Visiting Dublin: must-sees in the Irish capital

Ireland Travel Guide

Visiting Dublin: must-sees in the Irish capital

Fancy exploring the Irish capital? Whether it’s through its monuments or its pubs, you’re going to love it! Discover Dublin’s must-sees during your trip to Ireland.

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Dublin is a lively and colourful city, as much for its art of living as for the beauty of its neighbourhoods. When you think of Dublin, you immediately think of the famous Temple Bar district, but Ireland’s capital is much more than that. Come and discover its most beautiful places!

Trinity College, campus of Ireland’s most prestigious university

You won’t want to miss it when you visit Dublin. The monument is easily distinguished by its Victorian and Georgian architecture and buildings. This establishment takes you back to 1592, when Elizabeth I commissioned its construction. While the exterior is well worth a visit, the interior is a true architectural masterpiece.

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The Sphere

Take a look at the many details on the façades and the statues, most of which date from the 18th and 19th centuries. To see one of the most beautiful sculptures in Dublin, you’ll have to look for the ‘Sphere within Sphere’! If you walk past the Arts and Social Sciences building (adjacent to Nassau Street), you will be in the oldest part of the College (1978).

Book of Kells

Built between 1712 and 1732, it is one of only five libraries in Ireland and the UK to benefit from legal deposit. In other words, it has the right to own a copy of every book published on the islands. There are no fewer than 5 million copies! It is also the largest library in Ireland.

The setting is truly exceptional, with a touch of Disney, a bit like Beauty and the Beast.

The Book of Kells is a manuscript with magnificent illuminations and is known the world over. Created around the year 800 by monks on the island of Iona in Scotland, it contains the four Gospels. You may have to queue a little to get in, but the wait will be well worth it!

For Star Wars fans

For Star Wars fans, don’t miss the Long Room at Trinity College: its décor inspired the Jedi archives in Episode II, in Attack of the Clones. Fans to the end? Head for County Kerry!

For a full Dublin immersion experience, come and watch a cricket match on the College’s beautifully manicured lawn and don’t forget to have a beer in the Pavilion Bar!

Our advice: before you come, make sure you check the opening times and especially the exam dates. During these periods, Trinity College is not open to the public.

Dublin Castle

You can’t visit Dublin and the surrounding area without seeing the castle. To find the entrance, head for Dame Street. At the foot of Dublin Castle, look up to see the 90 sculpted heads of Irish figures and saints. On the guided tour, you’ll learn that this historic site still hosts official meetings of the Irish government.

You’ll discover the official flats as you pass through St Patrick’s Hall: this is where the inauguration ceremony of the Irish President takes place! You’ll also have the chance to visit the most beautiful rooms in Dublin Castle on a guided tour. The highlight? The medieval crypt, discovered by chance in 1986. This part of the castle hides the foundations that were built by the Vikings. As you climb the ramparts, remember that they were smoothed by hand to prevent enemies from climbing up.

The National Museum of Ireland

If you love the arts and museums, you’ll love the National Museum Of Ireland. The island’s first museum and an outstanding cultural centre, wander from room to room to discover its unique collections. In fact, these collections are so extensive that they are housed in four different museums, three of which are in Dublin: the Archaeology Arts Museum, the Decorative Arts Museum and the Natural History Museum.

The museums are absolutely magnificent, but to see the finest pieces in the collections, the Archaeology Arts Museum is the place to go: gold objects from the Bronze and Iron Ages await you. Here you can see the Treasury and contemplate the island’s two most famous artefacts: the Ardagh chalice and the Tara brooch.

For the more curious, the guided tours are fascinating and give you a better understanding of the history of the site and the objects.

Our tip: to avoid the crowds, we recommend visiting Dublin’s museums on weekdays and in the afternoon.

A green getaway to Dublin’s parks and gardens

Whether you’re in Dublin for two, three or four days, a visit to its six parks and gardens is a must. From Stephen’s Green to Phoenix Park, take the time to wander through the well-kept avenues of the capital’s green spaces.

St Stephen’s Green Park

Looking for a great park to visit in Dublin? Then head for St Stephen’s Green, the green lung of the Irish capital! No fewer than nine hectares await you for a lovely stroll during your stay in the city. Joggers, strollers, families, friends, lovers and even squirrels – they all meet here, all day long!

If the park is a place to relax, it’s also a place where you can admire many statues and monuments. For film buffs, this park features in the famous romantic comedy Leap Year.

Merrion Square

Continue your walk through Merrion Square, the most prestigious square you’ll see during your visit to Dublin. Between the green lawns and carpets of flowers stand proudly beautiful houses with colourful doors. Take the time to stroll around the square, and you’re sure to come across the statue of Oscar Wilde: he lived just across the street, at No. 1!

Phoenix Park

Fancy seeing some animals? Then Phoenix Park is the place to go! Located in the north-west of the city, close to the Liffey quays, this immense 709-hectare garden is one of the largest urban parks in the world (Central Park is only half the size!).

With the family, it’s the perfect place to visit Dublin Zoo. You can also discover the Wellington Monument obelisk, the People’s Garden and the Hollow, a bandstand.

📌 Our advisors suggest you read :

Giant’s Causeway
The Cliffs of Moher
The Islands of Ireland
Killarney National Park

Finish your walk at the National Botanic Gardens, where you can discover hundreds of greenhouses and incredible plants.

A word of advice: don’t play football or Frisbee, or you risk being called to order by the park rangers.

Visit Guinness Storehouse

What would a visit to Dublin be without a trip to the Guinness Storehouse? Head for St James’s Gate, South Market to find the entrance to the kingdom of Irish beer.

During the visit, you’ll discover the secrets of this beer and understand why it’s unlike any other. Here’s a hint: its inimitable taste comes from the water of the River Liffey.

Don’t forget to arrive a little early, as the Guinness Storehouse is never empty: no wonder, it’s one of the capital’s biggest attractions. Between the exhibitions and the concept, discover the secrets behind Ireland’s black gold, from its little secrets to the scientific protocol on how to pour it!

Our tip: don’t miss the panoramic view over the city from the Gravity Bar, with a pint of course.

🍻 If you enjoyed this visit, we recommend the following distilleries:

A shopping day in Dublin city centre

Looking for souvenirs to bring back from your trip? Ideas for gifts for your loved ones? Dublin has plenty of shopping centres and typical boutiques, so you’ll be spoilt for choice!

O’Connell Street

Start your day on O’Connell Street, one of Dublin’s greatest avenues! Once there, you’ll understand why it’s known as ‘Dublin’s Champs Elysées’.

Temple Bar

Continue on to Temple Bar, one of the capital’s busiest districts! Known as a pub haven, it’s also a great place to find independent urban boutiques.

Grafton Street

Then it’s on to Grafton Street, the Irish capital’s most famous pedestrian thoroughfare, where there’s no shortage of restaurants and shops.

Pub crawl

If you want to live like a Dubliner, you can’t miss the city’s pubs: the pub is at the heart of social life! From morning to night, you’ll find that it’s not uncommon to meet locals enjoying one (and often several) beers at the bar.

Looking for a lively neighbourhood? Temple Bar is one of Dublin’s most visited areas.

Here are just a few of the local pubs we recommend:

the lively Anseo pub;
the whiskey bar at 37 Dawson Street;
Kehoe’s pub for a Guinness;
Grogan’s Castle Lounge, where you can chat to a number of writers;
No Name Bar, one of Dublin’s most popular bars;
Brazen Head, the city’s oldest pub.

Whether you’re coming to the Irish capital for a short break or for a day before exploring the country, you won’t have time to get bored! Dublin is a vibrant capital city brimming with riches.