Dublin

Dublin · Suggested itinerary

3-Day Dublin

The essential first-timer's route — historic streets, castles and coastal walks.

1. Day

   1

   Theme

   Historic Dublin

   Medieval manuscripts, Georgian squares and cobbled lanes where the city began.
   • Morning9:00 AM – 12:00 PM

     Trinity College & Book of Kells

     • Book of Kells — 9th-century illuminated gospel manuscript
     • The Long Room — 18th-century oak library with 200,000 historic volumes

     Trinity College & Book of Kells≈ €25
   • Lunch12:30 PM – 1:45 PM

     Grafton Street & South William Street

     • Street food, cafés and pubs along Dublin's best-known pedestrian thoroughfare

     TryBewley's Oriental Café (Grafton Street)Dosa Dosa (South William Street)The Hairy Lemon for pub grub
   • Afternoon2:00 PM – 4:30 PM

     St Stephen's Green & Merrion Square

     • Stroll through St Stephen's Green — Victorian gardens and duck ponds
     • Merrion Square's colourful Georgian doors and the Oscar Wilde statue
   • Evening6:00 PM onwards

     Temple Bar & Grafton Street

     • Cobbled lanes of trad-music pubs and street performers
     • Dinner in the lively Temple Bar quarter

     TryThe Palace Bar (traditional pub)Celtic Whiskey Bar & LarderBrother Hubbard for modern Irish

   HighlightsBook of KellsLong Room libraryGeorgian doorsTemple Bar trad music

   Walking

   ≈ 5 km · 1 hr 15 min walking

   Comfortable walking shoes — Dublin's centre is cobbled in places.

   Sightseeing

   ≈ 8 hours sightseeing

   Family

   Couples

   Transport tips

   • St Stephen's Green

     Luas Green Line

     Direct to the park and a short walk to Trinity.

   • Trinity

     Luas Green Line

     Stops right beside the university gates.

   • Temple Bar

     Walkable

     Everything today is within 20 minutes on foot.

   Estimated daily budget

   Budget traveller

   €45–€65

   Mid-range

   €90–€130

   Luxury

   €220+

   Travel tip

   Book the Book of Kells online in advance — the line can stretch around Front Square at peak times.

   Money saver

   Many Dublin museums are free; Trinity is the main paid entry today.

   Best photo spot

   The Long Room's barrel-vaulted ceiling and symmetry, best shot from the central aisle.

   Best time to visit

   Arrive at Trinity right at 9:00 AM for the quietest Long Room experience.

   Book ahead

   Book of Kells timed entry + Trinity College grounds.

   Transport tip

   Walking is fastest in the compact centre; tag on and off the Luas if you use it.

   Food recommendation

   Bewley's Oriental Café is a Grafton Street institution — go mid-morning to avoid queues.

   Rainy day alternative

   The Long Room and Chester Beatty Library are excellent indoor backups within minutes.

   Alternative option

   Instead of the Temple Bar evening: Cross the river to Smithfield or Stoneybatter for a more local, less touristy dinner and pint.

   Packing tips

   • Refillable water bottle
   • Light rain jacket
   • Comfortable walking shoes
   • Portable phone charger

   Accessibility

   • Trinity College and the Book of Kells have step-free routes
   • St Stephen's Green has level, paved paths throughout
   • Temple Bar cobbles can be uneven — slower going for wheelchairs

   Today's highlights

   • 4 major attractions visited
   • ≈ 8 hours sightseeing
   • ≈ 5 km on foot
   • Mid-range budget ≈ €90–€130
   • Evening around Temple Bar

   End the day around Temple Bar

   View on Google Maps
2. Day

   2

   Theme

   Dublin History & Culture

   Castles, cathedrals and the city's two great liquid exports — stout and whiskey.
   • Morning9:30 AM – 12:30 PM

     Dublin Castle & St Patrick's Cathedral

     • Dublin Castle — State Apartments, medieval undercroft and Chapel Royal
     • St Patrick's Cathedral — Ireland's largest medieval cathedral and Jonathan Swift's tomb

     Dublin Castle guided tour≈ €12St Patrick's Cathedral≈ €11
   • Lunch12:45 PM – 1:45 PM

     The Liberties / Thomas Street

     • Pub lunch or market food near the Guinness neighbourhood

     TryThe Brazen Head (Ireland's oldest pub)The Legal Eagle gastropubThe Fumbally café
   • Afternoon2:00 PM – 5:00 PM

     Guinness Storehouse

     • Seven-storey pint-shaped experience ending at the Gravity Bar
     • 360° views of Dublin's skyline with your included pint

     Guinness Storehouse≈ €26
   • Evening6:30 PM onwards

     Irish Whiskey Museum or Cathedral Quarter

     • Guided whiskey tasting at the Irish Whiskey Museum (optional)
     • Dinner in the cobbled streets around the cathedral

     Whiskey tasting≈ €30–40

     TryIrish Whiskey Museum tasting roomThe Yarn (Dame Lane)Soulful Irish on Drury Street

   HighlightsDublin Castle State ApartmentsMedieval undercroftGravity Bar viewIrish whiskey tasting

   Walking

   ≈ 4 km · 1 hr walking

   Comfortable trainers — short distances between the castle and the cathedral.

   Sightseeing

   ≈ 8 hours sightseeing

   Family

   Couples

   Transport tips

   • Westmoreland

     Luas Green Line

     5-min walk to Dublin Castle.

   • Four Courts

     Luas Red Line

     10-min walk to St Patrick's Cathedral.

   • James's

     Luas Red Line

     5-min walk to the Guinness Storehouse.

   Estimated daily budget

   Budget traveller

   €55–€80

   Mid-range

   €120–€160

   Luxury

   €280+

   Travel tip

   The Dublin Castle guided tour is the only way to access the medieval undercroft — book the timed slot.

   Money saver

   A Dublin Pass can save money if you're also visiting Kilmainham Gaol or the zoo on another day.

   Best photo spot

   The Gravity Bar at golden hour — the whole city glows behind your pint.

   Best time to visit

   Guinness Storehouse is quietest before 11:00 AM or after 4:00 PM.

   Book ahead

   Dublin Castle guided tour + Guinness Storehouse + optional whiskey tasting.

   Transport tip

   The Luas Red Line is handy for the Liberties; the castle is walkable from the city centre.

   Food recommendation

   The Brazen Head is a historic pub but busy — arrive early for lunch or book ahead.

   Rainy day alternative

   All of today's main stops are indoors or mostly covered.

   Alternative option

   Instead of the Guinness Storehouse: Visit the Jameson Distillery on Bow Street for a smaller, more intimate whiskey experience.

   Packing tips

   • Refillable water bottle
   • Umbrella or light rain jacket
   • Comfortable walking shoes
   • ID if doing the whiskey tasting

   Accessibility

   • Dublin Castle State Apartments are largely step-free
   • St Patrick's Cathedral has level entry via the north transept
   • Guinness Storehouse has lifts to all floors including the Gravity Bar

   Today's highlights

   • 4 major attractions visited
   • ≈ 8 hours sightseeing
   • ≈ 4 km on foot
   • Mid-range budget ≈ €120–€160
   • Evening around The Liberties

   End the day around The Liberties

   View on Google Maps
3. Day

   3

   Theme

   Coastal Dublin

   Cliff paths, seafood and a lighthouse at the edge of Dublin Bay.
   • Morning9:00 AM – 12:30 PM

     Howth Cliff Walk & Lighthouse

     • DART train from the city centre to Howth
     • Cliff-top loop to Howth Summit and the Baily Lighthouse
     • Seals and seabirds along the rocky coastline
   • Lunch12:45 PM – 2:00 PM

     Seafood lunch in Howth Harbour

     • Fresh crab, lobster, mussels and chips by the fishing boats

     TryBeshoff Bros (fish & chips)The Oar House (seafood)Crabby Jo's
   • Afternoon2:30 PM – 4:00 PM

     Afternoon Tea Bus Tour

     • Return to the city centre on the DART
     • Sightseeing from a vintage double-decker with tea and scones

     Afternoon Tea Bus Tour≈ €65
   • Evening7:00 PM – 9:00 PM

     Haunted Dublin Walking Tour

     • Costumed guide through medieval alleys, plague pits and haunted pubs
     • Dark history that inspired Bram Stoker's Dracula

     Haunted Dublin Walking Tour≈ €18

   HighlightsHowth Cliff WalkHowth Harbour seafoodAfternoon tea busHaunted Dublin stories

   Walking

   ≈ 7 km · 2 hr walking

   Sturdy trainers or hiking shoes — the cliff path can be muddy.

   Sightseeing

   ≈ 9 hours sightseeing

   Family

   Couples

   Transport tips

   • Howth

     DART

     35-min coastal train from the city centre.

   • St Stephen's Green

     Luas Green Line

     Afternoon Tea Bus departs nearby.

   • Westmoreland

     Luas Green Line

     Haunted tour often meets near Dublin Castle.

   Estimated daily budget

   Budget traveller

   €50–€85

   Mid-range

   €110–€150

   Luxury

   €240+

   Travel tip

   Check the DART timetable before leaving — weekend service can be less frequent.

   Money saver

   Howth seafood is freshest mid-week; weekend prices and queues rise.

   Best photo spot

   Howth Cliff Walk looking back toward Dublin Bay — the Baily Lighthouse in the frame.

   Best time to visit

   Start the cliff walk by 9:30 AM to beat the crowds and catch the clearest light.

   Book ahead

   Book the Afternoon Tea Bus and Haunted Walking Tour in advance — both sell out.

   Transport tip

   A Leap Card covers DART, Luas and Dublin Bus; tag on and off.

   Food recommendation

   The Oar House accepts walk-ins but queues at peak — arrive before 12:45.

   Rainy day alternative

   Swap the cliff walk for the National Gallery or EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum.

   Alternative option

   Instead of Howth Cliff Walk: Take the DART south to Dún Laoghaire for a long pier walk and Teddy's ice cream.

   Packing tips

   • Refillable water bottle
   • Windproof jacket
   • Sturdy walking shoes
   • Sunscreen and sunglasses

   Accessibility

   • Howth village and harbour are step-free
   • The full cliff loop is steep and narrow in parts — not suitable for limited mobility
   • The DART and Luas are fully accessible

   Today's highlights

   • 4 major attractions visited
   • ≈ 9 hours sightseeing
   • ≈ 7 km on foot
   • Mid-range budget ≈ €110–€150
   • Evening around City centre

   End the day around City centre

   View on Google Maps

Travel times and prices are approximate. Please check the official airport and transport websites for the latest schedules and fares before travelling.