Welcome to the Emerald Isle, fellow wanderers! If you’re planning your first Irish adventure, look no further than the vibrant capital city of Dublin as your starting point. This charming metropolis, with its rich tapestry of history, culture, and modern allure, offers the perfect introduction to the wonders of Ireland.
Why is Dublin the ideal launchpad for your Irish journey? For starters, it’s incredibly accessible, with Dublin Airport welcoming flights from all corners of the globe. Once you’ve touched down, you’ll find yourself in a compact, walkable city that’s easy to navigate, allowing you to maximize your time exploring rather than getting lost in transit.
We just got back from a trip to Dublin (as I write this on May 26, 2025), so I have some great updates for you! Here is the Google Map that has everything mentioned and a few other places we visited.
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We spent 4 Days in Dublin and could not see it all, but had a great time. We put together this itinerary if you are interested, with links to sites. Here is what is featured in the itinerary.
Christ Church Cathedral
Going back as far as 1028, Christ Church Cathedral is one of the oldest churches and the oldest building in use in Ireland. It is easy to walk around the grounds and explore and check out the labyrinth in the gardens. The architecture alone is worth the visit. The tile work is amazing. Make sure you go down to the crypts and see the Irish Magna Carta and St. Laurence O’Toole’s Heart.
Trinity College and the Book of Kells
Chartered in 1592, Trinity College is renowned for educating some of the world’s most distinguished minds, including Oscar Wilde and Samuel Beckett, among many others. Take a tour of the grounds with a graduate student so that you can hear the fantastic stories.
The Book of Kells and the Long Room are by far the best part of Trinity College. The Book of Kells is an elaborately illustrated gospel book dating back to the 7th century. One page from the book is displayed every day. Pics are not allowed, but you can buy a calendar instead!
The Long Room boasts over 200,000 of the oldest books in Ireland that are still available for students to read. However, right now the books are being removed to be restored. But you can still visit and see the volumes that are still there, along with some amazing art such as the Brian Boru harp and Gaia, a display of the Earth made by photos from NASA. It is truly amazing!
National Gallery of Ireland
Located in the heart of Dublin, this gallery was founded in 1854 and opened to the public in 1864. It houses over 16,300 works of art, including Irish art by Jack B. Yeats, William Orpen, and John Lavery. You can also see works by other European masters such as Caravaggio, Vermeer, Rembrandt, Goya, Monet, and Picasso. Admission is free and there is a bookshop and a cafe.
Saint Patricks Cathedral
St Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin is Ireland’s largest cathedral and stands as a testament to over 800 years of Irish heritage. The cathedral’s stunning Gothic architecture, with its soaring spires and intricate stonework, is a feast for the eyes and a photographer’s dream.
Inside, you’ll be awed by the ornate stained glass windows, ancient monuments, and the final resting place of Jonathan Swift, the famous author of “Gulliver’s Travels,” who once served as the cathedral’s dean. The cathedral also boasts a world-renowned choir, whose angelic voices have filled the space for centuries.
If you don’t have time to visit, make sure you take a walk through the gardens. On a sunny day, lots of people will be out picnicking and enjoying the weather.
Whiskey and Beer Tours in Dublin
Jameson Whiskey tour
For you whiskey lovers out there, this is the place for you! You can take a tour of the Jameson distillery, taking in all the history of the place, and then end in the tasting room, the best place of all. Even if you are not a whiskey fan, there is a very good chance you will find one you like here.
We thoroughly enjoyed this experience. It starts with a complimentary Jameson drink, which you can take with you through the tour. You will learn about the history of Jameson Whisky and then get an interactive experience on how the whisky is made. At the end is the tasting. We thought it was well worth it!
Guinness Experience
The Guinness Storehouse experience, located at St. James’s Gate Brewery in Dublin, is one of Ireland’s most popular tourist attractions. The building is designed as a giant pint glass, with each floor offering different immersive experiences.
First, you learn about the 250+ year history of Guinness and the brewing process through various exhibits and interactive displays. Then you learn how to properly taste Guinness and appreciate its unique flavors. Make sure you check out the Gravity Bar and enjoy a complimentary pint of Guinness while checking out the 360-degree views of Dublin.
The experience typically takes about 1.5 to 2 hours to complete, but you can spend longer if you wish to linger over your pint or meal. It’s self-guided, so you can move at your own pace. Remember to book your tickets in advance, especially during peak tourist seasons, to avoid long queues.
National Museums of Ireland
Archaeology
Being a history and archaeology lover, the National Museum of Ireland -Archaeology was a must-see. This museum houses over 2 million artifacts from Ireland, including prehistoric gold artifacts and many examples of medieval jewelry and weapons. The famous Tara Brooch and Armagh Chalice are on display here. It also has the Viking Ireland exhibition with lots of artifacts and information about the Viking presence in Ireland.
The Kingship and sacrifice section is also cool. They have a display of “bog bodies” that were found in the bogs, pretty well preserved. We found them most disturbing but very interesting!
The Dead Zoo
The Dead Zoo or the Museum of Natural History boasts over 10,000 preserved specimens packed into Victorian-era cabinets. From towering skeletons to exotic taxidermy, it’s a quirky and surprisingly charming spot that captures both scientific curiosity and old-world wonder. Whether you’re traveling with kids or just want a break from Dublin’s pubs and historic landmarks, the Dead Zoo is an offbeat stop that leaves a lasting impression.
This museum was closed for renovations as of May 20th, so check to make sure they are open!
The Leprechaun Museum
The Leprechaun Museum is something we want to check out next time we go. They have guided storytelling tours that lead visitors through enchanting rooms—complete with oversized furniture, optical illusions, and replicas of the Giant’s Causeway—evoking the magical world of leprechauns, banshees, púcas, and other mythical beings. From what we have heard, it is a cool place to take children, but if you take the adult-only tour, it gets a bit darker!
Little Museum of Dublin
This small museum was an unexpected delight on our last day in Dublin. The 30-minute storytelling tour, set entirely in a single artifact-filled room, offers a rich and engaging overview of the city’s history. With historical items covering the walls, the guide skillfully weaves together Dublin’s past, bringing it vividly to life through stories and humor. It’s an intimate, entertaining, and informative introduction to the city—perfect for first-time visitors or anyone looking to connect more deeply with Dublin’s roots.
Take a Walk
Dublin has many wonderful parks and areas to take a stroll just to soak up the atmosphere. Make sure you walk along the River Liffey and cross the Ha’Penny Bridge. Grafton Street is a great place to shop and take in the street performers. St. Stephen’s Green is a perfect spot to take a relaxing stroll, and if you love animals, check out Phoenix Park and the Dublin Zoo.
Hop on Hop Off Tours
We often take these tours because they help us get a feel for the city, and they often drop us off in places we want to see. We recommend you take the Green Hop on Hop off Tour. It was recommended by our hotel and had a stop right out front. The tour was about an hour and a half, and some of the buses have a live guide, not a recording, and are not only entertaining, but full of great information. We enjoyed it quite a bit.
Something Else to Try
While you are out and about, make sure you take note of the many statues on display in Ireland. Many are of famous Irishmen and women, but what is interesting is the nicknames they are given. For example, there is the prick with a stick (statue of James Joyce, the stiffey at the Liffey (the Dublin Spire) and hags with bags (the meeting place).
You can also check out Kilmainham Gaol (jail), a former prison that played a crucial role in Irish history. Many leaders of Irish rebellions were imprisoned and executed here. They have a museum with artifacts and information about Irish penal history. We suggest you take a guided tour to help bring the history alive.
Nightlife and Restaurants
The most popular place for Dublin’s nightlife is the Temple Bar area. Here you have many pubs, bars, and restaurants. It tends to be a little touristy and pricey, but one of the best places to experience the pubs and live music.
The best advice we got was to go down to Temple Bar and take some pics of the area, then move two blocks over to George’s Street and have your pint of beer. It’s more relaxed and tends to be a place where more of the locals hang out.
If you are a foodie, check out Capel Street and its diverse range of bars and restaurants.
We ate at Devitt’s Pub and had some great Guinness stew and fish and chips. The Duke, a pub right off of Grafton Street, has great chicken wings and is where the literary pub crawl begins.
Day Trips
If you have enough time to explore (more than 4 days), make sure you get out and check out the countryside. As mentioned in the intro, Howth is a charming fishing village just north of Dublin and known for its scenic cliff walks, seafood restaurants, and seal-watching opportunities.
Newgrange in County Meath is a prehistoric monument older than the pyramids or Stonehenge! It is part of the Brú na Bóinne UNESCO World Heritage site.
Kilkenny is a medieval city with a stunning castle, cathedral, and numerous historical sites. It is also known for its craft shops and breweries. You can also take a day trip to Belfast to see the Titanic Belfast Museum and the Giant’s Causeway. You won’t regret it!
For a longer trip, drive up to the Cliffs of Moher. It is a bit of a longer trip, but the sea cliffs on Ireland’s west coast are stunning and doable with an early start.
Best Time to Go
Well, anytime is the best time! But we will tell you that we were there in May and June, and the weather was fantastic! No rain the entire time! But we did take an umbrella (this one is great in the wind) and a raincoat just in case. Also, make sure you bring an adapter for your electronics!
Free Itinerary
We put together the perfect Itinerary for 4 days in Dublin. It includes one day as a day trip day but the second sheet has a list of things you can do instead. There are links to the websites to get tickets. Hope you have an amazing trip!
Here is the Google Map with all the locations we mentioned, plus some restaurants we like.
Podcast out soon! Plus, check out our other adventures in Portugal and around Europe!
Shelley is a full-time traveler, writer, and podcaster based in Portugal, where she lives with her wife and their beloved bulldog, Scoot. Originally from Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Shelley is a former history teacher who swapped the classroom for cobblestone streets and passport stamps. These days, she explores Portugal and Europe in search of fascinating stories, unforgettable sights, and local flavor—then shares it all through her blog and podcast, Wandering Works for Us, where curiosity meets adventure (and sometimes wine).