For those traveling to Ireland, one of your first stops will most likely be Dublin. As the nation’s capital of Ireland, Dublin is one of the greatest walkable cities in all of Europe. You will most likely ask your self, “What kind of things can I do in Dublin?”, but after setting foot in town you will end up saying “What things can’t I do in Dublin”.
The amount of tourist attractions is almost too large to count. Their history makes it an exciting time to learn about their culture through museums, churches, pubs, landscapes, monuments, and more. The local people also add to the excitement as anyone you meet will have a story to tell. You can also find musicians littered throughout the town playing traditional Irish songs.
It’s location may be the best party of Dublin. It’s located on the east coast making day trips to some of the most scenic landscapes in the world just a bus ride away. Here are some ideas if you want to find places to visit in Ireland.
However, we want to focus on things you can do in Dublin. We narrowed down the hundreds of options to our favorite 8 places to go.
1. Temple Bar
The Temple bar is a big tourist attraction for grabbing a pint of Guinness. They have over 450 bottles of Irish, Bourbons, and Scotch, and local craft beers to choose from. To go along with their drink menu, they do also have a rather large food menu including traditional oysters. We definitely recommend checking out this famous pub and relax to some Irish music as the musicians will play popular songs such as “It’s a Long Way to Tipperary”. The Temple Bar in Dublin is the most photographed pub in Dublin making it a great destination spot to see.
2. Guinness Storehouse
Another place you must go when in Dublin is the Guinness Storehouse. Built back in 1759, this seven story building walks you through the history and process of how their beer is made. As you enter you start your tour with ingredients that make Guinness so special and end the tour with your very own pint in the Gravity Bar while taking in panoramic views of the city of Dublin. However, take your time to go through each level of the building as their are interactive exhibits going over the history of Guinness that are quite impressive. You will need a few hours to fully enjoy this tour, but we promise it’s worth it.
Once you are done visiting the Guinness Storehouse, you can also learn how to pour the perfect pint of Guinness at the Perfect Pint bar. The restaurant on the 5th floor also allows you to have a good Irish meal before hitting the streets of Dublin again.
3. Old Jameson Distillery
Just like Guinness, another staple of Dublin is the Old Jameson Distillery. Learn how this Irish Whiskey is made by taking a tour of the facility. Tours are every 25 minutes and you get a audio and visual presentation on the history and what goes into making this liquor. After the tour you are given a complimentary glass in the Jameson Discover Bar. If asked who wants to test their whiskies, be sure to raise your hand quick as you can taste 3 different flavors (Jameson, Johnny Walker, and Jack Daniels) and even given a test to see how good you are. If you have an hour or two to kill, stop over at the Old Jameson Distillery.
Old Jameson Distillery Website
4. St. Patrick’s Cathedral
Saint Patrick’s Cathedral isn’t going to blow you away like other historical landmarks in Dublin, but it is still worth visiting to get a feel for the religious history of Ireland. It has had renovations done, but it’s tradition and ambiance makes it a great place if you are looking for things to do in Dublin.
As you walk in you will see hundreds of monuments, busts, and memorial plaques to read. Make sure to visit the graves of Swift, Boyle Monument, and the unusual monument with a hole in it (you’ll find out why).
Saint Patrick’s Cathedral Website
5. Ha’penny Bridge
As you walk through Dublin, you will eventually come across Ha’penny Bridge. This was the cities first pedestrian bridge and continued to be so until 1999. Today over 30,000 people cross it each day and don’t worry, you don’t have to pay the penny fee anymore.
The Ha’penny bridge spans 141 feet across the Liffey with a nice elliptical arch design. As you cross it, take note of the decorative lampposts and arches. It’s a perfect spot for the romantics at nightime while downtown Dublin is lit up.
6. Trinity College Library
Founded in 1592, Trinity College Library in Dublin is a great place to visit and considered one of Ireland’s top attractions for things to do. It is the oldest university in Ireland and has a Book of Kells exhibition that is definitely worth seeing. As you walk into Trinity College you are first taken to the Book of Kells “Turning Darkness into Light”. This is a famous 9th century gospel manuscript. From there you can head upstairs to the iconic Long Room, the longest library chamber in the world. This room has over 200,000 books stored on their nice oak bookcases.
7. Prison of Kilmainham Gaol
Dublin doesn’t just boat pubs and monuments. Another great site to see is the Prison of Kilmainham Goal. This is the largest unoccupied gaol in Europe and features some the craziest events in Ireland’s history. Tours will take you through this exhibition where you can get a better idea on what it was like for prisoners who were confined and punished between 1796 to 1924. It’s quite remarkable to go through the Prison of Kilmainham and learn more about another piece of Ireland’s history.
Tours can get fairly busy in the summer months so make sure you show up early.
Prison of Kilmainham Gaol Website
8. Unique Doors of Dublin
At first you may overlook this unique feature of Dublin, but while you are walking around make sure to stop and view some of the colorful doors on the city’s buildings. The history is quite remarkable with the development of the town and the strict guidelines that were imposed. As residents wanted to break away from the British Empire, they started adding flair to their doors to express individuality. Bright and vibrant colors were used and adds another creative touch to Dublin. You don’t necessarily need to go visit any one in particular. Just add this to your things to do list while you are on your way to another popular destination.
[wp_mapbox_gl_js map_id=”616″]More Things To Do In Ireland
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