Things To Do
Saint Stephen's Green
Free! It's like the Central Park of Dublin. You can also find the famed Oscar Wilde statue here, in the adjacent Merrion Square.
Beshoff's
If you're looking for authentic fish + chips, this is the place to go.
The Long Room Of The Old Library At Trinity College
Trinity College is near Temple Bar and is a beautiful campus, but the highlight is definitely its library. You can tour the college grounds for free, but there is a small fee to enter the famed Long Room library.
The Brazen Head
This is the oldest pub in Ireland. How old? Well, it dates back to 1198. This is a great place to enjoy traditional Irish food, such as beef + Guinness stew with a side of soda bread. This was one of Lauren's favorite meals while studying abroad.
Glendalough
Want to escape the city? Just an hour by car from Dublin and nestled in the Wicklow Mountains National Park, you'll find the ruins from an early medieval monastic settlement. It also includes a leisurely hike around a beautiful lake. It's the perfect place for history, fresh air, and good photos.
Gallaghers Boxty House
This is a famous restaurant in the Temple Bar area. A "boxty" is like a thin, savory crepe/pancake made from potatoes, rolled up and stuffed with the filling of your choice. Gluten-free options available!
Glasnevin Cemetery
This famed cemetery is home to many famous Irish heroes and revolutionaries, not to mention some of the oldest gravestones you'll ever see. Tours available, and cafe onsite.
Guinness Storehouse
Learn how Guinness is made, and enjoy a pint on the top floor with a 360-degree view of the city. Even if you don't enjoy dark stouts (which Lauren does not), you might enjoy this tour (which Lauren did), which at times feels more like a history museum than just a brewery. Plus, that view at the top is incredible!
Fitzgeralds
Visit Lauren's hang-out spot during her study abroad trip. Bonus: it's one of the more affordable pubs in the Temple Bar area--or at least it was in 2011. Relive Lauren's experience by ordering a shepherd's pie and a half pint of Bulmers (the official cider of Ireland).
Kilmainham Gaol
This "gaol" (as in "jail") housed the leaders of the 1916 Easter Rising, many of whom were executed by firing squad in the courtyard, where you can still see the bullet holes. It's now a museum and is a very powerful and sobering experience. Highly recommended if you're a history buff!
General Post Office
Free! Sure, it might seem like just a post office, but this grandiose building has major history. It's one of the symbols of the Easter Rising: it was taken over by the Irish rebels fighting for freedom, but they were quickly outnumbered by the British forces. Most of the building had to be rebuilt due to a fire in 1929, but signs of the fight remain. In fact, you can still see the bullet holes in its massive columns. But be sure to check out the inside: it's gorgeous.
Walking Tour of Dublin Podcast
Free! For a guide to Dublin, download the podcast in the link for a walking tour through Dublin that highlights some of the key landmarks. In the link, you can also find a podcast of a fashion walking tour and a 1916 walking tour (focused on the Easter Rising).
Jameson Distillery Bow St.
This is where you'll find Lauren! Take a tour, sample some whiskey, take a cocktail-making class, or take a whiskey blending class.
Grafton Street
Free! This is a famous pedestrian-only street with shops and restaurants.
Dublin Literary Pub Crawl
This is a walking tour (covers about half a mile) visiting historic pubs in Dublin. You're guided by two actors who read famous works from people like James Joyce, Samuel Beckett, and Oscar Wilde.
The Jeanie Johnston: An Irish Famine Story
This museum is a replica of a ship that helped transport thousands of desperate Irish emigrants to Canada during the famine. Learn about the famine, as well as the incredible story of Jeanie Johnston.
14 Henrietta Street
This Georgian townhouse has transformed from a luxurious home for the wealthy, to a tenement house for over 100 people, and finally to a museum. This is a visual and interesting way to learn about the history of Dubliners and their way of life. Alternatively, you can just browse the beautiful architecture on Henrietta Street for free.
Dublinia Museum
At this museum, learn the history of the vikings during medieval Dublin.
St Patrick's Cathedral
Free! See the largest cathedral in Ireland, which was founded in the 1100s. It is a stunning building on the inside and out.
Haunted Tour: Dublin Dark Side Tour
For a different look at Dublin, this guided tour takes you on a 2.5-hour journey through graveyards and back alleys. You'll learn about Irish folklore and Dublin's famous ghosts.
Hunt for Dublin's Famous Sculptures
Free! Dublin is known for a number of sculptures of some of its most famous figures (some real, some not so real). They're peppered all over the city. Can you find them all?