Dublin City Guide
Things to do in Dublin
When you think about Dublin and Ireland, what do you think of? We will hazard a guess that the first things that spring to mind are Guinness, pubs, and a constant downpour of rain. But there is so much more to this historic city! While it’s one of the smaller capital cities in Europe, it has been known to steal the heart of every visitor as there is something for everyone in the Fair City. Dublin is known for stunning cathedrals, haunted places, pubs with live traditional Irish music, historical museums and hidden attractions, and here’s our city guide on some of the best things to do while you’re here!
Guinness Storehouse
Let’s start with one of the most obvious things to do while in Dublin, visiting the Guinness Storehouse, the converted grain storehouse of Ireland’s most famous brewer is the most popular museum in time. Thousands of eager-eyed visitors make their way up through the exhibits until they reach the gravity bar at the top where you get the best 360 views of the city.
Dublin Castle
Dublin Castle was built back in 1204 and was the seat of power for British rule for over 700 years. Back in April 1684, a fire ripped through the castle destroying much of the structure and a Georgian palace was built in its place. Dublin Castle needs to be on your list of things to do for a few reasons, all Ireland’s presidents have been inaugurated in St Patrick’s Hall, for a stroll around the manicured gardens and the excursion to Ireland’s oldest pub.
Kilmainham Gaol
One of, if not the most popular thing to do in Dublin is visiting Kilmainham Gaol to gain insight into Ireland’s long road to independence. It’s best to book a tour of the Gaol in advance to avoid the lengthy queues. Go through the yard, the prison, and take an in-depth look at the history of the prison through a media show at the Old Chapel. You may find it unsettling as you hear about the many revolutionaries and other prisoners executed there.
Temple Bar
Temple Bar is the place to go if you’re looking for a taste of the typical Irish culture. We understand that it is over-priced and filled with tourists and no true Irish people, but it is one of the best things to do in Dublin. Find yourself visiting the traditional bars, listening to folk music playing in the streets and pubs, seeing bold graffiti and tagging along on walking tours. You can’t go to Dublin and not have at least one pint in the city’s most famous pub area!
Jameson Distillery
Dublin is home to another famous distillery, Jameson Whiskey Distillery! The Bow Street Jameson Distillery is smack-bang in the Smithfield area of Dublin close to the city center. Discover how the world-renowned drink goes from grains to the green bottle we all know and love! Many will skip this iconic thing to do in Dublin, but why would you when you get an insightful exploration of the history of Jameson, with tasting sessions, whiskey cocktail lessons, and many more interactive elements.
Looking for more of the top things to do on your visit to Dublin? Click here!
Phoenix Park
If you think St Stephen’s Green is good, Phoenix Park is even better. Things to do in Dublin’s famous park can involve strolls, picnics, renting a bike to cycle the perimeter or deer spotting. Phoenix Park is home for some semi-domesticated fallow deer and if you’re lucky you may be able to spot them when you visit!
Trinity College
This university in Dublin has alumni like Oscar Wilde, W. B. Yeats, Bram Stoker, all to name but a few, and is regarded worldwide as a great university. The grounds of Trinity beg to be explored with their grand white stone buildings and beautiful libraries. Visit the Trinity Long Room, a library that is guaranteed to take your breath away and the fabled Book of Kells that is a permanent exhibition makes Trinity one of our top things to do while in the Fair City of Dublin!
Ha’penny Bridge
The Ha’penny Bridge used to be a pedestrian toll bridge, and the funds collected went towards paying off its construction. It’s one of the quainter sights to see and an easy thing to do in Dublin as it’s close to Temple Bar! Back in the day, ferries used to pass under the bridge but now, it’s simply a bridge to Dublin’s past.
Grafton Street
One of the essential things to do in Dublin is to take a walk along Dublin’s famous shopping street, Grafton Street. While you window shop, you will be entertained by the buskers who play anything from traditional Irish folk music to current pop and rock anthems. They all make for the perfect soundtrack to your Irish trip. Famous Irish music legends such as Bono and The Script are a few of the big names to take on busking on Grafton Street!
Howth Cliff Walk
If you’re a nature lover who wants to enjoy a day away from Dublin city center, you need to take a visit to the coastal town of Howth on your list of things to do. Not only will you find some of the best seafood here and weekend markets for the perfect souvenir, Howth has the best coastal hikes with unimaginable views of the Irish Sea!
Looking for ideas for things to do in Dublin? Use it as a base for traveling Ireland!
Dublin is the perfect city to use as a base for exploring the famous Emerald Isle. Here at EurailingPackages, we have some vacation packages allowing you to explore Ireland’s best cities and towns: