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Ireland is a great country with many beautiful places to visit. One of our favorite places to see in Ireland is the capital city of Dublin. Dublin is a great place for new and seasoned travelers. It is a walkable city with so much to offer all kinds of travelers. We did a road trip through Ireland, so we were able to see so much of the country. In order to get to see everything, here is a full guide to 48 hours in Dublin!
We will share our favorite places to eat, favorite places to see, and a couple of extra ones that you can add if you choose to have a longer trip to Dublin! You can also check out our seven-day itinerary in Ireland to get more information on different ideas for places to visit throughout.
48 Hours in Dublin: Itinerary
For this trip, we will assume that you arrived the day before and will, therefore, have 2 full days in Dublin.
Day 1: Hop On, Hop Off Bus Day
Breakfast & Hop On Hop Off Bus
We love breakfast, and in Ireland, you’ll be able to get a full Irish breakfast! We ended up having most of our breakfasts at the hotels since they were included, and we wanted to get a quick, early start to our day. From breakfast, the first stop is the closest Big Bus: Ireland stop.
We purchased the Big Bus: Ireland for 48 hours, which included the night bus tour as well. While you can choose not to use the Big Bus: Ireland, we did enjoy how friendly and funny the tour guides were and not having to figure out the many different bus lines in Dublin. If you don’t want to buy the bus, all these activities are connected by the Irish public transportation system or by walking!
Get your Big Bus: Ireland Tickets Here!
Book of Kells & Trinity College
Our first stop off the Big Bus will be Trinity College. This is where the Book of Kells is found. This is the oldest, most complete version of the four Gospels.
To enter the exhibit, you must have a pre-booked ticket with a predetermined time. You will not be allowed inside without a ticket. We booked it for 10:30 a.m., so we had enough time for breakfast and to make it to the Big Bus stops.
Whiskey Museum
Ireland is known for its Guinness Beer as well as Whiskey. So, of course, if you’re going to spend 48 hours in Dublin, you have to spend some time at a whiskey museum to taste some whiskey and learn the history of whiskey. After learning all about the history of whiskey, you’ll get to become an expert at tasting it. There is even a masterclass on how to make Irish coffee!
Get your tickets here for this tour!
Lunch Break
For lunch, you’ll walk over from the Whiskey Museum to Leo Burdock’s. This is one of the most popular “chippies” in Dublin. The one in Temple Bar is Dublin’s oldest and most famous fish & chips shop. Of course, you cannot go to Ireland without having fish & chips since it is a traditional Irish food.
Back to Big Bus and onto Kilmainham Gaol
This prison gives an amazing view of Irish history. Here, you’ll discover the stories of people held here as criminals alongside those who fought for Irish independence. From the 1798 rebellion to the 1916 Easter Rising through to the Irish Civil War, all these important events have a chapter in Kilmainham Gaol.
You’ll even get to walk through the Irish Museum of Modern Art. So, if that interests you, go check it out! But keep an eye on the time so you can make it back to the Big Bus before it stops running.
Finish up Big Bus Route
Once you’re done with Kilmainham Gaol, head back to Big Bus to finish the route. It’ll take you back to the Big Bus office area. It’s time for a little afternoon tea nearby in order to make it to the night tour that starts at 7 p.m. Dinner will be later, which is why we need tea! It is also nice to get to see the whole tour in one day.
Afternoon Tea
From the Big Bus Office, you have several options for afternoon tea. Our favorite spot was The Sweetest Thing, where we had hot chocolate and cake. Some other awesome choices are The Pepper Pot and Lemon Jelly Cafe.
This is also a great time to head over across the Ha’Penney Bridge or to walk down Henry Street to explore the little shops. There are so many great places to go shopping if you’re interested in picking up a little souvenir (there’s more in Temple Bar, so don’t feel pressured).
Night Tour
This is such a fun perk of the Big Bus: Ireland. The night bus tour takes a different route than the daytime route, which gives you a fun view of Dublin. Be sure to ask the tour guide for his/her ideas for dinner. Our tour guide pointed out many places that we added to the itinerary the next day (we added them for you, too). The night tour is one hour long, and then off to dinner.
Dinner
Near the end of the night tour is The Church, a cool bar and restaurant built in an old church. It is super popular, so you need to have a reservation, or you might risk having to wait one hour for a table. If not, you can head over to the Brazen Head, a fun Irish pub with a lively atmosphere. Enjoy dinner and head to bed for a busy day 2.
Day 2: Guinness & Temple Bar
Breakfast
Of course, we had breakfast at the hotel, but it was a rainy, cold day, so we decided to go to The Sweetest Thing. We needed our hot chocolate. It’s up to you what you want for breakfast. However, we recommend heading to a cafe near Dublin Castle as this is our first stop.
Dublin Castle
One of the things we learned about Dublin is that it has a long history of Vikings. Dublin Castle is the highest point of Dublin and is a large governmental complex in the center of Dublin. It was built in Medieval times. The tours inside offer some great insights into Ireland’s history and interesting information about Vikings.
Check out the best walking tour of Dublin Castle!
Christ Church Cathedral
In your 48 hours in Dublin, you must visit this iconic church. Settled in the heart of Dublin, Christ Church was originally a Viking church and has welcomed pilgrims for almost 1,000 years. It is an Anglican cathedral that currently offers church services. It is an architectural masterpiece with a magnificent Nave, high vaulted ceilings, and medieval tiled floors.
One of the best parts of this church is all of its hidden treasures. Here, you’ll discover a crypt or climb higher to the world-famous bells. There is also Strongbow’s final resting place, where the heart of St. Laurence O’Toole is held, a rare copy of the Magna Carta, and the mummified “Tom & Jerry.”
St. Patrick’s Cathedral & Marsh Library
Near Christ Church Cathedral, you can walk over to St. Patrick’s Cathedral. This cathedral is named after Ireland’s patron saint, Saint Patrick. This 800-year-old building is an operating Irish Catholic Church with masses that you can attend. Down the street and tucked away behind the cathedral, there is Marsh Library. This is the oldest still operating public library. You could technically rent a book from here; there is an entrance fee for both the Cathedral and Marsh Library.
Lunch
Since we went to The Church for dinner last night today for lunch, we recommend the Brazen Head for lunch. If you went to the Brazen Head or don’t want pub food, we recommend trying Gallagher’s Boxty House. Boxty is a delicious potato pancake, which we highly recommend. There are several of these potato-based restaurants in Dublin.
Big Bus to Guinness
To finish up the Big Bus Tour, we head to the famous Guinness factory. You can’t visit Ireland and not get a Guinness at Guinness!
Guinness Experience
The Guinness experience was definitely one of the best factory experiences we’ve visited. You walk through the history of how Guinness was founded and the steps of how it is made. In the end, you reach the 360-degree lookout, where you get a free beer. We tried our first pint of Guinness here. Of course, you can get additional pints and enjoy the view. You can see all of Dublin from here.
Get your Guinness Experience Tickets Here!
River Dancing Show & Dinner
What kind of visit to Dublin would this be without going to a River Dancing show and traditional Irish Dinner? We went to Celtic Nights for a great dance show. There is a live band with incredible dancers. You buy the ticket for a specific dinner time. The earlier dinner time is, the better the seat, but the longer you sit around waiting for the show to start. The dance show starts at 8 pm and goes on until 10 pm.
Extra Time? Check Out These Fun Activities
Dublinia
Dublinia takes you back in time to see Dublin in Viking times. This museum is an excellent addition to 48 Hours in Dublin because it’s so fun and very close to Christ Church Cathedral. The museum is interactive, it allows you to try on Viking clothes, visit a cramped viking house, and stroll down a Viking city.
Leprechaun Museum
Learn about the stories and folklore that make Ireland so unique. You need to have a reservation for this 50-minute Leprechaun storytelling experience. There is also an adults-only DarkLand option.
EPIC: The Irish Emigration Museum
How did such a small country make such a significant impact on the world? That is the question the EPIC museum looks to answer. Over many centuries, more than 10 million people have emigrated from Ireland, and EPIC tells the story of these people, why they left, where they went, and how they shaped the world. It is such an exciting way to understand a country.
Vintage Tea Tour
This was such a fun tour that we did, and we definitely recommend adding it to any 48-hour Dublin itinerary. It was a great way to see Dublin while enjoying tea time. You’ll climb into a double-decker vintage bus, where you’ll be served tea, sandwiches, desserts, and fresh scones. While eating, the tour guides will show you all through Dublin.
Things to Know About Spending 48 Hours in Dublin
How To Get To Dublin?
Unless you are in Ireland, the best way to get to Dublin is to fly into the Dublin International Airport. It is just outside Dublin, and direct buses take you straight into the city center. Many airlines fly in and out of this airport daily. We flew on Icelandair; check out our experience here.
How To Get Around Dublin?
Where To Stay In Dublin?
Wrap-Up: 48 Hours In Dublin
48 hours doesn’t feel like enough time for Dublin, but it is a great way to get a feeling for the city and explore the big-ticket items. We highly recommend Dublin as an excellent place to make a first-time international trip from the States. There are so many fun activities and many delicious foods to try. Also, English is very common in Dublin, so communicating or navigating isn’t difficult.
