2-Day Dublin Itinerary

We have written this itinerary presuming you land in Dublin Friday afternoon and leave on Sunday at approximately the same time. If you travel to Dublin on any other day of the week, we suggest checking the opening hours of the various attractions.

If you don't like walking too much or have an issue with mobility, we recommend booking the Dublin City Sightseeing Bus Tour.

Arrival in Dublin

Before you land at Dublin Airport, we recommend you check the best way to get to the city center. If your hotel is situated in the outskirts and must get there on public transport or if you don’t like walking much, you’ll find the 3-day “Rambler” ticket great. It offers unlimited journeys on Dublin’s local buses, including a special service to the airport (buses 747 and 748).

If you want to be utterly carefree, the best option is to book a transfer from Dublin Airport to your hotel.

Once you’ve dropped off your baggage, head to Temple Bar. It's one of the city’s most lively neighborhoods, packed with bars, pubs, restaurants, and street music.

So as not to miss any of the nightlife action, we recommend booking the Temple Bar Pub Crawl

If you’re not very hungry, enjoy a pint of Guinness at Oliver St. John Gogarty or at Temple Bar, two of the area’s most traditional Irish pubs.

If you want to explore Dublin’s nightlife after dinner, then you’re in the right area, as Dublin’s finest nightclubs are in Temple Bar. If on the other hand, you want to go for a stroll before turning in, we suggest you discover Grafton Street and its adjoining streets.

Day 1

Your first full day in Ireland starts with a guided tour of Kilmainham Gaol, an emblematic symbol of the country’s melancholic history. Since it's a little far away, we recommend you get there by bus. The first guided tour starts at 10 am.

Once the tour comes to an end, head to the Guinness Storehouse. The brewery is located just 15 minutes away. You should take Old Kilmainham Street towards the city center until it changes name to James’s Street.

Once you’ve discovered how the black beer is made, head to Christchurch Place, home to Christ Church Cathedral, the oldest Anglican church in Dublin. Then, walk south on Nicholas Street towards the next stop: St Patrick’s Cathedral. This parish dedicated to the patron saint of Ireland dates to 1191.

You’ll probably be hungry after a morning packed with sightseeing. We recommend you find a restaurant on Dame Street.

After lunch, you’ll explore Dublin’s main shopping streets. Even if you don’t wish to purchase anything, the streets are also packed with tourist attractions well worth seeing.

Stroll down Grafton Street until you get to St Stephen Green Shopping Centre. On the way, you’ll pass by Brown Thomas, Ireland’s most famous lifestyle store.

Walking past St Stephen Green, take South William Street, home to two popular shopping centers: Powerscourt Townhouse Centre, packed with luxury brands, and George Street Arcade, a unique shopping mall accessible from Castle Market.

When you get tired, cross the River Liffey and head to O’Connell Street, Dublin’s main thoroughfare. Once you’ve discovered this vibrant boulevard, go to Henry Street, also full of boutiques and international brands.

After an afternoon of shopping, we suggest you rest at The Church, Dublin’s most unique bar and restaurant, which was once a place of worship. It's located at 1 Mary Street, a 5-minute walk from Henry Street.

The best selection of restaurants is in the Temple Bar area, so we recommend you revisit this charming neighborhood for dinner.

Day 2

The first stop on your last day in Dublin is Trinity College, the oldest university in Ireland and one of the country’s symbols. The highlight of Dublin University is the Old Library and the Book of Kells exhibition. Even though the entrance ticket is pricey, we recommend stepping inside.

After visiting the campus, take Nassau Street and continue until you get to Merrion Square Park, surrounded by beautiful Georgian buildings. The park is packed with curious sculptures, including a statue of Oscar Wilde.

On the opposite corner of the park from where you have appeared is Twenty-Nine House (now closed), a restored building where you can get a glimpse of what life was like in Dublin of old!

When you leave Twenty-Nine House, turn towards the National Museum of Ireland - Natural History and the National Gallery of Ireland. Very close by are the National Museum of Ireland – Archaeology and the National Library. If you have enough time, these are also worth visiting.

Before collecting your luggage, we suggest stopping at St Stephen’s Green, Dublin’s liveliest park. You can either go for a stroll or purchase something to eat and have a mini picnic like locals do.

Our 48-hour Dublin itinerary finishes here.

Got extra time?

If you’re in Dublin for over a weekend, don’t miss exploring the enormous Phoenix Park, take an enjoyable guided tour of Casino at Marino (currently closed), visit St Michan’s Church, St Audoen’s Church, Dublinia, and the Dublin Castle.

We'd also recommend a Dublin boat tour.

If you don't want to just settle for the capital city, you can check out some of Ireland's most incredible landscapes on some of the recommended tours below:

Cliffs of Moher Tour
Giant's Causeway, Dunluce Castle & Belfast Tour
Glendalough, Wicklow and Kilkenny Day Trip
Cork activities, tours and guided visits
 

Dublin also offers visitors striking day trips to its surroundings. Some of the most popular are Moher Cliffs, the unforgettable landscape of Wicklow, the surprising Giant’s Causeway, Howth, and Malahide. Or you can find more activities here.