Where To Eat
There are tons of great places to eat in Dublin but the Temple Bar District is your best bet to finding a delicious meal.
You may have heard of the Temple Bar Pub (an extremely popular bar in Dublin that tourists flock to) but when locals refer to Temple Bar, they are actually speaking of an area in Dublin filled with hip bars, restaurants, and shops.
The busy riverside neighborhood is filled with TONS of different cuisines. Whether you’re in the mood for Asian, Mexican, American, or Irish food; there’s a restaurant at every turn! My absolute favorite place we ate at in Temple Bar was The Seafood Cafe. Make sure to order the Fish n’ Chips.
For dessert, head to Bubble Waffle Factory. Their ice cream and waffle combination is to die for! They don’t make desserts like this in America.
Where To Stay
During our trip to Ireland, we actually did not stay in Dublin. We stayed right outside the city in an Airbnb in Lucan. Lucan was a nice, quiet escape from the hustle and bustle of city life. However, if you are not into public transportation, Lucan is probably not the best place for you to stay. Lucan is about a 45-minute bus ride from city centre.
If you’re looking for a cheap option that’s IN the heart of the city, you should try Paddy’s Palace. Paddy’s Palace is a clean, safe hostel located downtown Dublin. A hostel is an establishment that provides lodging for travelers at a cheap price by sharing rooms.
Never stayed in a hostel? Iffy about the idea? I have slept in many hostels and never once had a problem arise.
Additionally, there are tons of wonderful hotels in the city centre. The Drury, Buswell, and Brooks are three highly rated hotels that are close by to everything.
Where To Play
St. Stephens Green
St. Stephens Green is a public park in Dublin with a sprawling 22 acres to explore. The park is adjacent to one of Dublin’s main shopping streets, Grafton Street and even has a shopping center named after it. Most days, the park is filled with pedestrians enjoying the views, having a nice picnic, or taking their children to the playgrounds.
My favorite parts of St. Stephens Green are its large lake, gorgeous gardens, and numerous fountains. Take a couple of hours to stroll around the park and take in its extraordinary atmosphere. Plus, there are so many perfect picturesque locations for Instagram opportunities.
Christ Church
Christ Church Cathedral, more formally The Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, is the cathedral of the United Dioceses of Dublin and Glendalough. It is home to the famous 12th Century crypt, one of the oldest and largest in Britain and Ireland.
The outside architecture of Christ Church is absolutely breathtaking and a lot of tourists go just to view the exterior. Yet, I believe the interior of Christ Church is the real show stopper. You can tour the inside for a small fee. The beautiful stain-glass windows illuminate the church’s open layout while looking down you’ll notice its exquisite floor tiles.
Walk around the church and learn more about its extensive history. In the basement, the church houses important manuscripts and ancient artifacts as well as a spectacular exhibition of original 16th Century costumes from the historical series ‘The Tudors’.
Trinity College
Trinity College is a public university in the heart of Dublin.
The college was founded in 1592 by Queen Elizabeth I as the “mother” of a new university and modelled after the collegiate universities of Oxford and Cambridge. While the university itself is beautiful, the main attraction is its historic library. (Unfortunately, we did not get to enter the library during our Dublin trip. Week hours are limited.)
The Library of Trinity College is a legal deposit library for Ireland and Great Britain, containing over 6.2 million printed volumes and significant quantities of manuscripts, including the Book of Kells.
The Book of Kells contains the four Gospels of the New Testament together with various prefatory texts and tables. It was created in a Columban monastery in either Britain or Ireland and may have had contributions from various Columban institutions from both Britain and Ireland. It is believed to have been created c. 800 AD. It is a masterwork of Western calligraphy and represents the pinnacle of Insular illumination. It is also widely regarded as Ireland’s finest national treasure.
Where To Shop
Grafton Street will be your main shopping spot. Grafton is a pedestrian street with tons of shopping opportunities. You can find high-end luxury stores as well as shops to buy your tourist tees in. They also have various jewelry boutiques where you can purchase your own Claddagh ring.
The buskers make your shopping experience especially unique. You will see wonderful performances… from musicians, artists, and even fire eaters.
Plus, there are plenty of places to stop for a bite. The rooftop cafe at M&S Food Hall made a great lunch.
Just remember that no matter how much research and preparation you do before your trip, things will always go differently once you get there. Dublin is very much a city in which you have to live in the moment. If you don’t hit all the stops you planner – so be it! Get lost and experience Dublin in all its magic.
I hope you enjoy your trip to Dublin!
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I’ll travel to Dublin just for the sweet treat from Bubble Waffle. I’ll have to add Dublin to my places to go list.
My bf and I visited Dublin a few years ago and loved it so much we always talk about a return trip: soon, I hope! I’m so disappointed we didn’t get to see th Book of Kells but I fondly remember the buskers everywhere! And the food was delicious: we are both vegetarian and had so many places to eat in Dublin; all were fantastic!
“In Dublin you are able to celebrate “life”, happiness, and history. The culture is focused on being alive, yet aware of the past. All people are welcome, Dublin has a long history, Ireland a much longer history. I will present ideas of places to w “