Where to stay · Dublin · Ireland
Where to stay in Dublin
8 neighbourhoods compared, with the trade-offs hotel listings don't tell you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Unknown author, Public domain
Quick answer
For a first visit, stay in Temple Bar. Cobbled lanes of pubs, live music and late-night crowds by the Liffey. Best alternatives — families: Docklands; budget: Smithfield and Stoneybatter.
Key facts
- First visit
- Temple Bar
- Families
- Docklands
- Budget
- Smithfield and Stoneybatter
- Nightlife
- Temple Bar
Best area for each kind of trip
| Trip type | Area | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First-timers | Temple Bar | Cobbled lanes of pubs, live music and late-night crowds by the Liffey |
| Families | Docklands | Glass offices, Grand Canal Dock and modern hotels on the Liffey |
| Couples | Grafton Street and St Stephen's Green | Pedestrian shopping, buskers and the city's central park |
| Budget | Smithfield and Stoneybatter | A cobbled market square, whiskey and a local village feel north of the Liffey |
| Luxury | Grafton Street and St Stephen's Green | Pedestrian shopping, buskers and the city's central park |
| Nightlife | Temple Bar | Cobbled lanes of pubs, live music and late-night crowds by the Liffey |
| Food lovers | Smithfield and Stoneybatter | A cobbled market square, whiskey and a local village feel north of the Liffey |
| Solo travellers | Temple Bar | Cobbled lanes of pubs, live music and late-night crowds by the Liffey |
| Shopping | Grafton Street and St Stephen's Green | Pedestrian shopping, buskers and the city's central park |
| Quiet stays | Georgian Quarter | Merrion Square, Fitzwilliam Square and rows of coloured Georgian doors |
Dublin neighbourhoods in detail
$$$ · Best for nightlife, first-timers and solo travellers
Temple Bar
Between Dame Street and the river, Temple Bar's cobbled streets are packed with pubs playing live traditional music from the afternoon onwards, plus restaurants, galleries and the Irish Film Institute. It is central to everything, but pints here are among the most expensive in the city and weekends are loud with hen and stag parties.
- Good
- Live music every night; Central for all the main sights; Easy late-night food
- Watch out
- Very noisy at weekends; Drinks and food priced for visitors
- Nearby
- Ha'penny Bridge, Dublin Castle, Trinity College, Christ Church Cathedral
$$$$ · Best for first-timers, shopping, couples and luxury
Grafton Street and St Stephen's Green
South of Trinity College, pedestrian Grafton Street runs from College Green to St Stephen's Green, lined with shops and street performers, with side streets of pubs and cafés around South William Street. Hotels here are expensive but leave you a short walk from Trinity, the national museums and Merrion Square, with the Luas Green Line on the doorstep.
- Good
- Walk to almost every sight; Good shopping and cafés; Luas Green Line close by
- Watch out
- Expensive hotels; Crowded with shoppers at weekends
- Nearby
- St Stephen's Green, Trinity College Dublin, National Gallery of Ireland, Little Museum of Dublin
$$$$ · Best for couples, culture, quiet stays and luxury
Georgian Quarter
East of St Stephen's Green, the streets around Merrion Square, Fitzwilliam Square and Baggot Street are lined with brick Georgian townhouses and their brightly painted doors and fanlights. The National Gallery and Government Buildings are here, and the area is much quieter at night than the streets around Grafton Street.
- Good
- Elegant and quiet; Free museums close by; Walkable to Grafton Street
- Watch out
- Few budget options; Limited nightlife
- Nearby
- Merrion Square, National Gallery of Ireland, Fitzwilliam Square, Grand Canal
$$$ · Best for families, first-timers, quiet stays and solo travellers
Docklands
Dublin's former docks, nicknamed Silicon Docks for their tech offices, stretch along both banks of the Liffey east of the Custom House. Grand Canal Dock has a waterside square and the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre, while the north quays hold EPIC, the Irish Emigration Museum, and the 3Arena. Hotels are modern with larger rooms, and DART and Luas stops are close.
- Good
- Modern hotels with larger rooms; DART and Luas connections; Calm evenings
- Watch out
- Less historic character; Quiet and corporate at weekends
- Nearby
- EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum, Grand Canal Dock, Samuel Beckett Bridge, Custom House
$$ · Best for food lovers, nightlife, budget and solo travellers
Smithfield and Stoneybatter
Smithfield's long cobbled square is home to the Jameson Distillery Bow St. and pubs known for traditional music sessions, while neighbouring Stoneybatter has terraced cottages, cafés and some of the city's most local pubs. The Luas Red Line runs through, and Phoenix Park is a short walk west.
- Good
- Local pubs and good restaurants; Better-value rooms; Near Phoenix Park
- Watch out
- About 20 minutes on foot to Grafton Street; Some streets are quiet and poorly lit at night
- Nearby
- Jameson Distillery Bow St., Phoenix Park, Collins Barracks
$$ · Best for budget, food lovers and culture
The Liberties
One of Dublin's oldest districts, the Liberties spreads west from Christ Church and St Patrick's cathedrals to the Guinness brewery at St James's Gate. Its red-brick streets are being revived by whiskey distilleries such as Teeling and Pearse Lyons, cafés and new hotels, while Thomas Street keeps its old-fashioned shops.
- Good
- Walk to the cathedrals and the Guinness Storehouse; Good-value hotels; Distilleries on the doorstep
- Watch out
- Some streets feel run-down; Further from the Docklands and Merrion Square
- Nearby
- Guinness Storehouse, St Patrick's Cathedral, Christ Church Cathedral, Teeling Whiskey Distillery
$$$ · Best for food lovers, couples and quiet stays
Portobello and Ranelagh
Along the Grand Canal south of the centre, Portobello's red-brick terraces have cafés and restaurants on Camden Street and Richmond Street, and the canal banks fill with people on sunny evenings. Ranelagh, a short Luas ride further on, has a village main street of restaurants and wine bars. Both are residential and 15–20 minutes on foot from St Stephen's Green.
- Good
- Excellent neighbourhood restaurants; Local atmosphere; Luas to the centre
- Watch out
- Few hotels; Camden Street is loud on weekend nights
- Nearby
- Grand Canal, Camden Street, Iveagh Gardens, St Stephen's Green
$$$ · Best for families, luxury and quiet stays
Ballsbridge
Ballsbridge is an upmarket residential area of embassies and Victorian houses, home to the RDS showgrounds and the Aviva Stadium, Ireland's rugby and football ground. Its large hotels suit families and event-goers, with DART and bus links into the centre in about 10–15 minutes and Sandymount Strand nearby.
- Good
- Calm and green; Larger hotels and family rooms; Close to Sandymount Strand
- Watch out
- Not walkable to most sights; Prices spike on match and event days
- Nearby
- Aviva Stadium, RDS, Herbert Park, Sandymount Strand
Areas compared
| Area | Price | Nearby |
|---|---|---|
| Temple Bar | $$$ | Ha'penny Bridge, Dublin Castle, Trinity College, Christ Church Cathedral |
| Grafton Street and St Stephen's Green | $$$$ | St Stephen's Green, Trinity College Dublin, National Gallery of Ireland, Little Museum of Dublin |
| Georgian Quarter | $$$$ | Merrion Square, National Gallery of Ireland, Fitzwilliam Square, Grand Canal |
| Docklands | $$$ | EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum, Grand Canal Dock, Samuel Beckett Bridge, Custom House |
| Smithfield and Stoneybatter | $$ | Jameson Distillery Bow St., Phoenix Park, Collins Barracks |
| The Liberties | $$ | Guinness Storehouse, St Patrick's Cathedral, Christ Church Cathedral, Teeling Whiskey Distillery |
| Portobello and Ranelagh | $$$ | Grand Canal, Camden Street, Iveagh Gardens, St Stephen's Green |
| Ballsbridge | $$$ | Aviva Stadium, RDS, Herbert Park, Sandymount Strand |
Getting to your hotel
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.
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best area to stay in Dublin for first-time visitors?
Temple Bar. Between Dame Street and the river, Temple Bar's cobbled streets are packed with pubs playing live traditional music from the afternoon onwards, plus restaurants, galleries and the Irish Film Institute.
+Where should families stay in Dublin?
Docklands: Modern hotels with larger rooms.
+Which area of Dublin is best for a budget stay?
Smithfield and Stoneybatter ($$): A cobbled market square, whiskey and a local village feel north of the Liffey.