In short: the best things to do in Dublin are the Book of Kells at Trinity College, the Guinness Storehouse, Kilmainham Gaol, EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum and the free National Museum, plus an evening of live music and a day trip to Howth, Glendalough or Newgrange. Book Kilmainham Gaol and the Book of Kells in advance.
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If you’re travelling to Ireland, chances are you’ll land in Dublin. It’s a small, walkable capital with a big personality: medieval cathedrals, Georgian squares, a thousand years of history and more pubs than you’ll ever get through.
Here’s my list of the best things to do in Dublin, with honest tips on what to book ahead, what’s free and the best day trips.
Jump to
- 1. The Book of Kells and the Old Library, Trinity College
- 2. The Guinness Storehouse
- 3. Kilmainham Gaol
- 4. EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum
- 5. The National Museum of Ireland: Archaeology
- 6. Dublin Castle and the Chester Beatty
- 7. St Patrick’s and Christ Church cathedrals
- 8. Temple Bar and a trad music session
- 9. Phoenix Park
- 10. Howth and the cliff walk
- 11. A whiskey distillery tour
- 12. A walking tour
- Best day trips from Dublin
- Free things to do in Dublin
- Where to stay and getting around
- FAQ
1. The Book of Kells and the Old Library, Trinity College
The Book of Kells is a richly decorated copy of the four Gospels, made by monks around 800 AD, and one of the great treasures of medieval Europe. You’ll see it at Trinity College, in the heart of the city.
Good to know for 2026: the famous Long Room is in the middle of a major conservation project, and almost all of its 200,000 books have been moved out for safekeeping. The visit now includes a new pavilion, an immersive Book of Kells 360 show and digital projections in the Long Room. It’s still well worth seeing, just different from the photos you may have in mind.
Book a timed ticket in advance in summer. To combine it with other sights, this Book of Kells, Dublin Castle and Christ Church tour is a good-value way to see three in one go.
2. The Guinness Storehouse
Arthur Guinness signed a 9,000-year lease on the St James’s Gate brewery in 1759, and the Storehouse tells the story across seven floors shaped like a giant pint glass. It ends at the Gravity Bar, with a pint and 360-degree views over the city.
It’s Ireland’s most visited paid attraction, so book ahead. This Guinness Storehouse entry ticket includes your pint. Before you go, practise your cheers in Irish.
3. Kilmainham Gaol
If you only do one history attraction in Dublin, make it this one. Kilmainham Gaol held Irish rebels for over a century, and 14 leaders of the 1916 Easter Rising were executed in its Stonebreakers’ Yard. The guided tour is powerful and the Victorian east wing is unforgettable.
Entry is by guided tour only, and you must book. Tickets are released 28 days ahead and sell out, so book as soon as your dates are fixed on the official Kilmainham Gaol site.
4. EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum
Around 10 million people have emigrated from Ireland, and EPIC tells their story in a modern, interactive museum in the vaults of CHQ on the docks. It’s perfect if you have Irish roots, and the Irish Family History Centre in the same building can help you dig further. See epicchq.com.
5. The National Museum of Ireland: Archaeology
Free to enter, and full of treasures: Bronze Age gold, the Ardagh Chalice, the Tara Brooch and the eerie Iron Age bog bodies. It’s on Kildare Street, a short walk from Trinity. Details at museum.ie.
6. Dublin Castle and the Chester Beatty
Dublin Castle was the seat of British rule in Ireland for over 700 years until it was handed over in 1922. You can visit the State Apartments and the medieval undercroft. See dublincastle.ie.
In the castle grounds, the Chester Beatty is free and wonderful, with manuscripts, books and art from across Asia, the Middle East and Europe.
7. St Patrick’s and Christ Church cathedrals
Dublin has two medieval cathedrals a few minutes’ walk apart. St Patrick’s Cathedral was founded in 1191, and Jonathan Swift, author of Gulliver’s Travels, was its dean and is buried there. Christ Church Cathedral is even older in origin, and its huge medieval crypt is a highlight.
8. Temple Bar and a trad music session
Temple Bar is busy, touristy and expensive, but its cobbled lanes are still fun for an evening, and you’ll find live traditional music most nights. For a calmer session and a cheaper pint, wander a little further out to pubs around Smithfield or Camden Street.
Prefer a show with dinner? Celtic Nights with Irish dinner, music and dance is a popular option.
9. Phoenix Park
One of the largest walled city parks in Europe, Phoenix Park is home to a herd of wild fallow deer, Dublin Zoo and Áras an Uachtaráin, the home of the President of Ireland. Hire a bike and go deer-spotting on a sunny morning.
10. Howth and the cliff walk
Take the DART train north along the coast to the fishing village of Howth. Walk the cliff path around the headland for sea views, then reward yourself with fish and chips on the pier. If you’d rather someone else plans it, try this half-day guided coastal tour to Howth.
11. A whiskey distillery tour
Irish whiskey is booming again, and Dublin has several distilleries to visit. The Jameson Distillery tour with tastings in Smithfield is the classic. Pair your souvenir bottle with our Irish coffee recipe.
12. A walking tour
A good guide brings the city to life, from Viking Dublin to the 1916 Rising. This highlights and hidden gems walking tour is a great first-day option. For something spookier, there’s a dark Dublin walking tour, and our list of haunted places in Ireland.
Best day trips from Dublin
Dublin makes a great base. These are the easiest and most rewarding day trips, all bookable as guided tours if you don’t want to drive:
- Glendalough and the Wicklow Mountains: an early monastic site in a glacial valley, about an hour south. This full-day tour adds medieval Kilkenny.
- Newgrange and the Boyne Valley: a passage tomb older than Stonehenge and the Pyramids of Giza. This tour includes Brú na Bóinne entry.
- The Cliffs of Moher and Galway: a long day, but the most popular trip from Dublin for good reason.
- The Giant’s Causeway and Belfast: the basalt columns on the Antrim coast, plus the Dark Hedges and Belfast.
Want to drive yourself? You don’t need a car in Dublin, but one gives you freedom for the rest of the country. Compare deals on Discover Cars, and see our best Irish road trips and Wild Atlantic Way guide.
Free things to do in Dublin
- The National Museum of Ireland (Archaeology, Natural History and Decorative Arts and History)
- The Chester Beatty
- The National Gallery of Ireland
- Phoenix Park and its deer
- St Stephen’s Green and Merrion Square, with its Oscar Wilde statue
- The Howth cliff walk (just the DART fare)
Where to stay and getting around
Where to stay: for a first visit, stay central: around Temple Bar and Trinity for nightlife, or near St Stephen’s Green and the Georgian quarter for something quieter. Smithfield and the Docklands are good-value alternatives. Dublin hotels are expensive, especially at weekends and during big events, so book early. Search hotels in Dublin on Booking.com.
Getting around: the centre is walkable. For buses, the Luas tram and the DART train, get a Leap card, which is cheaper than paying cash fares.
Weather: pack a rain jacket whatever the month. Here’s a guide to Ireland’s weather month by month.
FAQ
How many days do you need in Dublin?
Two or three days covers the main sights, with an extra day for a trip to Howth, Glendalough or Newgrange.
Is Dublin expensive?
Yes, especially for hotels and drinks in Temple Bar. Save money with the free museums and parks, and drink outside the main tourist streets.
What should I book in advance?
Kilmainham Gaol (tickets go 28 days ahead and sell out), plus the Book of Kells and the Guinness Storehouse in peak season.
Keep exploring Ireland
- Things to do in Cork
- Things to do in Belfast
- Things to do in Kilkenny
- The Rock of Cashel
- Irish slang to know before you go
Featured photo: The Temple Bar, Dublin by Gordon Leggett, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
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