Known as the gateway to Ireland, Dublin is a magnificent place with many delightful sites to visit. You will enjoy the city’s historical sites, lively pub scene, delicious food, stunning green spaces, and friendly locals. Here are our recommendations for the top 10 best sites in Dublin.
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Trinity College & the Book of Kells
Founded in 1592, Trinity College is the oldest university in Ireland. Take a 45 minute guided tour of the university, or access the self-guided tour on the Visit Trinity App.
The campus is beautiful, but what you really need to see is the Book of Kells and the Old Library! These are probably the most iconic sites in all of Dublin. The Book of Kells is an illuminated medieval manuscript. It contains the four Gospels and dates from 800 AD. Vellum created from the skin of 150 calves creates the paper for the pages of the book. No one knows if a single or multiple artisans were responsible for all of the beautiful writing and images. Visitors get to see two pages each day,
More amazing than the Book of Kells is the Old Library. Containing over 200,000 books, the library is a phenomenal sight. It is a massive space with many ancient leather-bound books and that distinct dusty old book/library smell. Note: as of this writing, most of the books have been removed for cleaning and conservation. They will be returned when the project is complete. To compensate for their absence, a magnificent three dimensional Earth artwork by Luke Jerram is on display. Called Gaia, this globe showcases NASA imagery of the Earth’s surface.
There’s also a new 90-minute digital experience. It includes the Secret Life of the Collection that highlights parts of the library’s collection. The highlight of this exhibit are eight animated statue busts of famous people who chat with each other about their accomplishments. There’s also the Book of Kells 360 experience that surrounds you with project images of the amazing illustrated manuscript. Finally, there’s a reimagined Long Room with projections of images and videos of books and collections housed in the library.
Dublin Castle
Castles are scattered all over Ireland, and Dublin is no exception. Dublin Castle dates to the 13th century when the area was a Viking settlement. You can take a self-guided tour of the stunning State Apartments, or opt for a guided tour you can book on the day of your visit. There’s also a Viking Excavation site in the Medieval Undercroft and the Chapel Royal on site. You will need to book a guided tour to see these extra sites.
Christ Church Cathedral
Christ Church Cathedral is Dublin’s oldest building. Originally a Viking church, the structure is almost 1,000 years old! The vaulted ceilings and beautiful tiled floor of the cathedral are amazing. But what’s even better is the crypt, the largest and oldest surviving structure in Ireland. It’s filled with treasures, such as Ireland’s first copy of the Magna Carta, costumes from “The Tudors” TV series which was filmed there, and even a mummified cat and rat found trapped in an organ pipe.
If you opt for a guided tour, you can climb the belfrey for panoramic views of Dublin. You will also have a chance to ring the church bells and learn about the art of bell ringing from your guide. Guided tours can only be booked on the day of your visit.
You are also welcome to attend a church service. There’s options most days to attend morning prayer or a noon peace prayer. There are also many opportunities to attend concerts and music services.
St. Patrick’s Cathedral
Next on our list of must-see sites in Dublin is St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Established in 1191, this is now the largest cathedral in Ireland. The Gothic Revival cathedral has everything – an impressive Nave, soaring arches, brilliant stained glass windows, intricate mosaic floors, statues, memorials, and amazing wood carvings along the aisles.
Fans of the book Gulliver’s Travels can see author Jonathan Swift’s grave and memorial. The circa 1270 Lady Chapel is a small but beautiful place of worship featuring gorgeous stained glass windows. And don’t miss seeing the Door of Reconciliation. In the 15th century, there was a feud between the Butler and Fitzgerald families. The Fitzgerald family cut a hole in a door and challenged the Butler’s to shake hands for peace. Doing so would “chance your arm.” a phrase you might have heard before.
Outside you will find St. Patrick’s Well. St. Patrick himself is said to have baptized followers here. Adjacent to the cathedral lies St. Patrick’s Park. Here you can see a statue of St. Patrick and wander through a literary garden celebrating Irish writers.
The cathedral choir dates back to 1432 and performs from the intricately carved wooded choir stalls. You can attend a choral performance most days of the week. The cathedral also offers amazing events throughout the year.
Guinness Storehouse
If you love the dark beer Guinness, the Guinness Storehouse is one of the most fun sites to visit in Dublin. Discover the story behind Ireland’s most famous beer. The basic self-guided tour offers exhibits on the history of the iconic brew, how it is made, and how it has been advertised over the years. Then you enter the tasting room for a sip of the beer, which people claim tastes best in Ireland. Afterwards, indulge in a pint at the Gravity Bar which offers 360 degree views of Dublin.
You can upgrade your visit with one of several special experiences. One option is to have your selfie printed on the foam of your pint of Guinness. Another option is the Guinness Academy where you learn the brand’s iconic pouring ritual. If you want a deeper dive, sign up a premium experience. The Guinness Connoisseur option allows you to taste several varieties of Guinness while you learn more about each one from a beer specialist. And the Guinness Brewery Tour takes you behind the scenes to the actual brewery that has crafted the drink for the past 300 years.
Temple Bar District
If you haven’t had enough Guinness, then hop right on over to the Temple Bar District! Visit the legendary bright red Temple Bar to enjoy food, drink, and live music. Then hop over to The Oliver St. John Gogarty to hear live traditional Irish music. For craft brews, try The Porterhouse. And if that’s not enough, the Auld Dubliner has something for everyone- delicious Irish dishes, live music, and great conversation (what the Irish call “craic”) in a traditional Irish pub.
Wander along the cobbled streets and enjoy the many street performers in the area. Or head to the Cobblestone Pub to catch a session. This is when musicians gather socially to play and chat with each other. If you like culture and art, check out the Irish Film Institute, the Temple Bar Gallery + Studios, the Photo Museum Ireland, the Irish Rock ‘n’ Roll Museum Experience. You can also catch a show at the Smock Alley Theatre or the Project Arts Centre.
Perhaps the best way to experience Temple Bar is on a walking tour. Try a Traditional Irish Musical Pub Crawl, a Dublin Literary Pub Crawl, a ghost tour, or a food tour.
Kilmainham Gaol
To learn more about Ireland’s fight for independence, visit the Kilmainham Gaol. This historic former prison held leaders of the 1916 Easter Rising. It also was the home of many men, women and children involved in minor and major crimes for more than 100 years. You will start with a powerful guided one hour tour where you learn about many of the people imprisoned here, from the ordinary to the heroes from the 1978 rebellion, the 1916 Easter Rising, the Anglo-Irish War, and the Irish Civil War.
After your tour, visit the museum to learn more about the history of Ireland. You can also see temporary exhibits that focus on all of the stories of people who lived in the prison.
The National Museum of Ireland
There are some of the most interesting sites in Dublin are housed within the National Museum of Ireland. The museum exhibits are housed in four different buildings, one of which isn’t in Dublin:
- Collins Barracks – decorative arts and military history
- Merrion Street – natural history
- Kildare Street – archeology
- Turlough Park – folklife (located in Castelbar, County Mayo)
If you have time to explore them all, do it! But most of us will only be able to visit one. If that’s the case, definitely go to the Kildare Street building. This building has a gorgeous interior, worth visiting even if the exhibits are boring. But they are far from boring! You will see artifacts from the Viking age of Ireland, and learn about prehistoric Ireland and medieval Ireland. There are also treasures like the Ardagh Chalice and Tara Brooch, Ireland’s collection of gold items, and an impressive ancient Egypt collection.
But if you’re like me, the highlight is seeing the KIngship and Sacrifice exhibit where you will see amazingly preserved bodies who were scarified in Irish bogs along with artifacts buried with them. The exhibit also features many other things the peat bogs have preserved like a wooden wheel and tracks, a Viking long boat, and bog butter (butter was stored in bogs to keep it fresh – someone forgot about this stash!).
Best of all, admission to the museum is free!
St. Stephen’s Green
Located in the heart of the city, St. Stephen’s Green is a definitely one of the best sites in Dublin to relax. This Victorian park is full of flower gardens, tree-lined walkways, and ponds filled with ducks and swans.
Scattered throughout the park are several historical monuments. The Famine Memorial honors those who died during the Great Famine. The Lord Ardilaun Memorial honors Sir Arthur Guinness. There’s a statue of Wolfe Tone, leader of the 1798 Irish Rebellion. Other places of note are the Victorian Bandstand which hosts live performances, the Yeats Memorial Garden decided to the poetry of W. B. Yeats, and the Fusilier’s Arch which honors the Royal Dublin Fusiliers.
EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum
Are you the descendent of an Irish immigrant, or do you know someone who is? Then our final stop on this list of sites in Dublin should definitely be on your itinerary! EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum takes a deep dive into Irish emigration stories.
The museum has 20 themed galleries featuring digital touchscreens, videos, projects, and other sensory experience to immerse you in the story. From describing the reasons for emigration to the Irish impact on practically everything around the globe, the museum’s immersive exhibits allow you to walk in the steps of actual Irish emigrants.
You’ll experience a recreated ship’s hull where emigrants spent many weeks sailing to a new life, and then you’ll pass through a passport stamping station marking your successful passage. Then get lost exploring the Family History Centre where you can research your own Irish history.
Not of Irish descent? Visiting the museum gives you an unparalleled understanding of what it was like to leave your homeland in search of something new. All of our ancestors likely did this. This remarkable museum gives context to the impact of Ireland around the world and also a glimpse into the complex history of emigration around the world.
What’s on your list of must-see sites in Dublin?
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