With one thing for everybody, Dublin, the cosmopolitan capital of Eire, will enchant you and lure you again repeatedly. This compact metropolis blends the outdated with the brand new. Whether or not you might be into historical past, literature, music, meals, or purchasing, Dublin delivers…massive time! In case you have a protracted weekend in Dublin you possibly can hit the highlights and even get out to the countryside.
Dublin’s dimension makes it straightforward to discover this splendidly walkable metropolis. After visiting Dublin a number of instances on varied journeys to Eire, I’ve put collectively this three-day Dublin itinerary to launch your journey to Eire.
In case you are in search of the excellent Eire itinerary, begin in Dublin after which add on time in Northern Eire, Eire’s Historical East, Killarney, Galway, and the Wild Atlantic Means. In case you are touring with your loved ones, see the most effective issues to do in Eire with teenagers and this solo feminine journey information to Dublin if you’re touring alone.
Is Three Days in Dublin Sufficient?
Sure! Three days is an ideal period of time for exploring Dublin. Even if you wish to go to all of the sights, from Dublin Citadel to St. Patrick’s Cathedral and the Guinness Storehouse to the various superb museums in Dublin, you’ll have time to suit all of it in. Or, you possibly can simply hit a couple of sights after which take in the tradition within the pubs. Frankly, as a result of Dublin is pretty compact, you possibly can see the highlights in two days and nonetheless have time for a day journey to Northern Eire.
Dublin Lengthy Weekend Itinerary
Dublin Itinerary Day 1: Welcome to Dublin
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Morning in Dublin
When you land on your lengthy weekend in Dublin, it would be best to struggle the jet lag and hit the bottom working. We suggest you’re taking a personal switch or airport shuttle into city as driving in Dublin isn’t straightforward, even if you’re absolutely rested.
Begin your day by getting acquainted with Dublin on a “pay-as-you-wish” tour with Sandeman’s New Europe Free Strolling Tour. The guides are educated and sometimes fairly humorous too! This tour hits lots of the highlights of the two,000-year historical past of this metropolis, such because the Dublin Citadel and Temple Bar space.
After the tour head over to Eire’s Harvard equal, the famed and picturesque Trinity Faculty. Merely wander round campus or be part of the thirty-minute light-hearted tour, the place a scholar will preserve you entertained whereas highlighting the varsity’s historical past, neoclassical structure, and numerous legends.
Simply be sure you see the crown jewel of Trinity Faculty with a go to to the world-famous Ebook of Kells Exhibition and Lengthy Room, positioned in the course of campus. After taking a peek on the illuminated manuscript of the Ebook of Kells, Eire’s best-known cultural treasure and one of many world’s most well-known medieval manuscripts, enter the spotlight of the Trinity expertise — the Lengthy Room of the Previous Library.
This magical 200-foot-long room conjures up photographs of Hogwarts (though lots of the books have been saved for now). The aroma of leather-based and outdated books is a dream come true for avid readers. To keep away from ready in very lengthy strains, contemplate getting tickets to this top-selling attraction on-line effectively earlier than you arrive in Eire and ebook a timed-entry ticket.
Afternoon in Dublin
After lunch on Grafton Avenue or within the Temple Bar space, it’s time to choose your afternoon adventure一either to comply with within the footsteps of Irish literary greats or soak within the ambiance of the city oasis which surrounds you.
Bestill the hearts of devoted followers of Irish literacy giants like Wilde, Beckett, Joyce, and Swift…Dublin is a UNESCO Metropolis of Literature! Locations to discover relying in your pursuits embrace the James Joyce Middle, the Dublin Writers Museum, and the Nationwide Library of Eire. It’s also possible to take an Irish literature strolling tour that features the Dublin Writers Museum, the Nationwide Library of Eire, and a number of other favourite pubs of well-known authors.
James Joyce followers ought to drop into the historic Victorian-era Sweny’s Pharmacy, featured in Joyce’s “Ulysses.” Some days the pharmacy even hosts group Joyce readings!
For many who crave a zen break in any case this touring, choose out of your favourite nature choices. Search for deer in Phoenix Park, Europe’s largest middle metropolis park. Or, step again in time as you stroll the plush 22-acre St. Stephen’s Inexperienced (youthful kids will benefit from the duck pond). In the summertime, St. Stephen’s Inexperienced holds free out of doors concert events.
Night in Dublin
For dinner, head to Purple Torch Ginger. This busy and classy upscale Asian restaurant stuffed with native Dubliners provides a wonderful menu and probably the most personable workers.
End your day by becoming a member of the locals and vacationers within the Dublin ritual of pub hopping! Your journey to Dublin wouldn’t be full with out experiencing the fabulous dwell music scene.
Pubs serving meals welcome under-18 teenagers through the day and into the early night. These over the ingesting age of 18 can seize a pint, and benefit from the raucous get together scene. Head to the winding streets of the world-famous Temple Bar neighborhood and pub hop to your hearts’ content material.
Whether or not you might be in search of wild or serene, pop music or Irish ballads, you can find them right here. Sure, it’s tremendous touristy! However that’s what makes it a lot enjoyable! Sing alongside, people-watch, and chill out after a protracted day of sightseeing!
Dublin Itinerary Day 2: A Day of Dublin Delights
Morning Meals Tour
Meals excursions are all the time successful with our household, together with ones in Vienna, Paris, and Rome. Ebook a meals tour for a scrumptious introduction to Dublin’s foodie scene intertwined with studying concerning the metropolis’s historical past.
Our enthusiastic information led us on our journey to pattern quite a lot of treats together with a connoisseur breakfast at an award-winning historic café, a full lunch at a famed atmospheric pub, a widely known Irish seafood dish, mouth-watering artisanal ice cream, a selection of native cheeses in a uber-cool meals emporium, and Irish whiskey samples for these 18 and older. The tour ended with full stomachs, new associates, and a need to proceed exploring this metropolis’s culinary delights!
Afternoon Exploration
After the tour, take your selection between purchasing or museum hopping. Dublin abounds with boutiques, markets, and malls. Begin by strolling down Dublin’s pedestrian-friendly, uber-famous Grafton Avenue, stuffed with buskers, crowds, eating places, and all varieties of outlets.
Gawk on the architecturally grand Powerscourt Townhouse Centre, a high-end boutique purchasing middle housed in a grand Georgian townhouse. Wander the slim lanes of George’s Avenue Arcade, a Victorian Procuring Middle courting from 1881, stuffed with quirky and eclectic outlets.
An enormous plus for households touring to Dublin is the bounty of high-quality FREE museums! Contemplate popping into the Nationwide Gallery, the Pure Historical past Museum, the Dublin Metropolis Gallery, the Irish Museum of Trendy Artwork, or the Science Gallery. Our favourite free museum is the beautiful Chester Beatty Library stuffed with historical books, spiritual scrolls and a lot extra.
Or, when you’ve got the time and are keen to pay the ticket charge, we will’t suggest the EPIC Irish Emigration Museum extremely sufficient! This interactive museum could be very participating for all ages and every gallery tells the story of various teams of Irish individuals who have made an enduring affect on the world and their emigration journeys.
In case you have the time and abdomen for it, take a tour of the Kilmainham Gaol. This fascinating hour-long tour of a historic, and at instances spooky, jail that operated from 1796 by 1924 will captivate your crew. Hearken to the tales of tragedy and heroism surrounding the Gaol, which housed lots of Eire’s most well-known political and army leaders together with the likes of Charles Stewart Parnell, the 1916 Rising leaders, Eamon de Valera, and Robert Emmet.
Your gang will thrill in wandering this deserted facility, together with the ominous dying row, the eerie execution courtyard, and the grand cavernous Victorian-era room the place you may be surrounded by jail cells. Getting into one of many slim chilly cells offers a glimpse into what it could have been wish to be a prisoner.
Since this attraction is common, contemplate reserving your tickets prematurely, and save time for the well-curated museum on the finish of the tour. Simply take care with children which are frightened simply.
Night Indulgences
Now, it’s time to make a pilgrimage to the Guinness Storehouse. This temple of all issues Guinness is successful with teenagers and adults alike. A spotlight is toasting with pints on the spectacular 360-degree view from the top-story Gravity Bar!
You’ll be able to join self-guided tickets, a connoisseur expertise, and even mix it with a go to to the Jameson Distillery.
For the grand finale of today of culinary decadence, we headed to Pacino’s which serves scrumptious genuine Italian dishes. As soon as your dinner is finished, these of age ought to contemplate ending the evening on the identical restaurant’s uber-cool hidden speakeasy referred to as The Blind Pig!
Dublin Itinerary Day 3: Belfast and Past
Any go to to the Emerald Isle deserves at the least in the future past town limits. We craved an exhilarating and academic day…and boy did we get it! There are lots of potential day journeys from Dublin, however our spotlight was taking the top-rated Giants Causeway, Belfast Metropolis & Carrick-A-Rede Rope Bridge Day Tour from Dublin by Wild Rover Excursions. This firm lived as much as its fabulous opinions!
In a single whirlwind day, we set off to expertise a “best-of” tour of the Irish countryside. Due to Wild Rover we have been in a position to pack every week of exploring into one marathon day journey. Plus, a visit to Northern Eire meant we bought to go to two international locations in a single weekend! The all-day bus journey took us to Belfast the place we had the selection between touring the state-of-the-art Titanic Museum or taking a Black Taxi Tour.
We opted for the taxi tour guided by an area which included a stroll alongside the Peace Wall which divides the 2 spiritual/nationwide communities of east Belfast in addition to listening to concerning the heart-wrenching tales of the troubles of this area.
Our subsequent cease was the dramatically lovely Big’s Causeway, a UNESCO World Heritage Web site, with roughly 40,000 basalt columns rising from the ocean. Youngsters (and adults!) could have a blast scaling the piles of columns.
Lastly, we mustered the braveness to stroll throughout the Carrick-A-Rede Rope Bridge, excessive above a deep chasm! Our skilled and enthusiastic information Lisa stored us on schedule, offered related background data, and handled us all so professionally. It was an absolute pleasure to don’t have any worries about driving ourselves to handle this tour on our personal.
Tip: Put on sneakers or sturdy footwear! This all-day tour offers loads of time to stroll up hills and throughout rocky areas that could be slippery from the rain. Additionally deliver alongside a bottle of water, snacks, and waterproof jackets. In the course of the tour, you’ll have time to cease for a fast lunch within the Titanic Museum’s cafe (which was surprisingly excellent) or on the Big’s Causeway cafe.
Coming back from the journey, we have been ravenous and wearing informal garments. We determined it was time to pub hop once more. After a protracted day, a pint with some pub grub hit the spot!
The place to Keep in Dublin
The Conrad Dublin is the right well-located luxurious base on your keep. This award-winning lodge faces the attractive gardens of St. Stephen’s Inexperienced and appears out on the enduring Nationwide Live performance Corridor.
We beloved the trendy rooms impressed by Dublin’s literary heritage stuffed with books and well-known quotes. The workers lived as much as their stellar fame, particularly after they had scrumptious breakfast-to-go packed for us earlier than our early morning departure.
Verify charges, learn opinions, and see photographs on TripAdvisor
Different good selections for 3 days in Dublin could be:
- The Davenport Resort close to Trinity Faculty. It provides sensible luxurious with out being overpriced.
- The Morgan Resort within the Temple Bar space is hip and engaging to millennials or households with teenagers.
What to Pack for a Lengthy Weekend in Dublin
Remember to pack layers, even in summer season! Deliver a raincoat or umbrella day by day. Locals say you expertise 4 seasons in in the future…and they’re proper! When you plan to discover the countryside, pack a pair of sturdy strolling footwear or sneakers.
You don’t must get too dressy in Eire. Denims, sweaters, and comfortable footwear will match proper in. Get a full Eire packing checklist right here.
Gourmand meals, family-friendly sights, historic gems, spectacular countryside…and a lot extra. We are going to always remember our magical three days visiting the Emerald Isle…and may’t wait to return to discover extra of this magical nation!
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Tamara Gruber is the Founder and Writer of We3Travel. A former advertising government and journey advisor, Tamara is an award-winning journey author and acknowledged skilled in household journey. Tamara is a member of SATW, NATJA, IFWTWA, and the Journey Journey Commerce Affiliation, and serves on the Board of the Household Journey Affiliation. She can also be the writer of YourTimetoFly.com and the co-host of the Trip Experts journey podcast.