8 things you must do in Dublin – A guide for First-time visitors
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Must-See Attractions For First-Time Dublin Visitors
Dublin, the capital city of Ireland, is a destination that offers something for everyone. From its rich cultural heritage to its busy pubs and bustling atmosphere, it is for sure a city that promises an unforgettable experience.
But with so much to see and do, it can be hard to know where to start when it is your first time visiting. That’s why we’ve put together this guide to the top 8 things you must do in Dublin.
This guide will help you make the most of your trip and ensure you don’t miss any of the city’s highlights. So, let’s dive in and explore the best of what Dublin has to offer!
8 things you must do in Dublin ¦ Ireland
Trinity College
In the heart of the city, Trinity College is one of the most renowned universities in the country. Apart from its brilliant education and famous alumni such as Oscar Wilde, Jonathan Swift and Samuel Beckett, Trinity College is famous for its impeccable neoclassical architecture and its Old Library.
In fact, Home of the beautiful Long Room, the Old Library is also the largest research library in Ireland with more than 5 million books. On the ground floor, the building also hosts the Book of Kells exhibition which contains the four Gospels in Latin of the New Testament. It is ornated with incredible illustrations combining Christian icons with Celtic knots. It is an absolute must-see in Dublin, but make sure to go early as this is the third-most visited site in the capital!
Tip: book your visit online at the time of opening (9:30 am Mon. to Sat. / 12 pm Sun.). Join the queue early and as you enter the building, skip the exhibitions and go straight to the Long Room first. You will be the only one there for a few minutes to appreciate the size and quietness of the Library. You can visit the Book of Kells display afterward.
During summer, head to the sports field to chill in the grass and enjoy the sun. You might see students playing GAA sports or Cricket. If you are thirsty, the Pavillon bar serves fresh (and cheap) drinks.
Note: The books within The Long Room have been removed from the shelves and the Library itself will be closed for renovations from the end of 2023. For more information visit the Old Library Redevelopment project website.
St Stephen’s Green Park
St Stephen’s Green Park is located on the south side of the river, near the shopping area of Grafton Street. It is a large public park where locals gather on sunny days to chill with friends and family. It is mostly appreciated for being a quiet area with a lot of benches and nice paths (about 3.5km) to go for a run or a stroll in Dublin city center. When you visit, look for the old gazebo and the beautiful swans around the large pond.
Tips: as you leave the park, stop at Stephen’s Green Shopping Mall to appreciate its beautiful architecture. When you enter by the main door at the bottom of Grafton Street, take the escalator to the 1st floor. You will have one of the best views of the building and its old clock.
Continue your day by walking around Grafton Street, the main pedestrian area in Dublin. It is the perfect place to go shopping and listen to Irish musicians. Buskers are beloved by locals and it is one of the main attractions in Dublin on weekends. Countless musicians have played here, even Bono and Hozier!
Walking Tour ¦ Join a 1-hour walking tour to discover Stephens’ Green Park differently and listen to fascinating stories and drama that unfolded here. €10 per person.
Dublin Castle
Hidden away in the city center, Dublin Castle is a well-preserved (and restored) building that has seen many historical events throughout its 800 years of existence. It is in fact, one of the most important buildings in Irish history.
Built during the 13th century on a Viking settlement as a defensive fortification against the Normans, Dublin Castle has since partially survived a major fire in 1684, witnessed the seat of the British administration in Ireland, and served as a temporary Court of Justice following the events of Easter Rising in 1916 and the declaration of Independence in 1922.
While you can visit the grounds to see the outside of the Chapel Royal, fortified walls, and the peaceful Dubb Linn gardens at the back, we would recommend visiting Dublin Castle to learn about its history. The self-guided entrance fee to the State Apartments is €8. You can book a guided tour to also access the Chapel Royal and the Subterranean Chamber where you can see excavations of the Medieval fortress and the Viking’s original structure.
Tips: The Dubb Linn gardens are a hidden gem to escape the hustle and bustle of the city center. It is very quiet and not as crowded as the other capital’s parks. You can order snacks and soft drinks from the Chester Beatty Library Coffee shop.
If you are up for another visit, we would recommend the Chester Beatty Library’s museum. The collection holds rare books and artifacts from the Middle East and Asia.
Walking Tour ¦ Explore the Dark side of Dublin with this highly recommended tour. You will hear spooky stories, tales, and legends of the city. The walk will take you to Dublin Castle and a few other spots.
St Patrick’s Cathedral & Christchurch
St Patrick’s Cathedral was founded in 1191 in lieu of an ancient well where it is believed Saint Patrick (Ireland’s patron saint) baptized people into Christianity around 450 AD. Despite being the largest worship site in Ireland, St Patrick’s Cathedral does not host the seat of the Irish bishop. It is actually held in Christchurch Cathedral, the oldest building in Dublin (build in 1030).
Christchurch which is located about 500 m from St Patrick’s is also home to the largest crypt in the UK and Ireland. On its side, St Patrick’s Cathedral features beautiful stained-glass windows and a nice (dog-friendly) park.
I don’t think there is a need to choose to visit one instead of the other. Both Cathedrals are within walking distance from one another and they both deserve a visit. If you were to choose one, I would go for Christchurch which has a few unusual things to see: a heart-shaped box holding the heart of St. Laurence O’Toole, the priceless treasure of the first copy of the Magna Carta, and a mummified cat and rat.
Tips: In Christchurch, when you join a guided tour you can climb to the belfry and ring the bells! (Currently closed due to Covid-19 restrictions).
Walking Tour ¦ Visit all the city highlights in this 2 to 3-hour walking tour. The tour stops at the most important sites and hidden corners in Dublin.
Guinness storehouse
Famously known around the world for its Stout beer, Ireland is home to the notorious Guinness brewery. While such infrastructures are usually found on the outskirts of cities, the Guinness factory is located in the heart of the Dublin city centre where it has had a huge influence on the city’s development for more than 260 years. And since the funder, Arthur Guinness signed a 9,000-year lease for its Brewery at St James’s Gate, you can imagine the story is not ready to end!
Today, you can of course see the factory from the outside, mostly from the Liffey River and around the Liberties area, on the western side of town. While the Brewery itself is not open to visitors, Guinness opened a museum in 2000, called the Guinness Storehouse, where you can learn about the company’s history and how the black stout is made. It is a beautiful building built across 7 floors with interactive exhibitions, a couple of restaurants, and a sky bar offering a 360° view over the capital.
Tips: If you want to try more Guinness beers (and not just the stout), visit the Guinness Open Gate Experimental Bar. This Brewpub and taproom is the perfect place to try exclusive small-batch & limited edition beers made by Guinness (Plum Pudding Porter, Blackberry Flip, Hazy Golden IPA, etc.).
Book your Ticket ¦ This admission ticket to the Guinness Storehouse includes a self-guided tour of the museum and a complimentary drink at the Gravity bar.
phoenix park
With its 700 hectares of forest and grassland, Phoenix Park is the largest enclosed park in Europe. Located on the west side of the city center, Phoenix Park is one of the best places to visit in Dublin. It hosts the local Zoo, the American ambassador’s house, and the Irish Presidential Residence: “Áras an Uachtaráin“.
But what makes Phoenix park famous the most, is the herd of wild fallow deer that live there. The best way to find them is to walk along the main avenue and you should see them on the left side. They usually hang out near the sports field or near the Papal Cross. However, please, please, please, keep your distance and do NOT feed the animals. Even if they tend to approach people, they remain wild and can be dangerous, especially during the rutting or fawning seasons.
Phoenix Park is a peaceful place to escape city life, but it is so large that we would recommend renting a bike. Make sure to also bring a picnic in the summer. Alternatively, you can grab a coffee with a ham & cheese sandwich or a Beef stew pie at Dash Container near the Hole in the Wall.
Tips: Once per year, you can join a walking tour with the Irish Wildlife Trust to learn more about fallow deer and their behavior.
Hop-on/Hop-off Bus ¦ Tour the streets of Dublin all the way to Phoenix Park with this 24 to 48 hours Hop-on Hop-off bus ticket (€29 for 24 hours, €35 for 48 hours)
temple bar
Temple Bar is probably the most famous area in Dublin with its cobblestone streets lined up with Irish pubs playing live music. Most of these pubs are highly tourist and not really places where you will find locals. However, Temple Bar is a place you must see if it is your first time in Dublin.
At night, I won’t especially recommend the Temple Bar Pub for drinks because it is particularly pricey and crowded but as an ex-pat (who once was a first-timer in the capital) I cannot exclude this iconic place from this list. I have some fond memories of wild nights there as a tourist. As a local, I would recommend the Palace bar, the PorterHouse or Anne’s bar for pints, and the VCC or the Morgan for cocktails.
During the day, there are a lot of small shops that are worth a visit if you are into art and second-hand clothing. You can also visit the Museum of Rock, or the Gallery of Photography, watch an Irish film at the IFI, or grab lunch at the Saturday food market. There are also a few restaurants in the area that are really good and worth a shot such as Elephant and Castle, Mongolian Barbecue, Bunsen Burger, and FX Buckley Steakhouse.
Tip: Follow the Graffiti trail around Temple Bar that goes through Bedford Lane to Crampton Court (also known as Love Lane) – You can take a tour to learn about the artists and their work.
Whiskey tasting tour ¦ Join this pub crawl tour to taste 5 premium Irish whiskies (with complimentary snacks) at some of the best pubs in Temple Bar.
Visit a whiskey distillery
Guinness beer is not the only alcohol Ireland is famous for. In fact, whiskey has actually been distilled on the island for more than 200 years. Did you know the oldest distillery in the world is actually found in Westmeath, 100km outside of Dublin.?
For those interested in Whiskey, a few famous Irish distilleries found in Dublin offer tours and tasting experiences. Among the most famous, Jameson whiskey (which is actually from Midleton, Cork), has opened an experience centre in Smithfield, in lieu of their now-closed old distillery. You can join a tour to learn about Jameson’s history, cast your own drink directly from the barrel, or take a cocktail-making class. While they don’t offer a distillery tour, it is a great place for a whiskey-tasting experience.
If a visit to a distillery is what you are looking for, we would recommend checking out either Teeling or Roe & Co. They are both found in Dublin 8 (near Christchurch) and they both offer a walk-through of the production area.
Guided tour ¦ Experience the Jameson’s Whiskey Distillery & Guinness Storehouse with a small walking tour and a guide (and Skip the line tickets included to both places).
psst! For more inspiration, check out our article about the 12 best whiskey tours in Dublin.
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I help you explore Ireland like a local with insider tips, detailed itineraries, and practical advice.
HEY THERE! I’M JEN…
Funder, Author & Photographer behind travelirelandtoday.com
Ireland has been my home for the last 12 years. Before settling here, I spent years backpacking around the globe, visiting 65+ countries. Along the way, I discovered my love for hiking, photography, and crafting budget-friendly itineraries.
Through this website, I share the best things to do and see in Ireland, detailed hiking guides, and practical tips to help you plan your perfect Irish adventure. Let’s make your trip unforgettable!
