With one thing for everybody, Dublin, the cosmopolitan capital of Eire, will enchant you and lure you again time and again. This compact metropolis blends the previous with the brand new. Whether or not you’re into historical past, literature, music, meals, or procuring, Dublin delivers…massive time! When you have an extended weekend in Dublin you’ll be able to hit the highlights and even get out to the countryside.
Dublin’s dimension makes it simple 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 searching for the good Eire itinerary, begin in Dublin after which add on time in Northern Eire, Eire’s Historical East, Killarney, Galway, and the Wild Atlantic Approach. In case you are touring with your loved ones, see the very best issues to do in Eire with teenagers and this solo feminine journey information to Dublin in case you are 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 Fortress to St. Patrick’s Cathedral and the Guinness Storehouse to the various wonderful museums in Dublin, you’ll have time to suit all of it in. Or, you’ll be able to simply hit just a few points of interest after which absorb the tradition within the pubs. Frankly, as a result of Dublin is pretty compact, you’ll be able to 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 in your lengthy weekend in Dublin, it would be best to struggle the jet lag and hit the bottom operating. We suggest you are taking a personal switch or airport shuttle into city as driving in Dublin isn’t simple, even in case you are 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 Fortress 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 a part of the thirty-minute light-hearted tour, the place a pupil will hold 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 E-book of Kells Exhibition and Lengthy Room, positioned in the midst of campus. After taking a peek on the illuminated manuscript of the E-book 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 Outdated Library.
This magical 200-foot-long room conjures up photos of Hogwarts (though lots of the books have been saved for now). The aroma of leather-based and previous books is a dream come true for avid readers. To keep away from ready in very lengthy strains, take into account getting tickets to this top-selling attraction on-line properly earlier than you arrive in Eire and e-book a timed-entry ticket.
Afternoon in Dublin
After lunch on Grafton Road or within the Temple Bar space, it’s time to choose your afternoon adventure一either to observe within the footsteps of Irish literary greats or soak within the environment 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 Heart, the Dublin Writers Museum, and the Nationwide Library of Eire. You can even 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 spite of everything this touring, choose out of your favourite nature choices. Search for deer in Phoenix Park, Europe’s largest heart 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 outside live shows.
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 essentially 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 reside 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 occasion 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’re searching for 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 loosen up after an extended day of sightseeing!
Dublin Itinerary Day 2: A Day of Dublin Delights
Morning Meals Tour
Meals excursions are at all times successful with our household, together with ones in Vienna, Paris, and Rome. E-book 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 a wide range of treats together with a gourmand breakfast at an award-winning historic café, a full lunch at a famed atmospheric pub, a well known Irish seafood dish, mouth-watering artisanal ice cream, a ramification 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 mates, and a need to proceed exploring this metropolis’s culinary delights!
Afternoon Exploration
After the tour, take your selection between procuring or museum hopping. Dublin abounds with boutiques, markets, and shops. Begin by strolling down Dublin’s pedestrian-friendly, uber-famous Grafton Road, stuffed with buskers, crowds, eating places, and all kinds of outlets.
Gawk on the architecturally grand Powerscourt Townhouse Centre, a high-end boutique procuring heart housed in a grand Georgian townhouse. Wander the slim lanes of George’s Road Arcade, a Victorian Purchasing Heart relationship from 1881, stuffed with quirky and eclectic outlets.
An enormous plus for households touring to Dublin is the bounty of high-quality FREE museums! Take into account 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 historic books, spiritual scrolls and a lot extra.
Or, when you’ve got the time and are keen to pay the ticket price, we are able to’t suggest the EPIC Irish Emigration Museum extremely sufficient! This interactive museum may be very participating for all ages and every gallery tells the story of various teams of Irish individuals who have made an enduring impression on the world and their emigration journeys.
When 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 navy 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 can be surrounded by jail cells. Entering into one of many slim chilly cells supplies a glimpse into what it might have been prefer to be a prisoner.
Since this attraction is fashionable, take into account reserving your tickets prematurely, and save time for the well-curated museum on the finish of the tour. Simply take care with youngsters which might be 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 possibly can join self-guided tickets, a connoisseur expertise, and even mix it with a go to to the Jameson Distillery.
For the grand finale of this present day of culinary decadence, we headed to Pacino’s which serves scrumptious genuine Italian dishes. As soon as your dinner is completed, these of age ought to take into account 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 at some point past town limits. We craved an exhilarating and academic day…and boy did we get it! There are lots of doable 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 evaluations!
In a single whirlwind day, we set off to expertise a “best-of” tour of the Irish countryside. Because of Wild Rover we have been capable of pack per week of exploring into one marathon day journey. Plus, a visit to Northern Eire meant we received to go to two nations 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 a neighborhood 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 stunning Big’s Causeway, a UNESCO World Heritage Web site, with roughly 40,000 basalt columns rising from the ocean. Children (and adults!) can 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 knowledgeable 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 supplies loads of time to stroll up hills and throughout rocky areas which may be slippery from the rain. Additionally convey alongside a bottle of water, snacks, and waterproof jackets. Throughout 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 an extended 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 in your keep. This award-winning resort faces the gorgeous gardens of St. Stephen’s Inexperienced and appears out on the long-lasting Nationwide Live performance Corridor.
We cherished the fashionable rooms impressed by Dublin’s literary heritage crammed with books and well-known quotes. The workers lived as much as their stellar repute, particularly after they had scrumptious breakfast-to-go packed for us earlier than our early morning departure.
Verify charges, learn evaluations, and see pictures on TripAdvisor
Different good decisions 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 enticing to millennials or households with teenagers.
What to Pack for a Lengthy Weekend in Dublin
Remember to pack layers, even in summer time! Convey a raincoat or umbrella day by day. Locals say you expertise 4 seasons in at some point…and they’re proper! For those who 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 record right here.
Connoisseur meals, family-friendly points of interest, historic gems, spectacular countryside…and a lot extra. We are going to always remember our magical three days visiting the Emerald Isle…and might’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 knowledgeable 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.