Lucky me, I’ve been in wonderful Dublin for the past few days, sent on a solo trip by Tourism Ireland, so that I could share with you how awesome it is.
I took a wild amount of photos… so to try and make this blog post more manageable, I’ve broken it down into things to do, places to shop, places to eat and drink, and then a few extra photos, if you fancy leafing through them.
Let’s go!
Things to do in Dublin
Tourist buses
I’m a huge fan of riding around on one of those open-top buses, especially in a new city, like Dublin. You get to see all the sights, and if you’re lucky you’ll have live commentary which is way more entertaining.
I used the Dublin Sightseeing hop-on hop-off bus (the same company also run the Airlink buses and a Ghostbus) which meant I could get on and off wherever I wanted. The tickets also last two days.
The churches & cathedrals of Dublin
I didn’t have time to go inside any, but there are loads of beautiful churches around the city, as it’s steeped in religious history. The two cathedrals are meant to be absolutely stunning inside.
The Guinness Storehouse & Jameson Distillery
I wanted to avoid the obvious tourist spots, and I’m not interested in either drink, so I didn’t go to either of these… but if you like your stout or whisky, they’re definitely a must-do.
Dublin’s museums
I visited the Little Museum of Dublin, and the Natural History Museum, both of which were so interesting. They had lots of little things to look at. The Natural History Museum is nicknamed the dead zoo, because it’s basically full of taxidermy – heaven.
Dublin’s galleries
I went to the National Gallery of Ireland, which had a really cute cafe and shop full of nice stationery, as well as a portrait exhibition, and the Hugh Lane Gallery, which had an installation of Francis Bacon’s studio, which I loved. There are lots more museums and galleries if these ones don’t take your fancy.
Dublin Book Festival
I was lucky enough to be in Dublin during the book festival, which is over now, but apparently there’s always little things like this going on. Keep your eyes peeled for arty fairs and festivals.
Dublin Zoo
I have mixed feelings about zoos, but this one was better than I expected. It’s one of the oldest zoos in the world, and I got to see some amazing big cats, and my favourite cheeky red panda.
Dublin’s bridges
A walk along the river to see the seven bridges of Dublin is a must. The ha’penny bridge in particular is super pretty.
Where to shop in Dublin
- George’s Street Arcade for perfect traditional market vibes
- Irish Design Shop for cool prints & homeware
- Photo Ireland for amazing art books
- Tower Records for… you guessed it – records
- Folkster for the most amazing collection of beautiful gowns (head to the back room)
- Shotsy Vintage & Tola Vintage for reasonably priced, amazing vintage clothes
- Nine Crows for vintage – unfortunately was closed when I found it, but I’ve heard great things
- Avoca for numerous floors of beautiful homewares, clothes and gifts
Where to eat and drink in Dublin
- Wall & Keogh for delicious gluten free brownies and loads of different loose leaf teas
- Acapulco for yummy Mexican food and friendly staff
- Tower Cafe (in Tower Records) for cheap and delicious breakfasts and lunches
- Queen of Tarts for the best Victoria sponge cake I’ve ever eaten
- 37 Dawson Street for especially-made-for-you cocktails and sharing food
- Busyfeet & Coco for a quick croissant and tea
- Mary’s Bar & Hardware for toasties and drinks in a very cool and unusual setting
- Café en Seine for entertaining music while you drink
Phew! I can’t believe I’ve never really thought about visiting Dublin before, and I already want to go back. Three days wasn’t enough to see all the awesome stuff it has to offer, that’s for sure.
If you’re thinking of visiting, over the New Year period would be an amazing time to go as they have a three-day festival running from the 30th, which includes food, music, art and comedy, among other things.
Find out more about visiting Dublin on the Tourism Ireland website.
