Dublin is Ireland’s capital and largest city, known well for its extensive history, culture, and vibrant social scene.
It can take time to decide how to spend your day in the city, especially if you are only briefly visiting.
This short guide will explore four cool things to do in Dublin for a fantastic day out.
From a guided walking tour around the city to a luxurious evening in the Bad Bobs rooftop bar, read on to find out how to best enjoy this amazing city.
Table of Contents
Grab a Coffee
Dublin is well known for having a vibrant coffee culture with many shops to choose from. It adds to the whole experience and will help give the kickstart to your day that you will need for what’s ahead.
As for what coffee shop to choose from, it’s down to personal preference. Clement & Pekoe is a great choice for a great coffee and cosy atmosphere if you are near the city centre around the River Liffey area.
It’s important to get fueled up for the big day ahead to eat up and get your caffeine in. A coffee shop is a great way to do so!
A Guided Walking Tour
If you’re stuck for ideas on what to visit first or worried that you might miss somewhere, then a guided walking tour is ideal.
It does as it sounds. An experienced tour guide will take you on a walk around all the best tourist attractions Dublin offers.
Some of the attractions typically include:
- Trinity College: One of Ireland’s oldest Universities and home to the famous Book of Kells, an illuminated manuscript from the 9th century.
- St. Patrick’s Cathedral: A magnificent cathedral dating back to the 12th century.
- Dublin Castle: A historical castle dating back to the 13th century, once the centre of British rule in Ireland.
- Temple Bar District: A vibrant, cultural neighbourhood known for the city’s most traditional Irish pubs and artistic scenery.
- Ha’penny Bridge: Also known as the Liffey Bridge, it is a pedestrian bridge that crosses the River Liffey in Dublin. Originally built in 1816, this bridge is one of the city’s most famous landmarks.
The tours will vary, and many have their unique twists should they fit your needs. You can even get a musical walking tour that will take you around the city in the traditional Irish style.
A guided walking tour is for you if you want to see it all in Dublin.
The Guinness Storehouse
If you don’t opt for the walking tour, or perhaps you have some time to kill before or after it, a visit to the Guinness Storehouse is a must.
When most people visit Dublin, the top of their list is to enjoy a fresh pint of Guinness, and what better way to enjoy it than seeing how it is all made right at the source?
The Guinness storehouse is a visitors’ centre located at the St. James’s Gate Brewery. It was originally built in 1904 and is one of the largest breweries in the world.
It is a whopping seven stories tall and shaped like a giant pint glass. A true sight to behold!
A visit to the storehouse will explore the rich history of the famous pint of Guinness and the brewing process, including the ingredients and techniques used.
The tour also includes a trip to the gravity bar, where visitors can enjoy a fresh pint of Guinness whilst taking in the jaw-dropping 360-degree view of the city.
The Guinness storehouse is a fantastic place to visit, even if you aren’t much of a drinker.
Bad Bobs Rooftop Bar – Temple Bar
In the evening, your best bet is to go to the Temple Bar district to enjoy fresh pints, cocktails, and food. As mentioned, the Temple Bar area is an artistic neighbourhood full of amazing traditional Irish bars and restaurants. A must-visit if you haven’t seen it already.
In this case, we home on the Bad Bobs rooftop bar, a luxurious terrace offering everything from tasty cocktails to live entertainment and food.
Open from 5 pm on weekdays and 3 pm on weekends, whenever your touristy running around ends, make your way here for a relaxed drink and bite to eat to top off your day.
If you aren’t too tired by this point, they even have a late licence, meaning that they are open until 2:30 am on Friday and Saturday, so you can stay up for a party if it tickles your fancy!
Bad Bobs is the perfect place to top off your visit and is perfect for all occasions. If you want to stay ahead of the game, they also take private bookings for parties and corporate events.
In Summary
A visit to Dublin doesn’t need to be stressful; there are many ways to explore the city.
A guided tour will give you a taste of everything, or you could opt for a single visit to one of Dublin’s many attractions – in this case, the famous Guinness Storehouse.
Hopefully, this guide has given you something to work with to help plan your visit and get the most out of your day. What will you be doing in Dublin?
