Dublin is one of the most vibrant and exciting cities in Europe. The Irish capital is a UNESCO City of Literature, home to more than 700+ pubs which have inspired imitators the world over, and has a long and fascinating history, which can be traced from the Vikings and the Celts to the country’s tumultuous modern history. I’ve written this Dublin travel guide to share all of my favourite places, pubs & things to do in Dublin, and to help planning your own trip a bit easier.
Dublin is genuinely one of my favourite cities in Europe, and is a city I could return to again and again. From the Guinness Storehouse and Irish Whiskey Museum, to the Book of Kells and Trinity College Library, to pubs in the Temple Bar and beyond, there is something for travellers of just about every inclination in Dublin.
A Tiny History of Dublin
Dublin’s history dates back over 1000 years, to the 9th century when it was a Viking settlement. You can dig around this Viking history and later medieval history, at the museum Dublinia. For almost 300 years, the Vikings ruled Dublin, until the Irish High King Brian Boru defeated the Norse in 1014.
This victory was short-lived, with the Anglo-Norman invasion of Ireland in the 12th century. The English would rule Ireland for the next 750 years, until the creation of the Irish Free State in 1922.
Dublin became a battleground in the lead up to Irish independence, most notably in the Easter Rising of 1916. You can learn more about the Easter Rising at the GPO Museum in Dublin.
If there’s one thing to know before you visit Dublin, it’s that Ireland has only had its independence since 1922, after centuries of English occupation. You’ll see signs and mentions of this all over the city.
Where to stay in Dublin
Accommodation in Dublin is quite expensive, and books out very quickly in peak season. As soon as you’ve locked in your dates, book your accommodation so that you’re not left with slim pickings (at high prices!). Nearly a year in advance, 75% of the hotels in Dublin are already booked for the first week of June.
We stayed north of the River Liffey, at a hotel called The Address Connolly, opposite Connolly train station. This was less of a touristy area, but was a 10 minute walk to O’Connell Street, and a 20 minute walk to the central tourist areas, like Temple Bar, across the River Liffey. However, if I’d booked further in advance, I could have booked something decent in the heart of Dublin’s city centre, which is south of the Liffey.
Top Hotels in Dublin
- The Mercantile Hotel $$$ – A gorgeous hotel, in a perfect location just off Dame Street in Central Dublin. It’s a couple of blocks from Temple Bar, and within walking distance of the major sights.
- Albany House $$$ – Stay in a gorgeous 18th century Georgian house, with stylish contemporary rooms and beautiful, heritage common areas. Located between St Stephen’s Green and the trendy Portobello neighbourhood.
- Trinity Townhouse $$$$ – Live the Dublin dream & stay in this splendid Georgian townhouse, located between Trinity College, St Stephen’s Green and Merrion Square.
How long to spend in Dublin
I recommend a minimum of two full days in Dublin, but three days would give you a bit more time to explore most of this guide and spend more time enjoying the city’s legendary hospitality. Check out my itinerary for 3 days in Dublin, which includes day trips to Kilkenny & Glendalough.
Add a fourth day to include a day trip, or extra time at museums like the Museum of Literature Ireland, James Joyce Centre or the GPO Museum, which I regrettably didn’t have to visit.
Itinerary: 3 Days in Dublin for First Time Visitors
Best Things to Do in Dublin
There are so many fun things to do in Dublin, I’ve just included a few of the top things to do here. For more ideas, check out my detailed guide to 20 of the Best Things to Do in Dublin.
Guinness Storehouse
The Guinness Storehouse is the most popular tourist attraction in Dublin. Even as a non-beer drinker, The Guinness Storehouse was fascinating, because it is so embedded in the history of Dublin.
The Guinness Storehouse is ticketed, and they are expensive depending on the time of day you visit. You can buy tickets online, and visit at off-peak times to get the cheapest tickets.
Trinity College & Book of Kells
Trinity College Dublin is the pre-eminent university in Ireland, and home to the ancient Book of Kells, which is one of the most precious artefacts in the world. On a visit to Trinity College, spend some time exploring the beautiful grounds, before visiting the Book of Kells and the Old Library, which is one of the most famous and beautiful libraries in the world.
Tickets: Definitely buy tickets for the Book of Kells in advance, and arrive 15 minutes before opening to get a good spot in the queue.
Irish Whiskey Museum
The story of whiskey is inseparable from the history of Ireland. What better way to learn about Ireland’s history, than with a few drams of Irish whiskey and tall tales, delivered by an entertaining local guide?
The Irish Whiskey Museum is less of a museum and more of a lively, guided experience. It was so much fun! We did the Classic Guided Tour, which was 23 euro, ran for an hour and included a tasting of 3 whiskeys at the end.
Traditional Irish Music
Listening to live “trad music” is such a fun way to experience Dublin’s culture. There are particular pubs in Dublin that have live trad music, notably O’Donoghue’s, which is one of the best spots for it. The musicians were seated around a table in the middle of the central courtyard, rather than on a stage, and it creates such a friendly and unpretentious atmosphere. The afternoon we spent at O’Donoghue’s was one of my favourite experiences in Dublin!
Best Pubs & Restaurants in Dublin
Dublin has a rollicking nightlife, thanks in no small part to the 700+ pubs scattered across the city – not bad for a city of 1.2million!
Check out my guide to the 8 Best Pubs in Dublin for a detailed guide to the best Irish pubs you’ll want to check out on your visit.
The Palace Bar
The Palace Bar is somewhat of a unicorn, in that it’s a legendary pub and firmly on the tourist trail, and yet it is so beloved by locals that you’ll still get a genuine “Dublin” experience. It’s only a stone’s throw from the heart of the touristy Temple Bar nightlife district, where the pubs cater primarily to tourists, and yet it avoids all that. The Palace Bar is one of the most beautiful pubs in Dublin, with early 19th century interiors & a beautiful, jewel-box like back room with stained glass ceilings.
The Long Hall
Get out of Temple Bar, and onto South Great George’s Street, a lively precinct thats more popular with locals than tourists. The Long Hall is a gorgeous, 19th century pub with ornate Victorian interiors, mahogany panelling and crimson leather booths. It feels like stepping back in time! When we were there, it was packed, and I couldn’t spot (or at least, hear) any other tourists – and there wasn’t a single table that wasn’t covered in pints of Guinness.
Gallaghers Boxty House
Boxty is a traditional Irish dish, that’s a bit like a savoury pancake made with potatoes, fried and filled with loads of other toppings. The best place to try Boxty is at Gallagher’s Boxty House. This is in the heart of Temple Bar, so you will see more tourists here than locals, but the boxty is the real deal. Owner & chef Pádraic Óg Gallagher opened the restaurant to celebrate the traditional Irish dish, serving it in the three styles, originally found in the border counties of Leitrim, Cavan and Fermanagh.
The Bank on College Green
The Bank on College Green is one of the most beautiful restaurants in Dublin. Located just a stone’s throw from Trinity College, The Bank has opulent 19th century interiors and a sophisticated food & beverage offering – this was easily the best wine list I saw in Dublin. We didn’t stay for dinner, but enjoyed a drink and some cheese in the stunning main bar.
Best Cafes & Coffee in Dublin
Bewleys Cafe
Bewleys Cafe is a landmark Dublin cafe & theatre, located in the heart of stylish Grafton Street for nearly 100 years. Established in 1927, Bewley’s is a cultural landmark in Dublin for its lunchtime Cafe Theatre, which offers an ever-changing line up of shows. Even if you can’t make it to one of the shows, it’s worth stopping in for breakfast, lunch or afternoon tea, just to absorb the gorgeous atmosphere.
BrewLab
BrewLab is a small specialty coffee bar, a few blocks from St Stephens Green. A great pit stop for excellent coffee & a pastry from their cabinet.
Shoe Lane Coffee
Fresh off an international flight, we powered our first evening in Dublin at Shoe Lane Coffee. Excellent coffee! It’s located just south of the river on Tara Street, between the river and Trinity College.
Butlers Chocolate
Butlers Chocolate is a Dublin institution, with outposts of their luxurious chocolate cafes across the city. We stopped into the Butlers Chocolate Cafe just near St Stephen’s Green, and picked up some chocolates as well as a hot chocolate – truly the most decadent hot chocolate I have ever tasted in my life! Wow.
Recanto Cafe
Recanto is a Brazilian cafe, perfect for a coffee break or picking up a delicious Pao de Queijo, a baked cheese ball, from their cabinet. It’s located north of the Liffey, not far from the EPIC Emigration Museum.
The Best Areas & Neighbourhoods in Dublin to Explore
Temple Bar
Temple Bar’s reputation precedes it. It’s the most famous neighbourhood in Dublin, centred on a strip of colourful Irish pubs that attract tourists from all over the world. No, you’re not coming here to rub shoulders with locals, but Temple Bar is much more inviting than I’d expected. Granted, we visited during the day and early evening, when it was busy but not too rowdy.
It’s popular with hens & bucks parties (bachelor & bachelorette parties) from the UK, so you can imagine what it’s like later. It’s a very pretty precinct, and a pint (or local gin) at the area’s namesake, The Temple Bar, is a warm welcome to Ireland.
The Liberties
The Liberties is a charming neighbourhood surrounding the Guinness Storehouse, and one of the most historic neighbourhoods in Dublin. Here, you’ll find Christ Church Cathedral, the Dublinia Viking & Medieval Museum, and three Dublin whiskey distilleries (Teeling, Roe’s & Pearse Lyon’s).
Grafton St & Anne St South
Dublin’s premier shopping street is car-free, and the best place to go shopping in Dublin. In summer, crowds spill out of pubs like Kehoe’s onto the footpatch, creating a gloriously carefree atmosphere. Pick up a picnic pack of Irish cheeses at Sheridan’s Cheesemonger & take it into the nearby St Stephen’s Green for a picnic.
South Great George’s St
To meet some locals, head to the pubs and bars along South Great George’s Street. Not only is this a beautiful Georgian street, it’s home to some of the best bars and pubs in town. Don’t miss the historic Long Hall.
Shopping in Dublin
- Books Upstairs – Books Upstairs is the oldest independent bookstore in Dublin, and an absolute treasure for bookworms. Sections on the ground floor dedicated to Irish authors & history make it easy to pick up the perfect souvenir.
- James J Fox – Take home a taste of Ireland, and pick up a bottle of whiskey or gin at James J Fox. It’s the perfect stop after a trip to the Irish Whiskey Museum next door, and the miniature packs make it easy to find something to fit in your suitcase.
- Kilkenny Design – Kilkenny Design celebrates the best of Irish design, bringing together the best locally made homewares, decor, fashion & art. Perfect for shopping for authentic, locally made Irish souvenirs – including Irish crystal. I bought my sister’s wedding present from Kilkenny Design, after seeing the stores in Dublin & Kilkenny.
Day Trips from Dublin
Howth
Howth is a pretty seaside village on the outskirts of Dublin, perfect for a morning out of the city. We took a half-day trip to Howth from Dublin, by taking the DART (train), which took around 20 minutes.
Howth is best known for the Howth Cliff Walk, which I would love to complete if I returned in summer. We had already left the hotel for the day when we decided to hop on the DART to Howth, so we weren’t dressed for a full hike. We did however, walk the coastal path up to the start of the hike, which had beautiful views along the way.
Glendalough & Upper Lake
Glendalough is one of the most treasured Early Medieval sites in Ireland, and has been attracting pilgrims for more than 1400 years! You can explore the Romanesque ruins of the former Glendalough monastic city, and take a leafy walking trail to the gorgeous Upper Lake at Glendalough.
Glendalough is a 1 hour drive from Dublin. We visited as part of a day tour to Glendalough & Kilkenny with Collins Tours, which was excellent.
Glendalough: Ireland’s Ancient Monastic City in the Wicklow Mountains
Kilkenny
Kilkenny is a beautiful medieval city in southern Ireland, best known for its 12th-century Kilkenny Castle. Kilkenny is a 90-minute drive from Dublin, which makes it perfect for a day trip.
In Kilkenny, you can tour Kilkenny Castle, wander the famous Medieval Mile in the centre of town, and enjoy lunch in one of the many pubs and taverns in the city. We had lunch at Matt the Millers, a historic pub which overlooks the River Nore, in the centre of town.
Day Trip to Kilkenny: Ireland’s Colourful Medieval Capital
The best time to visit Dublin
Summer: June-August
Ireland is famous for cold, rainy & windy weather, so for your best chance of sunshine, visit in summer. It is peak season, with the crowds & prices to go with it, but it was so worth it to be able to enjoy exploring the city on foot, and having a picnic in St Stephens Green. It also was perfect weather for visiting Glendalough & the Upper Lake, and Howth, on day trips.
Dublin is one city where I think travelling in peak season is truly worth it!
Autumn: September-November
Dublin is in shoulder season in September & October, and off-season from November. The cooler, shorter days and fall foliage could make it a perfect time of year for enjoying Dublin’s indoor cultural attractions and cosy pubs, while also having the chance at enjoying the outdoors in the cooler weather.
The average temperature in Dublin is 13 degrees in September, 10 degrees in October and 6 degrees in November, but the weather is highly changeable. Be prepared for anything!
Winter: December-February
Winter is off-season in Dublin, which means less crowds and lower prices. You’ll have colder, wetter weather, but luckily there are plenty of things to do indoors in Dublin – not least of all, cosying up in the city’s legendary pubs!
Spring: March-May
Spring is shoulder season in Dublin, with average temperatures between 9-13 degrees celsius. The exception is the week around St Patrick’s Day, on March 17th, which is a peak time to visit Dublin.
Hello! I’m an Australian travel blogger, living in Melbourne, Australia. I grew up in Brisbane, studied in Paris, lived in New York City and now live back in Australia, in Melbourne.
I love sharing specific and useful recommendations, itineraries and guides for the most beautiful things to see, do, experience & eat wherever I go.
My favourite travel destinations are Australia, New York City & surrounds, France, Greece & Japan, but I’m always excited to explore somewhere new!
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