15 Best Things To Do In Dublin (Ireland) 2023
This list of important places to visit in Dublin is perfect for thoroughly enjoying one of the most welcoming cities with the best atmosphere in Europe.
Divided in two by the River Liffey, the capital of Ireland stands out for its historic center full of old churches, historical monuments, well-kept parks, exciting museums, and an endless number of taverns where you can have an excellent black beer while listening to live music.
To get to know all its tourist attractions, you will have enough with two days, although if you want to get closer to other wonders of Ireland, such as the Giant’s Causeway or the Cliffs of Moher, we recommend adding two or three more days. In addition, in a country with such frequent rainfall, it is preferable to have extra time to have some flexibility if the weather is not good.
Based on the days we spent in this city during our trip to Ireland, after which we wrote this Dublin guide, we have made this list of the ten most beautiful places to see in Dublin. Let’s start!
1. Trinity College
The best way to start your visit to Dublin is by entering the impressive Trinity College early in the morning; the oldest university in Ireland and one of the most prestigious in the world.
Founded by Queen Elizabeth I in 1592, this university impresses with the long main room of its library full of books and manuscripts from all eras located on its tall wooden shelves, which is said to have been inspired by Harry Potter’s Hogwarts College.
The library’s most precious jewel is the 9th-century Book of Kells, made by Celtic monks and containing the 4 Gospels of the New Testament.
We recommend booking this free tour to learn more about the city’s history and catch everything necessary! , considered one of the best free tours in Dublin, or this private tour is ideal for groups.
Visiting hours: from May to September from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm; on Sundays, it opens at 9:30 am. From October to April, from 9 am to 5 pm; on Sundays, it begins at noon.
Trinity College is one of the places to visit in Dublin.
2 Grafton Street
Grafton Street, a famous pedestrian street located right in the center, between Saint Stephen’s Green Park and Trinity College, is another of Dublin’s best places to visit.
Busy like few others, this street is perfect for shopping, be it clothes or a typical souvenir such as a leprechaun figurine, and above all, listening to good street musicians.
20 Wonderful Places To See In Asturias, Spain 2023
For a while, due to the tram works, the bronze statue of Molly Malone was also here, honoring a viral song about a peddler who pushed a fish cart during the day and at night held prostitution. However, it is located on Suffolk Street, opposite the Tourist Office.
3. Saint Stephen’s Green Park
At the end of Grafton street is Saint Stephen’s Green, our favorite park in Dublin. That is also perfect for disconnecting from the hustle and bustle of the city or having a picnic.
Walking along the paths of this Victorian-style park, inaugurated in 1664, you will pass under wooded areas and in front of busts and statues of Irish historical figures such as James Joyce or Arthur Guinness, until you reach a beautiful lake full of swans, ducks, and seagulls.
The best time to visit this park is in spring, when the flowers in its gardens fill it with a thousand colors, and during summer, when concerts are held at noon.
4. Merrion Square is one of the places to visit in Dublin.
A few meters from Saint Stephen’s Green, you have Merrion Square, an old private park surrounded by elegant Georgian-style buildings and another important Dublin place to visit.
Among the most outstanding points of the park are the statue of Oscar Wilde, located in one of its corners and which recalls the years he lived in this neighborhood, the remains of an old bomb shelter from World War II, and several old lampposts.
In addition, near one of the corners of the square is the House Museum Number 29, which is worth entering to see what the houses of the bourgeois class were like in Dublin 200 years ago.
Another of the ordinary things in this neighborhood and Temple Bar is taking photos at the different colored doors of the Georgian houses until you complete a beautiful rainbow.
5. St. Patrick’s Cathedral
The next stop on the Dublin tour is St. Patrick’s Cathedral, the country’s largest church dedicated to the patron saint of Ireland.
Its origins go back to the 5th century when there was a small wooden church that centuries later, between 1220 and 1260, was transformed into the current one, made of stone.
Although many travelers only see its exterior, it is worth entering its Gothic-style interior to see its ornate interior decoration and places such as the 12th-century crypt, the baptismal font from the Middle Ages, the choir, the legendary “Chapter Door » and the tombs of famous people such as Jonathan Swift, author of «Gulliver’s Travels.»
10 Best Things to see in Saint Augustine (Florida) 2023
Although any time is an excellent time to visit the cathedral, if it coincides with Sunday mass, you will enjoy the spectacular singing of the choir.
One of the best tips for traveling to Dublin is to check if it is profitable to buy the Dublin Pass tourist card that includes admission to the cathedral and the city’s main tourist attractions.
6. Dublin Castle
The castle, which has also been a royal residence, a military fortress, and the seat of the Irish Court of Justice and from which the English administered Ireland during their occupation, is another of the most beautiful places to visit in Dublin.
Located in the heart of the historic center, this 12th-century complex, which has become an emblem of the country, can be covered on a one-hour guided tour, enough time to see the Hall of Saint Patrick, the Royal Chapel, the Landing of the Axes War Room, the Throne Room, the Grand Staircase, and the King’s and Queen’s rooms.
Once outside, you can see the old Medieval Tower from the 13th century and walk through its gardens. We were visiting hours: every day from 9:45 am to 5:45 pm. Dublin Castle is another of the places to see in Dublin
7. Christ Church Cathedral
Christ Church Cathedral or Holy Trinity Cathedral is one of the essential things to see in Dublin, along with St. Patrick’s Cathedral and the oldest building in the city.
This Protestant cathedral, built in 1028 by a Viking king and expanded over the centuries, stands out for housing one of the largest and oldest medieval crypts in the United Kingdom, as well as the chapel of Saint Laurence O’Toole, 19 ancient bells, and the Treasury of the Church, made up of manuscripts and valuable historical objects.
When leaving the temple, you will see a bridge connecting it with Synod Hall. This building houses the exciting exhibition “Dublinia,” where you can take a quick walk through the city’s history during the Viking Age and the Middle Ages.
An exciting way to get to know the most hidden side of this city, full of mysteries, legends, secrets, and dark alleys, is to book this free tour in Spanish, one of the best valued by travelers visiting Dublin.
Visiting hours: Monday to Saturday from 9:30 am to 7:00 pm; Sundays from 12:30 pm to 2:30 pm and from 4:30 pm to 7:00 pm (in winter, it closes earlier).Christ Church Cathedral
8. City Hall is one of the best places to visit in Dublin
Before entering Dublin City Hall (City Hall), located near Christ Church, we recommend you try some typical local food such as Irish Stew or Fish and Chips at Darkey Kelly’s or Leo Burdock’s, two of the best restaurants to eat at in Dublin and for dessert come and try the delicious Queens of Tarts (the queen of tarts).
Once full of energy, you can enter the town hall for free to see the Rotunda, a large circular room culminating in an impressive dome supported by twelve columns and decorated with elegant statues.
You can also go downstairs to see an exciting exhibition on the city’s history from the Anglo-Norman invasion to the present day.
We were visiting hours: Monday to Saturday from 10 am to 5:15 pm.
Our recommended hotel in Dublin, Our recommended accommodation in Dublin, is the Holiday Inn Express Dublin City Center, located less than 10 minutes from Temple Bar and with one of the best quality/price ratios in the city.
In addition to its magnificent location, the hotel has spacious and clean rooms, modern facilities, and a good breakfast.
Another good option is the Belvedere Hotel Parnell Square, located a 5-minute walk from shopping O’Connell Street.
For more information on the best hotels and neighborhoods, you can consult this post on where to stay in Dublin.
9. Temple Bar
Temple Bar, located between Dame Street and the River Liffey, is the neighborhood to visit in Dublin with the most atmosphere, especially when sunset comes and its cobbled streets and taverns are filled with locals and tourists.
Keep in mind that having a few pints of black beer or eating typical dishes in one of its most legendary pubs, such as The Temple Bar, Merchants Arch, O’Neills, or Oliver St.John Gogarty, while listening to live music, is an of the best things to do in Dublin.
A fun way to learn about its most famous taverns and their stories is to book this night tour of Temple Bar.
Temple Bar is one of the places to see in Dublin
10. River Liffey
After having a few beers, we suggest you cross the pedestrian Ha’penny Bridge and the Millennium Bridge at dusk to have one of the best views of Dublin, with the lampposts illuminating the bridges and both banks of the River Liffey.
16 Exciting Things To Do In Santo Domingo: Top-Rated Attractions 2023
Once you cross these bridges, you can take a long romantic walk until you see the imposing facade of the Customs House reflected in the water. In front of this building are the Famine sculptures, one of the most moving places to see in Dublin and which show the traces left by famine in the population during the mid-19th century.
11. O’Connell Street
Starting from the O’Connell Bridge, we suggest you visit O’Connell Street, the main commercial artery and another of the essential things to see in Dublin.
This avenue, one of the widest in Europe and always full of people, has several important monuments, such as the statue of the nationalist leader Daniel O’Connell, the Dublin Central Post Office, where the Republic of Ireland was proclaimed, and the Spire (Monument of Light). This 120-meter-tall steel spire commemorated the arrival of the new millennium.
After filling your shopping bags on this street and adjacent to Henry Street or Parnell Street, you can eat an excellent Irish stew at Murray’s Pub.
12. Guinness Storehouse
Guinness Storehouse, the Guinness beer factory, and the warehouse are other essential places to visit in Dublin. Converted into a museum, this old factory is a temple for beer lovers, where you can learn in an interactive way all the steps to make its famous, world-famous stout. You can also see mythical objects of the brand, such as old bottles, barrels, posters, and the brewery lease signed by Arthur Guinness in 1759.
The building tour, which will take you one hour, goes through its seven floors, and the Last is the Gravity Bar, where you can have an excellent pint of black beer with one of the best views of Dublin.
You can enter for free if you have the Dublin Pass or book this guided tour that includes skip-the-line entry and a pint of Guinness in its panoramic bar.
We were visiting hours: every day from 9:30 am to 7:00 pm.
13. Old Jameson Distillery
If whiskey is your thing instead of beer, we recommend visiting the historic Jameson Distillery (Old Jameson Distillery) to learn about making Ireland’s most famous and best-selling whiskey.
During the guided tour inside, which usually lasts about 40 minutes, you will learn about the more than 200 years of history of this brand and the different distillation processes until you end up at JJ’s Bar, enjoying a whiskey tasting.
Next to this distillery is the chilling Church of St. Michan, one of the oldest in the city and where you can see mummified remains from more than 200 years ago, and the original The Church bar, located inside a church.
We were visiting hours: Monday to Thursday, Sundays from 10 am to 5:30 pm, and Fridays and Saturdays from 10 am to 7 pm.
14. Kilmainham Gaol
Kilmainham prison, where many of the leaders who fought for the independence of Ireland from the United Kingdom were tortured and executed, is another of the most symbolic places to see in Dublin.
During the guided tour inside, you will go through the different narrow passages that give access to the cells until you reach a large room where the famous film ” In the Name of the Father ” was filmed, performed by the brilliant Daniel Day-Lewis.
The route ends in the courtyard, where several revolutionary leaders were executed, and the museum, where you can see the prisoners’ personal belongings.
The prison is far from the center (3 kilometers), although it can be easily reached by bus.
We were visiting hours: every day from 9 am to 6 pm.
Kilmainham prison is another of the places to visit in Dublin.
15. Phoenix Park
Right in front of Kilmainham Prison is Phoenix Park, our last recommendation on this list of important places to visit in Dublin.
This extensive green lung of the city is perfect for long walks through its woods while you try to see some of the deer that live there.
25 Best Beaches In Spain For An Exotic Vacation In 2022
In addition to deer, it has other interesting points, such as the Phoenix Column, the Papal Cross, the People’s Garden, and the Wellington Testimonial, a 63-meter-tall obelisk built in honor of the Duke of Wellington.
What is the #1 attraction in Dublin Ireland?
1 Guinness Storehouse. As Ireland’s most-visited attraction for years, there’s no escaping the might of the Guinness Storehouse. Make no mistake, it’s a seven-storey exhibition rather than a working brewery (that’s nearby but off-limits).
Is 2 days enough for Dublin?
2 days in Dublin is enough time if you just want to see the city’s main highlights. However, if you want to see some of Dublin’s lesser known sights and hidden gems, or if you want to go on some day trips to other parts of Ireland, then you’ll want to extend your trip by at least another 2 days
What is Dublin best known for?
What is Dublin famous for?
- Guinness. Nothing beats a pint of Guinness and when it comes to the best places in the world to enjoy a pint of the black stuff – Dublin is obviously top of the list. …
- Georgian Architecture. …
- Pub Culture. …
- UNESCO City of Literature. …
- Dublin is a Friendly & Progressive city. …
- Excellent Accommodation.
Can you do Dublin in 3 days?
Three days in Dublin is the perfect length of time to enjoy the sights, soak up the culture, the cathedrals and the castles. You’ll also have plenty of time to explore the pubs and bars the city is so famous for and enjoy the craic.