The city of Dublin is not large but it’s truly fascinating. It is famous for its pubs, the bustling St. Patrick’s Day and a rather long and bloody history starting since the times of the Vikings. There is no way you could miss the following ten attractions!
» READ MORE – One day in Dublin, itinerary
Guinness Brewery
Address
St. James’s Gate
Opening hours
All week from 10 am to 7 pm (last entry at 5 pm)
In July and August from 10 am to 9 pm (last entry at 7 pm).
On Christmas Eve, Christmas and St. Stephen’s Day (December 26), the brewery is closed.
Ticket price
From € 22 for adults
€ 10 for children aged 5–17
from € 19 for students
Buy tickets to Guinness Brewery (free cancellation)The Irish know a lot about beer. Would you like to learn everything about the history and process of brewing? Then you should Visit the famous Guinness Brewery! In a huge seven-story building, you will see a number of exhibits and devices that reveal the secrets of craft. By the way, the brewery is built in the shape of the world’s largest glass of Guinness. And if you haven’t guessed yet, it was founded by the same Mr. Guinness who created the book of records. Learn more about his family on a private tour.
There is a pleasant surprise for you, you get free beer at the Gravity Bar top floor looking out over Dublin. Tickets can be bought without queuing at this link.
» READ MORE – Guinness Storehouse and Jameson Distillery
Temple bar
This is an area of pubs, small cafes, shops, art galleries and street musicians. The bars stay open until late with the sounds of Irish music coming from each.
We highly recommend you to visit the Temple Bar, the oldest pub in Ireland, The Brazen Head, as well as the cultural centers of Irish photography and cinema. On Saturday Meetinghouse Square hosts a food fair. This quarter is worth coming for some entertainment and meeting new people. This is a convenient central area to stay in a hotel and make your vacation more colorful. Explore hotel offers at this link.
Book a hotel room in Temple BarTrinity college
Address
Enter Trinity College through the front gate on College Green and exit at Front Square. Turn right at the belfry and enter the next square, there you will see an entrance with a sign to the Book of Kells.
Opening hours
Monday to Saturday from 8 am to 5 pm
Sundays from 9:30 am to 5 pm (April — September) and respectively 9:30 am to 5 pm and 12 am to 4:30 pm (October — March)
Ticket price
Standard one is € 18
Children under 12 years old visit the college free of charge
You can buy tickets in advance using this link. The ticket comes with a free in-app audio guide.
The most famous and prestigious university in Ireland is famous not only for the quality of education: the building of Trinity College is an example of elegant architecture, the stunning landscape will impress any artist. There is an amazing treasure kept here, the handwritten Book of Kells, created by the monks. The library itself will also delight anyone with its infinity.
» READ MORE – Public transport in Dublin: tickets, opening hours, tips
St. Patrick’s Cathedral
Address
St Patrick’s Close, Wood Quay, Dublin 8
Opening hours
Monday to Friday from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm
Saturdays from 9:00 am to 5:30 pm (November to February — to 4:30 pm)
Sundays from 9:30 am to 10:30 am, 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm and 4:30 pm to 5:30 pm
Ticket price
Adults will need to pay € 8
Children under 16 y.o. pay € 7
Skip-the-line tickets can be purchased here
St. Patrick’s Cathedral is the main church in Ireland. It went through many difficult times, including 1649 when Oliver Cromwell turned it into a stable. At the end of the 19th century, the cathedral was significantly restored.
In the park next to the cathedral you can enjoy the complex of bas-reliefs «Parade of Writers». This is a monument in honor of famous Irish writers such as Jonathan Swift, Bernard Shaw, Oscar Wilde and others.
National Museums of Ireland
Address
Kildare Street
Opening hours
Tuesday to Saturday from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
Saturdays from 9:00 am to 5:30 pm (November to February — to 4:30 pm)
Sundays from 1:00 pm to 17:00 pm
Ticket price
Free entrance
For history buffs, Dublin offers free admission to its wonderful National Museums. There are four of them: archaeological, historical and cultural, natural history and a museum of rural life. There you can perfectly imagine the nature of the evergreen island through the centuries and get acquainted with the culture of the inhabitants of Ireland from ancient times to the present day. Not all departments of the museum are located in Dublin, you can read about it in our additional article.
» READ MORE – National Museum of Ireland in Dublin: location and things to see
Croke Park
Address
Clonliffe Road
Did you know that national sports competitions are regularly held in Ireland? The most popular are hurling and Gaelic football. For its fans the Croke Park plays the same role as Maracana and Wembley play to football fans.
It’s an absolute must to visit the matches of hurling and Gaelic football, these games can only be seen here. What else? It is Ireland’s largest stadium and it’s often used as a concert venue. Check the show bill. Scheduling a trip to Dublin when your favorite band is playing can be a good idea.
Dublin Castle
Address
Dame Street
Opening hours
Daily from 10:00 am to 5:15 pm
Ticket price
For adults the price is € 8
For children of 12–17 years old it’s € 4
You can visit the Book of Kells with a combo ticket.
The Chester Beatty Library — free entrance
There was a time when the Dublin Castle was the residence of the English kings, it became the possession of Ireland only in 1922. Now different high-level conferences and meetings are held here. The locals are very proud of the fact that Margaret Thatcher stayed in this place. Apart from the glorious past, the castle boasts an excellent collection of art objects.
Check out the Chester Beatty Library. He was a really wealthy man who had been collecting oriental art for decades. In many ways, the quality of his collection surpasses the largest museums in the world.
» READ MORE – 20 best castles in Ireland
Dublin Zoo
Address
Phoenix Park
Opening hours
Daily from 09:30 am to 6:00 pm
Ticket price
Adults will need to pay € 21
For students it’s € 16
For children from 3 to 16 years old ticket price is € 15.50
Admission for children under 3 years old is free
Entrance to Phoenix Park and tour in the Residence of the President of Ireland are free
In the Dublin Zoo you can find lots of exotic animals. This is a truly unique opportunity to visit the African savannah and the Indian forests at the same time. You have a chance to admire rare breeds of monkeys, orangutans, snow leopards, Asian lions, elephants and many other animals. Kids can enjoy one among many playgrounds in the zoo.
Dublin Zoo is located in Phoenix Park, one of the largest urban parks in the world. Here you can feed the free-ranging deer. Nearby there is a residence of the President of Ireland, it’s open to the public on Saturdays.
» READ MORE – Ireland: a guide to the country of leprechauns
Kilmainham Gaol
Address
Inchicore Road, Kilmainham
Opening hours
Daily from 09:30 am to 6:00 pm
Ticket price
For adults it’s € 8
For children parents will need to pay € 4
kids below 11 years old visit the place for free
Back in the day it was the largest correctional institution in Europe, its walls saw no end of grief. The leaders of the Easter Rising, one of the key events in the political life of Ireland in the 20th century, were executed here. It may not be the funniest attraction, but Kilmainham gives an opportunity to explore the history of the country from the other side.
Have a great time!
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