A Pint-Sized Guide of Things to Do in Dublin
1. Trinity College and the Book of Kells
Closest station: Dublin Pearse
Anyone who’s been to Dublin will insist that you prioritize the Book of Kells Experience at Trinity College. The Old Library is absolutely stunning and seeing the 9th-century Book of Kells just as memorable.
2. Guinness Storehouse
Closest station: Dublin Heuston
Having a pint of Guinness on a rooftop bar overlooking Dublin? Say less.
3. Dublin Castle
Closest station: Tara Street
Nearly a thousand-years-old, Dublin Castle was initially built on a Viking settlement, evolved throughout the Middle Ages into State Apartments by the 1700s.
4. St. Patrick’s Cathedral
Closest station: Dublin Pearse
Another relic of Dublin’s past, St. Patrick’s Cathedral was built in the 1200s and still functions as the Church of Ireland’s national cathedral.
5. Glasnevin Cemetery and National Botanic Gardens
Closest station: Drumcondra
Find the fields of Glasnevin blooming with beautiful stonework and flora when you wander the Glasnevin Cemetery and explore the formal gardens surrounding the Victorian palm house at Ireland’s botanic garden.
6. Irish Whiskey Museum
Closest station: Trinity (tram)
If you’ve already had a pint at the Guinness brewery, head over to the Irish Whiskey Museum for a tour that finishes with a tasting.
7. Dublinia
Closest station: Trinity (tram)
A museum focusing on Dublin’s viking and medieval history with a twist: living history guides provide a more immersive experience that’s ideal for younger visitors.
8. Vicar Street
Closest station: Dublin Heuston
Dublin has as few popular thoroughways and Vicar Street is the one to visit for live performances like standup comedy and concerts.
9. Casino Model Railway Museum
Closest station: Malahide
Call us crazy, but we’ll gladly take the train just north of the city center to the Casino Model Railway Museum in Malahide. With over 300 models, it tells the history of the Irish railway system and makes for a great last-minute stop before heading to the airport 10 minutes away.
10. Dún Laoghaire Harbour & National Maritime Museum of Ireland
Closest station: Dun Laoghaire
South along the Irish seaside, yet still within Dublin’s limits, you’ll find the suburb of Dún Laoghaire. It’s an awesome place to chill with a basket of fish and chips, tour the National Maritime Museum of Ireland, and visit the James Joyce Tower and Museum nearby.
11. Kilmainham Gaol
Closest station: Dublin Heuston
A brutal look at a darker part of Dublin’s history, Kilmainham Gaol is now a museum housed in what once was a prison where countless political criminals were either held or put to death.
12. St. Stephen’s Green
Closest station: Dublin Pearse
One of the best places in Dublin to sit and do nothing — aside from a pub, that is. St. Stephen’s Green is in the city center and is a convenient place to take any kids or pets traveling Ireland by train with you.
13. Museum of Literature Ireland
Closest station: Dublin Pearse
With the Dublin Writers Museum now closed, the Museum of Literature Ireland is the best place in the city to explore the famous Irish authors you’ve grown up reading.
14. Hiking and horticulture at Beechpark
Closest station: Clonsilla
Farther west in Dublin, you’ll hop off at the Clonsilla train station for the rare species found at Shackleton Gardens in Beechpark, lessons at the Dublin Falconry, or a stroll along The Royal Canal Way.
15. Bridge hop along the River Liffey
Closest station: Tara Street
For some of the best waterside photos of Dublin, find your way to bridges like Ha’penny Bridge, Millennium Bridge, and Samuel Beckett Bridge during sunset.
16. GAA Museum
Closest station: Drumcondra
Do as the Irish do and get onboard with Gaelic sports at the GAA Museum. Check the schedule ahead of time and cop tickets to a Gaelic football or camogie game.
17. National Leprechaun Museum of Ireland
Closest station: Jervis Luas Stop
Silly? Yes, but also sweet when visiting with little ones. The National Leprechaun Museum of Ireland tells the tales of the Emerald Isle’s mythical creatures.
18. Ye Olde Hurdy Gurdy MuseumOfVintage Radio
Closest station: Howth
Housed in a Napoleonic Tower, the Ye Olde Hurdy Gurdy Museum Of Vintage Radio has a collection of over 1,000 exhibits spanning the history of Ireland’s radio broadcasting.
19. Sweny's Pharmacy
Closest station: Dublin Pearse
The very same pharmacy mentioned in Joyce’s Ulysses is now a secondhand bookstore ideal for picking out your next train-ready read.
20. Temple Bar
Closest station: Tara Street
Temple Bar is a busy neighborhood in Dublin, known for its pubs and pedestrian-friendly streets. Locals will insist you go elsewhere, so wander over, have a pint to say that you did, maybe pop into the Irish Rock ‘n’ Roll Museum, then head to Stoneybatter or Glasnevin where smaller crowds sip.
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