10 Things to do in Dublin, Ireland

We’re officially moved in and have been busy exploring as much of Dublin as we possibly can. There is SO much to do in this city that we’re lucky to have a full year to experience it all. But if you only have a few days, you have to check out our top 10 things to do in Dublin (so far)!

Visit the Guinness Storehouse

You can’t leave Dublin without visiting the Guinness Storehouse! Their self-guided tour winds you through the history of beer making and of course the history of Guinness itself. But the best parts of the tour are the parts where you get to taste the beer. There are two different times when you have the option of using your free beer tasting ticket. The first is on the second floor where you can attend “Guinness Academy” and learn how to perfectly pour a Guinness. The second is on the top floor called the Gravity Bar. In this bar you’ll not only get to do the tasting but enjoy it with a 360-degree panorama view of the city! But fair warning, if you use your free beer ticket in the Guinness Academy room, you won’t be able to get a beer in the Gravity Bar. So, choose wisely!

Grab some Fish & Chips

Although, Fish & Chips isn’t technically an Irish food dish, it is definitely a must-have meal here. Leo Burdock’s is one of the most famous “chippie” places in Dublin and they serve up huge portions! They don’t have a sit-down area, so I would suggest taking your portion over to the Christchurch Cathedral across the street to enjoy your meal.

Go for a whiskey tasting

The people of Ireland really do love their whiskey. And there are plenty of distilleries around to try some of their best.

For those who are looking to try a few different kinds of Irish Whiskey and learn more about the history of whiskey in Ireland, I would recommend checking out the Irish Whiskey Museum. Here you’ll get a half-hour guided tour and then a tasting where you get to try 3 different Irish Whiskeys chosen by your guide.

However, a trip to Dublin can’t be complete without a stop at the Jameson Distillery on Bow Street. Here you can either stop in for a drink at their bar or take a guided tour that includes a tasting. They also have a gift shop with all of their whiskeys including options that you can only purchase there.

If you’re looking for something less crowded and less mainstream, take the trip out to the Teeling Whiskey Distillery in Dublin 8. Although, Teeling has been in Ireland since 1782, they just recently moved back into Dublin making them the first new distillery in Dublin in 125 years. They also offer a great tour with a tasting at the end. Additionally, they have their own bar which serves up some of the best Irish Coffee’s I’ve had since moving to Ireland.

Updated: Since this was posted, Dublin has added a few new distilleries that offer tastings and tours. Check-out The Dublin Liberties Distillery and Roe & Co.

Lookout for the bizarrely named statues of Dublin

There are plenty of great statues and monuments around the city, but be warned that the locals have had a bit of fun with nicknaming them. Overall, there are about 10 different statues with unique names. For example, The Molly Malone statue (a fictional fishmonger who is the star of a well-known Irish song) which stands just outside the St. Andrews Church on Suffolk Street, has been nicknamed “the tart with the cart,” “the dish with the fish,” and “the trollop with the scollop.”

Some others to lookout for are: Anna Livia (the floozie in the jacuzzi), Spire of Dublin (the stiletto in the ghetto), James Joyce (the prick with the stick) and statue of two women located on lower Liffey street (the hags with the bags).

Visit Trinity College

Boasting graduates that include author Oscar Wilde, creator of Dracula, Bram Stocker and CEO of Ryanair Michael O’Leary, Trinity College is nothing short of amazing. Walking through the front gate and into the campus center will take your breath away. Don’t forget to make note of The Campanile (bell tower) in the front square, the Sphere with Sphere outside the Berkeley Library and the Museum Building!

After wandering around campus for a while, head over to The Book of Kells and the Old Library. It’s a little pricey but the library looks like something pulled straight out of a Harry Potter movie. I suggest booking your visit ahead of time since the lines get crazy and getting there before 10am before the crowds roll in right off the tour bus.

Pub Hop

Ireland is well-known for their pub culture and there is pretty much a pub or three around every corner. Pubs in Ireland are a social experience, so don’t be afraid to talk to the people around you while you’re enjoying a pint! Check-out some of the more popular pubs such as The Brazen Head, Porterhouse and Mulligans.

Take a walk around St. Stephen’s Green

This historical park and garden have been around for over four centuries. Not only is it a beautiful place for a walk no matter what the season is, but it’s filled with monuments marking important moments and people in Irish history.

Visit Kilmainham Gaol

It sounds odd to suggest a visit to a former prison but Kilmainham Gaol, which was open from 1796 until 1924, but the inside of those walls has seen all of Ireland’s tumultuous history first hand. The cells at Kilmainham Gaol have seen leaders in the uprisings of 1798, 1803, 1848, 1867 and 1916 and they’ve even housed “thieves” during the Irish Potato Famine starting in 1845. The guided tour at Kilmainham Gaol takes visitors through all of the history and provides special insight into specific prisoner’s lives. It’s a great experience for anyone looking to understand Irish history better.

Visit St. Patrick’s Cathedral

St. Patrick’s Cathedral is one of the few buildings left from medieval Dublin and is the largest Cathedral in the country. It was completed in 1260 in honor of the patron saint. There’s the option to take a guided tour inside the cathedral, or just stop by to take in the amazing architecture while sitting in their beautiful park.

Do an experimental tasting at Guinness’s Open House Brewery

Even though a visit to the Guinness Storehouse is absolutely necessary on any trip to Dublin, I suggest a trip over to their Open House Brewery even more so. This is where Guinness experiments with their beers and gives visitors the exclusive opportunity to try them first. Some of the beers make it out into the real world, but others never make it out of those walls. They also serve bar food too if you’re hungry for a snack. You have to book ahead, so make sure to do that by clicking here.