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The Merrion, Dublin

Things to do guide

The best things to do in Dublin

Updated 1 October 2026 · 20 things to do

Pictured: The Merrion

Dublin is a small capital with a big personality. Georgian squares and brightly painted doors, medieval cathedrals, a river running through the middle and a pub on what feels like every corner. It's a city of storytellers, where Joyce, Wilde, Yeats and Beckett walked the same streets you'll, and where the craic, the music and the conversation matter as much as the sights.

It's also easy to cover. Most of the big names sit within a short walk of the Liffey, and the coast, the mountains and some of Ireland's oldest monuments are a train, bus or short drive away. Plan a mix of museums, history and pubs, and leave an evening free for live music.

Don't miss

  1. 1The Guinness Storehouse
  2. 2Trinity College and the Book of Kells
  3. 3Kilmainham Gaol
  4. 4Temple Bar
  5. 5Howth

The big sights

  1. The Guinness Storehouse

    Landmark

    The Guinness Storehouse at St James's Gate
    Photo: Dieglop, CC BY-SA 4.0

    The home of Ireland's most famous stout, in the old brewery at St James's Gate. Seven floors wind around a glass atrium shaped like a giant pint, telling the story of how Guinness is made and sold around the world, and the Gravity Bar at the top finishes with a pint and a 360-degree view over the city.

    Tip: Book your slot ahead, especially at weekends and in summer.

  2. Trinity College and the Book of Kells

    Landmark

    The barrel-vaulted Long Room of the Old Library at Trinity College
    Photo: Diliff, CC BY-SA 4.0

    Ireland's oldest university has cobbled squares and a lovely campus right in the city centre. The big draw is the Old Library, where the Book of Kells, a dazzlingly illuminated 9th-century gospel, is displayed, and the barrel-vaulted Long Room, lined with 200,000 antique books, is one of the world's great libraries.

    Tip: Reserve timed tickets online to skip the longest queues.

  3. Kilmainham Gaol

    Museum

    The Victorian wing of Kilmainham Gaol with its iron stairs and cell doors
    Photo: Velvet, CC BY-SA 3.0

    A grim Victorian prison that holds a central place in Irish history, because leaders of the 1916 Easter Rising were held and executed here. Guided tours are gripping and moving, and the central hall with its iron stairs is one of the most striking interiors in the city.

    Tip: Tours run on timed slots, so book ahead.

  4. Dublin Castle

    Landmark

    Dublin Castle
    Photo: Jowaria, CC BY-SA 4.0

    Part medieval tower, part Georgian palace, the castle was the seat of British rule for centuries and is now used for state occasions. Tour the State Apartments, the Chapel Royal and the Viking-era foundations beneath.

  5. St Patrick's Cathedral

    Landmark

    St Patrick's Cathedral seen across its park
    Photo: Diliff, CC BY-SA 3.0

    Ireland's largest church, dedicated to the national patron saint and associated with Jonathan Swift, the author of Gulliver's Travels, who was once its dean. Inside are glorious floor tiles, banners of knights and a choir known for its music.

Streets and neighbourhoods

  1. Temple Bar

    Neighbourhood

    The red-fronted Temple Bar pub on Temple Lane
    Photo: Gordon Leggett, CC BY-SA 4.0

    Cobbled lanes, live music and plenty of pubs south of the Liffey. It's rowdy and touristy, yes, but it's also home to galleries, theatres and a Saturday food market, and it's the place for a pint to a soundtrack of traditional Irish music.

    Tip: Pubs here charge more than elsewhere in the city. For better value, wander a few streets away.

  2. Grafton Street and St Stephen's Green

    Neighbourhood

    An aerial view of St Stephen's Green in autumn
    Photo: Dronepicr (edited by King of Hearts) Edit corrects CA and sharpens image, CC BY 3.0

    Dublin's pedestrian shopping street fills with buskers and flower sellers, and at its southern end lies St Stephen's Green, a Victorian park with ducks, a lake and bandstand, perfect for a picnic or an hour's rest from sightseeing.

  3. Ha'penny Bridge and the Liffey

    Landmark

    The Ha'penny Bridge over the River Liffey
    Photo: The wub, CC BY-SA 4.0

    The elegant cast-iron footbridge over the Liffey, opened in 1816, is one of the city's best-loved landmarks. Cross it, then stroll along the quays to the Samuel Beckett Bridge, shaped like a harp, in the revived Docklands.

  4. Georgian Dublin and Merrion Square

    Neighbourhood

    The 18th-century streets around Merrion Square are lined with elegant red-brick townhouses and doors painted every colour of the rainbow. Oscar Wilde grew up on the square, and a statue of him lounges on a rock in the park.

Museums and green space

  1. The National Museum of Ireland: Archaeology

    Museum

    Free to enter and full of treasures: Bronze Age gold, the Ardagh Chalice and the Tara Brooch, as well as Viking finds and preserved bog bodies. A brilliant introduction to thousands of years of Irish history.

  2. EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum

    Museum

    A hi-tech, interactive museum in the Docklands telling the story of the millions of Irish people who left home, and the mark they left on the world. It's more moving than you might expect.

  3. Phoenix Park

    Nature

    One of the largest walled city parks in Europe, with wide open grassland, wild fallow deer, a tall monument and a few good cafés. Hire a bike to cover it comfortably.

Eat and drink

  1. A proper pint of Guinness

    Nightlife

    Order it, wait while it settles, and sip it slowly. Try a traditional pub such as The Brazen Head, which claims to be the city's oldest, or one of the snug old bars around Grafton Street. Many have live traditional music most nights.

  2. Irish stew

    Food

    A hearty bowl of slow-cooked lamb with potatoes, carrots and onions, a staple of Irish pubs. Pair it with brown soda bread and butter for the full effect.

  3. A full Irish breakfast

    Food

    Sausages, rashers, eggs, black and white pudding, grilled tomato and beans, with toast and tea. It's the best-known way to soak up a big night, and a proper foundation for a day of sightseeing.

The coast and day trips

  1. Howth

    Day trip

    The harbour at Howth
    Photo: Ivucica, CC BY-SA 4.0

    A fishing village on a headland north of the city, reached by DART train. Walk the cliff path around the peninsula, then stop for seafood by the harbour. It's the classic way to escape the city for the day.

  2. Dalkey and Killiney

    Day trip

    A pair of elegant seaside villages south of the city, linked by the DART. Wander Dalkey's lanes and castle, then climb Killiney Hill for a view across the bay that people compare with Naples.

  3. Malahide Castle

    Day trip

    Malahide Castle
    Photo: William Murphy from Dublin, Ireland, CC BY-SA 2.0

    A medieval castle with a walled garden, set in a large park, in the pretty seaside suburb of Malahide on the north coast. Combine it with a walk along the estuary and lunch in the village.

  4. Glendalough

    Day trip

    The ruined cathedral at Glendalough monastic site
    Photo: Superbass, CC BY-SA 4.0

    A glacial valley in the Wicklow Mountains with two lakes, woodland trails and the remains of an early monastic settlement, including a round tower. Tour buses run from Dublin, or you can drive.

  5. Newgrange

    Day trip

    The quartz-fronted passage tomb at Newgrange
    Photo: Tjp finn, CC BY-SA 4.0

    A passage tomb in the Boyne Valley, built about 5,000 years ago and older than Stonehenge. Its white quartz facade is spectacular, and visits are by guided tour from the visitor centre.

    Tip: Book well in advance; access is limited and organised tours from Dublin are popular.

Where to stay in Dublin

Not sure which area suits you? Read our guide: Where to stay in Dublin →

Getting around

Central Dublin is compact and best explored on foot. The Luas tram links the main areas, the DART runs along the coast to Howth, Dalkey and beyond, and buses fill in the rest. Taxis are plentiful, but you won't need a car unless you want to explore Wicklow or Meath.

When to go

Dublin is mild but changeable, so pack layers and a waterproof at any time of year. Late spring and summer have long evenings, and St Patrick's Day in March is a big, busy celebration. Autumn and winter are quieter and cosier, with turf fires in the pubs.

Questions about visiting Dublin

What is Dublin best known for?
Guinness, its pubs and live music, Trinity College and the Book of Kells, Georgian architecture, literary history and a friendly, talkative atmosphere.
How many days do you need in Dublin?
Two or three days covers the main sights and a few pubs. Add a day for a coast or countryside trip to Howth, Glendalough or Newgrange.
Is Dublin walkable?
Yes. The central sights, from Trinity College and Grafton Street to Temple Bar and Dublin Castle, are close together, and most of the old centre is flat.
What is there to do in Dublin with kids?
Phoenix Park, the Guinness Storehouse tour, Dublin Castle, the beach and cliff walks at Howth, and the interactive exhibits at EPIC are all family-friendly.

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