My 3 Day Dublin Itinerary: Perfect for First-Time Visitors
If you’re planning a trip to Ireland, chances are that Dublin will be your entry point, or at least a stop along the way. And if you’re looking for a first-timer-friendly itinerary that shows off the best of the city, I’ve got you covered!
The most common refrain I hear about Dublin is that it’s not worth spending a lot of time in. But I strongly disagree! Dublin has so much to offer, from history to art to lots of character and culture.
So here’s how I spent three days in Dublin, which was a perfect itinerary for a first-time visit to the city. Three days was a great amount of time, because I was able to see most of the highlights of Dublin and still have plenty of time left in the rest of my trip to see other parts of Ireland.
Dublin Itinerary: 3 Day Overview
Before we dig into all the details of our 3 day Dublin itinerary, I want to give you a quick overview. So here’s a day by day glance.
Day One (Arrival Day)
- St. Patrick’s Cathedral
- Marsh’s Library
- St. Patrick’s Park
- Dublin Walking Tour
Day Two
- Trinity Trails Tour
- Book of Kells and Trinity College Library
- Christchurch Cathedral
- Guinness Storehouse
- EPIC The Irish Immigration Museum
Day Three
- Kilmainham Gaol
- Temple Bar
- A Museum of your choice
- Oscar Wilde Statue
Heading to Dublin? Don’t Forget These!
- Book your ticket to the Guinness Storehouse.
- Plan to go on a walking tour of Dublin.
- Book your tickets to the Book of Kells and includes a Trinity Trails Tour.
- Book tickets for Kilmainham Gaol 28 days in advance.
- Buy tickets for EPIC The Irish Immigration Museum.
- Make reservations for these restaurants: Hawksmoor, Fish Shop, Note.
Where to Stay in Dublin
Dublin can be a bit of a pricey city to stay in, but there are some great options. I stayed at the Hyatt Centric The Liberties, and while I used points for my stay, it is generally reasonably priced. Here’s my hotel review!
Here are some other great options though:
- The College Green Dublin Hotel, Autograph Collection — A luxury stay right in the most convenient location! Prices average $300 to $600 per night.
- The Mercantile Hotel — Super convenient location (right on Dame Street!) plus lovely looking rooms. They also have triple rooms, which can be convenient for some families! Prices average $120 to $300 per night.
- Moxy Dublin City — Across the River Liffey but still a convenient location. This budget Marriott brand will feels modern though. And they also have triple rooms. Prices average $130 to $400 per night.
Or use this map to find the best hotel for you. One note…be careful about staying too close to Temple Bar if you are sensitive to noise. This area can be LOUD late into the night!
Getting from the Airport to Your Hotel
The easiest way to get from the Dublin airport to your hotel is to take the Dublin Express. There are stops throughout the city, and you can book your ticket in advance. There are also other buses that leave the airport and go into Dublin or to other parts of Ireland. Find all the bus info here.
You can also take a taxi, although this will probably be the priciest option.
Getting Around Dublin
I thought Dublin was a pretty easy city to get around! I walked a lot, but I also used the public transport buses all the time.
When I arrived, I bought a Leap Card at the convenience store (a Spar) near my hotel. I put some money on it initially, but then it was easy to use the Leap Top-Up app to add more money.
There is a €6 limit per day for public transport, meaning it won’t charge you after that. So I hopped on it all day long without worrying about how much it was going to cost me. I just scanned my card when I got on the bus and then hopped off at my stop (without needing to scan).
A couple of tips:
- If you’re at a less crowded stop, make sure you flag your bus down, otherwise it might not stop.
- I used Google maps to figure out the routes I needed to take. It was really great at letting me know when the next bus was expected to arrive too. Then continue following the route on the map once on board so you know when to get off.
- On board, there are buttons to press indicating that you want to get off at the next stop.
Attraction Tickets
Dublin can be a pretty expensive city to visit, so depending on which attractions you want to do, you might consider getting the Go City Dublin Pass.
If you do exactly the attractions on this list, you’ll save about €11 with the Go City Explorer Pass, but would probably come out about even with the All-Inclusive Pass.
You’ll want to do your own calculations though to see if it’s worth it! Get your Go City Pass here!
3 Day Dublin Itinerary
Ok, now that I’ve got you situated with where you’re staying and how to get around Dublin, let’s talk about the details of the itinerary!
Day 1
This is the first day, and we’re going to assume it’s your arrival day, so the schedule is pretty light. You’ll likely arrive to Dublin in the morning and you’ll feel pretty tired. So this itinerary should help you get a few things done without overloading your schedule.
Drop Bags at Hotel
When you first arrive and get to your hotel, drop off your bags. Your hotel should be able to store your bags until your room is ready.
If you’re staying at an rental property that doesn’t have a front desk (like a VRBO), There are services where you can pay a few euros to store your bags. Check out Luggage Hero or Radical Storage.
Depending on what time your flight gets in, you’ll also want to grab some lunch in the city. You could eat at your hotel (I actually love doing this when I first arrive somewhere because it’s just so easy).
Or find a spot near our afternoon touring spots. There are several great cafes and restaurants near our first stop, like Two Pups (where I ate), The Fumbally, or The Cheeky Piglet.
St. Patrick’s Cathedral
Location: St. Patrick’s Close
Tickets: €11.50 for adults (book in advance)
Hours: 9:30 am to 5:00 pm on weekdays, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm on Saturday, 9:00 to 10:30 am and 1:00 to 2:30 on Sunday
Start our with a visit to St. Patrick’s Cathedral! Between Dublin’s two most famous cathedrals, this was my favorite one!
Named for St. Patrick (of course), this cathedral is on the site where it was believed he baptized people in Dubli. Another notable thing about St. Patrick’s is that it was where Jonathan Swift was Dean for over 30 years, and he is buried here.
I thought this was a gorgeous church, and you can tour it in just an hour or less, or spend more time if you want to look at every detail and kill more time until your hotel is ready.
Marsh’s Library
Location: St. Patrick’s Close
Tickets: €7 per adult, book in advance or buy tickets there
Hours: 9:30 am to 5:00 pm Tuesday to Friday, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm on Saturdays
Right behind St. Patrick’s Cathedral is Marsh’s Library, Dublin’s first public library! It first opened in 1707. This library is on the smaller side, but if you love old libraries like I do, you won’t want to miss it.
There are two rooms here full of books, along with special exhibitions (when I was there is was an exhibition of rare books). Plus you can see the cages where people were once locked in to read books to prevent them from stealing the books! And if you are visiting with kids there is a mini-figure scavenger hunt.
St. Patrick’s Park
Location: Bull Alley Street
Hours: 7:30 am to 9:00 pm
Next to St. Patrick’s Cathedral you’ll find St. Patrick’s Park, which is a lovely outdoor space. Here you’ll the Well of St. Patrick, commemorating the spot where he baptized people. And there is a small children’s play area as well as a cafe.
I actually spent a lot of time here after touring the cathedral and library while I was waiting for my hotel room to be ready. And despite how tired I was, it was really nice grabbing some ice cream from the cafe and watching the families and school kids running around the park.
Dublin Walking Tour
Location: Somewhere in Temple Bar or College Green
Tickets: Book tour in advance!
Hours: Usually 3:00 or 5:00 pm
By mid-afternoon, you should be all settled into your hotel. If you absolutely must take a nap, make it a brief powernap because you don’t want to mess up your whole sleep schedule! (This is where I was my first day in Dublin, and a 20 minute nap really helped me reset.)
Then head out for a later afternoon/early evening walking tour of Dublin! This is a great thing to do your first night in the city because a) it will help you stay awake until a normal bedtime and b) it will give you a great overview of the city!
I did this tour about mythology and legends on my first night and absolutely LOVED it! But there are other tours you can choose from too, like this tour about history or this one with Dublin highlights and hidden gems. I definitely recommend the mythology one though because the 5:00 start time in the summer months helps you stay up to a normal hour!
Dinner at Sano Pizza
Location: 1-2 Exchange Street Upper, Temple Bar
Hours: 12:00 to 10:00 pm Sunday through Wednesday, 12:00 to 10:30 pm Thursday, 12:00 to 11:00 pm Friday and Saturday
After my walking tour, I headed to dinner at Sano Pizza. This is a VERY popular spot, so be prepared to wait!
Since I was traveling solo, my wait time wasn’t too bad, and I was seated in just about 15 minutes.
Both the pizza and the dessert here were really good, and this is a great casual spot to enjoy dinner on your first night when you’re probably feeling pretty tired!
Day 2
Day two is going to be all about some of Dublin’s most popular sites, like Trinity College and the Guinness Storehouse!
Breakfast – Hotel or Keoghs Cafe
I’ll be honest: Most days of my trip I ate at my hotel because a) they had a fantastic restaurant and b) it was included in my stay because of my hotel status. So maybe you’re like me and want an easy morning eating at your hotel.
But if not, head to Keoghs Cafe near Trinity College for breakfast. It’s the perfect convenient location for our first activity of the morning!
Trinity Trails Tour
Location: Trinity College, Parliament Square
Tickets: Combine with Book of Kells Ticket for €33.50, or get just the tour for €16 (book in advance!)
Hours: Tours offered from 9:00 am to 3:30 pm
Start out today by heading to Trinity College, Ireland’s oldest university established by Queen Elizabeth I in 1592.
I highly recommend making a whole morning of it and buy the ticket that includes both the Trinity Trails Tour and the Book of Kells and Long Room.
This is what I did, and my morning started off with the Trinity Trails Tour. I booked one of the earliest times available, and I’m glad I did because it was really nice to see the campus of Trinity College without the crowds that will descend later on in the day.
This tour is led by students and alumni of Trinity College and it’s the official tour of Trinity College. The tour itself lasts about 45 minutes, and we went all over campus, learning the history of different buildings, some of the spots popular with students, and about some notable figures who have attended Trinity College.
After our tour, our guide dropped us off at the entrance to the Book of Kells and Trinity College Long Room, which was included in our tickets but was self-guided.
The Book of Kells + Trinity College Library Long Room
Location: Trinity College
Tickets: If you don’t do a Trinity Tails Tour, you can get tickets just for this here for €21.50 (book in advance!)
Hours: 8:30 am to 6:30 pm
The Book of Kells is an ancient gospel text famous for its incredible illustrations and calligraphy. It’s definitely worth seeing, but do know that you probably won’t spend a ton of time actually looking at the book.
Most of your time you’ll spend in a small exhibit that explains the history of the Book of Kells. It’s definitely worth spending some time here so you can understand more what you will be looking at!
Then you’ll enter the dark room where the Book of Kells in enclosed in glass. No photographs or videos are permitted. And while you can technically spend as much time here as you want, do be respectful of other guests who also want a turn to get up close to the incredible pages on display.
After the Book of Kells room, you’ll follow the staircase up to the Long Room of the Trinity College Library.
This is one of the most notable libraries in Europe and super popular with visitors. And even though most of the books were removed when I was there for a restoration project, I still found it absolutely incredible to see!
The room itself it gorgeous, but I also appreciated the different displays around the room including the 1916 Proclamation of the Irish Republic and the harp of Brian Boru.
After this part of your tour, your ticket also includes admission into the Red Pavilion, which is the big red building that’s hard to miss in the center of campus that houses digital exhibits about the Book of Kells and the Trinity College library.
I’ll be honest: This is fine and definitely gives you some more history on the Book of Kells and the Trinity College Library. But it was a bit underwhelming after actually seeing the real things, and if you run out of time and have to skip this I wouldn’t worry.
Lunch at Bunsen Burger
Grab a quick lunch someone in Temple Bar as you make your way to Christchurch Cathedral. There are LOTS of options, but I ate at Bunsen Burger and I was honestly impressed.
This is a burger chain and with two locations in Temple Bar alone I was a little nervous about what the quality would be like. So I’m happy to say I thought the burgers were actually really good!
Christchurch Cathedral
Location: Christchurch Place
Tickets: Get tickets for €11.50 in advance or €12 there
Hours: 9:30 am to 5:00 pm Monday through Saturday, 12:30 to 3:00 pm Sundays
Make your way to Christchurch Cathedral, which is on the other end of Dame Street from Trinity College. From Trinity College, it’s about a 10 minute walk.
Christchurch Cathedral was first established as a Viking church i the 11th century, although the building you seen now was constructed in the late 1800s.
While I didn’t find this cathedral as impressive at St. Patrick’s, this history here is interesting and it’s still worth visiting. Definitely make your way down to the crypt where you can see a mummified cat and mouse and a copy of the Magna Carta.
Guinness Storehouse
Location: St. James’s Gate
Tickets: €22 per person for the basic Storehouse Experience. Book in advance.
Hours: 10:00 am to 5:00 pm Monday through Friday, 9:30 am to 6:00 pm Saturdays, 9:30 am to 5:00 pm Sundays
To be honest, this is an attraction I skipped in Dublin because I am just not a beer person at all. (Instead, I opted for another walking tour here!).
But the Guinness Storehouse IS the most popular thing for tourists to do in Dublin, so I felt like we had to include it here!
At the Guinness Storehouse you can tour exhibits, taste Guinness, and learn how to pour your own pint at the Guinness Academy. Be sure to check out the views of Dublin from their rooftop Gravity Bar.
EPIC The Irish Immigration Museum
Location: Custom House Quay
Tickets: Book in advance or get them there for €21
Hours: Daily from 10:00 am to 6:45 pm (last entry at 5:00 pm)
EPIC is a great activity to do in the late afternoon/early evening because they don’t close until 6:45 pm and the last admission is at 5:00 pm.
I got there around 4:00 pm and it was perfect. I had just enough time to tour the museum, and since it was later in the day it was not crowded at all!
EPIC is all about Irish immigration and the Irish diaspora around the world. I learned about the process of immigrating from Ireland, notable world figures with Irish heritage, and so much more.
My experience: This is a really popular museum, so considering getting your tickets in advance. However, visiting later in the day, I didn’t have any trouble getting a ticket when I arrived.
Dinner: Hawksmoor or Darkey Kelly’s
Hawksmoor Location: 34 College Green
Darkey Kelly’s Location: Fishamble Street
Reservations: Needed at Hawksmoor!
If you want a really nice dinner tonight, I cannot recommend Hawksmoor enough. It’s a steakhouse with incredible steaks and side dishes, and I think it was probably my favorite meal I had in Dublin.
Hawksmoor is located near Trinity College too, so the location could not be more convenient.
Or, if you want something a little more casual, head to Darkey Kelly’s for a pub experience. It’s near Temple Bar, but not quite in the thick of it, very close to Christ Church Cathedral. I’ve heard the food is really good!
Day 3
For our last day in Dublin we’ll dive more into Dublin political and literary history!
Breakfast at Lemon Jelly Cafe
Location: Millenium Walkway
Hours: 7:00 am to 5:00 pm Monday through Friday, 7:00 am to 7:00 pm Saturday and Sunday
Get a full Irish breakfast at Lemon Jelly Cafe! They service breakfast all day, including the full Irish breakfast, all kinds of crepes, omelettes, and more. I didn’t get to try this spot on my trip, but it’s one my list for next time!
Kilmainham Gaol
Location: Inchicore Road, Kilmainham
Tickets: Book in advance for €8
Hours: Daily, 9:30 am to 5:15 pm
Visiting Kilmainham Gaol was probably my favorite thing I did in Dublin. I wasn’t sure what to expect (I mean…it’s a jail), but I was absolutely captivated by the stories of this place.
Kilmainham Gaol is a notorious jail in Dublin where many people (including children!) were imprisoned during the Famine. But it is especially known for being where the leaders of the 1916 Easter Uprising were held and then executed.
The tour here is FANTASTIC and I cannot recommend this enough for learning more about Irish history.
It is a bit more out of the way than pretty much every thing else on our itinerary, but it is 100% worth it and very easy to take the bus out to the Kilmainham area from the city center.
Pro Tip: Be sure to get your tickets online ahead of time. They open up 28 days beforehand at midnight in Dublin, and they go FAST! And you can ONLY get tickets through their website. There are no authorized third-party vendors.
Temple Bar
After a morning at the jail, head back to the main tourist area of Dublin and spend some time strolling through Temple Bar and the surrounding area. I especially like Temple Bar earlier in the day because it’s a lot less crowded than the afternoon and evening!
And of course if you deem it late enough, you could have a pre-lunch pint!
A few things to do and see:
- Molly Malone Statue — On the other side of Dame Street from the main Temple Bar area you can find the famous Molly Malone statue.
- Icon Walk — Once a rundown alley that’s been converted into a community art project.
- Love Lane — An alley dedicated to love with art and quotes.
Lunch at Fish Shop
Location: 76 Benburb Street, Smithfield
Hours: Monday to Sunday, 12:30 to 2:30 and 4:00 to 9:00 (closed Tuesday lunch)
Reservations: Needed!
For lunch, head to Smithfield for the best fish and chips you’ve ever had in your life at Fish Shop. Seriously, you will be spoiled on all fish and chips after this.
Fish Shop is a TINY restaurant with just about 12 seats, and you absolutely need a reservation. But I promise it is worth the hassle.
Museum of Literature Ireland (or another museum)
For the afternoon, head to a museum. There are tons of great museums in Dublin, and since I love combining travel and books I’m going to recommend the Museum of Literature Ireland. This is a small museum all about Ireland’s famous writers and literary heritage, and if you’re a book love it’s definitely worth visiting!
But there are lots of other great museums to choose from in Dublin. Here are some options:
- Dublin Castle — The seat of government where you can see a Viking excavation, the Chapel Royal, and the State Apartments.
- National Museum of Ireland — There are several locations throughout the city, but the location on Kildare Street is all about archaeology.
- National Gallery of Ireland — The place to go for Irish and European art!
- Irish Museum of Modern Art — Another art option!
Murphy’s Ice Cream
Location: 27 Wicklow Street
Hours: 12:00 to 10:00 pm Sunday through Thursday, 12:00 to 10:30 pm Friday and Saturday
For an afternoon treat, head to Murphy’s Ice Cream for some unique Irish flavors! They have everything from Irish Brown Bread to Dingle Sea Salt. Then spend some more time strolling through the area. It’s a great place to just soak up the atmosphere and maybe do a little window (or real!) shopping.
Oscar Wilde Statue + Merrion Square Park
Location: Merrion Square
Hours: 10:00 am to 9:30 pm, daily
For the last afternoon, head to see the Oscar Wilde Statue. Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray is one of my favorite books, so of course seeing this statue of him across the street from his house was on my list! (If you have bonus time for more literary activities in Dublin, you can tour his house!)
And then just spend some time enjoying this park. I sat for awhile on a bench here and people watched and there are lots of areas to walk around in.
Dinner at Note
Location: 26 Fenian Street
Hours: 5:00 to 11:30 pm Tuesday through Thursday, 1:00 to 3:00 pm and 5:00 pm to 12:30 am Friday and Saturday
Reservations: Needed!
Wrap up your time in Dublin with dinner at Note. This was another one of my favorite meals I had in Dublin! (And it’s super close to Merrion Square, where we just were!)
The menu is just experimental enough while also giving you lots of recognizable parts of your dishes. I loved everything I ate here, but my absolute favorite was probably the polenta fries which I absolutely could not stop eating!
This is fine-dining with a side of casual, and if you love seasonal menus that are just a little experimental, this is the spot for you! And while it is on the pricey side, I actually thought it was pretty reasonable for what I enjoyed.
Day Trips from Dublin
Want to make Dublin your home base but explore more of Ireland? There are day trips that leave from Dublin every day and take you to other parts of Ireland!
- Belfast and Northern Ireland Day Trip — This is the Northern Ireland day trip I did! I got to enjoy a Black Cab Tour in Belfast where we learned about The Troubles and see the amazing Giant’s Causeway.
- Cliffs of Moher and Galway Day Trip — A full day trip that takes you to the Cliffs of Moher and Galway along with The Burren.
- Glendalough and Wicklow Mountains — A half-day tour that takes you to the beautiful Wicklow Mountains and Glendalough in Wicklow.
- Blarney and Rock of Cashel — A full day trip to some or Ireland’s most famous castles and attractions.
Tips for Visiting Dublin
- Dublin uses euros! However, aside from the occasional tip for tour guides, I hardly ever needed any cash.
- Dublin uses UK plugs. Despite the fact that Dublin is in the European Union, their plugs are UK style. (Shout out to Fogarty Locksmith on Dame Street who sells universal power adapters!)
- Dress is layers. Dublin weather can be pretty temperamental, so dress in layers. Most days in early September I wore a t-shirt with a jacket, but some days I did need my heavier coat.
- Be prepared for rain. The rain in Dublin can last all day or it can come in very short-lived spurts. Always be prepared for rain wherever you go and no matter what the weather looks like when you leave your hotel in the morning.
What’s Next?
- Book Your Day Trip to Northern Ireland
- Add These Literary Dublin Activities To Your Plans
- Learn More About Dublin Walking Tours
- Read a Book About Dublin Before Your Trips
Like this post? Save it for your trip to Dublin!
