Dublin is and has always been an attraction for tourists and neighbourhood cities. Once you enter the city of Dublin, you will find many things to look at and places to explore. Dublin is the capital of Ireland, with a population of 5,149,139 as of 2022.

Dublin has many attractions and fun things to do, from its love for literature to the craziness of Whisky. Irish people know how to enjoy themselves within their culture and society and give small yet impactful glimpses to people worldwide.

1. 10 Fun Things to Do in Dublin This Vacation 

1.1. Guinness Storehouse

Opened in 2000, the Guinness Storehouse has gained popularity and is now the major attraction in Dublin city. You can always find many people and tourists as they keep visiting, even bringing more people to explore and taste the world-famous beer.

This seven-floor storehouse is located in ST. James’s Gate Brewery in Dublin City.

1.1.1. Different Floors and Different Things

On the first floor, you will find ingredients for the great Guinness beer: water, barley, hops, and yeast. To taste the beer, you need to go to the second floor; more so ever, on other floors, you will find many types of beers and their award-winning commercials, which have been the same over the years.

At the top of the Guinness Storehouse, you can see a 360-degree view of Dublin from the Gravity Bar. The 46-meter-high Gravity bar is gaining popularity quickly now, providing the best view of Dublin city. From Queen Elizabeth to some outstanding celebrities like Tom Cruise have visited to enjoy the Gravity Bar in the Guinness Storehouse, Dublin city.

The opening time of the Guinness Storehouse is 10 A.M to 5 P.M on weekdays, 9:30 A.M to 6 P.M on Saturdays and 9:30 A.M to 5 P.M on Sundays. There is a little rush during weekends, but it is very convenient. Moreover, kids can visit the Guinness Storehouse, but only with some adults aged 18 or above.

1.2. Dublin Castle

One of the major attractions in Dublin City is Dublin Castle. Dublin Castle is a prominent government complex and tourist attraction in Dublin City. The Dublin Castle hosts events, occasions, and presidential inductions.

To visit Dublin Castle, you must know the initial ticket price to wander around and inside the Castle. To explore the place, you need 7 euros for grown-ups and 3 euros for kids.

1.2.1. History Of Dublin Castle

Returning to history and records, we can discover more about the Castle and how it worked. Built by King John of England in 1204, Dublin Castle became the centre of English power after Dublin received a City Charter from King Henry II; it was the beginning of the English rule of Ireland.

Located in Dublin 2 on Dame Street, the Castle has been used for various purposes. However, the interior attractions are what make it popular among tourists today.

1.3. The Temple Bar

Here at the Temple Bar, you can have a wide variety of whiskies, including The Temple Bar Original, Natter Jack, Writer’s Tears, and more, making it one of Dublin’s most popular tourist attractions.

Established in 1840, the world-class famous temple bar is located in Central Dublin. Moreover, laying out on contriving pedestrian lanes is busy all week but gets most crowded on weekends.

The atmosphere here is awesome. If you love music, you must visit and enjoy the live music. A tourist can emerge into Dubliners with only a few pints of beer, although the beers and drinks are a little pricey.

1.3.1. Hungry for Cuisine?

Looking for the fun things you can do here in the temple bar are the delicious food of different cuisines. Enjoy live folk music in the Temple Bar Pub and explore their gallery.

This massive and most popular tourist attraction, Temple Bar, is owned by Tom Cleary. However, due to COVID-19, the Temple Bar was closed for some time, but it is now back in business with the owner’s response saying that the pub is a part of their culture.

1.4. Phoenix Park

Dublin is a city that has a lot to offer, from its pubs and restaurants to its many attractions. However, if you’re looking for a way to unwind and relax, there’s no better place than Phoenix Park, where you can enjoy Dublin’s natural beauty and wildlife.

1.4.1. Why Phoenix Park?

Phoenix Park is one of the largest parks in the European capital city, spread over 707 hectares. The Phoenix Park was created in 1662 by James Butler, Duke of Ormonde.

It was said that Phoenix Park used to be bigger and included the south of the River Liffey. It was used for royal hunting in the 1660s, but in the 1740s, Phoenix Park became a public park.

If we talk about the wildlife in Phoenix Park, you can see a lot of different animals here. One of the most popular and amazing things about Phoenix Park is that it is home to 400 Fallow Deer, a type of deer commonly found in Ireland.

People may think there is an expensive ticket price to enter the park, but it is free and open every day of the year.

1.5. Irish Whiskey Museum

Over the last decade, Dublin city has shown its best places and better things to do in the city, and one of them is the Irish Whiskey Museum, which is located at 199 Grafton Street, Dublin, D02 E620, Ireland, has now become a favourite place for visitors and most popular tourist attractions.

1.5.1. Irish Whiskey Museum Before The Popularity

Before gaining popularity, Ireland only had four distilleries and a few visitor centres. However, after the popularity of Irish whiskey, the number of distilleries and visitor centres increased.

The Irish Whisky has become the world’s fastest-growing spirit and has all self-reliant whisky distilleries. The Irish Whiskey Museum depicts the history and whiskeys of Ireland that mapped them in the world.

Keith McDonnell is the founding partner of the Irish Whisky Museum; he has done a great job of handling a team of around 90 experienced people and maintaining the museum’s popularity by focusing on what the visitors and tourists are looking for.

The history of Ireland and its Whisky is largely debated. Unlike popular belief, it was not Scotland that invented whiskey but the Irish, which they named ‘Uisce Beatha,’ meaning ‘water of life.’ The Scottish learned to make whiskey from the Irish, but its origin is largely debated.

1887 Irish whiskey controlled at least 70 percent of the world’s whiskey market. Being the capital and the centre, Dublin has a storied history in whiskey production and is known for its quality Irish whiskey. While Dublin is an important city in the world of whiskey, many other countries are also known for producing excellent whiskey.

1.6. Dublin City Centre

The city of Dublin has various places and things to explore, one being Dublin’s city centre. The city centre has many things and is known for its vibrant streets. Known for its nightlife, the narrow streets of Dublin City Center have many nightclubs, bars, and shops.

1.6.1. What Can You Find?

In the Dublin city centre, you will see many shops, bars, clubs, and nightclubs. It is one of the most visited places in Dublin. You can even see tourists interacting with shopkeepers.

Just like the other places, the city centre is also in demand when it comes to tourists. That is the reason why you can find distinct people. One can also see shopkeepers and tourists arguing due to language differences.

We all know music and drink remain in the heart of Dublin’s local people. City Centre bars and pubs are the same story with a tiny hint of ancient Dublin life.

During the day, one can shop; at night, they have nightclubs, bars, pubs, and restaurants. O’Connell Street is one of the main routes to the city centre and is exceptionally crowded during shopping and office hours.

1.7. Kilmainham Gaol

So far, we have known about famous places and mostly talked about places, but have you ever visited a prison? Dublin’s Kilmainham Gaol is the most attractive among other attractions in Dublin. The Kilmainham Gaol is a popular museum that used to be a prison located in Kilmainham, Dublin, Ireland.

Kilmainham Gaol’s popularity has been featured in many movies and music videos. Some films are Sitting Target, The Last Remake of Beau Geste, The Whistleblower, and many others.

1.7.1. Kilmainham The Prison

Established in 1796, the Kilmainham Gaol has a great history. It is said that there was no detachment of cells for different genders and different age groups. They kept five prisoners in one cell without any light or heat source but only a single candle, which may have to last 14 days. This condition was even poor for females because they had nothing to sleep on.

In the Kilmainham Gaol, you can find the history of common prisoners and those who have fought for freedom and war. In the list of imprisoned people, we can see common people, yet many particular politicians.

1.8. Museum of Literature Ireland

The Museum of Literature Ireland, also called MoLI, opened in 2019 and has become very popular within the country and worldwide. The Museum of Literature Ireland was built in collaboration with the National Library of Ireland and University College Dublin and celebrates Irish Literature.

1.8.1. Who is James Joyce?

Born on 2 February 1882 in Dublin, Ireland, the great James Joyce was a novelist famous for his experimental use of language and for exploring new literary methods with different approaches. James was also known for being a socialist. James now inspires all young and passionate writers and poets in Dublin City.

Before the Museum of Literature Ireland, James Joyce’s collection was displayed in the National Library of Ireland. Still, the National Library and the University College Dublin decided to relive and exhibit James Joyce’s work in the Museum of Literature Ireland.

Books, short stories, novels, and poems live in the hearts of Irish people. You will find many famous and well-known artists from Dublin, and some popular actors, too. The museum has three floors, each with a theme.

1.9. Wicklow Mountains National Park

After visiting the places mentioned earlier, the Wicklow Mountains should be next on your list. The Wicklow Mountains is a national park in Ireland located south of Dublin. It is the largest park among the other six national parks in Ireland.

1.9.1 Have Attracted Many Visitors

Established in 1991, the Wicklow Mountains National Park stretches over 20,000 hectares south of Dublin and is maintained for holding biodiversity and landscape. It is domestic to many plant life and fauna.

The Wicklow Mountains attract many visitors because they are an irreplaceable spot to enjoy the greenery and wide view of Dublin. The Wicklow Mountains are also the only mountain in the east.

The Wicklow Mountains also hosts educational programs, like field trips, bioblitz walks, and treasure hunts. Visitors can enjoy activities like picnics, hiking, camping, etc.

1.10. St. Patrick’s Cathedral

What is greater than St. Patrick’s Cathedral for peace of mind and time with God? St. Patrick was a church made for the local people and became a Cathedral in 1870.

Established in 1191, St. Patrick’s Church later became the National Cathedral of the Churches of Ireland and got the name St. Patrick’s Cathedral. It is the largest Cathedral in Ireland. One of the deans who served here was Jonathan Swift.

1.10.1. Jonathan Swift

Jonathan Swift is famous for his book Gulliver’s Travels, published in 1726 and a favourite among children. He served as a dean in St. Patrick Cathedral from 1713 until 1745.

This cathedral is a place of worship and a historical site, and it also commemorates Jonathan Swift as a writer and satirist. Visitors and tourists came here to look at the history and see the figure of Jonathan Swift.

1.11. The National Botanic Garden of Ireland

The National Botanic Garden of Ireland is also one of the main attractions in Dublin. One of the reasons for its popularity is the structure of the gardens designed by Richard Turner. The other reason is its beauty, which is spread over 48 acres.

The National Botanic Gardens, founded in 1795, gets more than 500,000 visitors annually. The National Botanic Gardens is located in Glasnevin, 5 km northwest of Dublin, Ireland, and is open daily for visitors.

1.11.1. What’s in There?

These gardens have contributed to biodiversity conservation and are counted for sustainable development. The botanical gardens are the 7th most visited place in Dublin and are popular attractions.

What is better than a free entry to the National Botanic Gardens, but you may find a little rush on Saturdays and Sundays? The main and most prominent thing you will see here is the variety of plants. They have over 15,000 living plants, several greenhouses, and an uncountable number of dried plants.

In The End

For a tourist or traveller, nothing is more important than capturing all the fun memories and learning the history of a place they have visited.

Here in Dublin City, you will find all the fun things to do, from tasting beers and dancing to the local Irish music to spending time in St. Patrick’s Cathedral. The time spent exploring Dublin is a memorable experience for every visitor.

After a wonderful trip to Dublin, you will surely buy gifts for your loved ones; check out 7 Best Gift Shops in Dublin.

Dublin is mostly famous for the world’s rare whiskey and beers, but with time, it has also been recognized for its history, culture, music, and picturesque places. It’s not hard to believe that Dublin City is one of the most beautiful places in Europe and a hotspot for music lovers. Even if you are a tourist or a Dubliner, you can have fun and enjoy the culture of Dublin City as much as you want.

Last Updated on April 13, 2024 by Rajeshwari_Das