Travel guide · Ireland
Dublin travel guide
Georgian squares, free museums, trad-music pubs and a coastline by train
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: 瑞丽江的河水, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Dublin is a compact, walkable capital split by the River Liffey, with Trinity College, Grafton Street and the Georgian squares on the south side and O'Connell Street and the Docklands to the north and east. The Book of Kells, the national museums, Dublin Castle and the two medieval cathedrals are all within a 20-minute walk of Temple Bar, and the National Gallery and National Museum are free. Pubs with live traditional music, the Guinness Storehouse and seaside villages such as Howth, about 30 minutes away on the DART, round out a visit. Plan 3 days for a first visit; the best months are May–September.
Key facts
- Country
- Ireland
- Best time to visit
- May–September
- Ideal stay
- 3 days
- Main airports
- DUB
- Mid-range daily budget
- $200–$350 per person (estimate)
- Known for
- Guinness, Pubs and live trad music, Book of Kells and Georgian architecture
Why visit Dublin
- The National Gallery, the National Museum of Ireland – Archaeology and the Chester Beatty all have free entry.
- Pubs host live traditional music sessions most nights, from Temple Bar to Smithfield.
- DART trains reach the Howth cliff walk and the sea-swimming spots of Sandycove and Seapoint in about 30 minutes.
- Literary Dublin runs from Trinity's Book of Kells and Marsh's Library to Bloomsday and the Abbey Theatre.
- Day trips reach Glendalough's monastic valley, the 5,000-year-old tomb at Newgrange and medieval Kilkenny.
Top things to do
The six sights most first-time visitors build a trip around. See all 20 things to do.
Museum · Trinity College
Trinity College and the Book of Kells
Trinity College, founded in 1592, keeps the Book of Kells, a ninth-century illuminated Gospel manuscript, at its Old Library.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- History
- Art
- Rainy day
Museum · The Liberties
Guinness Storehouse
A seven-storey former fermentation building at the St James's Gate brewery, shaped inside like a giant pint glass, tells the story of Guinness from Arthur Guinness's 9,000-year lease of 1759 to its famous advertising.
- Time needed
- 2–2.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Views
- Rainy day
- Food
Historic site · Kilmainham
Kilmainham Gaol
This former prison held Irish rebels from 1798 onwards, and 14 leaders of the 1916 Easter Rising were executed in its Stonebreakers' Yard.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Iconic
- Rainy day
Neighbourhood · Temple Bar
Temple Bar
The cobbled lanes between Dame Street and the Liffey hold the city's densest cluster of pubs, many with live traditional music from early afternoon, plus galleries, the Irish Film Institute and the Gallery of Photography.
- Time needed
- 1–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- After dark
- Free
- Food
- Iconic
Landmark · Temple Bar
Ha'penny Bridge
This cast-iron footbridge over the Liffey opened in 1816 and takes its name from the halfpenny toll once charged to cross.
- Time needed
- 15 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Iconic
- Photo spot
- After dark
Museum · Kildare Street
National Museum of Ireland – Archaeology
Ireland's archaeology museum on Kildare Street displays Bronze Age gold, the Ardagh Chalice and the Tara Brooch, Viking finds from Dublin and the 'Kingship and Sacrifice' gallery of Iron Age bog bodies preserved in peat.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Rainy day
- Kids
Where to stay
Temple Bar is the easiest base for a first visit. Compare all 8 areas.
$$$ · Best for nightlife, first-timers and solo travellers
Temple Bar
Cobbled lanes of pubs, live music and late-night crowds by the Liffey
$$$$ · Best for first-timers, shopping, couples and luxury
Grafton Street and St Stephen's Green
Pedestrian shopping, buskers and the city's central park
$$$$ · Best for couples, culture, quiet stays and luxury
Georgian Quarter
Merrion Square, Fitzwilliam Square and rows of coloured Georgian doors
$$$ · Best for families, first-timers, quiet stays and solo travellers
Docklands
Glass offices, Grand Canal Dock and modern hotels on the Liffey
What to eat
- Full Irish breakfast — Fried eggs, rashers of back bacon, sausages, black and white pudding, grilled tomato, mushrooms and baked beans with toast or soda bread; a weekend tradition and a cure for the night before.
- Irish stew — Lamb or mutton slow-cooked with potatoes, onions and carrots in a light broth; pub versions often swap in beef and Guinness.
- Dublin coddle — A Dublin speciality of sausages, bacon rashers, potatoes and onions simmered slowly in stock, once a Saturday-night supper in working-class homes.
- Soda bread — Brown or white bread raised with bicarbonate of soda and buttermilk instead of yeast, dense and slightly tangy, served with butter alongside soups and seafood.
- Oysters and stout — Irish rock oysters from Galway Bay, Carlingford or Wexford served on ice with lemon and brown bread, traditionally with a pint of stout.
- Seafood chowder — A creamy soup of smoked and fresh fish, mussels and potato, served with brown soda bread; a staple pub lunch along the coast.
When to go
The best months for Dublin are May to September, when days are long, temperatures are mild and festivals fill the calendar, though July and August are the busiest and most expensive. April and October are good shoulder months; March is busy around St Patrick's Day, and winter is damp and dark but cosy and lower-priced.
| Season | Months | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | March–May | Daffodils, St Patrick's Festival and lengthening days; showers are frequent, but May is often sunny. |
| Summer | June–August | Long evenings, Bloomsday, Gaelic games at Croke Park and the warmest sea, with the highest hotel prices of the year. |
| Autumn | September–November | Theatre and Fringe festivals, the Dublin Marathon and Halloween; increasingly wet and windy by November. |
| Winter | December–February | Short, damp days, Christmas lights and markets, Six Nations rugby and cosy pubs at lower prices outside the holidays. |
Getting there and around
Dublin Airport is about 10 km north of the centre and has no rail link. Dublin Express and Aircoach coaches reach O'Connell Street and other central stops in about 30–45 minutes, Dublin Bus routes are cheaper but slower, and a taxi takes 25–40 minutes depending on traffic.
Central Dublin is compact and flat, and most sights are within a 20–25 minute walk of O'Connell Bridge. Dublin Bus, the two Luas tram lines and the DART coastal railway cover the rest, all payable with a TFI Leap Card.
Plan your days
Two days covers Trinity College, the national museums, Dublin Castle, the cathedrals and the Guinness Storehouse. A third day adds Kilmainham Gaol and Howth or Sandycove; with five days, add Glendalough and Newgrange.
Practical information
- Currency
- EUR
- Language
- English and Irish
- Plugs
- Type G three-pin sockets, 230 V, 50 Hz
- Tap water
- Tap water is safe to drink throughout Dublin.
- Emergency number
- 112 or 999
- Tipping
- Tip about 10–15% in restaurants if service is not already included.
Dublin is generally safe for visitors, but pickpocketing and phone snatching happen around Temple Bar, O'Connell Street and on busy buses and trams. Some city-centre streets north of the river can feel rough late at night, so stick to busier routes or take a taxi.
Flights to Dublin
Questions travellers ask
+How many days do you need in Dublin?
Two days covers Trinity College, the national museums, Dublin Castle, the cathedrals and the Guinness Storehouse. A third day adds Kilmainham Gaol and Howth or Sandycove; with five days, add Glendalough and Newgrange. How to split your days.
+When is the best time to visit Dublin?
The best months for Dublin are May to September, when days are long, temperatures are mild and festivals fill the calendar, though July and August are the busiest and most expensive. April and October are good shoulder months; March is busy around St Patrick's Day, and winter is damp and dark but cosy and lower-priced.
+What is Dublin known for?
Guinness, Pubs and live trad music, Book of Kells, Georgian architecture, Literary history, Temple Bar and Irish whiskey. The National Gallery, the National Museum of Ireland – Archaeology and the Chester Beatty all have free entry.
+Is Dublin expensive?
Dublin is expensive for international visitors: a mid-range trip costs roughly $200–$350 per person per day before flights (AMZBooking estimate). Costs and money-saving tips.
+Do you need a car in Dublin?
No. Parking in Dublin is expensive and traffic is slow, and public transport and walking cover the city and the coast. Hire a car or join a tour for Glendalough, the Wicklow Mountains or the west of Ireland.