Best Things To Do In Dublin For First-Time Visitors
Oh, Dublin, the capital city of the Emerald Isle. Famed for its world-class tourist attractions like the Guinness storehouse, bustling bar scene and friendly people.
Visiting the Irish capital can be a challenging one for first-time visitors, especially when there’s so much to do.
I’ve put together this post to give first-timers visiting Dublin inspiration for their upcoming trip.
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Table of Contents
Take A Walking Tour
Walking tours are hands down the best way to get a feeling for Dublin. There are so many available in Dublin to take; you’ll be spoiled for choice.
Whether you want to learn about history or discover cool areas that tourists don’t know about, there will be something that you’ll enjoy.
Check out the best tours from Dublin:
Visit the Guinness Storehouse
The Guinness storehouse is arguably the most popular things to do in Dublin. This is where Ireland’s famous stout is brewed, and you need to get yourself over there to try some for yourself to see what the fuss is about.
Buy your tickets online beforehand and embark on a self-guided experience through the stout’s history and how it has evolved over the years. Before you go, don’t forget to pop upstairs to the gravity bar to avail of your complimentary pint for yourself.
Book you’re Guinness Storehouse tour here.
Climb Killiney Hill
Located in the luxurious suburb of Killiney is the hike that everyone’s been talking about lately, Killiney Hill.
This climb can be taken on by anyone regardless of their level of fitness. Once you reach the top, you’ll be treated to the most breathtaking view of the whole of Dublin. After you’ve soaked up the vista, be sure to check out some of the landmarks at the top, such as the obelisk and the pyramid of Dublin.
Wander Through Temple Bar
A first-time visit to Dublin wouldn’t be complete without visiting the city’s vibrant nightlife district temple bar. Walk through medieval cobblestone streets, dance to traditional Irish music alongside other travellers as well as locals, and pop into one of the many delicious eateries around the area for a bite to eat. That’s what trips to Temple Bar are made of.
Visit One Of The Free Museums
As Dublin experiences a hell of a lot of rain most of the time, you’ll need a place to take refuge in if the heavens open up, and what better spot to do so than one of the several free museums? The capital is known for its interesting history, and a museum is a perfect way to try to understand it.
Art galleries like the National Gallery of Ireland boast 16,000 pieces of art, from impressive sculptures to jaw-dropping paintings. If history is more your thing, the natural history museum of Ireland will definitely be more up your alleyway.
Take On The Howth Cliff Walk
The Howth Cliff Walk is one of Dublin’s most famous walks that takes you along the dramatic cliffs of Howth looking out over the Irish Sea.
There are five different routes you can take on, but the easiest is the one that begins at the Howth Summit car park. It can be completed within an hour and a half, but to really get the most out of it, I’d advise you to take your time and go at your own pace.
Make sure you stop by popular points on the trail, such as the Baily Lighthouse and the Secret Beach; they’re the two highlights that everyone visits.
Get Your Picture Taken At Dublin Castle
Sitting on an 11-acre site in the city centre is the charming Dublin Castle, scraping the sky of the capital and holding decades of memories behind its walls.
Guided tours of the grounds are available on various days. Follow an experienced guide as they take you up the cobblestones pathways into the ancient structure to discover the history behind one of Dublin’s most renowned landmarks. After, you can pop into one of the many museums on the site, like the Garda Museum, a gallery devoted to the Irish police service.
Try A Chicken Fillet Roll For Yourself
A good old Dublin speciality is the chicken fillet roll, a simple recipe containing a breaded chicken fillet, a bread roll and some toppings of your choice.
Whatever corner petrol station or corner shop you pop into, there will be a delicatessen station serving these yummy snacks. Plus, eating a chicken fillet roll is a brilliant way to cut back on spending while in Dublin, as they only cost a couple of euros. And we all know how expensive the capital is.
Check Out Trinity College
Ireland’s most well-known college is Trinity College in Dublin, boasting the largest library in the country and housing world-renowned works such as the Book of Kells, an outstanding manuscript dating back to 1000 years ago.
The pictures you’ve seen of trinity college have probably been taken in the iconic long room, similar to the library featured in the Harry Potter movies.
After you’ve had a look at the main points of interest, be sure to have a stroll around the complex and watch how the students of Dublin go about their day. The grounds are impeccable and provide a lovely space for visitors and students to unwind after a tough day’s work.
Cruise Down The River Liffey
On a day when you don’t feel like doing anything, book yourself a cruise down the river Liffey, the life and soul of Dublin City. Over 132 kilometres flowing through secluded and urban areas, the river Liffey is where you can see the capital from a whole new perspective.
Plenty of companies operate boat tours down the river, some for an hour while others last the whole day. It really depends on what you want to see. For example, a basic tour would take you down the stretch that goes through the city and pass by iconic landmarks like the Hapenney Bridge. Determine how much time you have and see what suits you.
You can book your cruise here.
Walk Out To Poolbeg Lighthouse
Poolbeg Lighthouse is sometimes seen as the face of Dublin. Known for its bright red facade scraping the sky above the Irish sea, this popular attraction sits at the very end of the Great South Wall and is a popular area among locals out for their daily stroll.
There are a couple of routes you can take, but the easiest and most common is the 4km loop trail that begins at the great south wall car park. From there, it’s pretty much straight the whole way and as soon as you turn the first corner, you’ll be able to stop the lighthouse in the distance.
Contributed by Adam at Where in Dublin
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