Shopping · Dublin · Ireland
Shopping in Dublin
Shopping streets, markets and souvenirs worth the suitcase space.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: William Murphy, CC BY-SA 2.0
Quick answer
Dublin's shopping runs from the department stores and chains of Grafton Street and Henry Street to independent design shops in the Creative Quarter around South William Street. Look for Irish knitwear, linen, whiskey and contemporary design. Best souvenirs: Aran knitwear, Irish whiskey and Irish linen.
Key facts
- Shopping areas
- 4
- Markets
- 3
- Top souvenir
- Aran knitwear
Where to shop
Grafton Street
The main pedestrian shopping street, with the Brown Thomas department store, high-street fashion and buskers.
Powerscourt Townhouse and the Creative Quarter
A Georgian townhouse turned shopping centre and the surrounding streets — South William, Drury and Castle Market — full of independent designers and cafés.
Henry Street
The north side's busy pedestrian street of chain stores and the Arnotts department store, beside the Moore Street fruit and vegetable stalls.
Nassau Street
Irish design, knitwear and craft shops facing the railings of Trinity College.
Markets
Moore Street market
One of Dublin's oldest street markets, with fruit, vegetables and flowers sold from stalls off Henry Street.
Temple Bar Food Market
Food stalls in Meeting House Square, usually on Saturdays, with cheese, oysters, bread and street food.
Merrion Square art market
Painters hang their work on the park railings at weekends and sell directly to passers-by.
What to buy
Aran knitwear
Cream wool sweaters with cable patterns in the Aran Islands tradition, sold in specialist knitwear shops.
Irish whiskey
Bottles from Dublin's own distilleries in the Liberties, some sold only at the distillery shop.
Irish linen
Tea towels, tablecloths and shirts in Irish linen from craft shops and department stores.
Claddagh ring
The traditional Irish ring of two hands holding a crowned heart, sold by jewellers across the city.
Books by Irish writers
Joyce, Wilde, Beckett and contemporary Irish authors from independent bookshops, including Hodges Figgis on Dawson Street.
Food and drink to take home
Edible souvenirs travel best when they are dry or sealed: consider Soda bread, Guinness, Irish whiskey and Irish coffee. Any pub with a kitchen; bakeries and farmers' markets sell whole loaves. Check your home country's rules on bringing food and drink back.
Shopping by neighbourhood
| Area | Price level | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Grafton Street and St Stephen's Green | $$$$ | Pedestrian shopping, buskers and the city's central park |
| Georgian Quarter | $$$$ | Merrion Square, Fitzwilliam Square and rows of coloured Georgian doors |
| Smithfield and Stoneybatter | $$ | A cobbled market square, whiskey and a local village feel north of the Liffey |
| The Liberties | $$ | Old industrial streets around the cathedrals, Guinness and new distilleries |
| Portobello and Ranelagh | $$$ | Canal-side red-brick streets with restaurants and neighbourhood pubs |
| Ballsbridge | $$$ | Embassies, leafy avenues and the Aviva Stadium south-east of the centre |
Paying and bargaining
Prices are in EUR. Tip about 10–15% in restaurants if service is not already included. Tipping for drinks at the bar is not expected, and taxi fares are usually rounded up.
- A Leap Card is cheaper than cash fares and caps your daily and weekly public transport spending.
When to shop
Shops and markets are quietest in January–February and November; the busiest months are July–August.
- January: Temple Bar TradFest — traditional music festival (usually late January)
- March: St Patrick's Festival and parade (around 17 March)
- May: Dublin Dance Festival (usually May)
- September: Dublin Fringe Festival (usually September)
- September: Dublin Theatre Festival (usually late September–October)
- October: Bram Stoker Festival around Halloween (late October)
Staying near the shops
$$$$ · Best for first-timers, shopping, couples and luxury
Grafton Street and St Stephen's Green
Pedestrian shopping, buskers and the city's central park
Questions travellers ask
+What should I buy in Dublin?
Aran knitwear, Irish whiskey, Irish linen and Claddagh ring.
+Where is the best shopping in Dublin?
Grafton Street: The main pedestrian shopping street, with the Brown Thomas department store, high-street fashion and buskers.
+What are the best markets in Dublin?
Moore Street market, Temple Bar Food Market and Merrion Square art market.