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Unlike most people, Ireland was not a country that had ever topped my travel list. Sure, I’d seen the incredible pictures of its sprawling mountainous landscape and the large foamy pours of Guinness, but, I had other a lot of other items to check off first. That is, however, until I realized the due to it’s location, a flight from D.C. to Dublin wasn’t only affordable, but one might even say, cheap. Seriously. Willing to be flexible with our dates and travel times, we could cross the pond for less than $400, round trip. Sign me up! Suddenly I was a HUGE Ireland advocate. Plus, at clocking in at approximately five hours, the relatively quick flight didn’t take up too much of our precious exploration time.

Although there is so much more to see on all regions of this country, today we’re just going to focus on the top five things you must see or do when you visit the capital of the Republic of Ireland, Dublin. This dynamic city offers attractions for everyone’s interests. You could easily spend a week here seeking out the crowded, dark pubs or strolling through the open gardens.
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We opted to stay in the heart of the city at Blooms Hotel. A cheeky building built above a popular nightclub. However, lucky for us, the nightclub is only open on weekends and since we were staying Tuesday through Thursday, we wouldn’t have to rock ourselves to sleep with pumping EDM. The intricate graffiti sprawled across the building looks like something in a museum. The gorgeous colors and designs make in stand out even in the Temple Bar neighborhood known for its various spectacles. Most importantly, Blooms Hotel allows for easy access to all areas of the city. While there are many attractions you’ll witness on your walks through the winding roads and cobblestone alleys, such as Jame Joyce’s House and Ha’Penny Bridge, these are the top five places you must make sure to visit.

Trinity College
As the university of Dublin, this bustling college is in the heart of the city. While walking on the green and through the old stone building are enjoyable, the main attraction is the old library and Book of Kells (Side note: I had to look this one up. The Book of Kells consists of four gospels of the New Testament in Latin). Given the long lines, it’s best to buy your tickets ahead of time here. While you should certainly have your camera ready when you first enter the vast library to capture the infinite rows of books, put your camera away to take time to read though the shelves available and soak in the knowledge that is stored here. It can be more powerful than when viewed through your lens.

St. Stephen’s Green
A rather long but pleasant walk from Trinity College, St. Stephen’s Green is best seen around lunch time if you want to fit in like a local. Grab a sandwich at one of the shops close by *(fried fish is also a favorite) and find a spot to enjoy the fresh gardens, trickling fountains and prime people-watching. This public park is one of Dublin’s main Georgian garden squares and is right next to the Stephen’s Green Shopping Centre and Iveagh House, other sites worth a peak for their notable architecture.
St. Patrick’s Cathedral
The tallest and largest church in Ireland, St. Patrick’s Cathedral is breathtaking both inside and out. While you can attend various functions held at the church, a tour through the structure was fulfilling enough. As the heart of Dublin’s history and culture for centuries, it is recognized as being one of the most vital pilgrimage sites. Even just walking about the greens surrounding the cathedral and taking in the red tulips lining the sidewalks is enough to understand the significance this building had on Dublin as well as Ireland.

Guinness Storehouse
Although the storehouse is farther away from the city center, it is more than worth the trek to the outskirts of Dublin. If you’re looking for a simply brewery tour, it’s best to turn around now. The Guinness Storehouse is a giant warehouse that holds some of the most unique beer-based experiences. Ever. Be ready to be blown away by dynamic exhibits that test all of your senses. From a scent bar, to personalized video exhibits all the way to becoming a certified Guinness Pourer, there isn’t much that isn’t here. Plan to spend a few hours exploring the actual museum-like portion and another hour enjoying a cold one on the rooftop pub, Gravity Bar, with 360 degree aerial views.

Temple Bar
Nothing compliments a visit to the Guinness Storehouse quite like more Guinness. Temple Bar is the hip and edgy neighborhood in Dublin that provides just that. It is often noted as the cultural quarter of the city, with its live street shows and active nightlife. After enjoying some local favorites at an intimate pub in the area, we spent the next few hours listening to the live shows on the street corners. More than a guy drumming buckets on the streets of NYC, these shows shut down roads and gather crowds by the 100s as everyone tries to peak at the next up and coming singer. It’s easy to make a night of it without even stepping inside a club. Better yet, after a Guinness or two or four, we were able to walk a couple block back to home base, The Blooms Hotel to get ready for the adventure to follower.
Having explored the ins and outs of Dublin, stay tuned as we head out into the Wicklow Mountains to see a whole other side of this diverse country.
Have you ever been to Dublin? Which coast is your favorite in Ireland? Dublin or the Cliffs of Moher?
Find and book Dublin tours and activities on Viator.com. Book ahead to save time and money!
xx,
Juliette
My husband and I really want to go to Ireland in the next couple years. Dublin will definitely be on our list and we will use this post to plan our visit
That’s great! I hope this helps! It’s definitely a city you can take in in just a few days.
That’s awesome you could fly there at such a great price! I went to Cork once, but have not been to any other cities/areas in Ireland. Dublin is one of the hubs bucket list cities though. So one day.
Luckily it’s close to the east coast, so as long as you get there it’s a pretty inexpensive flight!
This is so great! I’m going to Dublin next month and I have a friend going with me who thinks there is nothing to do in Dublin. I’m going to prove her wrong with your help!
You show her! Nothing a cold glass of Guinness can’t fix.
I’ve always felt drawn to Ireland – it’s definitely number one of my travel bucket list – but until this post, I could have happily made the trip without ever setting foot in Dublin! Now, I can’t wait to check out St. Patrick’s Cathedral and Temple Bar! Thank you so much for sharing! I can’t wait to read your next post!
Thanks for you kind words! Dublin is definitely worth at least 24 hours! But, yes, wow, the countryside is amazing. I’ll be posting about that next Monday!
So much fun! What a fantastic deal! Ireland has never been on the top of my travel list either. But everyone I know who goes has a good time, the pictures are always beautiful, etc. It may make the top of the list at some point here!
If the country doesn’t win you over, the cheap flights might! And it’s perfect for a stopover on your way to the rest of Europe.
I’d love to visit Dublin…and I know my husband would love the Guinness storehouse. Looks like you had a lovely time!
It’s perfect for both of you!
Your pictures are awesome!! I’ve always felt the same way about Ireland–I’d go, but it’s not at the top of my list. But then I see people’s photos and I start to think differently! Pinning a bunch of these 😉
Ireland is at the top of my bucket list- pinning this for later! Thanks 🙂
I love this! I definitely want to go to Ireland one day. I love your pictures as well! 🙂
Thanks Amy!
I’ve been dying to visit Ireland and your photos make the temptation greater! I can’t believe the flight was that cheap. St. Patrick’s Cathedral looks especially breathtaking!
It’s a quick flight from the east coast! A great place to go if you’re itching for Europe but don’t have thousands to spend…(who does?!). Thanks Kate!
Your pictures look amazing. I have always wanted to visit there!
Thanks Colleen!
What a great post. Thank you for the great ideas for when I visit Dublin. At least I now know what I can do.
I love Dublin and this post is making me want to go back. When I was there it rained the whole time so it would be really nice to get some sunshine next time (if that’s even possible in Ireland)! Thanks for the reminder on what a beautiful city it is 🙂
Haha somehow the rain makes it a little more charming…or at least I like to believe that! The sun does help for taking in the city from the sidewalks, though. All the more reason to get back there, Yolanda!
I love Ireland! I spent a couple of days in Dublin and still only managed to check one of these things off my list. Guess I’ll have to plan another trip! 😉
Definitely worth a second visit, Christine! I hope to go back soon to travel the countryside 🙂
This looks like such an interesting place!
I am obsessed with traveling and now you have convinced me to want to travel to another place. Great post!
Thanks so much!
So glad I could spark some wanderlust!
$400! sign me up!!I had no idea I could go for that cheap.
This looks amazing! Hope to visit one day!
It’s definitely worth a trip!
Looks like you had an amazing trip! I can’t believe how good those ticket prices were?! You have me putting Ireland a little higher on my bucket list.
It’s definitely worth a look! Even if you’re just stopping there on your way elsewhere 🙂