The capital city of Ireland, Dublin, is such a full city with so much to see and do. The entire city is very friendly to tourists which is even better for all those traveling internationally for the first time. As a country that speaks English and caters so much to tourists, you’ll find it easy to visit and explore. There are so many activities in Dublin for everyone who visits.
Larry and I truly believe that Dublin is such a fun place to visit for all types of travelers. It is family-friendly, great for couples, and excellent for both newbie travelers as well as experienced travelers. It is absolutely a city that should make it onto your travel list, totally worth visiting! So now that you’ve decided to go what will you do? I’ve got you!
What Are Unique Activities to Do in Dublin?
There are several different types of activities. Some are historical activities to do in Dublin that include museums. Of course, there are many things to eat in Dublin not just from the traditional must-try Irish food, but also from the more contemporary and international fusions. As a lively city, there are many nighttime activities in Dublin. For tourists, there are many different kinds of tours to try out. Finally, there are parks to explore as well. I will be separating them into sections to make it easier to pick activities you’ll like best.
Historical Activities to Do in Dublin
Museums
Dublin has some really great museums to learn about the history of Ireland and its Viking roots. One cool thing about Dublin is that all “National Museums” are actually free to the public which makes them even more accessible. You can see everything from the Leprechaun Museum to Dublinia to the EPIC Museum.
The Leprechaun Museum is dedicated to Irish folklore and mythology. A fun place to learn all about the Irish culture. Dublinia Viking Museum lets you walk where the Vikings walked, step into Viking history in Dublin and even climb a medieval tower! The EPIC Museum gives you insight into Ireland’s Culture and history.
Religious History
One of the coolest things to see in Dublin was the Book of Kells at Trinity College. The Book of Kells is one of the oldest existing written copies of the books of the Bible. It is such an incredible history and an honor to get to see this book. You can only see it with a ticket and specific tour time so make sure to get your ticket ahead of time!
St. Patrick’s Cathedral is a beautiful and historical Cathedral in the heart of Dublin. You can visit the grounds and go inside for a tour. The self-tours do require an admissions fee. There are also guided tours Mondays-Saturdays. The Go City Dublin Pass includes the admission fees. Close to the church is Marsh’s Library which is one of the world’s oldest public libraries. It was so cool to visit the library, definitely go check it out.
Christchurch Cathedral is another iconic church in the heart of Dublin. It was originally a Viking church and the medieval architecture shows us the history of the church. Underneath the cathedral is the catacombs which are one of the coolest things to visit. There are many hidden treasures inside this church that can make the admission fee worthwhile.
Night Time Activities in Dublin
Temple Bar
This is a very famous, tourist area with all the pubs. This area is always busy, full of people. If you’re interested in going to the lively part of Dublin, especially at night, then head over to Temple Bar. It, however, is not a place for locals. So if you’re looking to go out with the locals I would not recommend Temple Bar. Temple Bar is still very fun to visit.
Tours
Another fun thing to do is go on a ghost walking tour. Ghost Walk Tour is a fun way to explore the history of Dublin and possibly see a couple of ghosts! One tour we enjoyed was the nighttime tour on the Big Bus Tour in Dublin. The hop-on hop-off bus does an hour-long nighttime tour that takes a different route than the usual one. It was such a fun experience.
Food to Eat in Dublin
There is so much delicious food in Dublin. It’s almost impossible to eat all the different foods in Dublin. Obviously leveraging some food tours is a great way to get started in the quest to try as much food in Dublin as possible. The number 1 thing to try in my opinion is hot chocolate!
Hot Chocolate in Dublin
Our number one favorite place to eat in Dublin was a hot chocolate cafe named The Sweetest Thing. This cafe is one of many different hot chocolate places in Dublin. We saw at least 5 different chocolate cafes. The reason The Sweetest Thing was so special, not only because they are voted best in Dublin 5 years in a row, is because of the many options of hot chocolate flavors and the richness of the chocolate. Definitely hit up as many chocolate places as you can while in Dublin!
Check out all the must-eat food in Ireland here!
Visit Guinness Storehouse & Jameson Distillery
Another uniquely Irish activity in Dublin is to visit the Guinness Storehouse and Jameson Distillery. At Guinness, you will learn the history of beer and the family behind this iconic brand. By the end of the self-guided tour, you will get a free pint while enjoying the views at The Gravity Bar. The Jameson Distillery gives you a tour of the history of the whiskey as well as several whiskeys to taste.
Irish Food Trail
Want to get a truly local experience of food in Ireland? Look no further than this tour! A small group of 18 people max will allow you to have a truly personalized experience. Each location will include a meal with a specifically selected craft beer. This will give you the best chance to try true Irish food. So go hungry!
Unique Dublin Tours
One of the most fun tours we did in Dublin was Vintage Afternoon Tea Tour. We got to go on a tour of Dublin while enjoying some delicious treats. We got some fresh scones, delicious hot chocolate, and tasty sandwiches. It was our first step into a more traditional afternoon tea. Highly recommend.
Dublin is known for its literary prowess. So many different authors made Dublin home at one point or another. You can see statues of Oscar Wilde and even his apartment. A cool way to explore the different authors that have called Dublin home is through the Dublin Literary Pub Crawl. You’ll visit historic pubs, listen to rich literary history, and put your knowledge to the test with a literary quiz at the end of the crawl.
Take the Hop On Hop Off Bus to let you see nearly all the sights and easily get around Dublin.
Unique Day Trips from Dublin
Ireland has so much to offer outside of Dublin. Luckily Dublin is set up to make so much of the country readily available. Not only can you rent a car and have a great road trip, but you can avoid driving those windy roads and take some great tours. Some must-see areas in Ireland are the Cliffs of Moher, Blarney Castle, and Cork.
Dublin to Cliffs of Moher
One of the most famous activities in Ireland. These impressive cliffs on the Atlantic Ocean are absolutely breathtaking. You can see the ocean hit the rocks and not stop being impressed by the power of the water. There are many trails and walks along the Cliffs to explore. This tour will also take you through the Wild Atlantic Way for some impressive coastal views along with a stop in the amazing Kilmacduagh Abbey.
Kilkenny, Wicklow Mountains, and Sheep Dogs
One of the major things we wanted to do when we visited Ireland was to go see a sheepdog demonstration! It was so impressive. While we got our demonstration the farmer told us all about the Wicklow Mountains. You could see them in the distance and from the mountains you could see so much of Ireland. Getting driven around is a much easier way to see all the monastic settlements, medieval archeology, and so much wildlife.
Blarney Castle & Cork
South of Dublin is County Cork which houses the city of Cork as well as Blarney Castle. The grounds to Blarney Castle are impressive with a stone to kiss for “the gift of gab”. Obviously touring the castle is super cool, but the Poison Garden really took so much of our attention. It was so interesting to see all the plants. This tour will also take you through County Cork, exploring the city, and spending the bulk of your time at Blarney Castle.
Northern Ireland
A different country which really restricts your ability to visit via rental car. This tour will take you to Belfast, Giant’s Causeway, and Dunluce Castle. You’ll get to experience a traditional black cab in Belfast and explore the city’s history, and the docks. Of course, you’ll travel along the Antrim Coast to experience Giant’s Causeway. Entrance fees and round-trip transportation are included in the tour.
Final Thoughts About Activities in Dublin
Dublin is truly such a fun city to visit. There is so much to do and so much to see. It is a great place for tourists going abroad for the first time. We had so much fun exploring Dublin and enjoying everything it had to offer. From the hot chocolate to the cool architecture to the unique tours there truly is something for everyone in Dublin. I would highly recommend all the tours and activities detailed above, but if it is not in your budget my recommendation would be: go to The Sweetest Thing, take the Hop On Hop Off bus to let you get around, and go to Guinness.
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