 on weekdays and 22:00 Friday and Saturday. Roly's Bistro is the sit-down option, about 14 minutes away, serving until 21:00 daily. If you finish a 20:30 wave, both are shut — plan a supermarket backup or a hotel bar kitchen.
Mister Magpie, Merrion Road
Athlete Pick06:30 weekdays, 07:00 weekends — the earliest real coffee in walking distance, about 13 minutes. Insomnia on Merrion Road opens 07:00 weekdays, 07:45 Saturday, 08:15 Sunday. The Orange Goat on Serpentine Avenue is the closest café at about 13 minutes but only opens 08:00 weekdays and 09:00 weekends, too late for an 08:00 wave. Brownes of Sandymount opens 07:00 most days, 08:00 Sunday.
Spar Ballsbridge, Merrion Road
Athlete PickOpen 24 hours with a deli counter, hot food, coffee and an ATM, about 13 minutes away. This is the answer for a 06:00 breakfast. EUROSPAR Bath Avenue is also 24 hours at about 27 minutes. Tesco Merrion Centre runs 07:00 to 22:00 Monday to Saturday and 09:00 to 21:00 Sunday, about 14 minutes, with free underground parking. Sunday 15 November is a race day and Irish opening hours shorten on Sundays across the board — buy race food on Saturday.
THINGS TO DO
Sandymount Strand at low tide
Pre-RaceStay off your feet. The strand is a flat, quiet walk with a big sky and no crowds, about 20 minutes from the venue. Herbert Park is the shorter version. If it is raining, Dublin's museums on Kildare Street are all indoors, free and a short DART hop away.
Sandymount Green pubs and restaurants
Post-RaceA compact cluster within a few minutes of each other, which suits a group that has just raced and does not want to travel. Sandymount House is the traditional pub option. For a bigger night, Grand Canal Dock and the city centre are both 20 to 30 minutes away.
Sandymount to Poolbeg Lighthouse coastal walk
Any TimeWhile you race, this is a genuinely good few hours out for spectators and it starts a short walk from the venue. Trinity College, the Guinness Storehouse and Kilmainham are all a straightforward DART or Luas trip from Ballsbridge.
Ireland v Fiji at the Aviva, Saturday 14 November
Post-RaceIf you are not racing Saturday evening and you can get a ticket, the Aviva is a 20 minute walk from the RDS, kick-off 20:10. If you are racing Saturday evening, avoid the area entirely afterwards.
RACE STRATEGY
VENUE
RDS Simmonscourt Hall 8 is a flat, single-level exhibition hall with no ramps, steps or elevation change on the field of play. That removes one variable entirely. What is not settled is the course: HYROX lists 'Laps to run: TBC' for Dublin 2026 and has not published the relay briefing either, so treat run-lane length, turn count and roxzone geometry as unknown until the technical briefing lands.
COURSE FLOW
Turns are the variable in any hall course — a tight lap with many 180 degree turns costs far more than the same distance in a straight line. Until the layout is published, build your plan around effort rather than pace, and do not import a lap count from another venue.
RUN SURFACE
Exhibition-hall flooring, so firm and consistent underfoot. Grip on turns is the thing to test in your warm-up rather than cushioning, though the surface gives you nothing back over 8 km.
HEAT
This is the real Dublin variable. With more than 15,000 athletes across five days in 2025 and a similar schedule for 2026, the hall gets warm and busy even when it is 8°C outside. Dress for the hall, not the street. Expect station queues in the mid-morning and mid-afternoon waves where the field is deepest, and factor that into your roxzone splits rather than panicking on the day.
ELEVATION
Not a factor. Ballsbridge is effectively at sea level and the hall is flat throughout, with no ramps or steps on the field of play.
⚠️ WHERE PEOPLE BLOW UP
Two predictable places at a race this size. First, going out too hard on run 1 because the hall is loud and the crowd is close — bank nothing in the first 2 km. Second, the wall balls, after a sled push and pull on firm flooring with a warm hall and less airflow than you trained in. Evening waves are their own problem: Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday all have waves finishing at 20:30, so you will have been awake and eating all day. Treat an evening wave as a completely different fuelling problem from an 08:00 start and eat your main meal early afternoon.
COURSE HISTORY
15,159
Athletes in 2025 — one of the biggest races on the calendar
TBC
Laps to run — unpublished for 2026
5 days
Wed 11 to Sun 15 November 2026
Depends. Flat exhibition hall, cool November conditions and no altitude all point fast. Lap count for 2026 is unpublished, so run-lane width and turn count are unconfirmed, and congestion in the deepest waves is the realistic brake on a PB.
Five days of racing, Wednesday 11 to Sunday 15 November 2026. Registration opens 90 minutes before the first start of your division, and check-in is only possible on the day you compete with physical photo ID. Wednesday to Saturday all have waves finishing at 20:30, so check your wave before booking a flight home.
Source: HYROX Dublin event page and HYRESULT Dublin 2025, verified 25 August 2026. Laps to run listed as TBC; relay briefing unpublished.
RECOVERY SPOTS
ICE BATHS / COLD PLUNGE
THE CHILLI POD, RINGSEND ROAD
Sauna and ice bath, open 07:00 to 20:00 seven days a week, with barista coffee on site. The only nearby option reliably open on a Sunday. Sessions were reported at around EUR 15 by a recent visitor, though the price is unverified.
📍 ~34 minutes on foot, or a short taxi
Best use: Book it before you fly. It is the only ice bath near the venue open on Sunday 15 November.
GYM PLUS BALLSBRIDGE, SHELBOURNE ROAD
Ice bath, sauna, steam room and jacuzzi, plus HYROX-format classes. Opens 06:00 weekdays but only 09:00 at weekends. Day access and booking terms need confirming directly.
📍 ~16 minutes on foot
Best use: The closest contrast option — but check those weekend opening hours against your wave.
EVERLAST GYMS+ DUBLIN, HENRY STREET
Ireland's first official HYROX Performance Centre, opened July 2026, with HYROX-spec turf, Centr competition equipment, three ice baths and a sauna, sitting above a large Sports Direct.
📍 ~5 km — DART or Luas
Best use: One trip that covers a proper shakeout on race equipment, contrast recovery and any kit you forgot.
FIANNA ATHLETIC CLUB, ELM PARK
Has a HYROX Vault, CrossFit, treatment rooms and a recovery area, and is open seven days.
📍 ~26 minutes on foot
Best use: The seven-day option closest to the venue if you want equipment and treatment in one place.
SAUNAS & SPAS
THE CHILLI POD
Sauna and ice bath on Ringsend Road, 07:00 to 20:00 seven days, barista coffee on site.
Best use: Slot it a couple of hours after you finish, and reserve before you fly.
GYM PLUS BALLSBRIDGE
Sauna, steam room, jacuzzi and ice bath about 16 minutes from the hall, plus HYROX-format classes.
Best use: Weekday recovery. Weekend opening at 09:00 rules out an early Saturday or Sunday session.
PHYSIOS NEAR VENUE
Neuromuscular and Sports Injury Clinic, Londonbridge Road
Deep tissue and sports therapy, about 27 minutes. Open to 20:00 weekdays and 10:00 to 16:00 Saturday. Closed Sunday.
Peak Physio Ballsbridge, Lansdowne Road
About 21 minutes. Weekdays only, to 20:00 — so no cover on either weekend race day.
Sandymount Physiotherapy Clinic
About 20 minutes. Weekdays only. Book Wednesday to Friday if you are racing at the weekend.
WEATHER STRATEGY
MID-NOVEMBER CONDITIONS
Dublin in November averages daytime highs around 11 to 12°C and overnight lows around 5 to 6°C, with frequent rain and moderate to strong wind. Sunrise is around 07:45 and sunset around 16:30 during race week, so early arrivals and every evening wave happen in the dark.
- Standard indoor race kit — the hall is the warm part, so race in what you would wear indoors, not what the street temperature suggests
- A warm layer and a waterproof shell for the walk to the venue
- A full change of dry clothes in your bag: there are no showers on site
- Shoes with a bit of grip for hall turns, and separate shoes for a wet shakeout
- A head torch if you are running before 07:45 or after 16:30
💧 Hydration
Cool weather masks how much you are sweating in a packed hall. Drink to a plan, not to thirst — especially if you are racing an evening wave after a full day of eating.
🏟️ Indoor vs Outdoor
Outdoors: 11 to 12°C, wet and windy, dark before 07:45 and after 16:30. Indoors: a hall holding thousands of athletes across five days, which gets warm and busy even when it is 8°C outside. You will be cold and damp before and after, not during.
SHAKEOUT RUN ROUTES
THE 5 KM SANDYMOUNT STRAND LOOP
Start at the venue, head down Simmonscourt Road and Merrion Road, then out to Sandymount Strand and along the seafront promenade to Sean Moore Park and back — about 2.2 km each way from the hall. Flat throughout, tarmac and good-quality gravel, sea air. Surface is pavement then promenade, and some sections hold puddles and leaves after rain. It is well used and open, but it is dark before 07:45 and after 16:30 in November, so take a light. Toilets and water are limited on the strand: one paid public toilet near Sandymount is the only reliable option, so go before you leave. Flat alternative: Herbert Park, about 14 minutes from the hall, is a simple flat loop with a café on site (Lolly and Cooks, from 08:00) — better in bad weather and better lit.
🏃 Parkrun
Poolbeg parkrun runs every Saturday at 09:30 in Sean Moore Park, Sandymount. Free, mixed surface, about 27 minutes on foot from the venue. It clashes directly with Saturday's HYROX MEN wave block (08:00 to 12:40), so it is realistically only an option if you race Sunday. Register in advance and bring a scannable barcode.
🏟️ Track Access
Irishtown Stadium has an athletics track about 32 minutes away, but access is regularly blocked by club bookings and at least one visitor reports being turned away on the day. Call ahead on +353 1 222 3801.
Do not do your shakeout in your race shoes — the strand and park loops will be wet. Take a light for anything before 07:45 or after 16:30, and go to the toilet before you leave because facilities on the strand are minimal.
GYMS NEAR VENUE
FUNCTIONAL / STRENGTH
EVERLAST GYMS+ DUBLIN, HENRY STREET
Ireland's first official HYROX Performance Centre, opened July 2026: HYROX-spec turf, Centr competition equipment, three ice baths and a sauna, above a large Sports Direct. About 5 km, so DART or Luas.
FIANNA ATHLETIC CLUB, ELM PARK
HYROX Vault, CrossFit, treatment rooms and a recovery area, open seven days. About 26 minutes on foot — the closest HYROX-equipped option to the venue.
COMMERCIAL GYMS
District One Gym Sandymount, Claremont Road
About 15 minutes. Strength and conditioning focus, closed Sunday.
Gym Plus Ballsbridge, Shelbourne Road
About 16 minutes, with ice bath, sauna, steam room and jacuzzi attached, plus HYROX-format classes. Opens 06:00 weekdays but 09:00 at weekends.
HOTEL GYMS WORTH USING
Niche Living Ballsbridge
24/7 on-site gym and the closest bed to the start line — the best hotel-gym combination of the picks.
InterContinental Dublin
Spa and massage on site alongside the gym, on the venue's own road.
The Sandymount Hotel
Small gym, described by guests as basic. Fine for mobility work, not for a session.
Confirm drop-in policy and pricing with each gym directly. Most Dublin gyms handle visitors but few advertise a walk-in rate, and weekend opening hours are consistently later than weekdays.
ESSENTIALS — RACE WEEKEND OPS
SUPERMARKETS
Spar Ballsbridge
Merrion Road
24 hours. Deli counter, hot food, coffee, ATM. About 13 minutes — the answer for a 06:00 breakfast.
EUROSPAR Bath Avenue
Bath Avenue
24 hours, about 27 minutes on foot.
Tesco Merrion Centre
Merrion Road
07:00 to 22:00 Monday to Saturday, 09:00 to 21:00 Sunday. Full superstore, about 14 minutes, free underground parking. Tesco Sandymount is 07:00 to 22:00, 08:00 Sunday, about 21 minutes.
PHARMACIES
Life Pharmacy Ballsbridge
Merrion Road
About 13 minutes. 08:00 to 21:00 Monday to Thursday, 08:00 to 20:00 Friday, 09:00 to 18:00 Saturday, closed Sunday.
Sunday cover
City centre
Nothing near the venue opens on Sunday 15 November. If you race Sunday, buy what you need on Saturday.
SPORTS SHOPS
Sports Direct, Henry Street
Same building as Everlast Gyms+. Intersport Elverys on Suffolk Street is the other city-centre option, open seven days.
Run Logic, Temple Bar / The Run Hub, Aungier Street
The two running specialists, both city centre, both closed or on short hours Sunday.
Holland & Barrett, Dawson Street
Supplements, open seven days.
🆘 "OH NO" KIT CHECKLIST
VENUE DAY TIMELINE
SPECTATOR GUIDE
BEST VIEWING ZONES
- HYROX lists a Thunderdome viewing area at Dublin, the standard elevated vantage point over the floor. Exact sightlines depend on the final hall layout, which is not published in advance
- Spectator tickets are sold through the same HYROX ticket page as athlete entries — buy them with your race entry rather than assuming availability on the day
- If a supporter needs to enter the hall before an athlete's official check-in window, they should go via the Spectators Desk with ticket and ID
- Expect the roxzone and sled areas to be the other natural viewing points, as at every HYROX
- The hall is flat and level throughout, which makes it good for prams and for anyone with mobility needs
FAMILY LOGISTICS
- Toilets and food are on site, and there is a café in the Simmonscourt complex
- There are no showers at the venue, so plan to change and go
- It is loud — bring ear defenders for small children
- Parking on site is EUR 10 per day and limited, so spectators should use the DART to Sandymount or the Aircoach stop on Merrion Road
- While you race, the coastal walk from Sandymount to Poolbeg Lighthouse is a genuinely good few hours out and starts a short walk from the venue
📍 MEET-UP PLAN
Phone signal in a packed exhibition hall is unreliable. Pick a fixed physical landmark outside the hall on Simmonscourt Road and a fixed time, and do not rely on messaging. If your wave finishes after 20:00, agree the meeting point before you go in, because the surrounding streets are dark and quiet.
BUDGET CALCULATOR
| Line item | Budget | Mid | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hotel (3 nights) | The Sandymount Hotel | Niche Living or PREMIER SUITES | InterContinental Dublin |
| Airport transfers (return) | EUR 8 Aircoach return | EUR 8 out, taxi back | EUR 60-90 taxis both ways |
| Local transport (3 days) | EUR 2.00 90 Minute Fares as needed | EUR 16 Leap Visitor Card, 72 hours | EUR 32 Leap Visitor Card, 7 days, plus taxis |
| Food (3 days) | Spar and Tesco Merrion Centre | Al Boschetto and BuJo | Roly's Bistro and hotel dining |
| Recovery | EUR 0, hotel shower | ~EUR 15 The Chilli Pod session | InterContinental spa plus sports massage |
| Saturday 14 Nov premium | Avoid the night entirely | Book early, expect a jump | Pay the rugby-weekend rate |
ESTIMATED TOTALS (excl. flights)
PACKING CHECKLIST
RACE KIT
- Race shoes
- Race top and shorts or tights
- Socks, plus a spare pair
- Sports bra
- Grip gloves if you use them
- Physical photo ID (digital copies are not accepted)
- Bib confirmation and HYROX account access
WARM UP
- Long-sleeve warm layer for the hall
- Waterproof shell for the walk in
- Resistance band
- Skipping rope
- Foam roller or massage ball
- Head torch for dark shakeouts
RECOVERY
- Full change of dry clothes (no showers on site)
- Flip flops or slides
- Compression wear
- Small towel
- Swimwear for ice bath or sauna
- Reusable water bottle
NUTRITION
- Gels or chews
- Electrolyte tabs
- Pre-race breakfast you have actually trained on
- Recovery protein
- Snacks for a long day in the hall
TRAVEL ESSENTIALS
- Passport or national ID
- Travel insurance documents
- EHIC or GHIC if eligible
- TFI Leap Card or Leap Visitor Card
- Type G plug adapter (Ireland uses the same three-pin plug as the UK)
- Power bank
- Blister plasters, tape, anti-chafe, spare laces, basic pain relief
SAMPLE RACE WEEKEND ITINERARY
DAY 1: ARRIVAL & RECON
- Land at DUB, Aircoach 702 or 703 to Ballsbridge RDS, then an 11 minute walk to your hotel
- Buy a Leap Visitor Card at Wrights Convenience Store, T1 Arrivals, before you leave the airport
- Walk the route from your hotel to the Simmonscourt Road entrance in daylight — not Merrion Road
- Stock race-morning food at Spar Ballsbridge (24 hours) or Tesco Merrion Centre
- Carb dinner at Al Boschetto on Merrion Road, open to 22:00, or CRUDO in Sandymount
DAY 2: RACE DAY
- Wake 2h30 out, coffee and fluids, breakfast 2 to 2.5 hours before your start
- Leave to arrive 06:30 to 06:45 for an 08:00 wave. Physical photo ID in your pocket
- Check in, bag drop by 07:05, then warm up gradually — the hall is warmer than the street
- Bank nothing in the first 2 km. Expect station queues in the deeper waves and hold your roxzone plan
- Dry clothes out of bag drop (no showers on site), then The Chilli Pod or Gym Plus for contrast
DAY 3: RECOVERY & EXPLORE
- Easy walk or jog on Sandymount Strand to Sean Moore Park, or a flat loop in Herbert Park
- Poolbeg parkrun at 09:30 if you raced earlier in the week — bring a scannable barcode
- Sports massage at the Neuromuscular and Sports Injury Clinic (Saturday only, closed Sunday)
- Coastal walk to Poolbeg Lighthouse, or the DART into town for Trinity College and the Guinness Storehouse
- Celebration dinner around Sandymount Green, or Grand Canal Dock for a bigger night
LOCAL RULES & EMERGENCY INFO
Tipping
Not obligatory. Around 10 to 15% in restaurants for good service, round up for taxis. Check the bill, as some places add a service charge.
Cash vs card
Card and contactless are accepted almost everywhere. You will not need cash.
Sunday closures
Pharmacies, physios and most independent shops close or shorten hours on Sundays. Supermarkets open later and close earlier. Sunday 15 November is a race day — buy race food on Saturday.
Venue entrance
Hall 8 is on Simmonscourt Road. The Merrion Road entrance (D04 AK83) is a different gate on the far side of the grounds. Set your maps app to Simmonscourt Road.
Check-in rules
Registration opens 90 minutes before the first start of your division. Check-in is only possible on the day you compete, you need physical photo ID, digital copies are not accepted, and you cannot check in for anyone else.
Saturday rugby
Ireland v Fiji at the Aviva Stadium, kick-off 20:10 on Saturday 14 November, about 1.6 km from the start line. Saturday HYROX waves run to 20:30. Expect peak accommodation prices, packed DART services and taxi surge.
Parking
RDS car parks charge EUR 10 per day with published weekday hours of 07:00 to 19:00. Spaces are limited across a five-day event and weekend hours are not published. Do not plan a race morning around getting a space.
Plug type
Ireland uses the Type G three-pin plug, the same as the UK, at 230 V.
EMERGENCY INFO
112
Emergency (EU)
999
Emergency (IE)
Local station
Non-emergency Gardaí
+353 1 222 3801
Irishtown Stadium track
Hospital: St Vincent's University Hospital, Elm Park, about 1.3 km from the venue and open 24 hours. Attending an emergency department without a GP referral carries a EUR 100 charge, waived if you are referred by a GP or admitted; an injury unit is EUR 75. EU and UK visitors with an EHIC or GHIC are covered for public emergency care. Everyone else pays full cost, so travel insurance is not optional — and check that yours covers competitive fitness events.
Pharmacy: Life Pharmacy Ballsbridge on Merrion Road is about 13 minutes: 08:00 to 21:00 Monday to Thursday, 08:00 to 20:00 Friday, 09:00 to 18:00 Saturday, closed Sunday. There is no Sunday pharmacy cover near the venue, so pack the 'oh no' kit.