Guide

Dublin, Ireland

Dublin in a Few Days

Must-sees, tips and advice for a first trip

Flight & transferMust-seesGetting aroundBeyond Dublin

For my first trip to Ireland, I chose to spend a few days in Dublin with my sister. Here are the main places and activities not to miss on a first visit, along with the tips that go with them.

01Flight and getting into the city

Several options to reach downtown from the airport:

Airlink

€7 / €12 round trip · lines 747 or 757

Fast option — watch out for different schedules on weekends.

Bus

€2.20 - €3.30 depending on stops

Bring exact change — drivers don't give change back, payment goes into an automatic fare box.

Taxi

Pricier but easier, depending on budget.

We took the bus on the way there (€2.20, ~45 min to the hostel), and the Airlink from O'Connell Street on the way back for a 6:15am flight (direct route, 30 min).

On the way

02Must-sees

1. Guinness Storehouse & St James's Gate

Ireland means beer, and specifically Guinness. In an industrial setting, on St James's Gate (Dublin 8) — allow at least 3h for the visit, skip-the-line ticket recommended. The tour ends with a pint tasting at the Gravity Bar, with a 360° view of the city. Tickets pre-booked on Get Your Guide.

Hours9am-5pm

Entry + free pint€25

Guinness Storehouse

2. Trinity College, Old Library & Book of Kells

A prestigious university founded in 1592 by Elizabeth I — the only one in Dublin open for visits. Its Old Library holds particularly rare, ancient books across 2 floors.

HoursMon-Sat 9am-5pm

Old Library + Book of Kells€8

Trinity College

Old Library

3. Ha'Penny Bridge & River Liffey

The famous footbridge over the Liffey, built in 1816 — made iconic in part thanks to U2, whose studios are just nearby.

Ha'Penny Bridge

River Liffey

4. Temple Bar

The liveliest neighborhood in the city — cobbled streets packed with pubs, an Irish atmosphere to the sound of fiddles. Happy hour or early bird, everything's here for a memorable night out. You'll also come across the Hard Rock Café, traditional or specialty restaurants, and plenty of souvenir shops.

Temple Bar

5. Saint Patrick's Cathedral

Built in 1191 in honor of Ireland's patron saint — one of Dublin's most important monuments, in Dublin 8, surrounded by a large, restful park.

St Patrick's Cathedral

6. Christ Church Cathedral

Also known as the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, Dublin — easy to reach, just steps from Temple Bar.

Christ Church

7. Dublin Castle

A beautiful 13th-century building right in the city center, partly open to the public.

HoursMon-Fri 10:15am-5pm, Sun/holidays 2pm-5pm

Interior visit duration45 min

Price€4.50

Dublin Castle

8. Kilmainham Gaol

A former prison built in 1796, where public hangings once took place outside the building — today decommissioned and turned into a museum. It's also served as a filming location for several movies (The Wind That Shakes the Barley, Michael Collins, In the Name of the Father, The Italian Job). We didn't visit it ourselves, but here are the practical details:

HoursMon-Sat 9am-5pm

Duration1h

Price€8

9. Grafton Street, St Stephen's Green & shopping mall

THE shopping street in Dublin, with stores for every budget. At the end of the street, the St Stephen's Green shopping mall, easy to spot with its distinctive architecture, offering a view of the park of the same name from its food court.

St Stephen's Green

Shopping Centre

03Getting around the city

Dublin is a human-scale city, entirely walkable. To go faster or further, bus and tram cover the city — same rule as the airport bus: bring exact change. The tram fare depends on the zones you cross.