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Découvrez nos suggestions pour Top 20 things to do in Dublin
If “Irish luck” is on your side and you find yourself in the famous city of Dublin, you’ll have countless things to see and do during your stay! Museums, attractions of all kinds, restaurants, Irish pubs and shops will plunge you into the heart of a deeply cultural and welcoming city.
And as the town is located on the east coast, day trips to the mountains or cliffs are only a short bus ride away, allowing you to admire some of the most extensive and beautiful scenery in the whole of Ireland.
So here’s a list we’ve compiled of the 25 best things to do in Dublin:
The real Temple Bar district in Dublin – daspunkt
The Temple Bar is probably one of Dublin’s most iconic Irish pubs. Unmistakable with its red facade, bright exterior and old-school lettering on the windows, the establishment welcomes hundreds of Dubliners and travelers every year for a drink in a warm atmosphere.
Although the history of this bar dates back to the early 1300s, it remains popular to this day due to its ideal location in the heart of the city and its important role in Dublin’s nightlife.
Statue of Molly Malone in Dublin – Fred Veenkamp – cc
It’s an integral part of Dublin culture: the statue of Molly Malone in front of St Andrew’s Church is a must-see for any self-respecting traveller! Selfies are almost compulsory (and free!), and can be quite fun. (there are plenty of fun, offbeat shots by inspired tourists!).
For the record, he’s a fictional character from an Irish folk song. The song recounts the tragic fate of a pretty Dublin fishmonger named Molly Malone, who sold mussels every day before dying of a high fever…
A cultural landmark in Dublin!
A Guinness Storehouse exhibition – © Anton Ivanov Photo
Located in the heart of the St. Gallen brewery The Guinness Storehouse at St. James’ Gate is one of Ireland’s most popular tourist attractions. In fact, the interior is designed to look exactly like a pint of Guinness itself! It’s said to be the biggest pint in the world!
A ticket to the Guinness factory will take you through seven floors of Irish brewery history, where you’ll learn all about the family behind the success, as well as how the beloved stout beer is meticulously crafted.
At the end of the tour, you’ll be invited to settle down in the Gravity Bar, on the 7th floor, where you can enjoy a refreshing pint of Guinness with a 360-degree view of Dublin city. The view is incredible! One of the most beautiful in the capital!
Aerial view of the General Post Office (GPO) in Dublin – © Irish Drone Photography
If you like to immerse yourself in the history of the country you’re visiting, then take a tour of Dublin’s General Post Office. This is an Irish Post Office building, which served as a siege site during the Easter Rising in 1916.
It was here that Irish nationalists took control of the building and proclaimed the Republic of Ireland. An insurrection designed to put an end to centuries of British domination… but which ended in terrible failure…
The building is not fully open to visitors, but a short tour, even if only to admire its pediment and columns, is a real bonus!
The Spire, Dublin – © David Soanes
One of the easiest monuments to spot from afar is the Spire! It’s one of Dublin’s iconic landmarks, standing proudly in the center of O’Connell Street (the city’s longest avenue) at over 120 meters high. This all-stainless steel structure measures around 3 metres in diameter at the base and 15 centimetres at the top.
On sunny days, you’ll notice that its metallic coating changes with the light. At night, the tip of the structure is also illuminated by an external light source to act as a beacon in the night sky.
The Old Jameson Distillery in Dublin – © Anton_Ivanov
Another of the city’s historic gems is the Old Jameson Distillery, just off Smithfield Square. This was once the original site where Jameson whisky was made and distilled until production ceased in the early 1970s.
A visit to the old distillery will reveal the history and creation process of this refined whisky, while giving you the unique opportunity to take part in a comparative whisky tasting.
At the end of the tour, you’ll receive an exclusive whisky taster’s certificate to officially certify your knowledge of traditional Irish whisky.
The Church in Dublin
One of the city’s most unique and beautiful bars! The Church is a former cathedral that has been converted into a restaurant, where you can eat and drink in an unusual and friendly atmosphere, while admiring the woodwork and the church’s original organ.
On the first floor, you’ll find a magnificent island bar that spans almost the entire length of the church, with booths, tables and bar stools for patrons and a small stage that plays live traditional Irish music from 7:00 to 9:00 pm Sunday through Wednesday.
The establishment also offers nightclub evenings – available every Friday and Saturday night from 10pm to 3am – with a supercharged DJ who will get you in the mood to party the night away!
St Patrick’s cathedral, Dublin – Graham Higgs – cc
Known as the largest church in all of Ireland, St. Patrick’s Cathedral was founded in 1191 and boasts over 800 years of Irish history and culture.
A brilliant architectural marvel, its beauty is evident inside and out. It was also the final resting place of Jonathan Swift, author of Gulliver’s Travels and Dean of the Cathedral.
Dublin castle – © Kit Leong
Take a trip back to medieval Dublin with a visit to the famous Dublin Castle!
With over 800 years of Irish memorabilia locked within its walls, this incredible structure has witnessed some of the most significant events in the country’s history.
Covering an area of over 3 hectares, the castle stands proudly on the highest ridge in the locality and offers self-guided and guided tours of the grounds, including the many castle rooms, gardens and museums such as the Royal Chapel, Chester Beatty Library, Garda Museum and Tax Museum.
The Ha’Penny bridge in Dublin – © Madrugada Verde-
With its unique white beauty, the Ha’penny Bridge is known as the first pedestrian bridge to span the River Liffey.
Its name derives from the price pedestrians had to pay (a “halfpenny”) to cross the bridge when it was built in 1816.
Today, it has become one of the main “symbols” identifying Dublin – appearing on postcards, tourist brochures, books and souvenirs.
Christ Church, Dublin © Frank Lambert
Dublin’s second medieval cathedral, after St Patrick’s Cathedral, is Christ Church Cathedral, another of Dublin’s architectural wonders.
Better known as Holy Trinity Cathedral, this still-active church is the cathedral of the United Dioceses of Dublin and Glendalough.
Although it is open to tourists who wish to marvel at its Romanesque interiors, the cathedral staff charge admission, as the building receives no government aid.
However, the price is well worth the visit and will contribute to the upkeep of this fine piece of Irish history… whose origins date back to the Viking period!
The Irish Whiskey Museum in Dublin – © Bene Images
Combining Ireland’s best features – history and alcohol – the Irish Whiskey Museum offers everything you could want in one place.
Located in the popular Grafton street district, a visit to the museum gives you a detailed history of all types of whisky (not just Jameson).
At the end of the tour, you can sample three unique types of whisky.
What’s more, if you buy the VIP package, you’ll receive an exclusive fourth whisky and a unique shooting course to take home.
Phoenix Park – Alain Rouiller – cc
Nature lovers will be delighted! This huge park, covering some 680 hectares and located around 3 km from Dublin city center, is much more than just an ordinary park.
In addition to its long stretches of greenery and multitude of incredible trees and plants, it’s also home to Dublin Zoo, a sports ground, the Wellington Monument and the residences of the President and Ambassador of the United States. The area is also home to some magnificent wild deer and hinds. It’s not unusual to come across them on a morning jog!
Trinity College Dublin’s Old Library – © VanderWolf Images
An incredible architectural marvel and a room most bibliophiles would dream of being in, Trinity College Library is Ireland’s largest library.
It’s also home to the famous Book of Kells, an ornate, beautifully illuminated manuscript containing the four Gospels of the New Testament, over 1,000 years old.
You’ll love strolling through the Long Room, admiring Brian Boru’s harp, the busts of great literary authors… and soaking up the magic and history of its centuries-old books!
Kilmainham Gaol – © anecaroline
A must-see destination for history buffs, Kilmainham Gaol is a historic prison offering guided tours of its restored quarters.
With a ticket costing €8 per person, each visit includes a 45-50 minute guided tour of the facilities, during which your knowledgeable guide will take you through the prison’s history, detailing the extremely poor treatment of inmates at the time, as well as countless other interesting facts about the prison’s policy and restoration.
You’ll leave this tour with a much broader understanding of this devastating period in Irish history.
Georgian doors in Dublin – © Delphotostock
If there’s one thing you won’t want to miss in Dublin, it’s the doors to its homes! As you explore, you’ll soon notice that most of them have unmistakably vivid colors, and none of them look like the others!
These colored doors have been designed to make it easier to differentiate each home. Indeed, Georgian neighborhoods feature houses that are identical in every respect… So it was easy to make the mistake of wanting to go home!
The problem has been solved by simply color-coding the doors.
And since then, these gates have become an important feature of Dublin itself. Travelers from all over the world fall in love with the colorful charm of its Georgian doors… so much so that they’ve become a real tourist attraction!
Glasnevin cemetery – Simon – cc
Ranked at the top of TripAdvisor’s list of the best things to do in Dublin, the Glasnevin Cemetery Museum is an unusual but very interesting way to discover Irish history.
During your visit, you’ll stroll through the various cemeteries and discover the graves of political figures, poets, writers and other people of interest, while listening to your guide’s highly informative comments on Irish history.
Glasnevin National Botanic Gardens – Simon – cc
The National Botanic Gardens are a great place to visit, whether as a family or on your own.
With so many plants, flowers and other things to see, you can easily spend a whole day getting lost in these lush gardens.
Don’t forget to bring your camera, as some of the most beautiful parts of the tour include a sculpture garden, a vegetable garden designed to resemble an ancient castle…etc.
Admission is entirely free for visitors, but a guided tour costs €5.
St Stephen’s Green in Dublin – dronepicr – cc
St. Stephen’s Green is another popular Dublin park for relaxing. It offers lush green grass, a variety of plants and flowers and some wonderful stretches of water.
If that’s not enough, there are even a few monuments scattered around for you to see and plenty of paths for you to walk, cycle or jog.
Bring a book, a packed lunch or stop off at a café before heading to St. Moritz. St. Stephen’s Green to enjoy a cool day in the park.
National Museum of Ireland – © Anton Ivanov Photo
One of Dublin’s best free museums is undoubtedly the National Museum of Ireland.
Among the museum’s most noteworthy exhibits are the Viking exhibition, the display of exquisite gold objects and the remarkable collection of bog men – bodies found and recovered from bogs all over Ireland.
Each body is accompanied by a story that will give you a spectacular insight into the lives of these men who once lived in the country and are now an integral part of Irish history.
