2 Day Dublin Itinerary: Best Things to do in Dublin!

This Dublin itinerary covers the best things to do and how to spend 2 dreamy days in Ireland’s capital!

This bustling city serves as most visitors first taste of Ireland. Here you’ll find full Irish breakfasts, cobbled streets, traditional Irish pubs playing live music, and many museums illustrating the city’s long and colourful history.

Two days is the perfect amount of time to get a taste of Dublin before heading further into the Irish countryside.

Click these to skip to the good stuff!

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Dublin Basics

Currency: The Euro. 

Cash or Card: Either is perfectly fine, I never had an issue with not carrying cash. 

Visas: Ireland provides 90 day tourist visas to most passport holders.

Although the Republic of Ireland is part of the European Union (EU), it is not part on the Schengen Zone.

If you haven’t heard about the Schengen Zone, read about it here before visiting Europe. It is a group of countries in Europe that allow visitors to apply for one encompassing tourist visa that covers all the countries in the Zone. With a Schengen Visa you can enter and move between any country in the agreement freely for up to 90 days in every 180 days.

Basically, this means that most tourists can visit Ireland for up to 90 days in addition to 90 days in Schengen countries.

Check on the Irish Immigration page whether you need to apply for a visa before arriving. Travellers from many countries can get a visa on arrival.

How to Get to/from Dublin

There are only two ways to get to Dublin from abroad.

The first and far more popular option is to fly. Pre-book your flight early and shop around to get the best price.

If you have an aversion to flying or just like an adventure, there is a ferry from Holyhead, Wales to Dublin which takes about 3.5 hours. Prices are actually pretty affordable; book via Irish Ferries.

Where to Stay in Dublin

Try to book accommodation around the Temple Bar area, because that will be walking distance to most of the sights you would want to see. I recommend booking early to get good accommodation as Dublin is a very popular city! 

$ Hostel $

Abbey Court Hostel
29 Bachelors Walk, Dublin 1, Dublin, Ireland
This hostel is located just across the river from Temple Bar and in walking distance of all of Dublins best sights. With over 13,000 reviews it is (admittedly self-proclaimed) ‘Dublins most popular hostel in 2024.’ I stayed here in 2023 and had a great time. Check availability or see other options.

$$ Hotel $$

Celtic Lodge Guesthouse
81 – 82 Talbot Street, D1 Dublin, Ireland 
This guesthouse is also located just across the River Liffey. With clean furnishings, Irish breakfasts, affordable pricing, free cancellation and live music in the bar below, they have everything you could want. The only downside is there is no lift and guests will need to climb the stairs to their room. Check availability or see other options.

How to get around Dublin

Using public transport while in the city centre is generally unnecessary. I would avoid using public transport if you can help it because they only accept Leap Cards or EXACT cash (no change given). There is a tourist Leap Card but it is tedious to get. 

If you do want to take public transport within the city, make sure you plan with the Transport for Ireland or Google Maps before taking your trip. 

What to Pack for Dublin

If you are not sure what to bring to Dublin, my UK packing list for backpackers gives a good overview of what clothes and items you’ll need.

It is absolutely crucial that you pack a rain-jacket and/or an umbrella! It is most likely that it will rain at least once during your visit, so best be prepared. 

Go City Dublin Pass

If you are wanting to visit many of Dublin’s paid attractions, have a look into getting a Go City Dublin Pass. It might help you to save money if you visit some of the more expensive sights within the same timeframe. The Pass goes on sale often, so try not to rush to buy it at full price!

DAY 0

For most visitors to Ireland, Dublin is their first stop. You’re probably arriving in Dublin via the airport.

The easiest and most affordable way to get into the city from the airport is by bus.

Which service you use will depend on where your accommodation is located. Use Dublin Airport’s journey planner to find out which one to use.

The Dublin Express takes about 30 minutes and costs €8.26.

The Aircoach takes about 50 minutes and costs €10 (prices as of July 2024).

I was staying at Abbey Court Hostel so I took the Aircoach to O’Connell Bridge.

TIP: Don’t pre-book your bus ticket. The tickets are non-refundable and can only be used for the specific time you selected. If your plane is delayed, you will be out of luck. There is a booth next to the bus station; buy your ticket here. Don’t worry about tickets ‘selling out’ because there is a bus every five minutes.

If you arrive at your accommodation early in the morning, continue on with this itinerary. If not, just relax, have dinner, and find some live music (not a hard task in Dublin)!

DAY 1

Day 1 of this Dublin itinerary follows a rough loop around the central city.

Book of Kells at Trinity College

First stop is Trinity College.

This is Dublin’s oldest university, established in 1592 by Queen Elizabeth I.

Most people visit Trinity College to see the Book of Kells. It’s a religious book containing the 4 gospels of the New Testament, thought to have been created in 800AD. It’s the lavish illustrations found throughout the manuscript that make it so distinctive.

As one of Dublin’s most popular sights, you have to pre-book your visit on their website; it costs £25 for 90 minutes access to the Old Library which houses the Book of Kells.

Although I did wander around Trinity College, I was on a tight budget (it was the end of my 6 week trip) so I didn’t pay to enter the Old Library. I definitely think it is worth visiting the college just to feel the history exuding from the place even if you aren’t interested in seeing the Book of Kells.

National Gallery

Merrion Square W, Dublin 2, D02 K303
Sunday and Monday 11am-5:30pm, Tuesday to Saturday 9:15am-5:30pm
Free
Website

After Trinity College, head to The National Gallery.

The building itself is gorgeously grand and luxurious, which makes the Gallery a beautiful and peaceful place to spend a few hours while in Dublin.

The gallery strongly focuses on paintings by Irish artists, for obvious reasons, but this means it is a little on the smaller side compared to those you may have seen in other European cities.

I actually ended up coming here multiple times because it is a great place to sit and ponder… and escape the rain.

Travel Essentials 

SIM cards: Airalo offers eSIMS for over 200 countries which you can install BEFORE travelling, saving you the stress of running around to find a store or from being ripped off by local vendors. This is perfect for backpackers who are travelling to multiple destinations in a short period of time.

Insurance: You should NOT go overseas without getting travel insurance. Travel insurance protects you in case you get injured or your plans change or are cancelled. I always use Covermore, because the cover is comprehensive and they were easy to work with when I needed to make a claim.

Banking: When travelling and saving for travel I use Up Bank, an online Australian bank, that allows fee-free overseas transactions, unlimited savings ‘pools’ and easy transfers. If you join Up with my invite code we both get $13! 

Oscar Wilde Statue and Home

American College, 1 Merrion Square N, Dublin, D02 NH98
11am-6pm every day
Walk-in visit €12
Website

Across the road from the National Gallery you’ll find a cheeky statue of the famous Irish poet.

If you have an interest in poetry, you might want to visit Oscar Wilde’s restored childhood home next door.

National Museum of Ireland

The National Museum of Ireland is made up of four locations. Of the four, there are three located in Dublin; Archaeology, Natural History, and the Decorative Arts and History. 

I would recommend at least visiting Archaeology and Natural History, because they are basically next door to each other!

Natural History Museum 

Merrion St Upper, Dublin 2, D02 F627
Sunday and Monday 1pm-5pm, Tuesday-Saturday 10am-5pm, open til late on Thursdays. 
Free

Just down the road from the Oscar Wilde Statue is the Natural History Museum.

This museum is definitely on the smaller side, especially if you’ve been to a bigger natural history museum like the one in London. 

However, I consider it still worth visiting, especially if you have kids, and especially if it’s raining.

If you’re interested in animals or bugs, then this is definitely up your alley. There are a lot of interesting animals displayed like a shark, moose, and a turtle. 

Archaeology Museum 

35A Kildare St, Dublin 2, D02 YK38
Tuesday-Saturday 10am-5pm, Sunday and Monday 1pm-5pm, open until late on Thursdays. 
Free
Website

This museum is a must do when in Dublin! 

There are many interesting displays that help you learn about Irish history from prehistoric to the modern era; you could honestly spend all day there if you wanted to. 

There are two levels of exhibitions. I found the floor plan a little confusing, so make sure you check out what’s through every door so you don’t miss out on anything. 

I found the Viking and the Medieval exhibitions to be my favourite. 

They even have bog bodies which I found super fascinating! And don’t miss the Egyptian exhibition, which I found could only be accessed by a small winding staircase near the gift shop. 

Lunch: Picnic at St Stephen’s Green

Gates open 7:30am-9pm
Free Entry

At this point, you’re probably getting a little hungry. If the weather is nice, St Stephens Green is the perfect place for a picnic.

Here you can have a snack while watching the ducks float on the lake in the centre of the park. 

There are various statues and monuments to be found around St Stephens Park, and it’s a great place to escape the hustle and bustle of Dublin city centre. 

Next door is the St Stephens Shopping Centre if you want to get out of the rain.

If you prefer a sit-down lunch, head down Grafton Street where you’ll find heaps of options.

Window Shopping in Grafton Street

After lunch, head down Grafton Street for a spot of shopping.

This is an absolute must do on the Dublin bucket list, and you CANNOT leave the city without exploring not just this main street, but the whole district. 

Here you can find cafes, restaurants, bookshops, retail stores and gift shops. This is where you want to go if you’re looking for souvenirs to bring back home. 

The street was also lined with buskers, creating a very lively and ‘Irish’ feeling atmosphere. 

Grafton Street leads to (or from) the River Liffey and the Temple Bar area, so once you’re shopped out, grab dinner then head down to Temple Bar later in the evening. 

Temple Bar

When I say have a drink in Temple Bar, I mean in the Temple Bar area. 

I say this because a pint in the actual Temple Bar or one of nearby pubs will run you about €8. 

The exterior of Temple Bar is really what makes it famous anyway, so I would recommend just snapping your obligatory picture from outside and heading ten feet down the road for drinks half the price. 

Live music is not hard to find in Ireland; almost every pub and bar I entered had a band performing. 

A few venues that I enjoyed were The Old Storehouse Bar and Restaurant, Dublin Citi Hotel and Trinity Bar and Venue. A particular favourite of mine was Bad Bobs. 

Dublin has so many more clubs and live music venues to choose from. 

While I didn’t personally go there, I heard good things about The George, an LQBTQ friendly club that hosts drag events (entry fee), Whelan’s with more of an Irish indie scene, as well as The Grand Social, Riot, and Copper Face Jacks. 

TIP: If you join the Generation Pub Crawl for €14 you can get a bunch of free drinks and entry into a nightclub. The hostel I stayed at (Abbey Court Hostel), as well as a bunch of nearby hostels are all part of this pub crawl so it’s great for meeting people. I did this pub crawl without knowing anyone else who was going. I ended up making so many friends and had a great time! It was a massive highlight of my trip! 

DAY 2

On day 2 of this Dublin itinerary, we explore the sights on the western side of the city.

Dublin Castle

Opening Hours: 9:45am-5:45pm
Price: €8
Website

For 600 years, Dublin Castle served as the residence of the British monarch’s Irish representative. Since Irish independence, it is mostly just used for offical ceremonies and special events.

The Dublin Castle was undergoing renovations when I visited in June 2023, so I was not able to explore inside. It has since reopened, although I think some of the rooms are still unavailable to visitors.

At €8, this castle is probably the cheapest of British monarchy’s historical strongholds to explore.

You can download free audio guides from the website.

Chester Beatty Museum

Address: within Dublin Castle Grounds
Opening Hours: 9:45am – 5:30pm Monday to Saturday, 12pm – 5:30pm Sunday. 
Entry: Free

The Chester Beatty museum is one of the most underrated sights to see in Dublin! 

In fact, I hadn’t even heard about it before I visited the city. 

It is a collection of artefacts from across the world once belonging to Sir Alfred Chester Beatty, which was inherited by the state upon his death. 

Located in the grounds of Dublin Castle, the exhibitions are spread across two levels topped with a roof garden. 

The museum is a little on the small side, but it is free so we can’t really complain! 

St Patrick’s Cathedral

Address: St Patrick’s Close, Dublin, D08 H6X3
Opening Hours: 9:30am-5:00pm, Sundays 9am-10:30am, 1pm-2:30pm, 4:30pm-6:00pm.
Price: €10
Website

St Patrick’s Cathedral is a magnificent medieval cathedral that dates back to the 1200’s. 

There is a cute little park out in front of the cathedral with a fountain, gardens, and grassy areas for you to sit and relax. 

The day I visited was dreary and raining so I had to leave pretty quickly, but it’s a great place to have a picnic lunch if the weather permits. 

Dublinia

Address: St Michaels Hill Christ Church, Dublin 8.
Opening Hours: 10am-6pm
Price: €15
Website

As a budget traveller, I typically don’t engage in novelty attractions. But it was raining (as usual) and so I decided to visit Dublinia.

You can book in advance, but I just purchased at the door.

This museum explores Dublin’s Viking history. They recreate life in Viking Dublin from what clothes they wore, food they ate, medicinal remedies they used, what their houses would have looked like …

They do this using interactive displays, props and mannequins.

You can also climb the 96 steps to St Michael’s Tower for a nice view across Dublin.

Christ Church Cathedral

Address: Christchurch Pl, Wood Quay, Dublin, D08 TF98, Ireland
Opening Hours: Tuesday and Thursday – 9am-5:30, Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday – 9am-6:30, Sunday 12:30pm-3pm, 4:30pm-6:30pm
Price: €11.50
Website

Dublinia is connected to Christ Church Cathedral via a stone archway. The Dublinia gift shop leads you to this archway which is next to the exit.

I got confused and ended up in the cathedral, despite not having a ticket.

I didn’t stay long because I felt guilty but if you might be able to sneak in.

There are two options for this afternoon’s activities.

On the second day of this Dublin itinerary, you could visit the Guinness Storehouse. If you are not interested in alcohol, beer and/or Guinness, then keep reading and take a walk to do some deer-spotting at Phoenix Park.

Option 1: Guinness Storehouse Tour

Address: St. James’s Gate, Dublin 8, D08 VF8H, Ireland
Opening Hours: 9am-5:30pm
Price: Determined by the date and time of your visit, anywhere from €20 to €32.
Website

Guinness is Ireland’s most famous drink.

The Guinness Storehouse Tour explores the history of the beer, from how the company was established, how it expanded globally, advertising campaigns over the years and the philanthropic efforts of the inventor, Arthur Guinness.

Audio guides are available in various languages for an extra €3.

The tour ticket includes a drink, which can be a pint of Guinness or another available drink.

Option 2: Walk to Phoenix Park

If you’re a bit more adventurous (or on a budget), you should consider heading out of the city and making your way to the extraordinary Phoenix Park. 

It is renowned as the largest city park in Europe at 1750 acres.

It features flower gardens, avenues of trees, and large areas of grassland that are home to a herd of deer. While deer sightings are rare, they apparently do happen, particularly during dawn or dusk. 

Phoenix Park is also the location of the Dublin Zoo (€24 – discount for pre-booking in advance), another great location for a family day out.

I made the rather audacious decision to trek the thirty minute walk along the river to the park, however, there are bus options if you are not as brave (or silly) as me. 

The 37 bus from Aston Quay takes you to the entrance of the Phoenix Park Visitor Centre and takes about thirty minutes. 

Honestly, the walk wasn’t all that bad but I was tired coming back after walking around the park for several hours. 

The park is massive and practically impossible to completely explore on foot. 

Other than the beautiful gardens and grasslands, there is a racecourse, Parliament buildings, a giant Papal Cross, Phoenix Monument, a fort and a pond to discover! 

If you have a decent amount of time to spend in the park, I would highly recommend renting a bike if you can, as it will make it much easier to explore. Phoenix Park Bikes (1hr €7/3hr €14/full day €20) located at the eastern entrance (where you will enter if you walk from the city centre). 

DAY 3

On the third day of this Dublin itinerary we sadly depart Dublin.

Maybe you’re heading home, of which case you’re probably heading back to the airport.

Bus is the easiest and cheapest option; use Dublin Airport’s journey planner to find out which one to use.

Maybe you’re continuing your Ireland adventure!

From Dublin, buses and trains serve most cities including Galway, Cork, Limerick, Tralee and Waterford.

Buses are usually a little cheaper but might take slightly longer.

That is my 2 day Dublin itinerary, covering everything there is to see and do in Dublin, Ireland!

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