Booked a weekend in Dublin and wondering how to fill your time? Plan your Dublin itinerary well and you can fit loads into just 48 hours.
Here’s how to pack all the sights, Guinness and good craic into your 2-day trip to Dublin…
DAY 1
Daytime
The best way to fit all of Dublin’s sights into 48 hours is by travelling on a guided hop-on, hop-off bus tour. It’ll take you directly to all the bits you want to see, and you’ll have the option to stop at as many attractions that take your fancy.
Start your trip off by touring Dublin city centre’s famous landmarks. You’ve got Trinity College, Dublin Castle, the Christ Church Cathedral, and St Patrick’s Cathedral. Plus, there’s the green oasis that is St. Stephen’s Green, Temple Bar, which is Dublin’s famous drinking area, and modern monuments like the Spire of Dublin which looks like a huge drawing pin.
Stop off at Trinity College to explore the stunning 18th-century university, which Bram Stoker, Oscar Wilde and Samuel Beckett used to attend. Tour the university site and you’ll see some of Ireland’s historic treasures, including The Book of Kells and the Old Library. You can also stop to explore Dublin Castle, and take a self-guided tour around the historic structure. Or, visit former prison Kilmainham Gaol, which housed prisoners during the Irish War of Independence.
Evening
You have to spend your first evening in Dublin at Temple Bar – it’s practically the law. This iconic tourist hotspot and historic drinking area is the place to be after dark. There are loads of bars and pubs to choose from, but some of the most popular are The Palace Bar, The Temple Bar Pub, Oliver St. John Gogartys and The Auld Dubliner.
Day 2
Daytime
Now that you’ve seen many of Dublin’s landmarks, it’s time to learn all about how the Irish population have shaped the world. Visit EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum where you can enjoy interactive and immersive displays and learn about the Irish communities across the globe. There’s even a professional genealogy service on-site so you can test your own Irish roots. You might learn something completely new about your own personal history.
After exploring this fascinating museum, get your shopping fix and pick up some souvenirs. Grafton Street is Dublin’s main shopping street, and it lines up a huge range of designer and high street stores. Shop to your heart’s content while street performers, musicians, poets and mime artists entertain you. And, make sure you stop off at Bewleys Oriental Café for their trademark freshly-brewed coffee.
Whether you’re a fan of the bitter stuff or not, you can’t visit Dublin without taking a trip to the Guinness Storehouse. The immersive journey through the processes of how it’s made, and the colourful history behind the famous brew, will make you desperate for a sip. After making your way through all the exhibits, you’ll be rewarded with a pint at the rooftop Gravity Bar where you’ll enjoy 360-degree views of the city below.
If you’re more into your spirits rather than your bitters, you’ve also got the Jameson Distillery. This interactive experience guides you through the whiskey-making process and you’ll be invited to smell, touch and taste Jameson straight from the barrel. That’s a good day.
Excited to pack loads into your weekend away? Follow the Dublin itinerary above and you’ll see all the major landmarks, learn all about Irish history, and experience the city’s epic nightlife scene. And if you've got more time in this cosmopolitan city, click here for more itinerary inspiration. We’ll cheers to that!
