How to Spend a Long Weekend in Dublin
Ireland’s bustling capital city has always been a popular destination that has attracted lovers of live music, pub culture, history and literature. A perfect stop in a European city tour, or a destination in itself for a long weekend staycation, Dublin truly has a bit of something for everyone.
Although typically renowned purely for it’s nightlife and drinking culture, Dublin is much more than meets the eye. One of 6 UNESCO cities of literature in the world, the city boats an incredible amount of literary attractions, museums and historical relics, all set around architecture that range from mediaeval to Georgian. With plenty of green space, from St. Stephen’s Green to Phoenix Park, it really is a great getaway for a bit of everything, whether you’re travelling solo, as a group, or with a partner.
From our experience with Dublin, here is what we consider the best ways to spend a long weekend in the city:
As lovers of live music, we really enjoyed exploring the famous Temple Bar neighbourhood in the evenings. The great part of the area catering to tourists is that you can find it lively and bustling every single night of the week.
I have a UK Passport, do I need a visa post-Brexit to go to Ireland?
Although UK citizens will now have to get holiday visas for some European countries post-Brexit, thankfully the Republic of Ireland is not one of them! Ireland is not part of the Schengen Area, but the UK and Ireland have a long standing agreement called the Common Travel Area (CTA). “Under the CTA, British and Irish citizens can move freely and reside in either jurisdiction and enjoy associated rights and privileges, including the right to work, study and vote in certain elections, as well as to access social welfare benefits and health services.” Read more about the CTA here.
Is it possible to do Dublin on a budget?
It’s true that Dublin is one of the most expensive European cities to visit, but it is possible to do Dublin on a budget if you’re willing to be flexible with where you stay, how you’d get around, and the activities you do.
Among other things, try staying just outside of the city centre and use public transport to get into the city (very easy to do with a Leap Pass). Prioritise a few paid activities you want to do while enjoying the other spaces around the city that cost nothing to enjoy (see our recommendations below), and finally, although bar hopping in Temple Bar is a must, it is catered to tourists (which means prices are a bit more than normal), so if you’re hoping to go out more often, try heading to more local areas to get your pints in.
1. oh goodness, my guinness!
Ireland’s most- visited attraction is indeed a must see. The storehouse, located at St. James Gate, is a seven story interactive experience, which works it’s way up through how Guinness started, their marketing over the years, and how it’s made. The self-led tour ends at the rooftop Gravity Bar, which hosts impressive views over the city and where you’ll be able to enjoy your 1-2 drinks that come with your ticket. For a lover of Guinness, you’ll be in your element!
Even if you’re not a Guinness fan, the experience has been really well done and is completely worth booking in. For teetotal travellers, you’ll be happy to know that Guinness now does a 0%, and they do offer non-alcoholic options at the Gravity Bar.
Should I pre-book my ticket?
If you’re visiting the city in the summer or are only coming for a short time, we recommend booking your tickets in advance to avoid disappointment. The ‘Guinness Storehouse Experience’ is, at the moment, only €26 online and is a self-guided tour up through the levels to end at their rooftop Gravity Bar for a pint of Guinness or non-alcoholic drink. See their ticket options here.
Know before you go
Don’t plan your afternoon on sticking around the Gravity Bar, as due to demand, you’ll be limited to the drinks that come with your ticket (aka you won’t be able to buy more).
So nurse your pint while you enjoy the views, and if you’re still wanting to stick around, and extend your stay in the Storehouse, pop down to the fifth floor to enjoy another drink in their Arthur’s bar or have something to eat in their restaurant 1837 Bar & Brasserie.
2. explore grafton street and hangout in st. stephen’s green
Centrally located in the heart of city centre, in and around Grafton Street is a great place to get your bearings. Hosting buskers all along the pedestrianised street, there is loads of shops, restaurants and pubs, making the scene lively and interesting.
You’ll be able to find the famous Chester Beatty Library and the Little Museum of Dublin (more below on museums) in this area, along with the city’s favourite green space, St. Stephen’s Green, which is a perfect spot to decompress in between attractions within the city centre.
3. Tour the old library & trinity College
The Long Room holds 200,000 of Trinity College’s oldest books, and is regarded as one of the most beautiful libraries in the world.
Before coming to Dublin, we had been recommended by friends to go on a tour of Trinity College, which isn’t something we typically do, but it ended up being one of the highlights of the entire trip. Informative, funny, and super interesting, the tour of the college grounds, starting from Parliament Square and entirely student-led, was more than we imagined a campus tour would be.
It included entrance into the Old Library, a stunning long room with over 200,000 books, one of which includes the famous Book of Kells, a manuscript of the four Gospels of the New Testament, created in AD 800 by monks on Scotland’s Isle of Iona. Even if you’re not particularly religious, you can appreciate the history behind it and how carefully it’s been preserved.
Although you can just hop onto a tour when you’re there, you can also pre-book one if you’re less flexible on time- see their tours here.
Want to discover more of Dublin’s history?
If you’re a history buff and interested to discover more of Dublin’s past and/or it’s religious roots, head straight from Trinity College to Dublin Castle, built in the 13th century, and the mediaeval cathedrals of St. Patricks and Christ Church, all located just to the west of Temple Bar and just south of the River Liffey.
Interested in Dublin’s literary scene?
For writers and lovers of literary attractions as they travel, check out this guide, made by the Dublin UNESCO City of Literature, which details all of the literary highlights of the city.
4. experience Kilmainham gaol
You may recognise this main atrium from some notable films such as Italian Job, The Wind That Shakes the Barley, and Paddington 2.
Another tour that intrigued and surprised us was Kilmainham Gaol, the historic prison with a very gruesome and turbulent past that has evolved into a national monument and at times, film set (you may recognise the main atrium as one of the filming sets for Italian Job - or depending on your film interests, Paddington 2).
Built in the late 1700s, the prison is renowned for it’s history of brutal and disorderly treatment, hosting public executions, and was used as a working prison until 1924. The tour guides are fantastic; they do a very good job at being respectful and informative while still making the tour entertaining and engaging.
Pre-booking is a must as the only way to see the prison is through a guided tour. Since it is one of the more popular attractions in Dublin, booking in advance is recommended as spaces are limited (especially on weekends or in the busier months like summer or school holidays).
5. live music in temple bar
The famous Temple Bar public house, established in 1840. The name Temple Bar is shared by this pub, the street, and the general area. Typically, the reference to Temple Bar will be referring to the area, which is known for catering to tourism.
Exploring the nightlife in Temple Bar is another unique experience to Dublin. Centrally located, the area caters to tourists more than other nightlife areas around the city (meaning drink prices can be a bit dearer), but it’s worth the experience. You’ll find live music playing all down the street on every single night of the week, so it’s a great spot for a pub crawl.
On weekends, you’ll be able to peruse the open-air food market at Meeting House Square, or the Book Market at Temple Bar Square. The quirky, cobble-stoned streets offer a selection of cafes and retail selection in the daytime before the music picks up and drinks start flowing.
6. discover phoneix park
Check out the herd of wild fallow deer that live in the park, but be sure to keep a safe distance.
Phoenix Park is Europe’s largest urban park and is a great space to unplug from what can be a hectic city centre. The area is massive, almost impossible to cover in a day, and so is best enjoyed in sections.
There are various attractions all over the park such as the Phoenix Column, the Papal Cross, the Wellington Testimonial (the obelisk), and the Dublin Zoo, but one of the most popular ways to experience the park is to pack a picnic, hire a bike, and relax in the number of green spaces. There are a herd of fallow deer that live in the park that can usually be found in the western half of the park in/around the wooded area (follow the main road up past the ambassador’s house to Furze road and take a left). They are definitely worth seeing, although remember to keep a safe distance (Phoenix Park recommends 50m), and if you do pack a picnic- don’t share it with the deer.
If you’re a runner or an athlete in training, Phoenix Park is a great spot to set your runs or workouts while visiting in or staying within the city as you get the luxury of the large, outdoor spaces without all the crowds.
7. go museum-hopping
If you’re after a city break full of museums, galleries and theatre, you’ll have your pick in Dublin. Hosting over 40 museums, there are spaces that cater to every interest, with some of the most visited being the National Museum of Ireland, the Little Museum of Dublin, the Irish Museum of Modern Art, and the Museum of Natural History.
However, if you’re looking for something a bit more niche, Dublin has a surprising amount of museums catering to specific events and interests. If you’re touring Ireland to re-discover your roots or heritage, you could check out EPIC, the Irish Emigration Museum; if you’re a fan of Viking history, Dublinia could strike your fancy, or if you’re a lover of Irish Whisky, head to the Irish Whiskey Museum on Grafton Street for the history and a nip.
Looking to save on experiences?
If you’re hoping to explore as many attractions in the city as you can, consider purchasing an access pass as it’ll help save on cover costs. If it’s the cathedrals and a few of the historical museums you’re after, you could look into the Do Dublin Days out Card, or if you’re hoping to pack in a bit more, look to passes like Go City, that work out all-inclusive attraction deals.
If you’re one to travel for sport, timing your trip for a football, Gaelic football or rugby game could be a good shout for you and your pals to see a whole other side to the city, culture and locals.
Dublin pleasantly surprised us by being a lot more than we imagined. It struck the perfect balance of nightlife, culture and relaxation that makes any city break a memorable one, and we definitely recommend it.
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Happy Travels,
Sam
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