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Bucket list destination:

Dublin

  • Dublin, County Dublin, Ireland

Last updated: 22 September, 2024
Expert travel writer: Nicola Brady

Rich Medieval and literary history meet varied dining and a trendy social scene in the cool urban village that is Dublin.

Cobbled streets and castle walls hug Victorian and Georgian houses, complemented by dramatic modern architecture and artistic design.

Quick-witted, sociable characters fuel traditional Irish pubs as historic theatres showcase literary talent and local ‘musos’ rock live music venues. Prep your palette for a charming cocktail of clubs and culture, history and hospitality, and savour a taste of diverse, delightfully hip Dublin.

Orientation

The River Liffey separates Dublin into Northside and Southside neighbourhoods – the latter being more upmarket and expensive. Leafy banks hug the Grand and Royal Canals that run east and west.

Easy to navigate by foot, the city is dotted with Georgian squares and Victorian parks, such as Stephen’s Green and Phoenix Park, one of the largest designed landscapes in a European city.

Tours, tickets & transfers

13

Our selection of the best Viator tours of this destination, plus helpful tickets and transfers

  • Dublin

Unlock Dublin and make your own sightseeing itinerary with a 24 or 48 hour hop-on hop-off bus ticket in Dublin. Use your ticket to explore 25 well-placed stops around town. Listen to live commentary as you ride and hop on and off whenever and wherever you please. See landmarks such as Trinity College, the Guinness Storehouse and St Stephen’s Green. Complimentary admission to the Little Museum of Dublin are included with the ticket. *Kids Go Free - One Child Under 15 travels free with each adult.

Price €32

Min age 5

Rating 4.50 / 5 [2540 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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  • Dublin

Explore Dublin in your own time with a 24, 48 or 72 hour unlimited hop-on hop-off bus tour! You’ll discover everything this wonderful city has to offer, including the Guinness Storehouse, Ha’penny Bridge, Dublin Zoo, Christchurch Cathedral, The Irish Whiskey Museum, City Hall and many other remarkable landmarks! You’ll see all of these sights from the open-top deck, which gives you a stunning 360 degree perspective of your surroundings. Or simply hop off the double-decker bus whenever you please, to take a closer look at things. There’s also an on-board audio tour commentary provided in 8 languages, so you can engage with Dublin’s history as you cruise around. This tour has many perks, including discounted entry at the Irish Whiskey Museum and a free walking tour, making your sightseeing experience even more immersive & 1 child (aged 4-12) can travel for free with every 2 paying adults!

Price €32

Min age 5

Rating 4.05 / 5 [2320 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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  • Dublin

Enjoy gorgeous afternoon tea as we  take a trip through the city taking in the Phoenix Park, Guinness Brewery Christ Church, Wood Quay, O’Connell Street, Trinity College, Georgian Dublin, St. Stephens Green and more.

Price €60

Min age 4

Rating 4.76 / 5 [2088 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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  • Dublin

Explore Dublin’s gruesome stories of murder, torture, cannibalism, grave robbing, brothels, proposals to eat young children, unearthly worship and much more! We start our journey at Dublin Castle, where we will explore the torture of the past, speak of priest hunters and unearth why the upper courtyard was nicknamed the Devil’s Half Acre but behind the beautiful architecture is a brutal past. From here we’ll take the side streets to hear stories of cannibalism and of proposals to eat babies. As we delve further into Dublin’s dark past, we’ll enter an area once known as Hell. Uncover stories of brothels, witches, and the infamous Hellfire Club. Passing by the old city walls we’ll learn of grave robbing, The Black Pig, and finish with the very unusual case of a strangler and killer with no legs. Join us on this 2-hour walking tour as we weave our way through the city streets and back alleys to uncover Dublin’s Dark past.

Price €19

Min age 18

Rating 4.89 / 5 [1741 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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  • Dublin

Come along on a Finn McCool's Tour! Find out what you need to know about Dublin! Our team of guides are some of the best in the business and should not be missed. This isn't just a tour through history or a walk around for some sightseeing and to hear a few stories! This is the tour for you! Our guides are ready and willing to hear what questions and requests you may have! Everything starts with a short Meet & Greet before departure, the purpose of this is to establish where everyone is from and what they are expecting from the tour. Once we have this then off we go! This is a tour of Dublin and incorporates everything from the heights of history to the silly shenanigans of the dear auld Dubliners. From shopping to architecture by way of a few stories both new and old. You may find yourself taken off course to be shown something new! A variable, malleable and surprising walk through Dublin that will leave you ready to take on all of Dublin.

Price €20

Min age 1

Rating 4.84 / 5 [701 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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Travel advice

When to go

Dublin’s weather is temperamental but May to August offer the best weather (usually!), during which time outdoors activities are encouraged and locals are at their most sociable. Weekend markets, festivals and coastal villages spring to life during the summer months too.

The busiest weekend is St Patrick’s Festival in March, attracting crowds from around the world. Rugby is a popular sport and national rugby matches feature at weekends from October to March. Arts and cultural events, and Dublin’s hectic nightlife, pack a lively social schedule year-round.

Getting there and away

Regular buses run from the airport directly into Dublin, but metered taxi is the fastest (30 minutes) and easiest way to reach the city centre, taking routes that avoid traffic.

Getting around

Dublin is uniquely compact so the best way to get around and experience the city to the full is to walk. New bike lanes invite you to use a super-convenient Dublin bike scheme, providing cheap-to-rent bikes at 40 stations around the city. There’s also a light rail system, or LUAS, that is the fastest way to travel north and south of the centre. Avoid renting a car as traffic is heavy.

Where to stay

The most exclusive hotels and guest houses are typically located on the more exclusive south side of the River Liffey. Grafton Street, Merrion Row and Baggot Street are dotted with four- and five-star hotels and guest houses, all within walking distance of lively nightlife haunts. Whether you’re a first-time visitor or not, Dublin is such a compact city that these areas form good bases for a complete city experience. Groups congregate in the touristy Temple Bar area and while this is a bustling hub, it’s not where locals hang out.

Where to eat or drink

There are distinct areas for dining and partying. Temple Bar offers round-the-clock fun but it’s touristy, while the network of George’s, Wicklow, Exchequer and South William Streets are where locals prefer to hang out in trendy bars. Grafton and George’s Street and Merrion Row are lined with fine-dining restaurants while Wexford and Leeson Streets offer late-night pubs and clubs – all within walking distance of the city centre.

Where to shop

Grafton and Wicklow Streets are the jewels in Dublin’s shopping crown, lined with upmarket boutiques, cafés and department stores, including Brown Thomas, Westbury and Powerscourt Malls.

Alternative boutiques, vintage shopping and arcades line the side streets between Grafton and George’s Street.

Weekend markets showcase local fashion, crafts and produce in Temple Bar. St Stephen’s Green or Dundrum – a 15-minute LUAS (light rail) trip – both offer a high-street shopping mall experience.

Linen, tweed, Celtic jewellery and hand-made musical instruments are some of the top buys in Dublin.