Dublin is the capital city of the Emerald Isle also known as Ireland. When considering a trip to this lovely island, there are so many places to visit! It is impossible to get to all of them in one trip. We absolutely think that Dublin is worth visiting. From the US it is easy to fly into Ireland through Iceland on Icelandair.
This friendly and lively city has a lot to offer to all types of travelers. It has a lot of food, arts, music, and dancing that appeal to all visitors. Additionally, Dublin is incredibly friendly to tourists which makes it even easier to visit. Below we will explore 11 reasons why you should visit Dublin.
Check out our 7 day Ireland Itinerary
Experience Irish Hospitality
Dublin is a city full of kind Irish people. Everywhere we turned we saw locals helping each other and helping tourists. During our short stay in Dublin, we met so many kind Dubliners who helped us get around, understand the LUAS (the tram), and even give us suggestions on their favorite local places.
Irish people are warm and friendly. We found Dublin to be no exception. Dublin is set up to be very tourist friendly and the locals embrace the diverse group of people it attracts. They are proud of their city and history.
Enjoy A Lively City
We found Dublin to be a city that knows how to have a good time. During the week it is up and bustling from an early hour. We enjoyed that we didn’t have to wait until 10 or 11 AM to get our day going. Several parts of Dublin (especially Temple Bar) are also lively well into the night.
This allows Dublin to appeal to all types of travelers. This liveliness is another reason why Dublin is worth visiting. You’ll find street performers all through Grafton Street then you’ll also find musicians in pubs throughout Dublin. It is truly a metropolitan city with thousands of people and tons of things to experience.
Enjoy 48-Hours in Dublin with our Guide
Participate In Pub Life
Ireland is known for its Pubs. According to one of our tour guides pub life has seen a revival lately not only from tourists but also from locals. Every single pub we walked into was bustling and some were full to the rim with people. Pubs are great because you can experience authentic local food and drinks while also meeting all sorts of different people, locals and tourists alike.
One of my favorite things about the pub life is the live music. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to local Irish musicians and the wide range of music they played. Of course, no pub visit is complete without some pub food. Next time you find yourself in an Irish Pub check out the bangers and mash (my personal favorite!).
Surround Yourself With History
Ireland is steeped in history starting with the Vikings. Now there is so much more to learn and experience. As one of the largest Viking settlements outside of the Nordic Countries, Dublin has a unique history that can be seen all throughout the city. From Dublin Castle to the remains of the Medieval walls surrounding Dublin, you are truly connected to another era.
There are many free museums and galleries (check out all the ones that say “National Museum” or National Gallery”). Dublin also has St. Patrick’s Cathedral and Christchurch Cathedral, two imposing and gorgeous churches that are a must-see. Another reason why Dublin is worth visiting is the preservation of so many historical books both in Trinity College (which contains The Book of Kells) and the Marsh Library near St. Patrick’s Cathedral.
Check out this Historical Walking Tour of Dublin!
Explore Many Parks
Dublin has many different parks with the largest one being Phoenix Park. Phoenix Park houses a zoo, the US Ambassador’s home, the Irish President’s home, and Ashtown Castle. It is more than twice the size of Central Park in NYC! Within Phoenix Park you’ll also see local fauna and flora, exploring the whole park would take multiple days.
Another popular park in Dublin is St. Stephen’s Green. St. Stephen’s Green is one of the many previously owned private parks within Dublin. It is no longer a private park, but a lovely place for a lunchtime stroll. In the bustling area around St. Stephen’s, you’ll be transported to a relaxing oasis.
Dublin has many of these previously private parks, with only one remaining privately owned for residents only. We took the Vintage Tea Tour to learn all about these parks and much more. If traveling with kids, the parks are a perfect place to run off some energy or enjoy a picnic (weather permitting)! We would highly recommend getting a hot chocolate at The Sweetest Thing, then enjoying a stroll at a park.
Eat Delicious Irish Foods
One of the best reasons why Dublin is worth visiting is the food! They have a great variety of restaurants not only in price points but in types of cuisines. Since we were in Ireland, we were going to have full Irish meals as much as possible! I could go on and on about how incredible the food in Ireland is, but that might need to be its own post!
The most interesting thing we learned about Irish cuisine is how seriously the Irish take Hot Chocolate! Seriously! We saw several cafes dedicated to only Hot Chocolate. We went to the Sweetest Thing, which was voted the #1 best hot chocolate in Dublin. Definitely, a must-try!
We also enjoyed trying boxty and Guinness. My main goal in Ireland was to go on a Fish and Chips hunt, we had some delicious fish and chips. Check out Leo Burdocks for fish and chips. Bangers and mash, beef & Guinness stew, and lamb stew are some more delicious meals to have in Dublin. Finally, get yourself a full Irish breakfast! A must-have!
Check out all the must try Irish foods for your trip to Ireland!
Ease Of Getting Around Dublin
Getting around Dublin is incredibly easy. There are a variety of ways to access many different parts of the city which makes it a great reason to visit Dublin.
🚌 There are many local public buses in Dublin. The two major buses are Transport for Ireland (TFI) and Dublin Bus. It has over 136 bus routes. Plus all the buses are double-deckers. A variety of buses get you to and from the airport as well as tourist buses that help bring people around.
🚋 The LUAS is the tram that crosses through Dublin. There are 2 lines. Tourists can buy visitor passes for the LUAS at the airport in both terminals. The passes are 1-day, 3-day, or 7-day passes. We got the 3-day passes and found the LUAS incredibly easy to use and reliable. Just note that at each tram station, you need to tap in and tap out at stands on the platform before boarding and after your ride.
🚕 There are many taxis throughout the city of Dublin. You can easily flag them down to take you around. This will be a more expensive per ride cost.
🚶🏻Dublin is incredibly walkable! Locations are significantly closer to each other than you’d expect. You can get around mostly by walking. This however can get exhausting quickly. We walked a lot and we still used public transportation.
Check out our Favorite way to get around Dublin: Big Bus Dublin! Funniest tour guides and a route that takes you through all the major popular areas! Easy to hop on and hop off at all of the stops that you’ll want to visit.
Gateway To The Rest Of Ireland
We didn’t stay in Dublin for our entire Ireland trip. We actually took a road trip through Southern Ireland, but driving in Ireland is hard! Not only do they drive on a different side, but the local roads are very narrow and windy. If Larry hadn’t been confident and brave enough to drive we would have used some of the many other options for transportation out of Dublin.
This brings me to another reason why Dublin is worth visiting: There are many different ways to visit other places in Ireland without driving. There are buses and trains that leave Dublin daily to go to Cork, Blarney Castle, Galway, and Cliffs of Moher. Since Ireland is a smaller country, you’re able to do many day trips from Dublin and explore even more of Ireland. You can even take a tour of Northern Ireland (remember this is a different country).
If you decide to head to Cork check out our Review of the Dean Cork.
Wander Through the Many Neighborhoods
There are so many lovely neighborhoods in Dublin, not just the popular Temple Bar. The Marion Square townhomes are a lovely neighborhood with all the home doors painted in fun colors! St. Stephen’s Square is a lively neighborhood with lots to offer and see including some shopping. Going over to O’Connell street during the work week is bustling. Finally, Grafton Street is a pedestrian-only area with plenty of shopping and street performers.
Find Yourself Near The Water
Dublin’s north and south side are divided by the River Liffey. Dublin is also found on the harbor. There are several fun river cruises. There are kayaks with music cruises, old ferry cruises, and some sightseeing cruises. These can be fun ways to experience Dublin from the water.
You can also make your way to some Dublin beaches. Now in March, I would not recommend the beach! It’s pretty cold and rainy, it would be nicer to hit the beach in the summer. Although the water is still way colder than this Florida girl would like!
Dive Into Irish Culture
We love learning about new cultures. One of our favorite ways to experience cultures is through music and local, traditional dances. We decided to see a traditional Celtic Dance show with an Irish dinner. This is one of the many ways you can experience Irish culture.
Another way to dive into Irish culture is to visit the many museums. One of the most impactful was the EPIC Museum. It explores the Irish Emigration and its history and impacts on the world. Dublinia is a museum about the Viking History of Dublin. Finally, going on a tour with a local allows you to get a good insight into living in Dublin.
What are some fun and unique activities in Dublin? Check them out here!
Visit The Home Of Guinness
Dublin is Guinness city! Everywhere you go, you will see ads for Guinness. The Guinness factory is centrally located so you really see it constantly while exploring. There is also Guinness served in all the pubs. Different locals will swear that different pubs sell better pints of Guinness than other places within Dublin. But, it’s all the same Guinness from the same local factory.
Of course, while in Dublin you must go visit the Guinness Factory and have the whole Guinness Experience. The museum inside Guinness was incredibly impressive. Learning all about the process to get to the perfect pint as well as the history of the Guinness. Finally, ending with the perfect pint at the 360 View Bar.
In Conclusion – Is Dublin Worth Visiting?
ABSOLUTELY!! Dublin is completely worth the visit! Even if you decide to go nowhere else on your visit to Ireland, Dublin must be your stop. There is so much to see and do (and eat). I loved the smaller towns we visited, but Dublin was definitely the most fun. There is something for everyone from solo travelers to families and couples.
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