Dublin in one day
To be brutally honest, a single day in Dublin is not a long time to work. You will have a tight schedule if you want to make the most of it. Fortunately, the capital of Ireland has short distances and a relatively small central area.
It is possible to explore the heritage sites and the new city in just one day, as long as you manage to get up early and are willing to abandon the plan of seeing it all. We actually recommend that you skip some of the top attractions (which will make it inexpensive too) Let’s reiterate the most important point: get up early! If you’re still late for breakfast at ten in the morning, you’ve already lost valuable time.
Hit the ground in central Dublin (namely O’Connell Street) no later than 9am, powered and running. The closer to the city center your accommodation is, the easier it will be and is worth spending a few extra euros.
Assuming an early start, let’s start with:
Early morning: take a double-decker tour
Try hopping on one of the first buses leaving O’Connell Street for the Hop-On-Hop-Off Tour and get a great slice of Dublin with no effort. Buses will take you to the main sights and depending on which tour you choose (grab some brochures the night before or do your research online), even remote attractions like the Guinness Brewery, Kilmainham Gaol, and Phoenix Park will have you seen.
The most important thing to remember here: take a good seat at the top, enjoy the view, listen to the commentary, and walk away… but don’t get off the bus. This is your tour of the city. This will count as “seeing everything.” The entire tour will last between ninety minutes and two hours, depending on traffic, so at the end of the morning, you will return to O’Connell Street.
Late morning: explore on foot
Get off the bus at O’Connell Street, walk south, and cross the Liffey at O’Connell Bridge. Follow the main road and this will take you to College Green, where you will have already passed Trinity College on the bus and may have wondered what all the fuss is about. On foot, you can now enter the royal university area and get a feel for this venerable institution. You will now also see the Campanile, one of Dublin’s most photographed buildings.
Resist the urge (if you feel it) to queue for a look at the Book of Kells. Even on good days you will waste time, see only a small portion, and may be a bit disappointed. The Old Library and the Book of Kells are for those visitors with more time, seriously. Instead, continue down Grafton Street, Dublin’s posh shopping area, and onto Saint Stephen’s Green.
You can grab a bite to eat on the go and enjoy it outdoors, or head straight to the National Museum on Kildare Street.
Early afternoon: the National Museum on Kildare Street
This is, in our opinion, the only museum that no visitor to Dublin should miss. The National Museum of Ireland on Kildare Street displays the history of Ireland up to and including the Middle Ages and will leave you in awe. Plan at least an hour, better ninety minutes or two, for a walk through the two levels and a dive into Ireland’s past at its best. If you want to skip some display areas, be sure to check out Celtic Treasures, Early Christian Treasures, Viking Remains, and Swampy Bodies in the ‘Sacrifice and Reign’ section, such as Clonycavan Man.
The museum also has a very good restaurant, so you can have lunch here. The gift shop in the entrance area could be a good opportunity to get some decent souvenirs. A word of caution though: National Museums are closed on Mondays, even if they are public holidays. Slightly ridiculous, but an annoying fact.
Afternoon: seats of power (and art)
It’s time for a walk. Return on Grafton Street to College Green, turn left and follow Dame Street to Dublin Castle. Once again, the bus tour might have left you a bit disappointed here, so step through the castle gates and be amazed. A walk around the area should take half an hour, leaving you a bit of time to enjoy a coffee (both the café near the castle entrance and the Silk Road Café are recommended).
Are you feeling a little disappointed that you didn’t see the Book of Kells? Then take a short visit to the Chester Beatty Library, which contains not only one of the oldest biblical fragments, but also heaps of simply stunning art and books. Or, explore the Town Hall just outside the castle gates, another splendid building (although the exhibition in the basement can be skipped).
Early evening: early dinner
For now, the attractions will be narrowing down, the traffic will turn into a nightmare, and you may feel a little hungry. Good news: many restaurants in the city center open around 5 pm and offer “Early Morning Menus”. In this case, the early riser does not get the worm, but a bargain. Eat and think about what you want to do next.
After dinner: entertainment galore
Depending on your tastes, a night in Dublin can become very cultured, very boisterous (or both combined). The main theaters and venues in the city almost always offer a selection of shows, plays and concerts for all tastes. Again, you’ve done your homework and booked something in advance, we hope (although there’s always a chance to get late tickets even to the Abbey Theater, hopefully).
If you are up for an Irish night out, a host of pubs offer their services and many also offer entertainment (free or for a small fee in most cases). Just follow the crowds, which will most likely lead you to the Temple Bar area. Look at your wallet!
There you go! Dublin in one day. You can fly tomorrow, unless you’ve overdone the entertainment.
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