The Ultimate Guide To Dublin, Ireland
From the famous pubs to the infinite sights to see, Dublin truly has something for everyone! This guide to Dublin will tell you everything you need to know. Dublin is home to rich history and culture that is amazing to experience.
This post is all about your guide to Dublin, Ireland.
The Ultimate Guide To Dublin, Ireland
Table Of Contents
- When To Go To Dublin
- About Dublin
- How Long To Stay In Dublin
- Getting Around Dublin
- Where To Stay In Dublin
- What To Do In Dublin
- Ha'Penny Bridge
- Explore Trinity College
- Book Of Kells
- Grafton Street
- St. Annes Street
- St. Stephens Green
- Temple Bar Pub
- Dublin Castle
- Christ Church Cathedral
- St. Patricks Cathedral
- Guinness Storehouse
- Howth Cliff Walk
- The Cliffs Of Moher
- Food In Dublin
When To Go To Dublin
The best time to visit Dublin is May - December. The summer months are lovely in Dublin because of the warm and sunny weather. It is tourist season in the summer, so it will be more expensive in terms of hotels and flights.
I am a strong advocate for shoulder seasons. (the season right before or after tourist season) I visited Dublin in October and found the weather and prices to be great and the crowds to be light. The main reason I love shoulder seasons is because everything is so much cheaper.
The holidays are also a great time to visit Dublin because of the decorations.
About Dublin
CURRENCY: Euro // cards are accepted everywhere in Dublin
SAFETY: Overall Dublin is a very safe city. Take normal precautions like you would in any city. You should try to avoid Connolly Station and Pearse Street as they are the most unsafe parts of Dublin.
PLUGS: Type G
How Long To Stay In Dublin
Dublin can easily be done in 2 days. Although if you have the time than I would stay for 4 days, so you don't miss a thing.
Getting Around Dublin
The best way to experience a city is walking. Dublin is a very walkable city - so if you don't need to take public transportation, don't!
If you need to use public transportation I would recommend the tram. The tram goes all through the city, is easy to navigate, and is very affordable. You can get tickets for the tram in Dublin very easily by just hoping on one and paying 50 cents. More on the Dublin tram here.
If you are visiting a nearby town outside of Dublin or somewhere that is not walking distance the train is very easy to navigate and is super affordable. More on Dublin's train system here.
Another affordable way to get around Dublin is the hop on hop off buses. I love these buses because they stop at all of the best tourist attractions and frequently come to pick you back up. You can book the buses in advance here.
Where To Stay In Dublin
Hostel: Abbey Court Hostel - If you are a fellow budget traveller and are looking for a good hostel in Dublin the Abbey Court Hostel is the best with great reviews and a perfect location. Make sure that you book ahead of time because the Abbey Court Hostel will sell out, especially in the summer months.
Mid - Range: Motel One Dublin - WHERE I STAYED. I loved my time at Motel One Dublin. Don't let the name throw you off, this is no motel. Motel One Dublin has lovely decor, clean rooms, and friendly staff. You will not find a better location in Dublin. Motel One is located right next to the famous Ha'penny Bridge and across the river is the Temple Bar district.
High - Range: The Fitzwilliam Hotel - Located near the stunning and relaxing St. Stephens Green, the Fitzwilliam Hotel offers a luxurious experience in beautifully decorated rooms and top notch service. If you are looking for a little bit of luxury in a great location the Fitzwilliam Hotel is perfect for you.
Luxury: The Shelbourne - The Shelbourne is one of Dublin's best hotels. You will be in the perfect location, in between Grafton Street and St. Stephen Green, and you will have a luxurious experience with everything you need.
What To Do In Dublin
Ha'penny Bridge
The Ha'penny Bridge is a adorable little pedestrian bridge used to cross the Liffey River to the Temple Bar district from the northern part on the city. This bridge was the first pedestrian bridge built in Dublin, May of 1816. The Ha'penny Bridge is a perfect place for some cute pictures and to get a view of the Liffey River.
You will not need more than ten minutes at the Ha'Penny Bridge as it is a stop that you will just look at for a few minutes and take a picture.
Explore Trinity College
This guide to Dublin would not be complete without a visit to Trinity College. Located in the center of Dublin is the famous Trinity College. Trinity College is known as being the most competitive and beautiful college in Ireland. The buildings are old and covered in ivy and the facilities are top-notch. If you have the time I would recommend bringing a good book and relaxing on the luscious green grass for an afternoon.
Book Of Kells
Located in Trinity College, The Book of Kells Is a Manuscript made in the medieval times that illustrates the Four Gospels and is very important to Irish history. After you have seen the book you will enter to the Trinity College Library that you have probably seen all over instagram. The Trinity College Library is absolutely stunning and is a must see in Dublin.
You must buy tickets ahead of time when visiting the Book of Kells and Trinity College Library because they will sell out. I didn't, so I had to wait until my last day in Dublin to go, this can be a problem if you only have a certain amount of time in Dublin. You also do not want to miss this while in Dublin, so plan ahead. Buy the Book of Kells and Trinity College Library tickets here.
There are no photographs allowed at the Book of Kells so you will have to see it for yourself.
I would dedicate at least 2 hours to Trinity College and the Book of Kells.
Grafton Street
Just outside of Trinity College is the lively Grafton Street. Grafton Street has all of the shops you could think of and has a super fun vibe to it. There are always singers and performers on Grafton Street. (Ed Sheeran used to perform on Grafton Street) Grafton is a must see in Dublin.
Stay away from restaurants on Grafton, they tend to be overpriced and not very good.
Stroll Down St. Annes Street
Many people miss St. Annes Street when in Dublin because they don't know where it is. Located just off of Grafton Street, St. Annes Street will only take a few minutes out of your day. Make sure to take a picture of the umbrellas and St. Ann's Church.
St. Stephens Green
If you are like me and need a break from the city at some point during your trip than St. Stephens Green is a perfect place to have that break. Stroll through this lovely park and admire the green grass and the pond full of ducks and swans. St. Stephens Green is a great place for a picnic or a run.
Temple Bar Pub
This guide to Dublin would not be complete without a visit to the Temple Bar Pub. On the outside of the pub you will find gorgeous window boxes and a bright red building that is absolutely stunning. Make sure to snap a picture of the pub from the outside. Once you are inside Temple Bar Pub you will find live Irish music and tons of Guinness.
The Temple Bar tends to be a bit overpriced but you cannot miss it on your trip to Dublin.
Dublin Castle
If you are looking to learn a little bit more about Ireland's history than the the Dublin Castle is the perfect place to visit. You will learn all about the kings and queens of Ireland while exploring the historical Dublin Castle. The Castle dates back to the 13th century and is well preserved.
The tickets to the Dublin Castle can be bought upon arrival. Or you can buy them ahead here.
Christ Church Cathedral
The Christ Church Cathedral is a short walk from the Dublin Castle. The Cathedral is an easy and quick stop that is definitely worth your time, and it is oldest building in Dublin. If you don't want to buy tickets to get inside then admiring the Christ Church Cathedral from the outside is an excellent idea.
St. Patrick's Cathedral
St. Patrick's Cathedral is absolutely stunning. This cathedral opened in the 1100's and is still well persevered. While in St. Patrick's Cathedral you will have the opportunity to learn all about St. Patrick and other important people in Ireland's history.
You can buy tickets upon arrival at St. Patrick's Cathedral.
Guinness Storehouse
It is impossible to walk through Dublin and not see Guinness being advertised everywhere. The Irish love there Guinness and want to make sure that you know that. The Guinness Storehouse is the most visited place in Ireland, and for good reason! It is decked out with amazing exhibits and activities to participate in.
Although beer is not my cup of tea, I still enjoyed my visit to The Guinness Storehouse. Admission is 30 euros and includes a beer at the Gravity Bar that overlooks all of Dublin.
Howth Cliff Walk
Howth is an easy 30 minute train ride from Dublin. If you are not able to visit the Cliffs of Moher on your trip to Ireland or have some extra time in Dublin Howth Cliff Walk is a lovely thing to do.
The train is only 2 euros and it brings you right to the hike. You will see marvelous cliffs that overlook the water and you will be able to enjoy Irish nature.
If you to do the entire walk give yourself an entire afternoon or morning. I did one of the shorter trails and it only took about an hour.
There are many pubs and cafes in Howth so don't worry about packing any food.
More about Howth Cliff walk here.
The Cliffs Of Moher
While in Ireland the Cliffs of Moher is on everyone's list of what they want to see. The only problem is that the cliffs are on the other side of the country. You will have to dedicate an entire day and a lot of driving to the cliffs if you want to see them while in Dublin.
To drive across the whole country it only take about 2.5 hours, so seeing the cliffs is manageable. I would do a tour from Dublin so you don't have to worry about getting tickets to the cliffs and renting a car. Make sure to book the tour ahead of time because it will sell out. This tour is very good and affordable.
Food In Dublin
Coffee/breakfast
I wrote a whole post all about coffee and breakfast in Dublin. Check it out here!
lunch/dinner
Etto - European
Shouk - Mediterranean
777 - Mexican
The Winding Stair - Irish (photo above)
Hang Dei - Chinese
Hens Teeth - Argentinian
pubs/going out
Temple Bar - pub
Bar Pez - wine bar
Sidecar - cocktails
I hope that this guide to Dublin helps you plan an amazing trip to Ireland. If you liked this post I think you will love my post all about the Best Coffee Shops In Dublin, Ultimate Guide To Galway and London On a Budget.
daisymaclellan@daisiesabroad.com
Instagram: daisymaclellan
Happy Travels
-Daisy
6 comments