Our Dublin, Ireland One-Day Itinerary

After almost 6 years of living in Europe, we finally made it to Ireland. With a short 4-day weekend, exploring a new country felt like the perfect getaway. Flying into the capital of Ireland, Dublin, wasn’t necessarily high on our list, but we knew we wanted to take at least a day to explore the city in the short time we had. To make the most of our time in Dublin, we decided to hit the highlights on our list that were most important to us. Here is our Dublin one-day itinerary if you are looking to mark this city off your list for a quick visit.

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About Dublin, Ireland

Dublin is located on the east coast of the island and is the largest city in Ireland. The city is the capital of the Republic of Ireland, a member of the EU. This information is important because Ireland is actually comprised of two countries: the Republic of Ireland (which remained part of the EU after Brexit) and Northern Ireland (which is part of the U.K.). I won’t go into depth on that in this blog post, but this post should be helpful.

Dublin is located in the province of Leinster on the east coast of the country at the mouth of the River Liffey. With a population of around 1.3 million, Dublin is the epicenter of Irish commerce. It is Ireland’s economic and commercial hub, making it an excellent starting point for your Irish adventure.

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Our Dublin One-Day Itinerary

As mentioned earlier, Dublin wasn’t high on our list of places to visit in Ireland. But because it’s the capital of the Republic of Ireland, we thought it would be best to see the city in one day, and I am glad we did. Here is our Dublin one-day itinerary, starting with where we stayed.

We actually took a late-night flight into Dublin International Airport and decided to spend a few nights in Dublin. We stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn Dublin City Center, which we found on Booking.com. This is the perfect location to stay in the city, close to all the attractions. We utilized Bolt.com; UBER is also an option, but we found Bolt to be cheaper. The next morning, after breakfast, we headed out to start our one day in Dublin. We took a Bolt to our first stop, the Guinness Storehouse.

Looking for fun activities to do around Dublin? Check out these activities below:

Visit the Guinness Storehouse

The Guinness Storehouse Experience was on top of my husband’s Dublin list. I’ll be honest: this wasn’t high on my list to begin with, but I’m so glad we did it. We had our teen daughter with us on this trip, and she actually enjoyed the tour. I recommend booking tickets online in advance and booking the tour as soon as it opens. I know 0930 is too early to drink beer, but honestly, it felt less crowded during this time of the morning, as I have read it gets very crowded later on in the day. Children are very much welcome to do this experience, minus actually drinking alcohol; they do offer non-alcoholic beverages for those who prefer not to drink alcohol.

The Guinness Storehouse Experience is like the “Disneyland” interactive experience of Guinness. The seven-floor experience is very cool: you’ll be immersed in their beer-making process, have the opportunity to sample their beer, and learn how the company came to be and how it became an iconic economic influence in Dublin and among the locals. At the end of the Guinness Storehouse Experience, you’ll be rewarded with 360-degree views of the city of Dublin from the top floor of the Gravity Bar, along with a free beer of your liking; non-alcoholic beers are offered for those who don’t drink and for children. Restaurants and souvenirs are also offered throughout.

Highly recommend doing this experience in Dublin, whether you are into drinking beer or not. It was really interesting to learn the history of Guinness and how it made a significant impact on the people of Dublin. Additionally, I’m not a huge beer drinker, and I have never had Guinness beer before this visit, but the original Guinness Irish Stout was by far my favorite.

Practical Information on the Guinness Storehouse Experience

• Guinness Storehouse Experience
• Book your tickets here or through here.
• Opening hours
  • Monday to Friday: 10:00 am-5:00 pm  
    • Please note that the last entry is 4:45 pm, while the building remains open until 6 pm. 
  • Saturday: 9:30 am-6:00 pm
    • Please note that the last entry is 5:45 pm, while the building remains open until 7 pm.
  • Sunday: 9:30 am-5:00 pm  
    • Please note that the last entry is 4:45 pm, while the building remains open until 6 pm. 
• Location: Guinness Storehouse, St. James’s Gate, Dublin 8, D08 VF8H, Ireland
• There are many other experiences you can book online on their website. You can find them here.
  • For reference, my family did the Storehouse Experience, and we thought it was plenty for us to enjoy.

Visit Saint Patrick’s Cathedral

After finishing at the Guinness Storehouse, we took a Bolt near the oldest cathedral in Dublin, Saint Patrick’s Cathedral, the National Cathedral of the Church of Ireland. This happened to be right next to our next destination, Marsh’s Library, so we decided to peek in. If you are into the history of Ireland and its religion, you may like this stop.

Saint Patrick’s Cathedral is considered the largest cathedral and one of the most important pilgrimage sites in Ireland. There’s not much information out there that provides details about the life of Saint Patrick. However, there’s speculation that he passed through Dublin in the 5th century and used a nearby well to baptise new converts into Christianity in 450 AD. A small church was built, marking it as a sacred place near the heart of Dublin. The present building dates from 1220 and has seen wars, revolutions, and a reformation.

Saint Patrick’s Cathedral is still an active church, with services and events taking place every day. Visitors are weclome to attend services, booking and tickets are not required to attend services. You can find more information on their website.

However, to sight see the church, there is a fee to visit Saint Patrick’s Cathedral. The cost includes a self-guided headset tour of the church, and inside, you’ll get to see just how beautiful this cathedral is and its remarkable history.

Practical information for Saint Patrick’s Cathedral

• Saint Patrick’s Cathedral
• Ticket prices can be found here
  • Additional discounted tickets, along with the Marsh Library, are available; more below.
  • Includes audio guides
• Opening Hours:
  • Monday-Friday: 0930-1700
  • Saturday 0930-1700
  • Sunday 0930-1030 and 1300-1430
• Free Guided Tours:
  • Monday-Saturday: 1030 and 1430; no guided tours on Sundays
• It is free to attend the services, you can find more information, here
• The Go City Dublin Pass is also an option that gives you access to 40+ attractions. Find more information here

Visit Marsh’s Library

Located right next to Saint Patrick’s Cathedral, this library is a perfect alternative to the Book of Kells. We had the Book of Kells on our list, but have read mixed reviews as of late, and it seemed rather more expensive to visit than Marsh’s Library. This small library is still worth the stop if you are on a budget and want to see one of the oldest libraries in Dublin.

This library is considered the first public library in Ireland (1707) and houses well-preserved books from the late Renaissance and early Enlightenment period. The book bindings on these historical books are rather impressive. Additionally, if you have young children, they can participate in a free small scavenger hunt within the library.

Practical information for Marsh’s library

• Marsh’s Library
• You can purchase tickets in advance for a self-guided tour online here or at the entrance.
  • If visiting St. Patrick’s Cathedral, there is a discounted ticket available as well (see ticket prices below)
• Unfortunately, the library is not wheelchair accessible due to the building’s history.
• Opening Hours:
  • Open 0930-1700 (5:00 pm) Tuesdays-Fridays
  • 1000-1700 on Saturdays
  • Closed on Sundays and Holidays
  • Seasonal hours: The Library will close at 5 pm on December 19th and will reopen on January 6th.
• Ticket prices:
  • €7/per adult
  • €4/student or seniors
  • Free for children under 18 years old
  • If visiting Saint Patrick’s Cathedral, be sure to purchase the discounted joint ticket for the Marsh Library and Saint Patrick’s Cathedral for €17.
• Location: St. Patrick’s Close
  • Google map location: here
• For children: A Small scavenger hunt is available for free
• website: https://marshlibrary.ie/visit/

Have Lunch at the Oldest Pub in Ireland

Visit the Brazen Head, the oldest pub in Ireland, established in 1198. Here, you’ll want to have a pint of beer and try their beef stew and chowder. Yes, I know this seems like a tourist stop, but if you’re really into pub crawling, this one stop would be worth adding to your list. I’d recommend making reservations in advance. We visited off-season, so we didn’t have to make reservations and were able to get in without waiting, but that may not be the case in high season. You can find out more about the history of the pub here.

Practical Information on the Brazen Head

• The Brazen Head
• Opening Hours:
  • Open 7 days a week from 12 pm until late
    • Food is served until 9 pm each evening.
• Music schedule from March 1st: 7 nights a week from 9 pm. Every Sunday: 3 pm-6 pm.
• Location: 20 Lower Bridge St, Usher’s Quay, Dublin, D08 WC64

Check Out the Temple Bar District

If there is one area of Dublin you shouldn’t miss, it’s the Temple Bar District. Sure, you’ve heard of the Temple Bar pub itself, but the Temple Bar district area has more to offer besides the famed Temple Bar. Dating back to the 17th century, Temple Bar’s cobblestone streets offer lively, colorful pubs, museums, vintage shops, and more. Here are some fun things to do in Temple Bar:

↠ Check out the vintage shops

↠ Stroll the Icon walk: discover original artwork of local artists. Located on 3 Aston Place, Temple Bar, Dublin.

↠ Walk through Love Lane and check out the rainbow walls: check out the lane full of different colored tiles with quotes, poems, and lyrics about love.

↠ Temple Bar Food Market: One of Dublin’s oldest and longest-running food markets, which features local farmers and producers from Ireland, featuring local artisan cheeses, bread, street food, and more.

↠ Have a drink at the famed Temple Bar: totally a tourist destination, but the bar itself is so cool to check out, if not from the inside, the outside is decorated intricately! It’s still neat to have a drink or two at the pub, but there are other pubs in the area worth checking out if you don’t want to be around the crowds.

There are so many other cool things to do in this district; we had fun just walking through it and checking out the decked-out Temple Bar itself.

Shop for a Wool Sweater at the Aran Sweater Market

If there is anything Ireland is known for, other than their awesome pubs, history, the landscapes, the divided country, and much more, there’s also their wool market and their many sheep farms all over the country. I didn’t want to leave the country without checking out some of their Sweater Wool Stores. One store in particular has been popping up throughout my research: the Aran Sweater Market. This store is a must if you’re in the market for a knitted wool sweater.

Also, if you have a family name or clan in Ireland, the store offers family patterns passed down from generations. The ClanAran ranges from hand-knit sweaters, blankets, bed runners, wraps, and more. You can find more here. My husband’s last name is Scot-Irish, but sadly, we didn’t find his family’s clan name listed. However, there were so many clan names listed on their site; I think this would make a unique gift option if you have ties to Ireland. Prices vary and are much more reasonable than they would be outside of Ireland, but their products are authentic and made in the Aran Islands.

Shop Along Grafton Street

If you’re looking to shop your heart out, Grafton Street has many stores to choose from. This is a pedestrian-only street. It’s a lively street and fun to walk through and see all that Dublin has to offer. Street performers fill the streets, pop-up flower shops park along the street selling fresh flowers, and a mixture of international brands and local stores, cafes, and pubs line the street.

Peek Into Stephen Green’s Shopping Center

Follow Grafton Street as you head towards Stephen Green’s Shopping Center and take a peek inside. We didn’t necessarily come here to shop, but to check out the mall’s interior, which is quite impressive. There are stores and boutiques inside that are worth checking out. You can find more information about Stephen Green’s Shopping Center here.

Take a Stroll Through St. Stephen’s Green Park

After leaving Stephen Green’s Shopping Center, across Grafton Street, you’ll find a beautiful, huge park called St. Stephen’s Green Park. This 22-acre historical park, dating back to the 1600s, is so beautiful to walk through, even more so during the Fall season when all the leaves have turned yellow. The park includes a lake, playgrounds, beautiful gardens, fountains, numerous sculptures and monuments. The park is open year-round and free to visit. It was a nice reprieve from the city’s busyness. You can find more information about the park here. The park is also open from Monday to Saturday at 0730, and on Sunday at 0930- closing time varies. More park hours here.

Finish the Evening at a Pub with Live Music

At the end of the day, we were bone-tired and wanted one last Dublin experience at a pub with live music before heading back to the hotel for the evening. Any pub will suffice, but not all offer live music. We randomly came across John O’Dwyer’s Pub on Aungier Street on Google Maps and decided to give it a go. The food was decent, though we ordered only appetizers. However, their main dishes received pretty good reviews online. The live music was a bonus; the performer on stage sang cover songs throughout the night, starting shortly after 7:30 pm. Though we wished for traditional Irish songs, he did not disappoint with his covers.

Final Thoughts

This concludes our one full day in Dublin. Though we missed many other attractions and points of interest throughout the city, we weren’t too disappointed with all that we were able to do in one day. For the most part, we got a sense of the city’s vibe, and although we enjoyed it, we felt one day was enough for us. Our ultimate goal was to visit other parts of Ireland, not just the country’s capital, as we learned Ireland has much more to offer besides Dublin.

I hope this helps you plan your trip to Dublin, as mentioned, there are many other things to do in Dublin other than what we accomplished. However, I hope this inspires you for some of your planning needs. Until next time, friends! go dtí an chéad uair eile a chairde!