Free things to do · Dublin · Ireland
9 free things to do in Dublin
Dublin without the ticket prices: sights, walks and views that cost nothing.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Colin, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
You can fill at least 3 days in Dublin without paying an entry fee: Temple Bar, Ha'penny Bridge, National Museum of Ireland – Archaeology and National Gallery of Ireland are all free. Balance expensive hotel nights with the free National Gallery, National Museum, Chester Beatty and city parks.
Key facts
- Free sights in this guide
- 9
- Low-cost extras
- 5
- Cost level
- Expensive
- Lowest hotel prices
- January–February and November
Free sights and experiences
Neighbourhood · Temple Bar
1.Temple Bar
Hear the music here, then walk five minutes to pubs on Dame Street or in Smithfield for a better-value pint.
- Time needed
- 1–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- After dark
- Free
- Food
- Iconic
Landmark · Temple Bar
2.Ha'penny Bridge
Cross at dusk when the bridge lamps come on, then follow the Liffey Boardwalk east to O'Connell Bridge.
- Time needed
- 15 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Iconic
- Photo spot
- After dark
Museum · Kildare Street
3.National Museum of Ireland – Archaeology
Combine it with the National Gallery and Merrion Square, all within a five-minute walk.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Rainy day
- Kids
Gallery · Georgian Quarter
4.National Gallery of Ireland
Use the Clare Street entrance into the glass-roofed Millennium Wing, where the café makes a good rainy-day break.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Art
- Rainy day
Museum · Dublin Castle
5.Chester Beatty
Pair it with the Dublin Castle State Apartments, a few steps away across the castle gardens.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Art
- Rainy day
- Off the beaten path
- History
Park · Grafton Street
6.St Stephen's Green
Enter through the Fusiliers' Arch at the Grafton Street corner, then continue to the Iveagh Gardens or the Little Museum of Dublin.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Nature
Park · Phoenix Park
7.Phoenix Park
Look for the deer on the grassland around the Papal Cross early in the morning, and do not feed them.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Nature
- Outdoors
- Active
Park · Georgian Quarter
8.Merrion Square
Walk down Merrion Square East and along Fitzwilliam Street for the long Georgian vista towards the Dublin Mountains.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- History
- Photo spot
Garden · St Stephen's Green
9.Iveagh Gardens
Enter from Clonmel Street off Harcourt Street, the easiest gate to find.
- Time needed
- 30–45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Off the beaten path
- Outdoors
- Couples
Free sights by area
| Area | Free sights | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Temple Bar | Temple Bar and Ha'penny Bridge | 1–3 hours + 15 minutes |
| Kildare Street | National Museum of Ireland – Archaeology | 1.5–2 hours |
| Georgian Quarter | National Gallery of Ireland and Merrion Square | 1.5–2 hours + 45 minutes |
| Dublin Castle | Chester Beatty | 1–1.5 hours |
| Grafton Street | St Stephen's Green | 45 minutes |
| Phoenix Park | Phoenix Park | Half a day |
| St Stephen's Green | Iveagh Gardens | 30–45 minutes |
Worth a small ticket
Historic site · Kilmainham
Kilmainham Gaol
Combine it with the Irish Museum of Modern Art in the Royal Hospital Kilmainham, about a 10-minute walk away.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Iconic
- Rainy day
Palace · Dublin Castle
Dublin Castle
Take the guided tour if you want to see the underground medieval and Viking remains; self-guided entry covers the State Apartments only.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Architecture
- Rainy day
Religious site · The Liberties
St Patrick's Cathedral
Visit Marsh's Library next door, an 18th-century public library with its original dark-oak bookcases and wire-caged reading alcoves.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Architecture
- Rainy day
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Religious site · Temple Bar
Christ Church Cathedral
Cross the covered bridge to Dublinia, a hands-on Viking and medieval exhibition that children enjoy; combined tickets are usually available.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Architecture
- Kids
- Rainy day
Historic site · Glasnevin
Glasnevin Cemetery
Combine it with the free National Botanic Gardens next door, known for their Victorian curvilinear glasshouses.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Off the beaten path
- Outdoors
More ways to save
- Balance expensive hotel nights with the free National Gallery, National Museum, Chester Beatty and city parks.
- A Leap Card is cheaper than cash fares and caps your daily and weekly public transport spending.
- Drink outside Temple Bar: a pint costs noticeably less a few streets away in Smithfield, the Liberties or on Camden Street.
- Book the Guinness Storehouse and distillery tours online; walk-up prices are higher and slots sell out.
- Hotel prices jump on big rugby, Gaelic games and concert weekends; check the events calendar before you book.
- Travel from November to February, avoiding Christmas and Six Nations weekends, for the lowest hotel rates.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Dublin expensive to visit?
Dublin is expensive for most visitors, but 9 of its best-known sights are free, which makes a tight budget workable.
+What is the best free thing to do in Dublin?
Temple Bar: Hear the music here, then walk five minutes to pubs on Dame Street or in Smithfield for a better-value pint.