Tyler and I kicked off our trip to Ireland and England with two days in Dublin and had SO much fun.
I had actually been to Dublin once before during my study abroad program in Spain in college. My roommate and I impulsively purchased €16 roundtrip flights (you read that right) from Madrid to Dublin for the last weekend of our program. We ended up booking a four-night stay, which we could NOT afford. Both of our bank accounts had all but zeroed out, and we couldn’t afford to do anything when we were there. We lived off toast, eggs, and beans (a trick our new British friends taught us in the hostel kitchen) and spent most of our time walking the city and perusing bookstores. I think we spent our last combined €20 on a bar crawl.
While I wouldn’t trade the memories of traipsing around Dublin with my roommate (we were the soulmate type of roommates), I was VERY excited to return and experience Ireland with Tyler.
The Perfect 2 Day Dublin Itinerary
We recommend kicking off a trip to Ireland with a couple of days in Dublin. Though the city isn’t necessarily the most picturesque, there is a ton of history and culture to discover. Think of it as an orientation to Irish culture before you head off to explore the countryside and small towns.
The best part about Dublin is the people, hands down. We found nearly everyone we met to be warm, chatty, and down-to-earth. Even on a cloudy day (and most days are), it’s hard to not be in a good mood in Dublin.
We’ve learned to keep our itineraries light at the beginning of trips to account for adjusting to jet lag and to give us some time to get our footing. We didn’t cram too much into our time in Dublin but did find some awesome spots that we wanted to share in this 2 Day Dublin Itinerary.
Check out our tips for planning a trip to Dublin.
How to get to Dublin:
On this trip, we flew through Heathrow to Dublin since we were coming from the West Coast. There are a bunch of direct flights from the East Coast, though: from Chicago, Philadelphia, New York City, and Boston–just to name a few. Fortunately, the Dublin airport is a big hub point, so lots of international routes fly through.
It’s also fairly simple to get to Dublin from the rest of Europe. Ryanair, love it or hate it, is a budget airline based out of Dublin–its second-biggest hub is at the Dublin airport. This means that you can get to and from Dublin inexpensively from most European cities. I could probably write an entire dissertation on Ryanair, but for now I’ll just say that it’s worth it–if, of course, you’re willing to pack light, be completely squished, and have a sturdy tolerance for out-of-nowhere itinerary changes. Not for the faint of heart, but it is a cheap way to travel.
You might also consider traveling by way of ferry to Dublin, one of my personal favorite ways to travel! Both Stena Line and Irish Ferries have routes into and out of Dublin from England and continental Europe.
Our Stay In Dublin:
We used Chase points to book a perfect two-night stay at the Brooks Hotel in Dublin. The location couldn’t have been more ideal. The hotel sits right in the center of the action in Dublin, just a few minutes’ walk from the Temple Bar area, St. Stephen’s Green, and Trinity College. I loved exploring all of the cute boutiques and coffee shops on our street, but the Brooks was still far enough away from the bar scene that we were able to fall asleep.
Check out Airbnb for cheaper options, but make sure to stay around this same central area of Dublin so you can easily walk everywhere. (Follow this link for a $40 credit!).
Things To Do In Dublin:
Get some steps in at St. Stephen’s Green
Does anyone else’s mom obsess over their step count? My mom has a conniption if she doesn’t hit 13,000 steps a day and checks her pedometer every hour on the hour to make sure she’s on pace. I’ve picked up on this habit (sometimes annoying for Tyler) and have found myself parking further away and suggesting we walk distances that are probably more suitable for Uber.
I take this to a small extreme while traveling now, too. While it’s much easier to walk more since we are out and about all day, I’m also eating and drinking like I’m at the tail end of the seven years of plenty, if you know what I mean. I’ll take any opportunity to burn an extra calorie or two.
Tyler, on the other hand, hates a pointless walk, so I have to be strategic. Enter the Scenic Stroll, best utilized on the first day or two in a city in an effort to really take in the atmosphere. It’s also the one way we know for sure to help beat jet lag. St. Stephen’s Green, a huge park in the middle of Dublin, holds a multitude of pathways that wind through vibrant trees and around a pretty lake. If weather permits, pack a lunch and picnic on a bench. If not, make sure you are properly dressed and walk through anyway. (Find my winter trip wardrobe here).
Study up at Trinity College
Trinity College is absolutely stunning and so fun to walk around.
Don’t miss one of my favorite places in the world–the Old Library at Trinity. You’ve probably seen basic girls like me post pictures of the insane, ceiling-high collection of antique volumes on Instagram, but I promise that it’s well worth a visit. You can pay €13 to see the Book of Kells exhibition and walk through the Long Room. Or, befriend a student and ask them to flash their ID to waive your admission cost, a tip I learned back in 2013.
The Long Room is one of the coolest places I’ve ever been, but seeing the Book of Kells was fascinating too. The Book of Kells is the world’s most famous medieval manuscript and one of Ireland’s greatest national treasures.
On your way out of campus, swing by the Molly Malone statue.
Stop in at Christ Church Cathedral and St. Patricks Cathedral
Make time on your walking tour to swing by Christ Church Cathedral, a unique, medieval structure that sits authoritatively in the center of Dublin’s hustle and bustle. Walk the grounds, and take a few minutes to explore the inside of the cathedral. If you want to tour the cathedral, consider purchasing the combined pass which includes admission to both Christ Church Cathedral and Dublinia, one of Dublin’s most famed museums.
Then, make your way over to St. Patricks Cathedral and park.
Spend an evening on Grafton Street
Grafton Street has something for everyone. Great shopping for me, amazingly talented musicians for Tyler to watch while I shop, and beautiful Christmas lights for everyone to enjoy. This street is magical during the holiday season, and we somehow made our way over multiple times during our stay in Dublin.
Grab a pint at Temple Bar
Yes, Temple Bar is touristy and overpriced, but it’s iconic. And you just can’t beat live Irish music at 2pm on a Tuesday. The entire area that this bar is located in is actually referred to as Temple Bar–that’s how famous this spot is. Order a Guiness, enjoy the music, and make a friend or two.
Do the Guinness Experience
Touring the Guinness Storehouse was by far our favorite thing we did in Dublin. The “Guinness Experience” tour guides visitors through several floors of life-sized exhibitions explaining the brewing process, from start to finish. It was SO interesting and well done.
At the end of the tour, visitors are rewarded with a pint of their famous stout along with sweeping views of the city from the Gravity Bar on the top floor. Make a reservation in advance for around €17 to skip the line, and set aside a few hours to make your way through the storehouse.
Whiskey taste at Jameson
I, personally, swore off whiskey years ago, but for Tyler, this was a MUST. We swung by the Old Jameson Distillery and checked out the tasting room, although we didn’t have enough time to take a full tour of the grounds. If you like whiskey, don’t miss this spot.
Visit the Kilmainham Gaol
We didn’t have time to make it over to the Kilmainham Gaol prison museum but have heard it is incredibly fascinating. If you’re traveling with a history buff, consider folding this landmark into your itinerary.
Watch the Sunset over the River Liffey
You’ll likely cross over the River Liffey a few times during your time in Dublin (the Ha’Penny bridge has been there since the 1800s!), as it crosses right through the center of the city. Consider taking a break to watch the sunset over the River Liffey at the Grand Canal Dock. https://goo.gl/maps/RUnsoam9HnZgVg5w5
What to eat in Dublin:
Industry & Co
We stopped in at this cute coffee shop a couple times, as we passed it every morning on our way out of the hotel for the day. Industry & Co doubles as a home goods boutique, and I was obsessed with every item. Swing by for a trendy souvenir, an espresso, or a raspberry chia pudding.
The Bar With No Name
This place is awesome: vintage furniture, great lighting (it matters and you know it), and tons of unique art. As you might guess, The Bar With No Name is a little difficult to find, but just keep walking up the stairs until you hear a bunch of people having a great time. We stopped by one afternoon and sat on the heated patio for an hour.
I always feel like the best way to experience a city is sometimes to just be. Walk the streets, drink a beer slowly for an hour at a random bar, or read on a park bench. I love to people-watch and take everything in. And you never know who you might meet once you take a minute to slow down.
Umi Falafel
We randomly found this place on Google because I had a sudden and strong falafel craving (happens to me a lot). To my delight, we found Umi Falafel completely full of hip Irish people waiting in line to order. We both ordered wraps, and they were AMAZING. This is the perfect place to stop for a light, inexpensive lunch in the middle of a long day of exploring.
Lemon & Duke
Tyler and I ate dinner at Lemon & Duke our first night in Dublin. Located in a cute alley off of Grafton Street, Lemon & Duke has an extensive cocktail menu and great atmosphere. I ordered the chicken and loved it.
Murphy’s Ice Cream
In our book, a night out is simply incomplete without an ice cream stop. Lucky for us, we stumbled upon Murphy’s Ice Cream, right around the corner from our hotel. Murphy’s makes their ice cream in Dingle, Ireland, and they have such fun and unique flavors. We made friends with the guy who worked behind the counter (no shame in our ice cream friend making game). He told us that he lived in San Francisco one summer and worked at Ben & Jerry’s, and I just thought that was hilarious and awesome.
Day trips from Dublin:
Cliffs of Moher and Burren:
If you’re strapped for time, consider taking a tour directly to the Cliffs of Moher from Dublin. Many tours go there and back in a day (although the drive does take about 4 hours each way), and this is a great way to see some of the countryside.
If you have more time, I recommend renting a car and moseying around as much as possible. We spent a few days in Waterford (in a castle!) and a day over at the Cliffs of Moher and Burren.
Kilkenny:
On our way to Waterford, we stopped in Kilkenny which was really memorable and special. This medieval town is just a 90 minute drive from Dublin. Grab a bite at the Fig Tree and head over to Kilkenny Castle. On your way out of town, check out the Dunmore Cave.
Dublin is the perfect place to kick-start a visit to Ireland, and we loved taking a couple of relaxing days to explore and take everything in.
Thanks for checking out our Dublin guide! Looking for more Ireland content? Click here.
And here’s the full list of posts from this trip if you’re looking for some itinerary inspiration.
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