2 days in Dublin

Day by day

1. Day 1: Trinity College and the Book of Kells and Guinness Storehouse

   Trinity College and the Book of Kells, Guinness Storehouse, Kilmainham Gaol and Temple Bar, then Ha'penny Bridge in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Trinity College and the Book of Kells

      The library's Long Room, a 65-metre vaulted hall of oak bookcases, is partway through a multi-year conservation project, so check what is on display when you book.

   2. Late morning

      Guinness Storehouse

      The visit ends in the rooftop Gravity Bar with a pint and a 360-degree view to the Dublin Mountains.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Full Irish breakfast

      Cafés and pubs across the city, many serving it all day.

   4. Afternoon

      Kilmainham Gaol

      Guided tours lead through the cramped old wing and the bright Victorian east wing, familiar from many films, and a museum covers the prison and the struggle for independence.

   5. Late afternoon

      Temple Bar

      A food market usually sets up in Meeting House Square on Saturdays.

   6. Evening

      Ha'penny Bridge

      Cross at dusk when the bridge lamps come on, then follow the Liffey Boardwalk east to O'Connell Bridge.

2. Day 2: National Museum of Ireland – Archaeology and National Gallery of Ireland

   National Museum of Ireland – Archaeology, National Gallery of Ireland, Chester Beatty and Dublin Castle, then Temple Bar in the evening.

   1. Morning

      National Museum of Ireland – Archaeology

      Entry is free, and the domed Victorian rotunda is worth seeing in itself.

   2. Late morning

      National Gallery of Ireland

      Yeats. Entry to the permanent collection is free.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Irish stew

      Traditional pubs and restaurants around Temple Bar, Smithfield and the Liberties.

   4. Afternoon

      Chester Beatty

      Its roof garden is a quiet place to sit.

   5. Late afternoon

      Dublin Castle

      Its State Apartments, including St Patrick's Hall and the Throne Room, still host presidential inaugurations, and guided tours descend to the medieval undercroft and the remains of a Viking defence.

   6. Evening

      Temple Bar

      The busiest cluster of pubs and live music, popular with visitors and groups; expect crowds and higher prices.

Before you go

• Trinity College and the Book of Kells: Entry is by timed ticket and summer slots sell out; book on the official Trinity College site.
• Guinness Storehouse: Timed tickets are cheaper online and sell out at weekends and in summer.
• Kilmainham Gaol: Entry is by guided tour only and tours regularly sell out days ahead; book online as soon as your dates are fixed.

If it rains

• Swap in St Patrick's Cathedral (The Liberties): Visit Marsh's Library next door, an 18th-century public library with its original dark-oak bookcases and wire-caged reading alcoves.
• Swap in Christ Church Cathedral (Temple Bar): Cross the covered bridge to Dublinia, a hands-on Viking and medieval exhibition that children enjoy; combined tickets are usually available.
• Swap in EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum (Docklands): Pair it with the Jeanie Johnston, a replica famine ship moored on the quay nearby that runs guided tours.

Where to stay for this itinerary

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 11–16 hours of visiting over 2 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 7.5 hours in December to 17 hours in June, so in winter start early and keep museums for the afternoon.

Getting between stops: Walking. From Trinity College you can walk to Temple Bar, Grafton Street, the national museums, Dublin Castle and Christ Church in under 15 minutes; the Guinness Storehouse and Kilmainham are 25–40 minutes west.

More or fewer days

• One day in Dublin
• 3 days in Dublin
• 4 days in Dublin
• 5 days in Dublin

Questions travellers ask