How to spend an amazing weekend in Dublin, Ireland.
Ireland is a country rich in history, culture, and emerald green charm. The capital city of Dublin is often overlooked as just a gateway to the rest of the country. And I get it – it’s hard to delay the rolling hills and castles that wait in the countryside. But there is so much more to Dublin than car rental agencies and Temple Bar.
From the east coast of the United States, Dublin can be the entire destination. With 1 or 2 days off, you could be dancing a jig and drinking Guinness by this weekend!
A 3-day trip is how I first experienced Dublin! My mom and I spent a long weekend visiting the city. It was the year she turned 60, and Ireland was my 20th country to visit, so we both had something to celebrate.
We flew from Boston, taking an overnight flight and arriving early on a Thursday morning. This gave us 3 full days, plus a bonus morning on Sunday before our return flight (which was a great excuse for a cute cafe).
Below, I put together an itinerary for 3 days in Dublin, including things my mom and I loved, and what I would change if I were to do this trip again.
Happy travels and sláinte!
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Day 1: Digging In to Dublin
The Dublin airport is about 35 minutes away from central Dublin. It is easy to take a rideshare or a taxi, which will be available outside of the airport terminal. You can book a taxi using the app Freenow.
Arriving in the morning, you may not be able to check in to your accommodations right away. You can rent a space to store your luggage for the day using Radical Storage. This is a super convenient option.
I rented storage for my mom and my bags nearby Dublin Castle. Our taxi dropped us off at the castle and we found the small shop, showed proof of the reservation, and the nice shopkeeper took our suitcases to his storage room. To store 2 suitcases I paid €16.50 and could pick them up any time before 9:00 pm.
Then you are free and clear, and ready to get exploring!
Explore Dublin with a Walking Tour
Start off by exploring the city with a walking tour. This has basically become a rule for me – a walking tour is the best way to get your bearings, or to discover the town with a local’s perspective.
In Dublin, there are so many unique walking tours to choose from! Since you have a limited time here, you can cater the tour to your interests and “feed two birds with one scone,” as they say.
For instance, you could find a foodie walking tour, which often includes enough small bites to account for a meal. Depending on your time of arrival, this could be a tour and lunch wrapped into one. Check out the Secret Food Tour which will show you a less-touristy side of town, Georgian Dublin, for really authentic Irish food.
Another popular option, especially in Dublin, is a pub crawl walking tour to try local beers and spirits as you learn about the city. Consider the Traditional Music Pub Tour to really immerse yourself in the dancing and drinking culture!
A reliable and budget-friendly option is a Free Walking Tour. There are many platforms to find free walking tours nowadays. GuruWalk and FreeWalkingTour are two that I have used in the past.
In Dublin we took a free walking tour with Yellow Umbrella Tours, and it was fabulous! Our guide was informative and funny, and we learned a lot of history about the Temple Bar area, making it easier to explore on our own later.
Please remember that a free walking tour should not literally be free to you. Your guide is working hard to remember their script, keep you safe, and edu-tain your group; please tip your tour guide generously.
It is up to you how much you tip, based on how much you value the tour. For reference, I like to tip $20 per person, and bring extra cash for exceptional tours.
A Calm Afternoon
After a long night of travel and a few hours of walking, this is the point of Euro-Trip-Day-1 where the energy may start to fade. Now’s a good time to grab a quick lunch and find a calm activity for the afternoon. Here are some I would suggest.
Botanic Gardens
The National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin is a really calm option for your afternoon. Entry is free at this oasis of plants, only 3 kilometers (1.86 miles) from downtown Dublin. Within this one location, you can se over 15,000 plant species, numerous glasshouses, and even a few options for food or coffee.
The Dublin Zoo
Located within Phoenix Park, the Dublin Zoo has more than 400 animals across 70 species. The zoo is one of the most popular attractions in Dublin, and for good reason! They focus heavily on conservation, with their mission statement being to “work in partnership with zoos worldwide to make a significant contribution to the conservation of the endangered species on Earth”.
St Stephen's Green
St Stephen’s Green is the perfect park to walk around leisurely or curl up with a good book. Centrally located in Dublin City Center, St Stephen’s Green has a fountain, monuments, a lake, and plenty of walking paths. This is a great place to take a breather and touch some grass before two more days of exploration.
Day 2: Art in Dublin
This is your first full day in Dublin, and your first day with a full night of sleep. (Unless you stayed out at the Gravity Bar a little later than planned.) Either way it’s time to dive in to the charm of this city!
The Dublin art scene is as unique as the city itself, ranging from white-walled galleries, to medieval Celtic manuscripts, to grungy street art. The depth and prevalence of art everywhere is a reflection of Irish culture, resilience, and pride.
You don’t have to try hard to find it. This affinity for expression can be seen everywhere, including just walking around the city.
Day 2 of this itinerary lets you experience Ireland through art in Dublin, in both curated and unexpected ways.
National Leprechaun Museum of Ireland
So many museums to choose from, and so little time! For a unique and immersive experience, I highly recommend visiting the Leprechaun Museum.
During your visit learn about the myths and magic of Ireland. However, instead of a traditional museum experience expect a guided storytelling tour.
A storyteller/tour guide walks you through rooms with elaborate sets and lighting designs. In each room you will immerse yourself in an Irish folktale, myth, or legend, all while sitting in a set designed to reflect the story.
It’s as if listening to your old, Irish granddad telling stories around a crackling fire. Hearing the stories firsthand makes it easier to understand their significance in the country’s culture and traditions.
And now I know to never accept gifts from a fae.
The Book of Kells
Another way to witness Irish heritage up close is with a visit to the Book of Kells. This intricate work is a piece of art, history, and religious significance.
Containing depictions of the four Gospels of the Christian New Testament, the illustrated manuscript was made in the Early Middle Ages. It is estimated the book was competed around 800 A.D. (That makes it 1,200 years old!)
It contains 680 pages of intricate art and is one of Ireland’s national treasures.
The Book of Kells can be found in the Old Library at Trinity College Dublin. It is kept behind a glass display case, open to let visitors see two pages at a time. The pages are turned only a few times each year to display a different spread, usually from a different Gospel.
Make-Your-Own Claddagh Ring
The Claddagh ring is an important symbol in Irish culture celebrating love, loyalty, and friendship.
Love – the heart
Loyalty – the crown
Friendship – the hands
When you visit Ireland, you have the chance to make your own!
The Claddagh ring originated in Galway, so plan accordingly – if will visit Galway, I recommend crafting your ring there.
But if you are like me and only have the weekend in Dublin, this is absolutely worth the time!
Silver Works offers a 2-hour workshop where you sit at a jewelry work bench and make a ring.
You take measurements, learn how to use each of the tools, and do the metal work yourself. The workshops creates the opportunity for conversation with strangers, and plnty of giggles as everyone messes up in their own way.
The coolest part was being able to walk out with the finished ring!
I took my mom to do this workshop together as my birthday gift to her, which made the experience even more special. We were giddy leaving the workshop with our pretty new rings, personalized with the touches we added ourselves.
George's Street Arcade
Right around the corner from Silver Works is the George’s Street Arcade, which does not have pinball machines and prizes. Rather, this is an indoor market place with stalls and vendors selling all sorts of goodies. You can find art, jewelry, souvenirs, clothes, and food.
It is easy to get lost in the people, vendors, and good vibes.
Day 3: Day Trip to Howth
Howth is a charming fishing village with beautiful views and fresh seafood. And it’s also a suburb of Dublin, making it easy to visit for a day trip.
You can get to Howth by car/taxi/rideshare, or with a quick ride on the train, which is what I would recommend!
Dublin Public Transit - Take the DART
The Dublin Area Rapid Transit (DART) is a convenient public transit option in Dublin. For only a few euro and 30 minutes of your time, you can take the DART from downtown Dublin to the nearby village of Howth.
It’s comfortable and easy! I took the train from the Tara Street station, although Connolly Station is also a popular option for grabbing the DART to Howth.
Howth Cliff Walk
Start the day with the iconic Howth Head Walk. I loved doing this first thing. There were fewer people, the weather was comfortable, and we could take our time sightseeing and taking photos.
This scenic walk is idyllic. Truly, the perfect way to soak in the Irish coastline. Find yourself walking through rolling hills of wildflowers, and watching sea birds dance around the cliffs.
The Howth Cliff Walk starts at the DART station and meanders through parks and neighborhoods before reaching the cliffside paths.
There are multiple trails, so choose the best path according to your fitness and how long you want to walk.
- If you don’t feel confident with inclines, you can drive or take a bus to Howth Summit.
- The Howth Summit Walk is much shorter and less strenuous.
For an in depth review of each of the trails, I recommend reading this blog post by the Irish Road Trip, outlining the various walking paths.
Howth Pier
After the walk, make your way to Howth Pier.
Along one side of the pier are restaurants and shops. On the other, you can watch the seals and the boats going in and out of the harbor.
This is a great place to grab lunch. If you like seafood, now is the time to order some fish and chips. Talk about fresh-caught!
Howth Market
When you’ve finished your walk and made it back to the pier, be sure to pop into the Howth Market. Expect to find hand made goods by local vendors and artists – sweaters, sweet treats, knitted bags, handcrafted jewelry.
Finally, once you’re all shopped-out, the DART station is across the street. Get a beer or an ice cream from a nearby restaurant while you wait for the train back to Dublin.
So...is a Weekend in Dublin Worth it?
Absolutely, undoubtably, yes! If you have more time to spend in the city, by all means. Visit more museums, walk around more parks, and drink more beer.
But if you only have 3 days and can’t decide- is it worth the trek to get there? Will there be enough to do without leaving the city? Can I make it affordable? Yes, yes, and yes. Don’t skip out on this city when you visit Ireland.
Or, like me and my mom, visit Ireland specifically for this city. It’s worth it!
