Some will argue that Dublin is a tourist trap, there’s not much to see or do there. I’d have to disagree. I start and end all of my trips to Ireland in the capital city, because I have so many friends there. My trips are as much about exploring as they are about maintaining friendships. So since I am going to go there whether it’s recommended or not, I’ll let you know about a few things you won’t want to miss. Many people just do a day in Dublin on the front or back end of a trip, or as part of an extended layover (that’s how my first trip to Ireland worked out).
I’ve had more than a few days to explore Dublin now, so I’ll share some of the highlights. An expert traveler might be able to fit ALL Of these activities into one jam packed day of touring the city, but I’d focus on the ones that really matter to you and spend a little time enjoying the activities you choose. I’ve done quite a few more things in Dublin than you’ll read about here, and I’ll be checking off a few more bucket list items this summer too!
Castles
A photo of Dublin Castle from one of the gardens.
Ireland has thousands of castles. There is no excuse for you to leave this country without seeing at least one of them. If you don’t have the time to venture outside of Dublin, you’ll meet this goal with a trip to Dublin Castle. The castle was built in 1204, and has been expanding ever since. On site you will find a few museums, cafes, tours of the state apartments, and a library. I arrived a bit late in the day and simply wandered around the grounds on my own. Notice I had the entire place to myself.
Gardens
Ireland isn’t called the Emerald Isle for nothing. Take advantage of the beautiful gardens. Pack a book and stroll through some of their beautiful city gardens. You’ll find two at Dublin Castle or you can explore one of the many other city gardens, like Merrion Square surrounded by beautiful Georgian homes.
Churches
St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin, open to tourists and those looking for a place to pray and worship.
On my very first, very short trip to Ireland, one of the only things I had time to do was attend a church service with my travel companion. Sometimes when we travel, we stop to do things for those we love. Both those we are traveling with, and those at home. My grandmother is hard to please, and always sends me on extravagant treasure hunts to bring her a desired souvenir. On a previous trip to Turkey, she asked me to find a rosary for her. That proved rather challenging, but I thought a peak at the gift shop of St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin was worth a try. Sure enough it was a success, and I saw a beautiful historic building in the process. Much better than scouring generic tourist shops for her gift. If you enjoy visiting churches or appreciate architecture, add this to your itinerary!
The Jail
If you identify as more of a sinner than a saint, you might opt for a visit to the jail. If you can’t find a place to sleep for the night, it shouldn’t be too hard to earn yourself a free night in a Dublin holding cell. But for the less rowdy traveler, you might enjoy a tour of the Kilmainham Gaol. While there haven’t been any prisoners in the jail since 1920, you might be frightened by some of the tales you hear as you wander the ground of this historic facility. While you can explore on your own, I recommend the guided tour for this attraction.
The Booze
Once you’ve seen the sights, you’re going to need some time to explore Irish booze. It’s famous for a reason. So what should you drink in Ireland, and where? You might prefer a more official experience in the breweries or distilleries, or a more laid back pub scene. That’s for you to decide! One thing is for sure though, you will have no shortage of things to imbibe. There were even whiskey carts by the gates in the airport, but after 10 days in Ireland, I couldn’t even look at whiskey the morning of my outbound flight!
Guinness
Even if you don’t care for it, try one in Ireland. Made from the water that trickles down the mountain side, it is supposed to taste far superior to the guinness served in the states and other parts of the world. You can also check out the Guinness Storehouse, the observatory has a lovely view of the city where you can sip your Guinness after a tour of the museum.
Whiskey
Irish Whiskey is next. If you’re more of a whiskey girl or guy (like me), you’ll probably want to experience some Jameson in Ireland. I opted for the distillery tour in Cork, but if you’re only going to be in Dublin, you might want to check out the Old Jameson Distillery for a guided tour or Whiskey Master’s Class. There are several other Irish whiskies to explore. You can get Jameson anywhere, so if that’s your go to, try a specialty from the line, or go all out and have a pour of the Midleton Reserve. Powers and Paddy’s are two well known Irish whiskies that can be a little harder to find in the US. You might also be interested in Red Breast, Tullamore Dew, Knappogue Castleand Bushmills. Green Spot is another favorite I’ve discovered over the years. Just promise me you won’t drink ANY American whisky while in Ireland.
The Bars
If you don’t have the time or interest in a distillery/brewery tour, head over to the Temple Bar area. Any bar with live music will provide the perfect setting to enjoy your Irish drinks of choice. Many will write Temple Bar off as the Times Square of Dublin. I’ve been to Times Square as a tourist and as New Yorker trying to simply get from point A to point B. They don’t compare. If you want to share a few drinks with locals and tourists over live music, it’s a fine way to end your day. If it isn’t your cup of tea (or whiskey), there are plenty of quieter pubs around to meet your needs. Fellow blogger Hannah Logan reviews some options here.
The Hookers
And if you won’t be heading to Galway, definitely buy yourself a hooker! (Ok, that is an unexpected turn). No, I am not supporting illegal sexual misconduct. Galway Hooker is a fun small batch craft beer available in Ireland. You cannot find it in the US or most parts of the world, so buy yourself and your friends a hooker, and enjoy the live music. I won’t lie…I had a few hookers on my trip.
Finally, once you’ve had yourself a few of these fine Irish beverages, you must dance and sing along. The live performers will be playing traditional Irish music (my favorite is Galway Girl) as well as some of your favorite songs by Irish musicians. And when you get pulled up on stage, give Irish dancing a chance. You might be better at it than you think!
What a shame people dismiss Dublin as a tourist trap! I have a cousin who lives there and definitely want to visit someday. The castles, gardens, and Churches would keep me happy!
So…stay tuned. the Goal of the first trip was to SEE a castle. The goal of the next trip is to sleep in a castle!! Hoping I can make this happen!
Teehee, I like the part at the end about the “hooker”. Haha! 🙂 I’ve always wanted to visit Dublin, and we’re going to the UK next year, so I’ll have to remember this post. Thanks for the info!
Absolutely. My first trip to Dublin was the result of a long layover in Dublin on my way to the UK.
I’ve never been to Dublin, but this looks like so much fun! I would definitely make time for the castle, and maybe even for a guided tour to hear the tales of the Gaol before parking myself in a pub to just breathe in the people and the atmosphere. Thanks for sharing!
I spent two days in Dublin and I don’t regret it. There are so many things to see and do in and around Dublin. Unfortunately, I couldn’t visit the Kilmainham Gaol (I guess I spent too much time in the Guinness Storehouse). Next time.
Haha, yeah it’s pretty hard to leave the Storehouse Observatory! Probably best to do the Gaol first, THEN get your drink on!
Haha I first got a bit confused when reading hooker and now you made ma want to buy one. I can’t believe people say Dublin is a tourist trap. I absolutely loved it and didn’t even get to do all the things you mentionned. Thanks for all the tips!
A handsome young man bought me my first hooker in Galway, and since then, I’ve been hooked. I should probably edit to add that a galway hooker is a boat. lol I really enjoyed Dublin too. Ireland has so many beautiful things to see, but time spent in Dublin is certainly not wasted!
Great suggestions! What would be the best month to visit Ireland? I’d imagine it to be a blast with all the beers 🙂
I’ve only been in June and July. I think aiming for any of the warmer months from Spring to Fall would be ideal, but I was quite bundled up on July 4th! Just be prepared for the rain!
Hahah I remember my first hooker 😉 I tried it in the Palace Bar Pub I believe.
Haha, I mean, most people never forget their first. 😉
I love Dublin too, and I completely agree about Kilmainham Gaol. The tour is amazing. My other favorite tour is the Trinity College tour. The Guinness Storehouse is number one on my Dublin Bucket List. I still can’t believe I haven’t done it yet!
I didn’t do a tour at Trinity College, just walked around a bit on my own. That inner struggle between being independent wanderer and tourist. I am more of a whiskey girl, but did the Storehouse. I have also studied museums and museum education extensively, so I was able to analyze it from that perspective as well. They put on a good show!
You had me at Guinness!
I definitely want to visit Ireland because of the Pub Scene and the Guinness. I’m glad you show other perspectives as well.
My favorite part of the Guinness storehouse was the display of old marketing campaigns. They had some really fun ones back in the day! Ireland has so much to offer, it’s hard not to have a good time there!
I’ve always wanted to go to Ireland, would love to see the castles and check out the bars. Funny twist at the end, lol, would like to try that Galway Hooker beer. I got a taste of live Irish Traditional music in Newfoundland and just love it and the dancing.
The music is amazing, sometimes I go to the pubs in NYC just to hear it, and let it take me back for a night. And hopefully you get your hands on a Hooker (beer) one day. They are actually pretty tasty!
I LOVE Dublin!!!! I’ve been a couple times and everything on this list is spot on! That jail looks pretty intense, I’ve heard some of the stories on a tour while going by but I’ll have to check out the inside next time I’m chillin with Molly Malone 😉
These are the basics, and from there I’ll branch out a little. My next trip I am going to try to do Dublin as a local and see where they take me!!
Nice summary of the city! I have been there when I was 17, and now definitely would like to revisit and get involved a bit to the pub culture! 🙂
They wouldn’t serve you at 17? I thought you just had to be able to reach the counter!?! 😉
Haha, enjoyed reading your post! I do know about the craft beer and whenever I mention it to friends or people that ask me about Ireland they are always like ‘sorry, whaaatt?’ Glad you enjoyed Dublin – you’ve seen a lot in a day!
It’s such a fun beer! Glad you had the chance to experience it! We have a bar in NYC called the Galway Hooker, but they don’t serve the beer!!! That would be epic!
I missed Ireland when I visited UK and I am regretting it. I am a sucker for castles and Guinness (Of course there was plenty of Guinness in London and lovely castles in Scotland, so it wasn’t all bad :)). Isle of Mann is high on my list for the lochness monster.
I could have a field day in Scotland. Whiskey and castles. My dream!!
I couldn’t agree more with you! I absolutely LOVED Dublin and I can’t wait to make a return visit! I really loved the nightlife and how friendly all the Irish people I came across were. And the Guinness and Jameson Breweries were loads of fun. Even though people chide Dublin for its lack of attractions, I think you need to have the mentality of an urban explorer. Thanks for highlighting such a great city!
aghhh I missed Dublin in my recent trip to UK because I didn’t have much time and I thought one day wasn’t going to be enough. Can’t way to visit in my next trip!
I mean, we never have enough time…but you can certainly get around Dublin easily and enjoy it in a day…and hopefully be inspired to return!
I have to say, I wouldn’t have expected to read about visiting a jail on a one day tour of Dublin. It sounds intriguing however and… why not? I like to see off the beaten path places. 🙂
It’s definitely an interesting stop in Dublin. Maybe the Irish are too well known for their criminal activities. I mean England colonized an Island just to house my problematic ancestors!
The castles in Dublin look amazing! This post makes me really want to go. And haha I’ve never tried whiskey before. I haven’t tried that many different alcohols yet to be honest, but I will!! 😛
I think I take to whiskey, because of my Irish heritage, but I find the Irish whiskeys to be the smoothest variation. Jameson is a very good starting point. Scotches can be smokey or petey which can be a little much when you first start. But definitely see the castles first, and figure out your booze later!
I hadn’t heard much about travelling in Dublin so I’m glad you touched on it! I definitely want to get there and taste some good whiskey and beer!
Ah, this is cute! I went to Dublin for a concert and the only thing we saw on our allocated tour date was the Guinness factory nursing an epic hangover. Not my favourite travel memory (though the concert was awesome!!)
Love this! I’ve never thought Dublin as a tourist trap, although I’ve never been there yet – I’ve always wanted to go because of how green it is! Having lived in the Middle East, I do ache for greenery. I’m quite interested on that jailhouse overnight stay but I’d probably freak out already from the stories of the guide and wouldn’t be able to stay one second in it on my own. :p
Hi
Really great post and nice experience. I’ve been in Dublin a few months ago and I think it’s a beautiful city.
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Bye