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Dublin is among the most magical and distinctive cities on this planet – it’s the place pub doorways divulge heart’s contents to rooms of Irish people music and laughter, the place down each cobblestone lane, historic Georgian buildings have been remodeled into quirky espresso outlets, galleries, and indie music haunts.
It’s a metropolis that impressed poets and playwrights, has one of the crucial beautiful universities on this planet, and a nightlife scene that’s second to none.
You’ll find so many iconic issues to do in Dublin, from strolling excursions to exploring second-hand bookstores to consuming hearty pies in pubs.
One minute you’ll be tracing the footsteps of James Joyce and the following you’ll be sipping Guinness and swapping tales with an area.
We have been lucky sufficient to reside in Dublin for a yr again in 2003 and have returned a number of occasions since. On this information, we share the highest sights and landmarks primarily based on our personal expertise of dwelling and travelling to the Irish capital, from iconic sights to some lesser identified hidden gems that we’ve found.
Video: High 5 Experiences in Dublin
If you happen to’re brief on time, click on play to observe our brief video sharing our prime 5 highlights in Dublin.
1. Unwind on St Stephen’s Inexperienced
St Stephen’s Inexperienced is a small backyard park on the finish of Grafton Road on the South aspect of the town, and is among the hottest Dublin sights.
This 22-acre park is well-known for its tree-lined walks, flower beds, and historic significance.
Dublin has many historic parks, every with Victorian or Georgian structure, however St Stephen’s Inexperienced is the largets within the metropolis. It was one among my favourite locations to sit down and calm down, watch the world go by, and have an attractive picnic lunch.
You’ll find it widespread with visiting vacationers, college students and employees taking a break from a busy day on the workplace. One other widespread place to calm down in Dublin is the Nationwide Botanic Gardens, which can also be free to enter.
2. Tour Trinity School
Trinity School is situated proper within the centre of Dublin, and is Eire’s oldest College and most well-known. It’s alumni embody a few of Eire’s most esteemed scientists, politicians, authors and poets – well-known former pupils embody Sir Isaac Newton, Sir Francis Bacon, and A. A. Milne (writer of Winnie the Pooh).
The lawns and cobbled quads are a pleasing escape from the mad rush of the town that lies past its partitions. Take your digital camera and be sure to take a photograph in entrance of the well-known Trinity Bell.
The cobbled stones of Trinity School will transport you to the 18th century when the magnificent outdated Library Constructing was constructed.
We advocate doing a guided tour to see the well-known Guide of Kells, a ninth century gospel manuscript well-known all through the world adopted by a stroll by the gardens and grounds of the school and a go to to Dublin Fort. We by no means visited the Guide of Kells!! We have been too within the life and tradition of present day Dublin. Which leads me to…
3. Drink in a pub and hearken to Irish Music
Going to Dublin and never ingesting a pint in a pub is like going to Sydney and never seeing the Opera Home. And guess what, Dublin has 850 pubs, so you’ll by no means be left scratching your head as to the place on Earth you are able to do this.
Yep, Dublin has a pub on nearly each road nook and one in between. See our submit on the greatest pubs of Dublin for some concepts, or simply discover a pub in no matter road or suburb you might be questioning alongside.
The environment is all the time heat and comfortable, the meals scrumptious, the beer flows freely and the craic is sweet (an Irish phrase for enjoyable). I like to recommend making a day or night with this having fun with some good outdated Conventional Irish music and dancing.
You’ll be bopping, singing and dancing with the native crowd after solely a few pints of Guinness. Historical past lovers won’t need to miss the Brazen Head, which is the oldest pub in Eire (extra on this later). Craig celebrated his thirtieth birthday right here.
4. Go to The Guinness Storehouse
No journey to Dublin can be full and not using a go to to the Guinness Storehouse, which was truly referred to as the Guinness Manufacturing facility once I first lived there. The Guinness Storehouse is tremendous widespread, in truth, it’s Eire’s most visited vacation spot forward of the Cliffs of Moher so it positively ought to be in your checklist of issues to do in Dublin because it’s one factor that makes up the tradition of Eire.
This was the place I had my first pint of the velvety black stout and was to not be my final. I used to be hooked. Be warned right here, when you drink a Guinness at its authentic location right here on the brewery, no different glass of Guinness on this planet will style pretty much as good. One of many causes I cherished dwelling in Dublin was the entry to pure Guinness. It’s my favourite drink.
It isn’t only a pint of Guinness that comes with the entry price that makes it definitely worth the go to, the museum provides an enchanting perception to the historical past of Eire’s favourite drink, how it’s made and the affect it has over the world.
You would possibly as properly go to the place that’s answerable for that unusual malty hoppy scent that may be smelt everywhere in the metropolis. To prime all of it off when executed, you possibly can sit within the prime stage bar, Gravity, that offers a powerful 360 diploma view of Dublin.
We totally loved taking our visiting friends there, particularly when they didn’t like Guinness and thought it solely truthful at hand their free pint over to their tour guides.
5. Drink Irish Espresso
Caz and her greatest good friend and I used to spend many a 3 am morning within the late night time “espresso” bars. This was the one place you would discover a “drink” after the midnight curfew.
They not solely look nice with their layers of caramel coloured layers topped with silky white cream, however they style divine. You’ll find an Irish espresso in any bar or restaurant.
In case you are planning a giant night time out, make a wine bar a spot to cease after a couple of pints within the pub. The wine bars are plenty of enjoyable to drink at. Some have night jazz and wine tasting occasions.
After all wine or champagne is all that’s on the menu and it comes at a worth, but it surely was usually the one place you would proceed partying into the early morning hours, and the underground, cavernous buildings they’re held within the streets operating off the Georgian Sq. of St Stephens Inexperienced makes it only a cool place to have a drink.
6. Eat Irish Meals
Irish meals is scrumptious and properly price spending a day or tour sampling. A few of our favorites have been beef & Guiness stew, cod & chips, potato & leek soup, bacon & cabbage, Guinness or Irish stew, and naturally potato.
By no means concern about having the chance to do that. Every dish you order will include three varieties- mashed, baked, and boiled. The Irish don’t need you forgetting about these famine years.
7. Grafton Road Buying
Grafton road is on the South Facet of the River Liffey and is a excessive finish road for buying. If you happen to don’t have the cash to spend in boutique and departments shops reminiscent of Brown Thomas, you possibly can window store as you stroll amongst the crowds alongside the cobblestoned road, individuals gazing and watching the ever-present buskers that line the streets.
There are many locations to relaxation your weary toes for a espresso or drink. I like the environment on Grafton St and comfortable to stroll by it nearly day-after-day. I labored in a pub throughout lunches parallel to Grafton St, it has unbelievable environment!
8. Attend a Hurling and Gaelic Soccer Match
Probably the greatest reside sporting matches I’ve ever seen was the All Eire semi-final Ggaelic soccer match between Donegal and Armagh. Croke Park stadium was a sea of brightly coloured orange and inexperienced of jerseys and staff flags madly waving within the crowd.
The environment was really electrical with followers on the sting of their seat screaming and cheering with each play of the ball. It was continuous thrilling motion.
I can’t advocate extremely sufficient that in your journey to Dublin, you manage tickets to a reside match of both hurling or Gaelic soccer at Croke Park as one among your issues to do in Dublin.
9. Go to the Outer Suburbs of Dublin
Dublin has so many nice outer suburbs which are price visiting for a style of native dwelling. Our favorite was, after all, our pupil village, Rathmines, that was stuffed with nice bars and Irish pubs.
Donnybrook and Ballbridge are two of the extra prosperous suburbs within the South of Dublin, and are price a leisurely stroll to see a few of Eire’s most interesting Victorian structure. Shrewsbury Street in Ballsbridge is the sixth most costly highway on this planet.
Dalkey and Killiney is the place chances are you’ll run into celebrities reminiscent of Bono and Enya, who’ve houses in these upmarket neighborhoods by the ocean.
Killiney Hill presents panoramic views of the encircling Dublin mountains. You may attain these cities by the DART, the Dublin prepare service.
Howth, widespread for the climbing of the 171m excessive hill on Howth head, is situated within the North of Dublin. Simply attempt to climb it on a nice day. Eire is known as the Emerald Isle for a purpose!
10. Go to Guinness Lake (Lake Lough Tay)
Solely an hour south of Dublin is a scenic drive that takes you thru the Wicklow mountains to a formidable lake set within the valleys. Guinness Lake is aptly named for its darkish coloration, and with its white sand sitting on the prime makes it seem like a foaming pint of Eire’s most interesting.
Really, I’ve heard it’s named for the Guinness household whose property surrounds the realm however I like the opposite purpose higher. It’s a lovely spot for images and to benefit from the peace of the Irish countryside.
You may stroll across the space to see varied waterfalls, giant boglands with sheep and streams, forests and historic locations reminiscent of Glendalough. When you have the automobile, drive as much as Johnny Fox’s Pub for a drink on the very well-known “Eire’s highest pub.”
11. Go on a Literary Pub Crawl
Eire isn’t just identified for its black ale and leprechauns, however for the unbelievable literary expertise that has come from the hills of the Emerald Isle.
One approach to get to study extra about these literary geniuses is by doing a Literary Pub Crawl by the streets of Dublin, visiting these writer’s outdated writing and ingesting haunts. Two actors take you on a tour by the maze of slim streets into a number of pubs the place they act out scenes from the work of Joyce, Behan, Beckett, Yeats, Oscar Wilde and extra.
The tour takes you to eight pubs, together with the grounds of Trinity school and goes for about two and half hours.
I used to be by no means actually that within the Irish writers; I attempted my greatest to learn Ulysses however quickly gave up. We went on this tour with some associates, and surprisingly had a good time, and discovered a complete lot as properly. I now really feel like going again to Dublin and doing all this stuff once more.
12. Pattern Whiskey at Roe & Co Distillery
Except for Guinness, Dublin can also be well-known for one more alcoholic beverage – Irish Whiskey! Roe & Co is a Whiskey distillery within the coronary heart of Dublin and was as soon as the biggest distillery within the nation. It was based by George Roe, of their Thomas Road distillery.
Since then, it has grown to a dimension of 17 acres, and even shares its neighborhood with Guinness, creating what is named the “historic brewing and distilling quarter.”
Guests can select two completely different excursions of the distillery. One is a cocktail tour referred to as “The Flavours Workshop” the place you possibly can study take a masterclass in cocktail making. The opposite is ‘Outdated Usual Grasp Class’ the place you possibly can study mixing flavours of whiskey.
On all excursions, you additionally study in regards to the historical past and background of the distillery, in addition to the distilling course of. You’ll get to discover the the Stills Home and the Retailer.
13. See wild deer in Phoenix Park
One other scenic park in Dublin is Phoenix Park. It’s the biggest enclosed park in any capital metropolis in Europe and was initially a royal looking floor.
It was constructed within the 1660s and opened to the general public in 1747 and is most well-known for its herd of untamed fallow deer who name the park residence, oh, and for internet hosting the go to of Pope John Paul II in 1979. The park is a calming escape from the hustle and bustle of the town and is a superb place to go strolling across the pond or cycle alongside the biking trails. It’s additionally the place you’ll discover the Zoological Gardens, Victorian Flower Gardens, and a restaurant.
The park is open all yr spherical, for twenty-four hours a day, so regardless of while you need to go to, you possibly can all the time make sure it’s open.
14. Get Cultural on the Nationwide Gallery of Eire
There are greater than 40 museums in Dublin, and one which you shouldn’t miss off your Dublin itinerary is the Nationwide Gallery of Eire. It’s the place you’ll discover the nationwide assortment of Irish and European artwork from the 1300s to at present. It first opened its doorways to the general public in 1864 and it one of the crucial essential sights in Dublin.
Don’t miss a cease by Oscar Wilde’s home, which is simply across the nook from the museum, and the Nationwide Museum of Eire subsequent door if you are interested in animal anatomy – it has an enormous assortment of taxidermy animals and skeletons. And naturally the long-lasting Merrion Sq. is throughout the highway.
15. Study Dublin’s Writers
Dublin was an inspirational metropolis for a lot of writers. Probably the most well-known of which was James Joyce, whose iconic novel, Ulysses was written as a love letter to the town. Different well-known writers from Dublin have been Jonathan Swift, the writer of Gulliver’s Travels, Bram Stoker, who wrote Dracula, and Samuel Beckett, the playwrite who wrote En attendant Godot.
You may study all in regards to the writers of Dublin at a number of locations within the metropolis. In Dublin metropolis middle, you’ll discover many statues devoted to those writers. Probably the most well-known is the Oscar Wilde Memorial statue in Merrion Sq.. There may be additionally a James Joyce Museum and the MoLI – Museum of Literature Eire.
Then there’s the Chester Beatty Library, a free museum which comprises uncommon manuscripts, books, and different treasures collected by Chester Beatty from throughout Europe, the Center East, North Africa and Asia. Highlights of the museum embody a 2nd-century papyri of the New Testomony, Quranic scrolls from the eighth and Ninth-century in addition to Fifteenth-century Qurans, and a lot extra. Don’t miss the roof backyard!
16. Dine at Dublin’s Oldest Pub: The Brazen Head
The Brazen Head is a must-visit attraction in Dublin for anybody seeking to get an genuine look into Eire’s pub tradition. It’s situated on Bridge Road, one of many oldest streets in Dublin and the place you’ll discover among the most beautiful items of medieval structure.
The pub was intentionally constructed as a substitute as it’s subsequent to the Father Matthew Bridge, the place the unique crossing of the river was situated. It was traditionally the assembly level for any vacationers making their method throughout the river.
It was inbuilt 1198 however the constructing had been up to date a couple of occasions. The constructing you see at present was inbuilt 1754 and was a training inn, however data of the pub date again to 1653.
The pub is heat and welcoming, with rustic interiors and genuine pub decor. You may eat conventional pub meals reminiscent of Beef and Guinness Stew, Bangers and Mash, and for dessert, an Apple Crumble. It’s additionally a very good cease to strive an Irish espresso!
One other nice pub we advocate for meals is the Stags Head Pub, which has unbelievable Guinness and Oysters.
If you happen to’re in search of a day pick-me-up, head to Shoe Lane Espresso Store for a scorching espresso to re-energize you.
17. Stroll alongside the River Liffey
The River Liffey is the river that passes by the middle of Dublin and so it’s inconceivable to overlook this cease off of your checklist of issues to do in Dublin! The identify Liffey, means Irish An Life, and it passes by three counties in Eire. The river has been properly developed, with walkways, bridges and quays.
It’s the place you’ll discover a number of of Dublin’s prime sights, reminiscent of Dublin Dockyard, The Irish Emigration Museum, The Irish Rock ‘n’ Roll Museum Expertise and naturally, a number of prime pubs! It extends all the best way to Dublin Bay, the place it connects to the ocean.
18. Benefit from the Taylors Three Rock Cabaret Present
Taylors Three Rock is a energetic leisure venue and restaurant and the place you possibly can watch a cabaret present – a present devoted to the whole lot Irish. From Irish people singing to River Dancing, this two hour present is a homage to Eire’s tradition and heritage. When you’re having fun with the present, you possibly can get pleasure from a scrumptious feast of tasty Irish meals and swallow it down with an Irish espresso.
The spotlight of the present is certainly the Irish Dancers, who’re truly world champion Irish dancers who tour the world representing their nation.
A number of the dancers have carried out within the West Finish in London, which is the aim for anybody seeking to make it in show-businesses. If you happen to’re in search of enjoyable issues to do in Dublin at night time, this needs to be the primary exercise to do.
19. Stroll Throughout Ha’penny Bridge
If you happen to’re in search of a backdrop of Dublin’s iconic structure, then head over to the beautiful Ha’penny Bridge, which is essentially the most well-known pedestrian bridge on the river Liffey. It was the primary bridge to be constructed again in 1816 and will get its identify from the time when pedestrians needed to pay half a penny to cross the bridge. The bridge was created to interchange the ferries that initially took individuals throughout the river.
20. See the deserted Jail of Kilmainham Gaol
Maybe one of the crucial distinctive issues to do in Dublin is discover the deserted jail of Kilmainham Gaol. The jail held males, girls and youngsters who had dedicated crimes for over 100 years. The inmates have been mentioned to have dedicated all issues of crimes, from petty crimes to among the most infamous occasions in historical past.
As you wander the jail, you’ll study its previous, its prisoners, and the tales of their crimes. Lots of the inmates have been those that fought for Irish independence, together with Robert Emmet, Anne Devlin, the Fenians, Charles Stewart Parnell, Countess Markievicz.
It additionally held the leaders of the 1916 Easter Rising. Of these leaders, 14 have been executed by firing squad within the Stonebreaker’s yard. It opened in 1796 and closed in 1924. It was made a nationwide monument within the Nineteen Sixties and is now a museum.
21. Wander across the Dublin Fort
No journey to Eire can be full with out visiting one among its iconic castles. In Dublin, this fort needs to be, after all, Dublin Fort. The fort was constructed within the early thirteenth century on a former Viking settlement. Archeologists have found components of the medieval fort have been truly a part of Viking defenses, making it one of many oldest castles within the nation!
Whereas a lot of the fort has been restored since its inception, the stays of the wall and the steps to the unique moat are all the unique partitions. There’s additionally two museums within the advanced for guests to take a look at.
Caroline visited right here about 5 occasions guiding her ESL summer season college students by on a area journey. She actually loved it – much more than as soon as – and so did her European teen college students.
If you happen to’re curious about seeing extra castles in Dublin, then the Malahide Fort is a brief half day journey North of Dublin and is a shocking, well-preserved prosperous fort. It has one among Eire’s iconic Fairy Trails, which is among the most enjoyable actions to do with youngsters in Eire (properly, apart from Dublin Zoo!)
22. Study Irish Famine from Jeanie Johnson
The Jeanie Johnson is a three-mastered barque ship which was inbuilt 1847 and resides on the River Liffey. It’s now a museum on the Irish Famine, which is an unbelievable story of a time when 1 million Irish individuals fled the nation because of a famine. Of these individuals, 2,500 took a grueling journey throughout the ocean on the Jeanie Johnston. The museum exhibits what circumstances have been like on board a Famine ship and tells the tales of the individuals who took the voyage.
After visiting the Jeanie Johnson, be certain that to swing previous the Customized Home Quay which homes the Native Authorities Board of Eire.
23. Go to the Christ Church Cathedral
Dublin is just not wanting lovely church buildings and cathedrals, however one which should not be missed is the Christ Church Cathedral. This beautiful church has been standing within the coronary heart of the town for over a millennia and is a vital landmark within the nation.
It has a status for being a home of liturgy, reside music, and heat hospitality, and is among the most lovely items of structure within the metropolis.
If you happen to go to on the proper time, you possibly can witness a choir or organ efficiency. Make sure you take a look at the occasions calendar to see when performances are scheduled.
24. Search for the Secret Guide & Report Store
The Secret Guide & Report Retailer is an impartial bookstore and file store on Wicklow Road, which is a superb place to go for a rummage to search out hidden treasures.
The doorway is so modest; you would possibly stroll previous it for those who’re not trying rigorously.
It has a variety of recent and second hand books, in addition to fairly priced vinyl data.
It feels actually cozy, a little bit ramshackle however in a captivating method. The “secret” hallway entrance, the slim corridors, barely overstuffed cabinets, odd objects right here and there – it’s my sort of hidden gem.
Getting round Dublin
Dublin is a very easy metropolis to get round. It’s fairly compact with all the highest sights inside strolling distance of one another. You may as well lease a motorbike and cycle, which is sort of a well-liked approach to get from A to B in the summertime.
If you happen to’re planning on staying exterior the town middle, you will see that common bus providers that join the suburbs to the town middle. There are over 100 bus routes in Dublin, so regardless of the place you keep, you’re close to to public transport.
You may as well trip the lightrail system, the Luas. That is Dublin’s tram transport system and has solely two strains; crimson and inexperienced, which connects all the new spots in Dublin metropolis centre.
You will get an everyday Leap Customer Card (1/3/7 days), which grants limitless journey on Dublin Bus, Luas, DART and Commuter Rail. You may choose one up at Dublin Airport, or order it on-line and get it delivered earlier than your journey. The 72-hour DoDublin Freedom Ticket is a journey go with all advantages of the Leap Customer Card plus a hop-on hop-off tour.
And naturally the hop-on-hop-off bus is a well-liked approach to discover the websites and get to know the town. Or, uncover Dublin by boat.
If you happen to do determine to enterprise out of Dublin and discover some additional afield sights reminiscent of Trim Fort or Huntington Fort, then it’s a good suggestion to lease a automobile as it may be time consuming to get a bus to those locations, and costly to take an Uber. Eire is usually fairly rural as properly, and public transport could not go to a whole lot of locations you need to see.
DiscoverCars.com is a superb place to search for vehicles to lease. It’s a dependable automobile rental reserving service that compares all the foremost manufacturers like Hertz, Avis, Alamo, and Europcar.
Our Expertise Dwelling in Dublin
Caz lived in Ranelagh, Dublin in the summertime together with her greatest good friend in 1999, working at Oliver St John Gogarty’s restaurant in Temple Bar, and one other native’s pub off Grafton St.
Then Caz and I moved again after we married. We lived in Rathmines, the scholar space and one of the crucial fascinating locations to reside for its vibrancy and proximity to downtown. We cherished not proudly owning a automobile and easily walked all over the place. We cherished being only a brief stroll to the River Liffey by such cool neighborhoods alongside the best way.
I labored in building in varied places all through the town and Caz taught at a faculty in Knocklyon instructing the Irish minority kids and instructing ESL to small teams.
It’s all the time nice to get recommendation from individuals who haven’t simply traveled to a rustic however lived there. There may be extra to an space then simply what the vacationers see. Though, I need to say that in Dublin, there’s so many vacationer locations which are price seeing too. You may hearken to our podcast of our time dwelling in Dublin right here. We miss it a lot and are dying to get again and present the ladies a house near our hearts.
The place to remain in Dublin
Town is massively widespread, and most of the prime motels and flats in Dublin metropolis centre get booked up properly upfront, so don’t go away it to the final minute to e book lodging.
We advocate first time guests to Dublin keep within the space round Trinity School or Merrion Sq., as it is a good central location the place you possibly can stroll to the principle sights and historic websites.
The excellent news is Dublin may be very walkable, so it doesn’t matter an excessive amount of the place you base your self. Yow will discover extra reasonably priced lodging when staying additional out, however do consider journey time. A number of the hottest locations to remain are:
- Gogarty’s Temple Bar Hostel: An iconic hostel about Temple Bar, top-of-the-line locations to go for reside music, conventional Irish meals, and good craic. Dorm rooms are fairly low-cost, for Dublin costs, and it’s clear and cozy. You get free breakfast included in your keep.
- Arlington Resort: A mid-range lodge on the banks of the River Liffey. It’s in a energetic spot, however rooms are quiet and cozy.
- Buswells Resort: In a quieter space close to Merrion Sq.. This 3-star lodge is situated in a fantastically renovated Georgian constructing which dates again to 1882. Rooms are a little bit extra plush and fashionable than the opposite two choices, however costs are affordable nonetheless.
Remaining ideas
As you possibly can see, there’s a lot to see and do in Dublin. Whether or not you’re seeking to pattern among the greatest Irish beers, discover enchanting castles, go to some beautiful landscapes or simply get acquainted with the native tradition – there’s a handful of sights in Dublin that can fulfill your Irish desires.
It doesn’t matter what you do there, you’re sure to fall in love with Dublin due to the native individuals. Dublin has among the friendliest locals you’ll ever meet. The Irish are very happy with their nation and heritage, and like to share this with anybody who visits and cares to take an curiosity.
It’s additionally a shocking metropolis, with beautiful Georgian structure and medieval buildings all through its streets. It’s no surprise that most of the world’s best novelists, authors and poets have discovered inspiration right here. You may merely stroll round and other people watch, with out spending a penny, and that will be leisure sufficient.
So, what are you ready for?
Extra Eire Journey Suggestions
If you happen to’re planning an epic Eire highway journey, then you definately would possibly need to take a look at these different assets:
What are you most trying ahead to doing in Dublin? Tell us within the feedback!
