24 Hours in Dublin, Ireland

the best things to see and do in just one day!

I have always wanted to visit Ireland and while the Irish countryside is on the top of most travel lists, I am a huge fan of both the country and the city. Visiting Dublin is an excellent mix of both history, busy city life, incredible food and drinks and a taste of the country. Whether starting a visit to Ireland in Dublin or ending your trip to the capital, Dublin deserves a full day of adventure. In fact, I think it could take a full two or three days, but let’s start with 24 hours in the city.

Phoenix Park

Start your morning looking for deer at the largest park in Europe. The park is home to over 200 deer and while they’re not “tame” they’re not as frightened of people as the deer you might find in the US.

The Park is also home to the Dublin Zoo, the Irish Presidential palace, and the Papal Cross. more than 200,000 people came to the park to see Pope John Paul the 2nd and you can climb the steps and breathe in the crisp morning air at the steps of the cross.

A heads up, the park is a popular destination for local Dubliners who are out and about walking their dogs, jogging, and enjoying their own time at the park. It’s an easy walk from the center city of Dublin and is a place of nature’s finest beauty in the heart of the capital city.

After you’ve enjoyed the fresh air in the park, it’s time to head into downtown Dublin. Dublin is easily walkable but you can take a city bus into the city center. Once you’re in the City center, you can walk anywhere on this itinerary.

Trinity College

In the center of Dublin, Trinity College is a must see. Famously, home to the Book of Kells and the Long Library, Trinity College requires a ticket that you need to purchase online before getting in line. But don’t just pay for the Book of Kells and walk through the Library, I highly recommend enjoying the actually grounds of the college. If you wait to get your tickets till you show up at the college, like I did, you can take the time to enjoy the college before getting into line for the Book of Kells.

It is an active school, so while you will see students and classes, there are exhibits as well. The current art exhibits are free and a quiet place to wait for your booked time for the Book of Kells. If you’re a fan of posing for pictures, there’s plenty of photogenic places around the college grounds. Moss-covered walls, anyone?

St. Patrick's Cathedral

It feels very appropriate for Ireland to visit a cathedral named after St. Patrick. I highly recommend a personalized tour of the Cathedral because there’s much Irish history embedded into this church.
Some important details about this church:

It is not a catholic Cathedral - is is the National Cathedral of the Church of Ireland.

The Cathedral is the home parish of several famous writers and Irish Christian leaders. Jonathan Swift might be the most famous Dean of the church. There are several memorials to him inside the Cathedral - this is where a tour guide is most helpful in telling the story of the church and the role it has played in Dublin’s history.

The Cathedral is an active church, so keep that in mind and treat the church and worshipers with respect.

Guinness Storehouse

Plan the perfect end to your day in Dublin is to stop by the Guinness Storehouse for a self-guided tour and a free pint of Guinness. As I mentioned, the tour is self-guided and a go at your own pace but includes several moments from Guinness staff. The tasting room is one of those moments, where Guinness staff show you exactly how to properly drink a pint of Guinness. I thought I wouldn’t like Guinness at all, as I’m not a fan of beer. I had actually tasted a friend’s Guinness the night ebfore and wrinkled my nose at the taste. But with a bit of proper guidance, and actually drinking a pint in the right way (tip it back and let it hit the back of your throat, avoid the foam and smell it properly) - I grew quite fond of a proper pint of Guinness.

If you plan a visit to the storehouse for the end of your day, you can sip your Guinness at the top of the storehouse and enjoy a 360 degree view of a Dublin sunset. While I was there, I was surprised that the storehouse tower is the tallest building in the city and how much I could see from the top. You can even see the Wicklow mountains in the distance. I later learned that Dublin is built on top of limestone rock and that the foundation doesn’t support tall buildings, which is why the storehouse can be the tallest building. It felt poetic to overlook the city, a pint of Guinness in hand, my feet sore from a day of walking, with the sun turning the mountains golden.

BOOK MORE DUBLIN ACTIVITIES HERE!

Ending your Dublin Day

Now, once the sun sets, head back into the city center for a nightcap to your Dublin day. While Temple Bar is at the top of most lists, I did not visit the famous bar. I’ve heard every hour, the drinks go up in price by at least one euro and that the bar is a tourist trap.

Instead, I visited another bar a few blocks away from Temple Bar. Panti’s Bar is the most recommended bar on my Instagram since it is a renowned LGBTQ+ bar. The night we visited - there was a fun drag show, great live music, and fantastic drinks. A few blocks away, there’s an arcade pub where games are a Euro per game. My advice: avoid the pubs right around Temple Bar and find the place that’s up your alley, whether that’s an arcade bar or a drag show. More advice straight from the Irish: don’t walk into a pub and ask for a table for more than four people. On a busy night, even a table for four is pushing the limits of Dublin hospitality. Dublin night life goes far into the night, so don’t cut your fun short.

As you can tell, I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to Dublin and can’t wait to return to the Emerald Isle and its capital city. There are so many more spots on my Dublin bucket list - from booking a tour of Dublin castle to visiting EPIC: the National Irish Emigration Museum. Till next time, sláinte!

I visited Ireland on the Grand Tour of Ireland with EF Ultimate Break. It is a ten-day trip that will take you to the heart of the country and gives you a personalized tour guide who will share some of the best parts of Ireland with you. You can book your trip using my link for $100 off. EF Ultimate Break offers personalized payment plans and is one of the most affordable ways for any in their 20s to travel solo.