- April 5, 2021
- in Capitals, Cultural, Ireland, Western Europe
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Overview
Dublin is the capital of Ireland, a city with a huge reputation which has managed to retain the quaint and lively charm that you will find throughout the country. Dublin has a complex history full of Vikings, famines and wars, and much of the city still has an historic feel, with streets of cobblestone, castles and ancient churches. Even if you only have a short time in Dublin, our 24 hour city guide will show you the best of Dublin in a day.
When
Late spring is the best time of year to visit Ireland. Dublin in May is glorious, with the best weather and only handfuls of tourists.
Summer is also lovely in Dublin, as there are many city parks and scenic coastal walks but there are also lots of tourists, so there may be line ups and higher hotel prices.
Winter time is chilly for a Dublin visit, but the city rarely gets snow. Wrap up warm and focus on indoor attractions including all the pubs!
Travel
Dublin International airport is just 7km from Dublin city center and is a gateway to the whole of the island of Ireland. With regular international and European connections, Dublin airport is the perfect arrival destination for 24 hours in Dublin and wider Ireland travel.
- Transfer – the quickest and most convenient option, you can book in advance with Intui Travel.
- Taxi – grab a metered cab which will cost between €20 to €30 and take about 20 to 30 minutes.
- Bus – Aircoach offer a 24 hour service into Dublin from the airport, with Aircoach route 700 leaving every 15 minutes for the 30 minute journey. Tickets cost €8 one way and only one euro more for a return ticket! Airlink is Dublin’s public transport airport bus serving Dublin city centre on routes 747 and 757. Leaving every ten minutes, a single ticket will cost €7 but is covered if you get a Leap Card.
Stay
Stauntons on the Green is a superbly located guesthouse, offering leafy views, yet just minutes away from the hustle and bustle of central Dublin. A recent renovation of this beautiful Georgian townhouse means you’ll enjoy supremely comfortable surroundings, blended with the unique features of the historic building. With typical Irish hospitality and an excellent breakfast, this is a perfect option after a busy day in Dublin.
The Wilder Townhouse is a Victorian gem of a building, repurposed as a quirky boutique hotel. Located centrally, everything you need is within a five minute walk, including bus and tram stops. This characterful and charming hotel will look after you well - excellent bathrooms and a really special breakfast are the highlights. Another great choice for a one day Dublin itinerary.
For a special treat, or a celebratory visit, stay at the wonderful Merrion Hotel. Exuding luxury and elegance, this collection of Georgian townhouses have been melded together to create a perfect hotel experience on Merrion Square. With service that’s hard to beat, top notch facilities and dining, we say a stay at the Merrion will make your Dublin trip one to remember.
See & Do
The centre of Dublin is relatively compact and much of this Dublin one day tour can be managed on foot, and if you don’t want to walk, there’s always a tram! But, the best way to see Dublin is by wandering and meandering along the river, down interesting cobbled streets and past architectural splendours and reminders of this intimate city’s character and wit.
If you prefer to have your day in Dublin organised for you, why not consider one of these Dublin one day tours? You’ll have a knowledgeable guide, get tips about the city and learn about Dublin’s history, architecture and character.
Morning
National Museum of Ireland
Kildare Street in Dublin houses all the government buildings and many of the large museums. The best one is the National Museum of Ireland which showcases the archeology of the island and showcases relics from ancient history and archeological finds from the Vikings and medieval ages.
Some of the most interesting artefacts are of bodies of people that have been preserved in bogs from thousands of years ago, and you can learn about what their daily lives might have been like. This is a true must for any history fan or anyone that wants to learn about the history of Ireland, and all for free.
Trinity College & the Book of Kells
Trinity College Dublin is a magnificent campus that sprawls gardens, squares, sports fields and libraries amongst the Georgian architecture. The University of Dublin is the oldest and most prestigious in Ireland, dating from 1592 and modelled after Oxford and Cambridge in Great Britain. Walking around the main gates and interconnected walkways is a beautiful and free experience.
Inside is the magnificent 18th century Long Room, the 65m main chamber of the Old Library of Trinity College, and one of the most beautiful (and photographed) libraries in the world, often mistaken for a Harry Potter set (which it’s not!).
One of the main attractions inside the Old Library is the Book of Kells. The Book is an illuminated manuscript of the Bible’s New testament in Latin, illustrated by monks in the 9th century. It is an historic piece of Celtic religious art that is one of Ireland’s finest treasures. Each day a page is turned under the glass to show the detailed text and illustrations to visitors.
Alongside the Book of Kells, the Long Room is also home to 200,000 rare and ancient books. This is a popular attraction that can get quite busy on weekends or in the summer, so make sure to book your tickets in advance.
Grafton Street & St Stephens Green
Just before you turn into Grafton Street, take a moment to keep going along Suffolk Street to see the Molly Malone statue, in front of St Andrew’s Church. Known locally as “the tart with a cart”, Molly Malone was the subject of an Irish folk song of the same name (also known as “Cockles and Mussels”). Molly was a young and beautiful fishmonger who sold her produce from a cart on the streets of Dublin, and, according to the song, haunts the city after dying of fever.
Grafton street is about a ten minute walk from Temple Bar and is a wide cobblestone street. However, instead of being lined with pubs, this is a shopping street that is full of flower stalls, musicians and buskers. At any time of day you will find a handful of street performers, and it is well worth the stroll to people watch and buy some Irish souvenirs. If you have time, pop into Bewley’s for a coffee, they’ve had a shop in Grafton Street since 1927 and are a bit of a Dublin institution!
Continue walking to the end and you will be at St. Stephen’s Green, one of many beautiful and green city parks. Spend some time here to wander around the pools, enjoy the sun and explore the paths that criss cross around the large green space. You will see families playing, couples picnicking and lots of ducks in the ponds.
Afternoon
Dublin Castle
Located not far from Temple Bar and in the centre of the city, Dublin Castle is an original stronghold dating back to 1204 which has been important to Ireland’s history ever since. It still has one tower from the original fortification built by England’s King John and sits at the long gone location of “dubh linn” meaning black pool, where Dublin got its name.
The complex itself is a fascinating sight and offers information about Dublin’s history since the Vikings and English rule. There are also lots of fun events and things happening throughout the year, so be sure to check the calendar for historically themed days.
Christ Church Cathedral
Located in the heart of Dublin city, medieval Christ Church Cathedral, or more formally the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, is almost 1000 years old and was originally a Viking church, built by Sitric Silkenbeard.
Rebuilt in stone by the Normans in the 12th century, the cathedral has gone through a number of renovations to arrive in its current form as an Anglican cathedral, the history of which tells the religious and political story of Ireland.
From here cross the Liffey by the famous Ha’ Penny Bridge (pronounced hey-penny). Opened in 1816 (and called the Liffey Bridge then), you did indeed have to pay a half penny toll to cross the river, but for the 30,000 or so people who cross every day now, the distinctive iron bridge is free.
O’Connell Street with the Spire and the GPO
The other main commercial thoroughfare, and Dublin’s grandest ceremonial street, is O’Connell Street, named Daniel O’Connell who was the political leader of Ireland’s Roman Catholic majority in the first half of the 19th century. Known as The Liberator, he helped secure Catholic emancipation in 1829 and took a seat in the United Kingdom Parliament where he championed reform causes but failed to restore a separate Irish Parliament. O’Connells last stand in the UK Parliament was in 1847, on the eve of the catastrophic Irish Famine, to plead for relief. He failed and the starving were told to abandon their land and go to the workhouses. His statute and memorial stands at the southern end of O’Connell Street.
You’ll also find the Spire of Dublin in the middle of O’Connell Street, sometimes called the Monument of Light. The Spire, installed in 2003, is a slender metal structure which stands 120m high and is just 15cm in diameter at the apex. At dusk, the Spire’s stainless steel surface is gently lit by the ambient lighting of the street, and the tip is illuminated to provide a beacon in Dublin’s sky line at night.
GPO Museum
One of Ireland’s most famous buildings sits at the centre of O’Connell Street. The General Post Office is known not only for its’ architecture but for its role in the Easter Rising in 1916. The GPO Museum is a must see for anyone interested in Ireland’s difficult and turbulent modern history.
If the history of Ireland fascinates you, a guided tour by tour led by history graduates of Trinity College Dublin is highly recommended. This is an award winning walking tour with highly knowledgeable guides who can help you navigate Ireland’s complex story.
Evening
Guinness Storehouse
The Guinness Brewery is the main attraction for many people coming to Ireland, after all, Guinness is the country’s most recognizable and iconic product! The brewery still sits at its original location at James’s Gate but has now transformed into a modern museum, restaurant, shop and events venue. It is best to book tickets in advance as it is always busy and you can get a cheaper rate if you book online.
The whole site takes time to visit as you learn about the brewing process, see interactive advertising through the years, learn to pour the perfect pint and then enjoy a free Guinness at the top in the Gravity Bar, with incredible views all over the city. It is an essential experience that takes a few hours and although it is best at sunset, it can be quite busy then.
Jameson's Distillery
Whiskey Tasting at Jameson Distillery - If you haven’t filled up on Guinness, there is still more Irish alcohol to be had. Irish whiskey is known around the world and Jameson is probably the most popular. The Museum on Bow Street is no longer a working distillery but has all the information and tastings that you will need!
Combine your tours with a visit to the Jameson Whiskey Distillery and Guinness Storehouse on this highly recommended skip-the-line tour, with a local Dublin guide, for a true Irish experience.
Temple Bar
If you only have time for one stop in Dublin, the Temple Bar district is where you need to go to experience the city. It consists of five to six cobblestone streets in between the River Liffey and Dame Street and has the highest pub concentration in Dublin, a city with over 1000 of them! These pubs are some of the oldest in town, with The Temple Bar public house being the main attraction. Every establishment will serve traditional Irish meals, Guinness and other local favourites from lunch time to early in the morning.
This area is a tourist mecca, so you may find hen do’s or bachelor parties going on during the weekend, and it is a little more pricey than other areas, but it’s well worth it for the craic (pronounced crack, which is an oft-used word for having a great time, but means much more than that in Irish culture).
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Eat
The best place to eat in Dublin for traditional Irish food is the pub. Irish pubs often serve all the classics like a hearty Irish breakfast complete with potato bread, homemade soups with soda farls (bread) for lunch, along with bacon and cabbage, fish and chips, Guinness stews, Irish lamb and colcannon (mash potato with cabbage), one of Ireland’s best vegetarian foods.
Along with the great food and eclectic decor, you will often find a trad going on in the evening (traditional Irish music), when fiddles, penny whistles and other foot-tapping traditional Irish instruments are played, which adds to the atmosphere and brings in locals, known as Dubs, as well as the tourist crowd.
If the taste of Dublin appeals but you don’t know where to start, book a food tour with an expert for an introduction to Irish food, the history of food in Ireland and the opportunity to try Irish fare at top Dublin restaurants.
The Hairy Lemon
The Hairy Lemon is conveniently located in the centre of Dublin and is famous for its role in the 1991 film “The Commitments”. Today the pub is also well known for its pretty spectacular Guinness pie!
The Brazen Head
A large pub with an outdoor space, live music and good traditional food. The Brazen Head is rumoured to be the oldest pub in Ireland, but it pays the price for infamy by being recommended everywhere, so gets really, really busy.
The Pig's Ear
If you prefer a restaurant, The Pig’s Ear is an Irish restaurant serving good, honest, Irish fare with a modern touch, in a stylish and cosy space close to Merrion Square.
Top Five Dublin Travel Tips
- The Leap Visitor Card makes it easy to travel between Dublin’s many public transport systems. By Buying a prepaid €10 card for 24 hours will save you time and money and includes the Airlink bus within the cost.
- You may want to consider the Dublin Pass which you can buy online. The pass gives you skip-the-line access to 33 attractions and includes a bus tour. Check carefully that the attractions you want to visit are covered so the pass does actually save you money.
- It is customary to tip 10% for waiting staff and tour guides. They don’t depend on your tips, but it is welcomed.
- Even though Ireland can experience lovely summer days, the weather here is always unpredictable and showers are not uncommon. Wear layers and carry a waterproof just in case!
- The Gaelic word for cheers is slainte (pronounced slancha) and will be a good one to know as you enjoy the inevitable sampling at pubs and breweries!
Do you have just a little longer in Dublin?
Ireland is an artistic country, having a musical instrument for its icon, and has an endless amount of museums, architecture and live music, theatre and comedy to fit anyone’s taste. As Dublin sits on the River Liffey that flows into Dublin Bay, there are lots of scenic walks and day trips available for anyone with a bit more time. If you have another half a day in Dublin, or even longer, here are a few more attractions that could easily be added to the list above.
- Howth Coastal Walk - Howth is the peninsula just North of Dublin, but still reachable on the DART commuter train. Walking around the coast is a scenic and rugged walk that takes about two hours and passes by lighthouses and marinas. If you start your journey from the Baily Lighthouse and walk towards Howth, you can and your journey among a small fisherman’s village with great local restaurants before heading back into the city.
- Irish History - if you still want to know more about the story of Ireland, visit the Irish Emigration Museum and nearby Jeanie Johnson tall ship, a replica of a 19th century vessel which took Irish immigrants to America.
- Watch Hurling at Croke Park - Hurling or Gaelic football is the national sport of Ireland and known as the fastest game on grass. Players wear helmets and carry a hurley or wooden stick to hit around a small fast ball from end to end. It is exciting to watch in person and be part of the crowd at the modern Croke Park.
- Kilmainham Gaol - The county gaol for Dublin opened in 1796 and closed its doors in 1924. Today the building symbolises the tradition of militant and constitutional nationalism from the rebellion of 1798 to the Irish Civil War of 1922-23. Many Irish revolutionaries, including the leaders of the 1916 Easter Rising, were imprisoned and executed in the prison by the orders of the UK Government.
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