19 Best things to see & do in Dublin

Dublin’s massive street parade aims showcase the talent and skills of Irish people of every age and background. The resulting green flotilla of floats, marching bands, street performers and dancers and more is a spellbinding spectacle, roared on by huge crowds.

Birthplace of Oscar Wilde, and originally built in 1592, Trinity College is Dublin’s hallowed seat of learning, and home to the world-famous Book of Kells.

Dublin is the birthplace of the legendary pint of Guinness – Ireland’s national drink. This fun and interactive museum tells the story…

Take an expert-led guided tour and discover the origins of Irish Whiskey, how it has developed through the ages, the secrets of how to make it, and the leading Irish Whiskey brands. Tours end, of course, with a tasting.

Award-winning walk-through Dublin via historic pubs, combining drinks and entertainment, with literature and history.

Ireland’s premier museum traces Irish history to 7000BC, via bog bodies, castles and Celtic art.

Set in the elegant 17th-century Royal Hospital on the outskirts of Dublin, this small permanent exhibition has works by great Irish artists such as Jack B Yeats and Louis Lebroquy, supplemented by regular temporary exhibitions. The manicured grounds are full of topiary and sculptures.

Award-winning collection of ancient manuscripts from across the world, with objets d’art and great facilities.

You’ll find everything from works by Van Gogh to contemporary portraits in this sprawling gallery, that’s an architectural masterpiece itself.

Kilmainham opened its doors in 1796 as the city’s County Gaol, and over the next century and a half, many leaders of the Rebellions, and the Republican movement, were imprisoned within its walls.

One of the city’s oldest markets, Temple Bar comes to live every Saturday when the best local food producers come to sell everything from charcuterie and cheeses to artisan breads and cakes.

Built by the Vikings in 1030, this grand Gothic structure features one of the largest medieval crypts in Britain and Ireland – and the earliest surviving structure in Dublin.

Escape the city for the day and take the coastal railway to the pretty village of Howth on Dublin Bay, with great coastal walks and fresh seafood.

A historical museum that documents and ‘re-creates’ life in Dublin during Viking and medieval times. It’s a ‘living’ museum with interactive displays and staff dressed up. Great for families.

This atmospheric library dates back to 1707 and has barely changed in the last 300 years – the mahogany shelves groan with books. A bibliophile’s paradise.

A giant, airy gallery right on the edge of the historic Parnell Square, Hugh Lane has the foremost collection of contemporary masterpieces in the city. Visit on Sunday for free music recitals.

A chic mix of speciality shops, art galleries and restaurants housed in an atmospheric, 18th-century Georgian mansion that retains many of its period features. Centrally located, just off Grafton Street.

Dublin’s equivalent of Fortnum & Mason, this elegant department store first opened its doors in 1849 and remains the city’s go-to place for designer brands.

Known locally as ‘the wedding cake’ this architecturally interesting Shopping Centre looks like a traditional paddle-steamer from the outside, with glass and ornate white iron work used throughout to create a historic look (in spite of it being built in the 1980s).