How to Spend A Weekend in Dublin
Travel Itinerary
Itinerary Contents
Itinerary Introduction
For a small city, Dublin has so much heart. With its colorful streets, lively people, and history on every corner - there is so much to discover! This 2-day itinerary provides a whistle-stop tour of the city, immersing you in Dublin's downtown on Day 1, then walking you through a deeper understanding of its history on Day 2. By the end of your stay in Dublin, you'll hopefully have had some wonderful experiences, be leaving with a greater appreciation for this fair city, and likely have had some good 'craic' along the way! Image Credit: Darby1996 on Pixabay, Luizagalsc on Pixabay, Anna Church on UnsplashUseful information about Dublin
The language in Dublin
When chatting with locals, people will be speaking in English. However, Ireland has two official languages - English and Irish! When traveling on the bus or Luas line, you'll hear all the stops be recited in both languages.Best times to visit Dublin
While Dublin is very walkable, it does also get a bit wet due to Ireland's rainy climate. To stay dry during your visit, the best time of year is during the early summer months, such as May and June. That said, the climate of Ireland is mild, never getting too hot or too cold, making it a great place to travel year-round. In early winter, Dublin is also lit up in its Christmas best and makes for a lovely time to explore. Regardless of when you arrive, you'll want to make sure you have clothing for every type of weather. In Dublin, it's possible to experience it all in one day! If you do encounter some rain, why not take advantage of one of the city's many cozy pubs or cafes. Duck in for a packet of crisps, perhaps a cheeky pint, and a chat. Each place has such character and will give you a taste of life in Dublin.Getting around in Dublin
As a whole, Dublin is an incredibly walkable city. You'll be able to reach most places on foot. The River Liffey splits the city into north and south sides, making the city easy to navigate. Depending on where you are staying in Dublin, or to reach some of the sites farther out, it is also easily navigable by bus or Luas tramline. You can purchase a "Leap" card at the beginning of your trip at most convenience stores and preload it with credit for the Luas or the bus. It's also possible to purchase Luas tickets at each stop or use exact change for the bus. An important tip - in Dublin, it is necessary to hail your bus! When you see it approaching, stick out your hand to alert the driver you'd like to get on.Making payments in Dublin
To pay, the currency in Ireland is the Euro. Most places you visit will accept major credit cards. However, it can be helpful to have some cash on hand for small places, tips, and a few coins for the bus.Tipping in Dublin
It is customary to leave about 10-15% of the bill at restaurants as a tip.Safety in Dublin
It's important to remember that cars drive on the left side of the road in Ireland. When crossing the street, be sure to look to your right to ensure it's safe!Dublin - Travel Itinerary
Day 1
Get to Know Downtown Dublin
St. Stephen's Green
Trinity College Old Library & Book of Kells
| Category | Price | Restrictions |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | 18.00 EUR | |
| Group | 14.00 EUR | |
| Students | 15.00 EUR | |
| Seniors | 15.00 EUR |
Getting there
From Saint Stephen's Green (Shopping Center), it is a 7-minute walk down Grafton Street to Trinity College.
Travel time
0 hours 7 minutesNational Archaeology Museum of Ireland
| Category | Price | Restrictions |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | Free |
Notes
From the National Archaeology Museum, the National Gallery of Ireland is just around the corner, a further 4 minutes of walking. If this is of interest, the Gallery is free to enter and houses Ireland's collection of Irish and European art.
Getting there
Depart Trinity College through the Nassau Street entrance/exit and walk approx 5-minutes over to the National Archaeology Museum.
Travel time
0 hours 5 minutesMolly Malone Statue
Getting there
An 8-minute walk back down Nassau Street towards Suffolk Street.
Travel time
0 hours 8 minutesGeorge's Street Arcade
Notes
Looking for a bite to eat? Head into Powerscourt Townhouse Centre, a historic Georgian townhouse home to both delightful lunch spots, such as the Pepper Pot, and unique shops. You are also near to Grogan's Pub, where you can get one of the best pints of Guinness in Dublin, paired nicely with a ham & cheese toastie (grilled ham & cheese to Americans!).
Getting there
A 4-minute walk down South William Street to enter George's Street Arcade.
Travel time
0 hours 4 minutesDublin Castle
Getting there
From George's Street, Dublin Castle is an 8-minute walk across Dame Street.
Travel time
0 hours 8 minutesTemple Bar
Notes
Looking for a less touristy place to hear live music? Head across the River Liffey to Smithfield where you'll find The Cobblestone Pub and traditional Irish music played 7 days a week!
Getting there
From Dublin Castle, cross Dame Street again and walk into the Temple Bar neighborhood, a 4-minute walk.
Travel time
0 hours 4 minutesDay 2
Discover Dublin's History
General Post Office
| Category | Price | Restrictions |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | 13.50 EUR | |
| Students | 10.50 EUR | |
| Seniors | 10.50 EUR |
Ha'penny Bridge
Getting there
From the GPO, it is a 6-minute walk down O'Connell Street and along the River Liffey to the Ha'penny Bridge.
Travel time
0 hours 6 minutesSaint Patrick's Cathedral
| Category | Price | Restrictions |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | 8.00 EUR | |
| Students | 7.00 EUR | |
| Kids | 0.00 EUR | Under 3 |
| Seniors | 6.50 EUR |
Notes
If you are traveling on foot from the Ha'penny Bridge to Saint Patrick's Cathedral, you will be passing by Christ Church Cathedral as well. This is the oldest medieval cathedral in Dublin and may look familiar to fans of the show The Tudors as it provided the setting!
Getting there
From the Ha'penny bridge, it is a 17-minute walk to reach Saint Patrick's Cathedral. It is also possible to hop on a bus from Dame Street (route #'s 27, 77A, 150, 151) to Kevin Street, a 3-minute walk from the Cathedral (15 minutes total travel time).
Travel time
0 hours 17 minutesGuinness Storehouse
| Category | Price | Restrictions |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | 22.00 EUR | |
| Kids | 10.00 EUR | Under 17 |
Getting there
From Saint Patrick's Cathedral, it is another 17-minute walk to Guinness Storehouse. Alternatively, it is possible to walk back down towards the River Liffey and Christ Church Cathedral to hop on a bus from High Street (route #123) to Steeven's Lane, a 5-minute walk from Guinness (an 18-minute journey in total). If you prefer to hop in a taxi (the FreeNow app is similar to Uber), it is an 8-10 minute drive.
Travel time
0 hours 18 minutesKilmainham Gaol
| Category | Price | Restrictions |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | 8.00 EUR | |
| Students | 4.00 EUR | |
| Kids | 4.00 EUR | Under 18 |
| Seniors | 6.00 EUR |
Notes
After your tour of Kilmainham Gaol, you have hit all the major tourist attractions in Dublin! From Kilmainham, it is possible to return to where you began your day, on O'Connell Street, by walking about 10 minutes up to the Suir Road Luas Stop (Red Line). From there, you can hop on the Luas back to Dublin city center, about 15 minutes to the Abbey Street stop, just off O'Connell Street. With the rest of your time in Dublin, why not soak up more of the city by indulging in some good food or picking up a few souvenirs to remind you of your time in Dublin's fair city.
Getting there
If you traveled by bus to the Guinness Storehouse, return to the Steeven's Lane bus stop and hop on the #13 towards Grange Castle, getting off at Inchicore Library. From there, it is a 5-minute walk to Kilmainham Gaol (15-minute total journey). Alternatively, it is possible to walk to Kilmainham Gaol from Guinness in approx 22 minutes. In a taxi, it is an 8-10 minute drive.
Travel time
0 hours 20 minutesAbout the author
An energetic, travel enthusiast striving to be Samantha Brown's new best friend and determined to sample every variety of mac and cheese encountered! Known for getting you a little lost - and making sure it was worth it.
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