There are so many amazing things to do in Dublin, it can be hard to know where to start! Dublin is the capital of Ireland and one of the most exciting cities in Europe, with lots to keep visitors entertained for days. The best things to do in Dublin for first time visitors include visiting the Guinness Storehouse, seeing the Book of Kells, visiting the famous library at Trinity College Dublin, St Stephen’s Green, visiting Temple Bar and of course, hitting a few classic Irish pubs. 

This guide includes the best things to do in Dublin, based on my own experiences in Dublin, which has quickly become one of my favourite European cities! Beyond the obvious tourist attractions, some of the best things to do in Dublin include trying Guinness & Oysters, admiring the beautiful doors of Dublin, viewing the haunting Famine Memorial and discovering the history of Irish whiskey at the Irish Whiskey Museum.

The Book of Kells

The Book of Kells is one of the most beautiful manuscripts in the world, crafted by monks in the 8th Century BCE. It is an illustrated manuscript of the New Testament, and is a work of art, as well as a work of devotion. It was found at the Monastery of Kells in Ireland, which was destroyed in the late 17th century. It’s been kept at Trinity College ever since. You can visit two of Dublin’s most treasured attractions in one morning, with one ticket. Trinity College Dublin is home to the famous Long Room in the Old Library, and the Book of Kells, one of the most famous artefacts in the world.

The Old Library at Trinity College Dublin

The Old Library at Trinity College Dublin is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Ireland, and is considered one of the most beautiful libraries in the world. At the moment, a major library restoration project is underway to future proof the library for generations to come. At time of writing, you can still visit the Long Room during the restoration project, and it is still worth a visit. Book tickets in advance, and arrive 15 minutes before opening.

To enjoy the Book of Kells & The Long Room library without the crowds, walk straight through the educational exhibition and direct to Book of Kells, and then the Long Room. When you’re done, you can walk back through the exhibition on your way out, which you won’t be battling crowds to see.

St Stephens Green

St Stephen’s Green is Dublin’s most famous city park, a beautiful spot in the city centre near Trinity College. It’s so lovely that we visited multiple times on our first trip to Dublin. On a particularly sunny day, we picked up a picnic cheese pack from Sheridans Cheesemongers on Anne St South, and took it into the gardens for a picnic. St Stephens Green was a backdrop for one of the most important events in modern Irish history, when it became a battleground during the Easter Rising in 1916. Inside, you’ll find statues to Irish heroes like Countess Markiewicz, who led the rebel forces, author James Joyce, and the Yeats Memorial.

The Doors of Dublin

Admire the city’s famous Doors of Dublin which can be found around the city centre, south of the River Liffey. One of the best spots is near Merrion Square, which is surrounded by stately Georgian architecture and the famous, brightly coloured doors. Dublin is known for its elegant Georgian architecture, but these brightly coloured doors bring a splash of fun to the stately streetscapes.

Temple Bar

Yes, it’s touristy, but it has to be done! Temple Bar is the famous nightlife district in Dublin, lined with lively Irish pubs, including the area’s namesake, the Temple Bar pub. If you’d rather avoid the rowdiest tourists (and hens parties and stag do’s), then visit in the early afternoon – the pubs will already be busy, but it will be a lot more relaxed than later at night. Despite being touristy, visiting Temple Bar is still one of the best things to do in Dublin for first time visitors. My advice is to visit on the first day in Dublin, as we did, when the novelty of being in Dublin is at its peak. After a few days of being in Dublin, you’ll probably rather spend time in a less touristy, and more authentic Irish pub in other parts of town.

Traditional Irish Music

Traditional Irish music, also known as Irish Trad, is a lively folk music that uses unique Irish instruments and has a long tradition in Ireland. The best place to hear Irish trad music is at a Dublin pub, especially pubs that are renowned for their trad music. O’Donoghue’s is one of the best pubs in Dublin for Irish trad music, with a central courtyard which gets absolutely packed when there’s live trad music. It’s such a vibe!

St Patrick’s Cathedral

Regardless of your spiritual beliefs, St Patricks is a must-visit for history lovers. St Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin is the largest cathedral in Ireland and one of the most important pilgrimage sites in the country. The cathedral is more than 800 years old, and despite being founded as a Catholic cathedral, was reconsecrated as a cathedral of the Church of Ireland during the English Reformation in the early 15th century. Ireland was under English rule at the time, which explains the conversion. St Patrick’s holds excellent, free guided tours throughout the day, which I highly recommend joining. We dropped in just as a tour was starting, so we joined for just over half of it – unfortunately we didn’t have a full hour to stay for the whole tour, but I’d recommend making time for it if you can. We were hooked on all of the stories that this building holds!

EPIC Emigration Museum

Emigration is a central theme of Ireland’s national history. The EPIC Emigration Museum is an award-winning museum experience, which brings Ireland’s stories of emigration to life through interactive exhibits. The museum is excellent, and highly engaging, and worth spending a morning. We visited as just the two of us, but it’s very family friendly as well.

Try Guinness & Oysters

It sounds like an unlikely pairing, but Guinness & oysters is an extremely popular combination in Dublin. You’ll find Guinness & oyster deals at pubs all over Dublin, we tried it at the Guinness Storehouse.

Merrion Square

Merrion Square is one of Dublin’s largest and most beautiful Georgian squares. A stroll around pretty Merrion Square is one of the best things to do in Dublin, especially as you can find the city’s famous Oscar Wilde statue in one corner of the park, and you can admire some of the lovely doors of Dublin on the Georgian townhouses surrounding Merrion Square.

Books Upstairs

Dublin is a UNESCO City of Literature, so visiting one of the city’s best bookstores is a must do in Dublin. Books Upstairs is the oldest independent bookstore in Dublin, and a must visit for bookworms. In addition to everything you’d expect from a top rate independent bookstore, Books Upstairs makes it easy to pick up some of Ireland’s greatest classics and has an excellent section dedicated to Irish history & culture.

Irish Whiskey Museum

Whiskey was discovered in Ireland, and to discover the history of whiskey is to explore the history of Ireland itself. The Irish Whiskey Museum is an interactive experience, led by an Irish guide with the gift of the gab. They’ll have you in stitches and hanging off every word, as they entertain you with the wild and wonderful stories behind the discovery of whiskey in Ireland, and the many way it has shaped Irish – and western – culture to this day. At the end, you’ll enjoy a whiskey flight. This was so much fun, it’s definitely one of the best things to do in Dublin that we found on our trip!

Guinness Storehouse

The Guinness Storehouse is the #1 tourism attraction in Ireland, attracting thousands of visitors from around the world every year. The Guinness Storehouse spans multiple levels, with interactive exhibits explaining the history of Guinness, how its made and showcasing some of its most iconic advertising over the decades. There’s an interactive tasting room experience, as well as the Gravity Bar on the top floor, with 360 degree views over Dublin and a complimentary Guinness included with the price of your ticket. 

Famine Memorial

The Famine Memorial is a haunting, poignant series of sculptures by artist Rowan Gillespie, set on Customs House Quay in Dublin, commemorating the one million Irish citizens who died of starvation during the Great Irish Famine in the 19th century. The famine is the most significant event in Ireland’s history, with one million deaths and another one million emigrating around the world, reducing Ireland’s population by up to 25% in a span of a few years. It changed the course of Ireland’s history and remains a sensitive issue to this day, due to the fact that the famine was exacerbated by the governance of the English, who ruled Ireland at the time.

Visit Howth

Take a side trip of Dublin to lovely Howth, a beautiful seaside village on the outskirts of Dublin. You can get there in less than 30 minutes from Dublin on the DART (local train), which makes it a perfect half day or full day trip from Dublin. The Howth Cliff Path Walk is very popular, especially during the warmer months.

Bewley’s Cafe

The opulent Bewley’s Cafe is considered a national treasure, and is one of the best things to do in Dublin, especially if you’re after a break from sightseeing. Bewley’s Cafe on Grafton Street is a Dublin icon, and served the city since 1927. It’s famous for its opulent facade and interiors, beautiful stained glass windows and Bewley’s Cafe Theatre, which offers lunchtime live shows from 1-2pm most days of the week.

The Brazen Head

Dublin’s long history can be found around very corner, even at the pub! The Brazen Head is not only the oldest pub in Dublin, but it’s the oldest pub in Ireland, with a pub standing on this site since 1198. Today’s iteration of the Brazen Head dates back to 1754, which is still pretty old by any measure, and walking through it really does feel like stepping  back in time. Stop in for a classic Irish pub lunch, like Beef & Guinness Stew.

The Ha’penny Bridge

Don’t miss the pretty Ha’Penny Bridge, an ornate pedestrian bridge that crosses the River Liffey. It’s the oldest footbridge in Dublin and a local icon.

Classic Dublin Pubs

Irish pubs are beloved the world over, and there’s no better place to experience an authentic Irish pub than in Dublin itself. Dublin is teeming with lively, historic Irish pubs, but I’ve rounded up a list of the best pubs in Dublin to help you narrow down your choices. Enjoy a hearty meal, a pint of Guinness, whiskey and water, or even a local Irish gin – you’ll be blown away by the variety and quality of local Irish whiskies and gins you’ll find in Dublin pubs.

Dublin Castle

Dublin Castle was the seat of power in Ireland for centuries under English rule. Built on a 13th century Viking settlement, Dublin Castle was the centre of English rule in Ireland from the 12th century, until power was handed back to an Irish government in 1922. Today Dublin Castle is a government complex, but you can visit the 18th century Georgian palace, which has a remarkable art collection.

Butler’s Chocolate Cafe

Butler’s Chocolate is a Dublin institution, so make sure you stop into one of the Butler’s Chocolate Cafes in Dublin for a sweet treat. The tiny chocolates are divine, but their famous hot chocolate must be the most decadent hot chocolate on the planet! 

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