15 Best things to do and see in Dublin
- Abigail Gaston
- Feb 11, 2019
- 7 min read
Dublin is not only the capital of Ireland, it is the largest city on the island. It is also the most popular city for Ireland visitors to travel to. With these 3 factors weighing in, Dublin must have many great things for locals and visitors to see and do. So, what are the top attractions for travelers to Dublin? Read on to find out 15 best things to do and see in Dublin!
No matter what country you are from, you likely have heard of Guinness; you may not have tasted it yet, but you have definitely heard of it. Guinness is one of the most known beers in the entire world. In fact, a USA Today article has it listed in the top 30 most popular beers in the world. To some, that espresso colored beer with a harp on the bottle is a bit frightening. It is dark, it looks thick, and it has a distinctively strong smell. With that said, if you give it a chance, especially in Ireland, you probably will like it! Okay, maybe not everyone will like it, but I still think it is worth a taste and the best place to taste it is at the Guinness Storehouse at St. James Gate in Dublin.
Like the beer itself, the Guinness Storehouse is one of the most popular attractions in Dublin. It may sound cliche, but it truly is a must visit; however, why is a little farther from just being a world renowned beer. When Jeff, my second half, and I visited Dublin, I wanted to visit Guinness Storehouse because it was "the thing to do in Dublin." On our last day in Ireland, we headed to the giant brewery. Jeff and I spent a few hours touring ourselves around the factory. We learned a lot about the very scientific process to ensuring that Guinness brewing experts get the perfect batch every time.
Toward the end of the tour, we learned the right way to taste Guinness from a tasting specialist. Then, we headed up to the top floor of the Storehouse to checkout the amazing 360 degree view of Dublin, all while sipping on our complimentary Guinness draft. Upon leaving the Guinness Storehouse, I asked Jeff, "Did you know how much science went into brewing beer?" We both were pretty shocked by just how technical it all is.
The layout of the Guinness Storehouse is great! I have been on a few brewery tours in the past; however, none have ever been as in depth or as fun as the Guinness Storehouse tour was. Additionally, the souvenir shop is not just huge, it offers some great merchandise for purchase and it is very fairly priced too!
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If you have a taste for whiskey, or you simply want to checkout all the major tourist attractions Dublin has to offer, then a stop into the Jameson Distillery should be on your Dublin travel itinerary. The Jameson Irish Whiskey Distillery is located on Bow Street in Dublin City Central. There are multiple distillery tour options and prices for the tours start at around $23. Though you can customize your experience, the end of each tour is pretty much the same; toasting your Dublin vacation with a shot of Jameson, or a cocktail of your choice with Jameson as the main ingredient, at JJ's Bar.
Christ Church Cathedral is located within Dublin City Center. It is a little less than a 10 minute walk from Dublin's Temple Bar district and only around $7 to visit. Originating in the 11th century, Christ Church Cathedral is not just Gothically beautiful it houses many amazing religious artifacts and displays multiple century specific objects. Basically, the church's lower levels are loaded with museum-like items to be seen.
4. Trinity College, the library & The Book of Kells
The Trinity College campus is beautiful. On a nice day, you may find both college attendees and tourist roaming around the inner-city campus. The library is quite unique and obviously holds much rich history. I was a bit surprised at its size. I thought it would be a bit larger than it actually is; it was still neat though. The Book of Kells is a Latin manuscript outlining 4 Gospels from the New Testament, as well as prior introductory Gospels. The Book of Kells is from the 9th century and is on display at Trinity College Library.
Temple Bar has a long running history in Dublin. It started when Sir William Temple migrated to Dublin and built a home on the southern banks of the River Liffey in 1600. The Temple estate was passed through the Temple family for centuries and throughout that time, this specific area became more and more developed, with the first Temple Bar being established in 1840. The original Temple Bar can be found at 43-44 Temple Bar, Dublin.
Although I highly suggest you spend some time in the nearly 180 year old establishment, walking around and checking out the rest of The Temple Bar district is an absolute must! Interestingly, although the district is called "The Temple Bar," it actually consists of bars, shops, convenience stores and markets, restaurants, and hotels/B&B's. It is definitely the most lively area of Dublin.
Phoenix Park is a Dublin urban park. It is approximately 2 and 3/4 square miles. Phoenix Park is a beautiful green space within Dublin city limits and many locals and visitors take to the park for exercise, to checkout the gorgeous natural resources, and to witness the hundreds of Phoenix Park protected deer in their natural habitat. Obviously, the last one is a tourist favorite, including mine!
A few things you should remember if you decide to visit Phoenix Park is that you should not try to touch or disturb the deer in any way. They are protected within a park that sees a lot of human foot and vehicle traffic, so they are used to people for the most part. However, they are still wild animals, beautiful and gentle looking, but still wild. Do not try to feed the deer. The park rangers do not mind if you visit them, but they should not be fed food that is unnatural to them.
Another feature near Phoenix Park is the Dublin Zoo. If you are a zoo lover or simply looking for a family friendly activity, the Dublin Zoo is adjacent to Phoenix Park, so you can cross off 2 attractions in 1 stop, essentailly!
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Dublin Castle is located on the south side of River Liffey. It is about 5 to 7 minutes walk from the original Temple Bar/Temple Bar district. Dublin Castle is beautiful inside and out. Within Dublin Castle, it is very lavish and antique; the royal presence still shines bright, despite not being occupied by royalty any longer. You can plan your visit to Dublin Castle here. Or, checkout a walking tour that includes Dublin Castle starting at only $16.
St. Patrick's Cathedral is under a 15 minute walk from Dublin's Temple Bar district. It holds worship each day of the week and welcomes everyone to join, members and visitors alike. If you would like to visit St. Patrick's Cathedral but do not want to attend worship, you can explore the cathedral between visitors hours.
A 22 acre city center public park that is an Irish heritage preservation. What is most unique about this park, however, is what has been preserved with the green space; its showcased Victorian layout. St. Stephen's Green provides to the Dublin community, a place to escape the city and surround themselves with beautifully planned out floral arrangements and perfectly placed and manicured shrubbery, a waterfall that empties into a beautiful lake, and a home to many different wildlife creatures.
Although some may not be into touring an old prison while on vacation, I am telling you that this old prison is architecturally intriguing. Today, it represents militant and constructional nationalism from the rebellion and Irish Civil War. The tour is offered by guide only and you can check it out further here!
One of the unique things about Dublin is Liffey River; the river that runs through the heart of Dublin City Center. Another unique thing about Dublin, among many, are the beautiful bridges that connect the North and the South side of Dublin. Of the ones I crossed, Ha'Penny Bridge is my favorite bridge in Dublin, and without sounding cliche, it seems to be a favorite by many. Its unique structure, high arch, historical presence, and the fact that it appears to be loved by so many, is reason enough to add it to this list.
12. The Spire of Dublin (or, The Monument of Light)
Standing 120m high (393 feet) and 3m in diameter at the base, the stainless steel Spire of Dublin, stands dead center in the middle of O'Connell Street; however, it can be seen for miles. Interestingly, the Dublin Spire was the winning entry in an architectural competition that would replace the previous monument that was destroyed (blown up) in 1966, the previous monument was Nelson's Pillar. However, The Spire of Dublin did not have the "go ahead" right off the bat; it architects and planners had to go through a planning and zoning appeal and court case before moving forward. The Spire of Dublin was finally erected between 2002 and 2003.
The Dublin Flea Market is only open the last Sunday of each month (except during the Christmas season when it is open almost every day). If you find yourself in Dublin at the right time when the market is active, I definitely recommend exploring the giant indoor Irish market! There are many unique goods to be purchased from over 60 merchants, and for a decent price too!
14. Glasnevin Cemetery Museum
Touring a cemetery may not be your idea of a good time; however, this is not just any cemetery. It is full of Victorian beauty and is home to many very prominent and famous Irish men and women who shaped what Irish is today. In the cemetery, you will discover poets and writers, political figures, military men, activists, and those just famous in the normal 'star' sense of the title.
Take a guided tour through the history of Irish whiskey from the beginning of its time to today. The Whiskey Museum is located in Dublin City Center and tells the good, the bad and the ugly, all the highs and all the lows of whisky making in Ireland. But learning about Irish whiskey is not the only thing you will be doing; sipping Irish whiskey is a part of the experience, so check out The Whiskey Museum bar too! Plan your trip to The Whiskey Museum.
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