City Guides: An Ultimate First Time Visitors Guide to Dublin

Our Ireland trip actually started off pretty rocky due to a flight delay and airline debacle but that story is probably for another blog post. Basically, we lost 2 days from our trip due to the delay and flight changes, plus we had to pay for a hotel room for nights we couldn’t even stay in because we hadn’t arrived yet so by the time we got to Dublin we were in a “blah” type of mood.

Tip: Add at least an extra day to your trip itinerary if you meet flight problems.

Unfortunately, we had to skip a few places to see in Dublin since our trip was shorter than planned. But hopefully your trip to Dublin will start better than ours!

I’ve put together this guide to help your Dublin visit and whether you’re staying for three days or more, you’re sure going to have a great time in Dublin city!

Overview

Dublin is the largest populated city in Ireland. It’s on the east coast of Ireland sitting at the mouth of the River Liffey. Dublin started out as a Viking settlement after raids in 841 and was called Dyflin aka “Dubh Linn” (dubh meaning black and linn meaning pool in Gaelic.)

It refers to a black pool that was located near the gardens of Dublin Castle. So it is a very old and historic city. A playground for history lovers like me!

Currency

Euro banknotes

The currency is in Euro (€) but credit cards are widely accepted. Just watch out for those foreign transaction fees! We brought Euros with us for the entire trip and never used our card.

Tip: If you plan on visiting Northern Ireland, they have a different currency. They use the Pound Sterling £ (GBP) so be sure to have that with you if you are taking a day trip to Belfast.

Getting There

Waiting for connecting flight from JFK Airport

Dublin Airport (DUB) is Dublin’s international airport that serves many international flights on a daily basis with two terminals (Terminal 1 and Terminal 2.) It is 30 minutes away from the city center which you can reach by bus, car, and taxi.

I want to mention (and I don’t know if it’s normal or not) but we had the most polite experience with the workers at security check! So, Meshach had to unpack all of his backpack that carried our video and photography equipment. The attendants apologized (a lot!) and said they were so sorry he had to do it and even offered to help pack it up for him. We’ve never had a security person offer to repack our equipment at all the other airports we’ve been through. The employees were all very nice to us at Dublin Airport.

Airport Bus

We took Airlink Express, an airport bus that goes to and from the city center stopping at multiple locations in the city center where you can easily get to your city center hotel. We used the bus route for Bus 747  that goes between Dublin Airport and ends at Heuston Rail Station. The buses are located outside of both terminals but if you need to buy tickets or have questions there is an information booth inside Terminal 1, a couple minutes walk across the walkway between Terminal 1 and Terminal 2.

Bus 747 Route (departs every 10 minutes) – Point Village & 3Arena, North Wall Quay (Central Bank),The Convention Centre Dublin, Irish Financial Services Centre (IFSC), Commons Street, Talbot Street; The Central Bus Station (Busáras), Connolly Rail Station, Gardiner Street, Cathal Brugha Street, O’Connell Street, College Green & Temple Bar, Christ Church Cathedral, High Street, Ushers Quay, and Heuston Rail Station.

Bus 757 Route (departs every 30 minutes) – North Wall Quay (Central Bank) The Convention Centre Dublin, Irish Financial Services Centre (IFSC), Custom House Quay, Eden Quay & O’Connell Bridge, Hawkins Street & Temple Bar, Westland Row, Merrion Square, St. Stephen’s Green, Earlsfort Terrace, Adelaide Road, Camden (Charlotte Way) and Harcourt Street.

Single ride tickets are at this time of writing €7 adults, €6 children (aged 5 to 15), under 5 ride free.

Return tickets €12 adults, €5 children, under 5 ride free.

There’s also a Family Ticket option that covers 2 adults and 2 children. The single journey is €17 and the return ticket option is €30.

Transportation

Taking public transportation around the city of Dublin

Taking public transportation in the city center and surrounding areas of Dublin, you have these options: bus, tram, taxi and commuter train. There are no underground metros or anything like that available like.

We took all of these except for a taxi.

Visitor Leap Card

I also very much recommend purchasing the Leap Visitor Card if you intend on using a lot of public transportation. For us, it was much more easy and economical once we calculated the cost for single journeys to where we needed to be.

The best thing we loved about having a Leap Visitor Card is that it covers unlimited journeys on the LUAS tram, DART and other commuter rails, all Dublin Bus lines including Nitelink, Airlink 747 & 757 Airport Bus, Go-Ahead Ireland (new Dublin bus operator that started in 2018.)

The fares are 1 day (24 hours) – €10.00, 3 days (72 hours) – €19.50 and 7 days (168 hours) – €40.00

You can buy the card in the arrivals area at the airport in Terminal 1 at the information desk or the book store, WHSmith. If arriving in Terminal 2 like we did, you can buy it from a little convenience store called Spar.

It can also be bought at several tourist info centers around the city center. See the Leap Card website for locations.

To validate your card when entering a bus, tap it on the validator. When you use the tram or commuter rail, you must validate it on the validator at the tram stop prior to boarding. You also have to validate it again once you exit by using the validator at the exit platform. 

Note: The Leap Visitor Card does not cover tour buses like the Hop-On Hop-Off Bus.

Dublin Bus

This cool blue and yellow, double-decker bus line is Dublin’s official public bus system around the city. The fares seem to have changed over the last year so visit their website to get up to date information about prices. It is also recommended to use exact fare when boarding because you will not get change from the driver. There is free WiFi but it was spotty when we tried to use it.

Bus hours run from 5am – midnight on the daily Dublin Bus routes (check their website if during holidays because the schedule may be different for that.)

There is a late night bus called Nitelink which runs midnight – 4am on Fridays and Saturdays but we never used that one.

Hop-On Hop-Off Bus

So a couple of Hop-On Hop-Off buses we kept seeing around Dublin: Do Dublin (green open top bus) and City Sightseeing Dublin (open top red bus.) A hop-on hop-off bus tour is perfect for tourists who want to get around to all the sights, especially if on a time crunch due to a short stay in Dublin. They often run in a big constant loop around each tourist attraction. We did something similar like this in St. Augustine, Florida except on a trolley.

The buses do not cover admission into sights but will take you there and you just hop back on the next one that comes around, then on to the next sight!

Note: Due to the convenience, these bus fares will cost more money than regular bus fares.

LUAS

This is the name of Dublin’s tram system. It was always on time for us and very reliable because it runs on tracks so it’s not like it ever got stuck in traffic like buses sometimes do during peak hours.

There are two lines on the LUAS – red and green lines. They run in opposite directions, see the map below.

Red and green tram lines map from LUAS website

We definitely used the red line a lot because our hotel, Sheldon Park Hotel & Leisure Club was in the suburbs outside of the city center across from the Kylemore tram stop. It was a 30 minute commute to the city center but it really wasn’t that bad and it was a direct shot to the center too.

Why did we stay in the suburbs? Because it was very cheap! Not recommended if you have a very short stay in Dublin. If so, spend the extra money staying at a city center hotel to save time.

DART

DART (Dublin Area Rapid Transit) is a rail that travels along the east coast of Dublin and nearby areas such as Malahide, Howth, Bray, Greystones, Dalkey, Dún Laoghaire and Blackrock.

We used the DART system to visit Howth on a very easy day trip from Dublin. We were going to visit Malahide to see Malahide Castle & Gardens but that plan got scratched off since our time was cut short from the flight delay.

Taxis

From what we’ve been told, there are an abundance of taxis in Dublin so you could easily get one. I honestly don’t know the taxi rates, so you may need to find out from the driver or ask for help at your hotel or even a local.

Also there is apparently an Uber service in Dublin too.

Bus Eiréann & Irish Rail 

We used this bus line to visit Trim on our other day trip from Dublin. Bus Eiréann is basically like America’s Greyhound. It offers routes throughout the Republic of Ireland and is fairly inexpensive. Depending on where you want to go, sometimes taking Bus Eiréann is slower than hopping on the national railway, Iarnród Éireann aka Irish Rail. Instead of a bus, we took the train to visit Belfast for a day trip.

For other easy self-guided day trips from Dublin by bus or train, check out this blog post.

Where to Stay

View of the city from St. Michael’s Tower at Dublinia

There are so many options to choose from whether you prefer a hotel, hostel, Airbnb, bed and breakfast, Dublin has it all! As mentioned before, if you are only in town for a couple of days, please get a place to stay in the city center. It will cost a little more money but it’s worth it for your time!

The city center are postal codes Dublin 1 and Dublin 2. They are separated by the River Liffey making Dublin 1 on the north side and Dublin 2 on the south side of the river’s divide.

Dublin 2 will have just about everything tourists come to Dublin to see. There are several neighborhoods often used as preference for visitors who want to stay central and easily visit attractions and sights. Temple Bar (beware super tourist hot spot!), Georgian Dublin (Dublin’s Georgian era neighborhood spanning from St. Stephen’s Green and Merrion Square) Grafton Street and Trinity College areas.

We considered staying in Dublin 1 because it was slightly cheaper than hotels in Dublin 2, but after the advice of several Dublin locals I spoke with from my travel Facebook groups they advised us to stay in Dublin 2 or outside of city center in the suburbs if we didn’t mind the commute.  The consensus was Dublin 1 wasn’t an area you’d want to be walking with your cameras and purses after dark. However! A friend of mine stayed at a great hotel in Dublin 1 and she said she felt safe and she was traveling alone. So, I guess it’s up to you where you’d feel comfortable staying.

Regardless where you go in the world, you should always stay alert and keep your eyes on your personal belongings!

The Dublin Pass

Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin

If you intend on doing a lot of sightseeing, then the Dublin Pass may be right for you!

It’s a sightseeing pass that you can buy for 1, 2, 3 or 5 days. It gives you free entry to over 30 attractions, you can skip waiting in a line to get into places, and there is a free 24 hour ticket for a ride on a Hop on Hop off Bus Tour.

The best thing to do is compare the cost of entry to the places you want to see, with the cost of the pass. For us, it wasn’t worth it but if you are staying a longer time in Dublin and want to see it all, the Dublin Pass could be beneficial.

Note: Public transportation is NOT included in this pass.

Where to Eat

Waiting for dinner at Ireland’s oldest pub

This photo above was taken outside of The Brazen Head (Ireland’s oldest pub) in Dublin where we ate a very delicious dinner after a long day of sightseeing.

Prior to our trip, we did some research on having children in pubs. A few locals told us that in Dublin, children have to be off the premises at 9pm by law. But outside of Dublin in other towns, many pubs welcome children anytime. Just in case though, do your research before taking your kids to a pub late in the evening!
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Musicians started coming in to play at about 8:30p so we stayed a few minutes to hear a song. Too bad we had to leave, it would’ve been cool to hear some live entertainment in a real Irish pub! Oh well, maybe when Tristan’s 18 years old or something!

Our Picks

Some other great places to eat that we either ate at or was on our list of researched places are:

Arthur’s Pub – 28 Thomas St, Ushers, Dublin, Ireland (Use this 10 minute walk to shed that Guinness from your Guinness Storehouse visit and grab a bite at this cozy pub!)

The Pieman Cafe – 14 Crown Alley, Temple Bar, Dublin 2, Ireland (Great meal deal on meat pies in Temple Bar)

Art Cafe Dublin – 1 Frenchman’s Ln, Mountjoy, Dublin, Ireland (A 2 minutes walk from Dublin’s central bus station (Busaras)

Leo Burdock Fish & Chips – A couple of locations close to attractions – 2 Werburgh Street, Christchurch Pl, Dublin 8, D08 HC82, Ireland (Across from Christ Church Cathedral) and 4 Crown Alley, Temple Bar, Dublin 2, Ireland (Temple Bar) we didn’t get to eat here but there are like 50/50 mixed reviews on Trip Advisor. We would’ve eaten there anyway just to try it!

The Hairy Lemon – Stephen Street Lower, Dublin 2, Ireland (10 minutes walk from St. Stephen’s Green)

Bison Bar & BBQ – 11 Wellington Quay, Dublin Southside, Dublin, Ireland (A couple of minutes walk from Millenium Bridge and they have affordable lunch specials!)

Copper Alley Bistro – 2 Lord Edward St, Temple Bar, Dublin 2, Ireland (A minute walk from Christ Church Cathedral)

Queen of Tarts – Cow’s Lane, Dame St, Dublin, Ireland (Super cute tea room!!! A couple of minutes walk away from Copper Alley Bistro)

Irish House Party Dinner Show – The Lansdowne Hotel, 27 Pembroke Rd, Dublin 4, Ireland (Such a fun dinner and music show!) Read our blog post about it here.

The Dog House Blues Tea Room – Howth Dart Station, Howth Rd, Howth, Co. Dublin, Ireland (Literally next to the train station, if you’re in Howth go eat here it’s super cute!) Check it out on our blog post about Howth.

Johnnie Fox’s Pub – Glencullen, Co. Dublin, Ireland (Known as one of the most famous pubs in Ireland for its live entertainment and food, it’s in the mountains and you’d have to venture about an hour away from the city center so a car is needed!)

There is a shuttle you can buy a return ticket for, see details on their website. Also, it’s for age 18 and older!

When to Visit

A cheaper time to visit Ireland with tolerable weather would probably be the spring, March through May. We stayed in late April to early May, and while there were a few drizzles here and there (except that one day in Trim when it was very rainy and chilly LOL) it wasn’t too bad. Dublin didn’t have a torrential down pour 24/7 like some people may think. Just be sure to bring a rain jacket and prepare to wear layers because that seems to do the trick if you should overheat from all the walking.

Read my other blog post about what to wear in Ireland! Also, check out the cool video above from the Ireland tourism board about Irish weather!

Things to Do and See

The famous Molly Malone statue

Oh my gosh I don’t know where to begin! I think on our visit, we only scratched the surface of what Dublin has to offer.

Molly Malone Statue – Suffolk St, Dublin 2, D02 KX03, Ireland

In Dublin’s fair city
Where the girls are so pretty
I first set my eyes on sweet Molly Malone

As she wheeled her wheelbarrow
Through the streets broad and narrow
Crying “cockles and mussels, alive, alive, oh”

I’m sorry, I just had to throw that song in this post! Haha!

Molly Malone is a fictional fish monger that is sung about in a famous Dublin based song, ‘Cockles and Mussels’. Many say that it’s Dublin’s unofficial anthem! To view the statue of Molly, head over to the corner of Suffolk Street where she stands outside of St. Andrew’s Church.

If you’re coming from Trinity College, it’s an easy few minutes walk to the statue. Just beware, if you don’t go early in the morning it gets pretty crowded with people taking photo ops!

Temple Bar – Dublin 2

Located along the riverside, this neighborhood is bustling with entertainment, pubs, shopping, and hotels. You can do some cool tours like a musical pub crawls, food tours, lots to keep you busy.

Ha’penny Bridge – Bachelors Walk, North City, Dublin, Ireland

You should walk across this historic pedestrian bridge at least once! Built in May 1816 over the River Liffey, it was used to replace the ferries that crossed the river. It got its name because a toll was charged at 1/2 pence (or 1/2 a penny).

Jameson Distillery Bow St. – Bow St, Smithfield Village, Dublin 7, Ireland

Ever had some Jameson Irish Whiskey? Well you can visit the original distillery that distilled from 1780 to 1971 when it moved to the Midleton Distillery in County Cork. The tour ticket includes a 40 minute guided tour, whiskey tasting, and a complimentary drink at the end!

Christ Church Cathedral – Christchurch Pl, Wood Quay, Dublin 8, Ireland

We love this church! I love the stained glass windows and the crypt was very cool to see. There is even a mummified cat and rat nicknames ‘Tom and Jerry’ – very quirky! Most famous,

Richard de Clare, “Strongbow”, 2nd Earl of Pembroke from Wales is buried at this cathedral. He is known for leading the Norman invasion of Ireland by request of Diarmuid MacMurrough, the Irish king of Leinster. But first, Diarmuid MacMurrough had to get permission from King Henry II of England who sent Strongbow and many knights to capture Waterford in 1170 and next Dublin.

In return, he promised a marriage to Aoife – MacMurrough’s daughter where Strongbow later became King of Leinster after the death of Diarmuid MacMurrough.

By the way, if you’re wondering how he got the nickname, “Strongbow”, it’s because of his archery skills!

Dublinia – St Michaels Hill, Christ Church, Dublin 8, Ireland

This museum is a great start to understanding Viking and Medieval history ties to Dublin. It’s family friendly for the most part. Tristan was kind of afraid of all the wax figures though, but really loved the small-scale model of medieval Dublin.

I recommend getting the joint Dublinia and Christ Church Cathedral ticket because you can easily visit both since they are connected via an indoor Neo-Gothic walkway. But before you leave Dublinia, climb 96 steps up to the medieval St. Michael’s Tower for a view of the city!

St. Stephen’s Green – Dublin 2

This Victorian park is so beautiful and I wish we had time to spend there! There is a duck pond, paths to go walking, people love to have a picnic there and I can see why! There are also a couple of sheltered areas because you know, it may rain or you may want to escape the heat of the sun in the summer.

Phoenix Park – Phoenix Park, Dublin 8, Ireland

Guys, this is the largest enclosed recreational park in Europe! At 1750 acres, it has the official home of the President of Ireland, trails, and the Dublin Zoo. Entry is free to get into the park, but if you want to visit the zoo you have to buy tickets.

Guinness Storehouse – St James’s Gate, Dublin 8, Ireland

Who went to Dublin and did not take a tour of the world-famous Guinness Storehouse? That would be us! Just wasn’t enough time in our shortened schedule (flight delays – ugh!!!) But if you get to go, it has loads of great reviews and looks like an experience worth every penny.

There are seven floors and your ticket gets you a self-guided tour about everything from the history of the family, the brewing process, how to pour the perfect pint (yes, there is an art to it!) and a complimentary glass of this good “Black Stuff” as it’s nicknamed while taking in a view of Dublin from the Gravity Bar. A rooftop bar with a 360 degree view of the city!

Fun fact: Arthur Guinness started brewing Guinness in 1759 and signed a 9,000 years lease to keep his recipe going for lifetimes to come!

Kilmainham Gaol – Inchicore Rd, Kilmainham, Dublin 8, D08 RK28, Ireland

This is Dublin’s former prison that is also widely known for the detaining and execution of Irish revolutionaries during the 1916 Easter Rising. You must book your tickets in advance as this visit is a guided tour only and it’s during certain times of the day.

Also, if you are able to visit Belfast, we recommend checking out Crumlin Road Gaol as well.

Trinity College – College Green, Dublin 2, Ireland

Big Harry Potter vibes at Trinity College! Not only should you wander the beautiful grounds, but many visit its highlight, Book of Kells located inside the Old Library (also beautiful!) If you’re unfamiliar with the Book of Kells, it is noted as the world’s most famous medieval manuscript. It was written by Columban monks around 800 AD and has four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) from the New Testament written in Latin. It has 680 pages (340 folios) and ornately illustrated on pages made of calfskin.

Booking tickets in advance is strongly recommend as it can get pretty busy.

Dublin Castle – Dame St, Dublin 2, Ireland

Dublin Castle is now a government complex however tourists are welcome. It was originally built for the fortification of the city against invasions and completed in the year 1230.

You have the option of taking a self-guided tour (though it will limit access to certain areas) or take a 60 minute guided tour. You can buy your ticket at the castle’s ticket desk.

Saint Patrick’s Cathedral – St Patrick’s Close, Wood Quay, Dublin 8, Ireland

Another place I really wished we could have seen! So much history here! It is known as the largest cathedral in Ireland and it was built in 1220 in honor of – you guessed it – St. Patrick, Ireland’s patron saint.

Did you know that Johnathan Swift, author of Gulliver’s Travels is buried here?

The Door of Reconciliation

Fun fact: The Irish phrase, “to chance your arm” actually came from an event that took place in this very cathedral. The Butlers of Ormonde and the FitzGeralds of Kildare were having a feud. The Butlers took shelter in the cathedral’s Chapter House, afraid of being killed they did not want to leave. So in good faith, Gerald FitzGerald had a hole cut into the door large enough to extend his hand out to them in peace. The Butlers shook hands with him (through the door) and came out to finally make peace between the families.

Glasnevin Cemetery – Finglas Road Glasnevin, Dublin, D11 PA00, Ireland

You’re probably wondering why a cemetery is a must visit. But believe it or not, Glasnevin is one of Dublin’s most visited tourist attractions.

It has daily guided tours, a museum, an exhibition and an 180 ft tower. The tower was built in commemoration of famous Irish political leader, Daniel O’Connell (1775 – 1847) hence the name, O’Connell Tower. The tower is built similar to the one we saw in Glendalough, another cemetery to visit if you have time for a day trip!

Glasnevin  is also the resting place of many notable figures in history like the charismatic leader of the Easter Rising, Michael Collins. He is nicknamed “The Liberator” and has the most visited grave in the cemetery.

Museums

From quirky like The National Leprechaun Museum to historic and educational, Dublin has many museums you could visit. However, if you’re looking for museums to visit for FREE, check out these below:

The Chester Beatty Library – Dublin Castle, Dublin 2, D02 AD92, Ireland

The National Library of Ireland – Kildare St, Dublin 2, Ireland

Natural History Museum (aka “the Dead Zoo”) – Merrion St Upper, Dublin 2, Ireland

The National Gallery of Ireland – Merrion Square W, Dublin 2, Ireland

Dublin City Gallery The Hugh Lane – Charlemont House, Parnell Square N, Rotunda, Dublin, D01 F2X9, Ireland

Easy Day Trips

Glendalough Monastic Site, Co. Wicklow

Please do some day trips from Dublin if you can! It’s so refreshing taking a break from the city and getting to experience more scenery and more of Ireland. These are a few places we took a day trip and it was very easy to get to in a short time.

Howth

Probably the most easiest to visit for a half day or day trip away from Dublin’s city center! Howth is a very cute fishing village about 30 minutes away via DART or city bus. This is when your LEAP Visitor Card will come in handy! For more information on how to get there, what to see, etc. read our Howth blog post.

County Wicklow

This county also has pure, natural beauty. We could’ve spent a couple of days exploring the Wicklow Mountains National Park! County Wicklow is also where Glendalough (‘Valley of Two Lakes’) is located along with the enchanting monastic site. Powerscourt Estate (it has a huge house, gardens and waterfall!) Also can’t forget Sally Gap from the popular movie, PS I Love You.

For more information read our Wicklow blog post, complete with a printable map!

Malahide

Another great village on the east coast of Ireland just 30 minutes away on the DART. Many visit to get a guided tour of Malahide Castle & Gardens but it also has a marina, shops, plenty of food. And if you have kids, there is a playground on the castle grounds that you can use for free!

Belfast

If you catch an early train out from Dublin you can spend the day exploring Belfast in Northern Ireland and be back in time in Dublin for a meal at the pub! It’s a 2 hour train ride on Irish Rail. We booked our tickets in advance but I’ve heard of many people buying tickets the day of or before they intend on visiting.

Read more about how to get there and what to see on our Belfast day trip blog post.

Trim

We loved the magic of Trim! It’s an hour away by Bus Éireann and super easy to navigate as the town is compact and walk-able. We spent most of the day enjoying the castle grounds followed by a guided tour only of Trim Castle. This is the same castle from the movie, Braveheart.

Visit our blog post about Trim for more details!

We Love Ireland

Tristan taking in the view from St Michael’s Tower

Ireland is such a beautiful country and I really hope you get a chance to visit! Dublin is a wonderful city to visit for first time travelers to Ireland. It’s also family friendly, and good for any type of traveler in my opinion. There’s definitely something for everyone and so much history and beauty along with it.

Wow this is the longest blog post on our website! If you made it this far, you seriously deserve this trip haha!

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to comment below, message me on social media or send an email. 

Good food at Arthur’s Pub in Dublin

Have you been to Dublin or anywhere in Ireland? Comment below and share this post! 

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