I’m going to Dublin for a week at the end of September / beginning of October. My wife is going there for business and I’m tagging along doing touristy things, which is great (for me) because Ireland has been on my bucket list for awhile now.

So recommendations for Dublin and the surrounding countryside, day trips unless there is something I simply MUST see farther away.

Thanks in advance.

Its been over 20 years since I went to Dublin, but here were a few places that I enjoyed plus a few that others I know have.
Kilmainham Gaol- The jail where political prisoners during the wars/revolts were kept, excellent tour.
Guinness Factory/Tour
Glasneven Cemetery Tour- far more interesting that you would think, great tour.
Right by it- Kavanaughs Pub aka Gravediggers- considered by many to serve the best pint of Guinness in all the world.
Temple Bar area/Temple bar itself- total tourist trap and expensive, but hey its Dublin, you gotta do it I guess.
Trinity College/Book of Kells exhibit- amazing.

This guy has a good channel on youtube called “Pub Guru”, has some good tips for Dublin.
https://youtu.be/vN4vMW57cgQ?si=AYsjbuLD-nEfcqg9

In addition to medic451's recommendations, I would add: the Natural History Museum (aka, "the Dead Zoo"; Newgrange burial mound north of Dublin; and the Shelborne Hotel with a copy of the Irish Constitution in it.

Remember that in Dublin, as the day gets shorter the cost of a pint gets longer.

Start at 7-8 euros and can get to 10 -12......

However, by then you'll be too pissed to notice.

Guinness Storehouse Tour
Trinity College
Book of Kells in Trinity College
EPIC Emigration Museum
Ha’penny Bridge… which has a lot of big nightlife bars around it
O’Connell street and the General Post Office… it’s their Concord Mass site… but has a lot of touristy stores on it.

We had a week in Ireland 2 years ago. Here are some ideas. Get a Rick Steves book right now. It will give you a lot of great ideas. Tripadvisor is also a good resource.


Take a guided walking tour. This will show you the highlights and get you some historical background.
Trinity College/Book of kells - book a tour it gets super busy and the tour has a pre booked time slot.
The Gaol is supposed to be great but it sells out way in advance. Get tickets early
Historical museum is pretty neat and does not take long.
Dublin Castle
EPIC Emigration Museum
Grafton Street - lots of street musicians and shopping
St Stephens Green
Pubs at night for Live Music

Take at least one day trip. The island is not big. 2 hours from Dublin to Galway. 3 Hours from Dublin to Cork.

In the near vicinity you could see Powers Court, Glendalough and the Wicklow mountains.
Further South is the Rock of Cashel.
Try to get to the West side of the island if possible. The Wild Atlantic Way is worth it. The Dingle Peninsula, Cliffs of Moher, Ring of Kerry.

Good luck and post a trip report

Dublin Castle. And there’s a pretty cool cathedral there, too.

Take a look at the Spencer Hotel, located on the N side of the Liffey. Nice place, good restaurant, convenient to the city, if you don’t mind a pleasant walk. Speaking of walking—-Grafton Street, a pedestrian mall in Dublin. Cool stores and Grafton is known for its buskers, many are very, very good like Allie Sherlock. There’s a really nice restaurant in Dublin, called Urban Brewing, in a converted limestone storage house.

Urban Brewing

Take a one-day train/bus tour to the west coast of Ireland. Depart Heuston Train Station early morning. Train stops in Limerick where you board a bus and cruise north up to the Cliffs of Moher, lunch in the County Clare town of Doolin, the Burren, then into Galway where there’s a bit of time to explore before the train ride back to Dublin.

A 20-30 minute train ride from Dublin to Howth, on the East coast, is a most worthwhile use of limited time of vacation. It is a beautiful, slower Pace from what one would find in Dublin.

https://www.theirishroadtrip.c...do-in-howth-ireland/

Day trip to this place south of Dublin. Was one of the stops on our tour during our honeymoon there in 2012:

Glendalough Monastic Site and Visitor Centre

Try to find some non-touristy-trap pubs, I was shocked at how all the ones we were in had American Budweiser on tap.

Have a "full Irish"!

This sounds great! I enjoy reading all the recommendations and it's a place I'd love to get back to someday. I was there in 1977.

quote:

Originally posted by PASig:
Day trip to this place south of Dublin. Was one of the stops on our tour during our honeymoon there in 2012:

Glendalough Monastic Site and Visitor Centre

Try to find some non-touristy-trap pubs, I was shocked at how all the ones we were in had American Budweiser on tap.

Have a "full Irish"!

Its funny you mention Budweiser. My first trip to Ireland was in 1999. We stayed mostly in the west- Galway/Dingle/Limerick/Cork. Every pub had Budweiser no matter how isolated it was. The locals told us its not really for American tourists- they usually order Guinness or Harps. The Irish loved Budweiser because it was cheap and easy to drink (in larger amounts) compared to Stouts. The other beer I saw pretty often was Carlsberg.

quote:

Originally posted by PASig:
Day trip to this place south of Dublin. Was one of the stops on our tour during our honeymoon there in 2012:

Glendalough Monastic Site and Visitor Centre

This! I spent a few days there earlier this year. I'd recommend getting signed up to get a Leap card for using trains and buses in the area.

I stayed at an AirBnB in Malahide because it was so close to the airport. Gibney's Pub was really fun and had really good fish 'n chips.

The iking in Glenalough was gorgeous. BE SURE to get there early, as in before the visitor's center opens. I had the ruins and forest all to myself; seriously, there was NOBODY else around. Once they open, the tour buses start rolling in and it really takes away from the experience.

The full Irish at the Wicklow Heather Restaurant was fantastic; it had black AND white pudding! St. Patrick's cathedral and the Guinness tour were well worth it. Spend a bit more to get the Connoisseur Experience. If you like rare books and chocolate, Ulysses Rare Books is right acrose the street from a Butlers Chocolate Cafe.

I had much more fun in my 3 days in Ireland than I did in the UK; I'd love to go back again. I'll try to remember to post some pics when I get home.

In Dublin, I second the Trinity College Tour and Book of Kells. We walked from there to Saint Patrick’s Cathedral. Our daughter and her friend enjoyed the Guinness Brewery tour. If you don’t mind doing a tour out of town, you might consider Newgrange and Knowth ancient sites. Tickets may be difficult to get so check in advance.

It's funny that PA Sig mentioned Budweiser on tap. Some years ago my wife and I were sitting at the bar in a hotel pub in downtown Galway, We were drinking Smithwicks. We noticed that the two young men sitting next to us (who were Irish), were drinking Budweiser. Given how good the local Irish beers were, I asked them why they were not drinking Guinness, Smithwicks or Harp? They told us that they only drink "imported" beers, which are way cooler!

If you have time, take a day trip to the Cliffs of Moher.

A lot of good advise though rather than the Cliffs of Moher (which is an all day haul and back) I'm surprised nobody has mentioned Newgrange, Knowth and Dowth which are much closer to Dublin for a day trip. https://www.newgrange.com/

Now I'll be Debbie Downer. Be careful and situationally aware - in Dublin in particular. Ireland is dealing with the consequences of their generous migrant policy. We were there in June 2023 and noticed a huge increase in the number of indigent non-native Irish people and we never even went into Dublin. Our family and friends there acknowledge it's a big problem.

quote:

Originally posted by tartan427:
It's funny that PA Sig mentioned Budweiser on tap. Some years ago my wife and I were sitting at the bar in a hotel pub in downtown Galway, We were drinking Smithwicks. We noticed that the two young men sitting next to us (who were Irish), were drinking Budweiser. Given how good the local Irish beers were, I asked them why they were not drinking Guinness, Smithwicks or Harp? They told us that they only drink "imported" beers, which are way cooler!

I've noticed that "imported beer" thing all over Ireland and the UK.

I agree on the Guiness Factory tour, Trinity College/Book of Kells, Dublin Castle and others.

I have the name of a very fine young man that gives one-on-one walking tours of Dublin. My wife and I used him last fall and he was outstanding. He is a recent grad and was history major in college; his enthusiasm and knowledge are excellent. He can also direct you to much cooler pubs than Temple.

Let me know if you want his name and I will email his info to you.


.

I enjoyed the vintage advertisement section of the Guinness factory but the rest was too crowded and too touristy. Not worth the $ or time spent. Did have a nice carriage ride back to the hotel however. Book of Kells is for sure a must see.