Only got a few days in Dublin and want to make the most of it without wasting money on things that aren’t worth it? Then you’re in the right place. We’ll share the best things to do in Dublin, Ireland, tell you where to go, and show you how to save. And if you read all the way to the end, you’ll find out where we stayed and how much our entire trip cost.
1) Save Money with the DoDublin Card and Try the Hop On – Hop Off Bus
If you’re spending three days in Dublin, the DoDublin card is well worth it. It costs €33 and includes:- Airlink – transport to and from the airport
- Hop On – Hop Off buses
- Public transport
- A free ticket to the brilliant Little Museum
- A free Walking Tour
- A buy-one-get-one-free meal at one of the city centre restaurants
The Hop On – Hop Off buses were absolutely fantastic. You honestly don’t need any other bus line, because these green sightseeing buses take you to all the main tourist spots. On top of that, if the weather’s grim, you can comfortably ride through the city centre — and the drivers are genuinely entertaining. Some of them even sang to us! 🙂
2) The Guinness Storehouse Tour Is Pricey but Absolutely Worth It
We’re not massive beer drinkers. But as they say, the best way to experience Irish culture is over a pint of the black stuff. So we decided to dive into Irish traditions at the Dublin brewery where, back in 1759, the legendary dark beer with its bitter taste and creamy head was brewed for the very first time.
We’d also seen the rave reviews on TripAdvisor, where the Guinness Storehouse is consistently praised to the skies. And for good reason. It ended up being the highlight of our entire Dublin trip. We spent three hours there and weren’t bored for a single moment.
It often feels more like an art installation than a brewery. Everything is thought out down to the smallest detail. Don’t expect anything dull here.
The tour takes you through the entire beer-making process. One floor is dedicated to iconic Guinness advertisements and another to tastings. If you fancy it, they’ll even teach you how to pour the perfect pint. And at the very top, there’s a gorgeous bar with panoramic views over the entire city.
3) Trinity College Library — Worth a Visit
The Trinity College campus itself is definitely worth exploring. The library ranks as the number one attraction in Dublin on TripAdvisor. And it truly is beautiful. But be warned — don’t expect to spend hours there for your €11–14 entry fee.
You can’t wander between the shelves, and everyone ends up taking the same photo as us. The Long Room is gorgeous, but I was secretly hoping we’d be strolling through aisles like Hermione and Harry Potter. The visit also includes the Book of Kells exhibition, which didn’t grab us all that much. If you’re on a tight budget and skip the library, you won’t miss out on anything life-changing.
4) Grab a Pint at Temple Bar
Where to go for a pint in Dublin? Temple Bar, of course. But heads up — Temple Bar isn’t just one pub. It’s an entire neighbourhood packed with classic Irish pubs featuring live music and a buzzing atmosphere. The Temple Bar pub itself is one of Dublin’s most iconic landmarks — and that’s exactly where we headed.
If you’re planning more than just one pint, though, try heading a few blocks away. You’ll pay around €3.50 for a smaller beer at Temple Bar — and prices go up from there.
5) The Little Museum of Dublin
This quirky museum, housed in an 18th-century Georgian townhouse, takes you through the history of Dublin’s people. It only has four rooms, filled with items donated by local residents. Despite its size, it’s surprisingly engaging. Wait for the guided tour — it only lasts 45 minutes and really brings everything to life.
6) The Colourful Doors of Dublin — A Story of Drunken Neighbours
Don’t miss a stroll around Merrion Square, where you’ll find Dublin’s famous colourful Georgian doors. But why are they so colourful? There’s a beloved Dublin legend about writers George Moore and Oliver St. John Gogarty, who were neighbours on Ely Place.
Gogarty supposedly kept coming home drunk and banging on Moore’s door by mistake. So Moore painted his door green to help his neighbour tell the houses apart. Gogarty then painted his own red. And from there, a tradition was born. Today Dublin is a city of colourful doors — you’ll spot pink, purple, green, blue, and even orange ones.
7) Phoenix Park
If you visit Dublin on a nice day, make sure you head to Phoenix Park. Hire a bike and cycle through the endless greenery — it’s one of the largest enclosed parks in any European capital. But if the weather isn’t cooperating, hop on the Hop On – Hop Off bus and at least enjoy a ride through it.
Where We Stayed in Dublin
The Academy Plaza Hotel was our base for the entire stay. It’s a 10-minute walk from the city centre, the airport bus stops right outside, and the Hop On – Hop Off buses stop just around the corner. We popped into the nearby Lidl for dinner each evening and were perfectly happy. If you’re a fan of a proper breakfast and a hotel gym, it’s a solid choice.
Accommodation in Dublin is generally expensive, and you may well find a better deal if you look around. We found other hotels at lower prices, but they were booked up well in advance. So our top tip — book your accommodation as early as possible.
A Book That Helped Us Plan Our Trip
How Much Our 3-Day Dublin Trip Cost
Tips and Tricks for Travelling Around Europe
What to PackCheck out our packing guide for travellers, which will help you prepare. Choose the right travel backpack, browse clever travel accessories, and make sure you don’t leave anything important behind.Where to Find FlightsWe search for cheap flights on Kiwi — it’s our go-to portal. Dublin is well served by airlines like Ryanair and Aer Lingus from most major UK airports. Make sure you also read our guide on how to find cheap flights.Car HireWe regularly use the comparison site RentalCars.com, which helps us find the best car hire deals.Booking AccommodationBooking.com is our favourite hotel search engine. We always compare hotel prices with local apartments and rooms on Airbnb (get a discount here). Read about how we find cheap accommodation.Don’t Forget Travel InsuranceTravel insurance is an absolute must. For shorter trips, we use AXA (50% discount), and for longer journeys, we go with True Traveller. Have a look at our comparison of all insurance providers and pick the one that suits you best. |
Tips and Tricks for Your Vacation
Don’t Overpay for Flights
Search for flights on Kayak. It’s our favorite search engine because it scans the websites of all airlines and always finds the cheapest connection.
Book Your Accommodation Smartly
The best experiences we’ve had when looking for accommodation (from Alaska to Morocco) are with Booking.com, where hotels, apartments, and entire houses are usually the cheapest and most widely available.
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
Good travel insurance will protect you against illness, accidents, theft, or flight cancellations. We’ve had a few hospital visits abroad, so we know how important it is to have proper insurance arranged.
Where we insure ourselves: SafetyWing (best for everyone) and TrueTraveller (for extra-long trips).
Why don’t we recommend any Czech insurance company? Because they have too many restrictions. They set limits on the number of days abroad, travel insurance via a credit card often requires you to pay medical expenses only with that card, and they frequently limit the number of returns to the Czech Republic.
Find the Best Experiences
Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace where you can book guided walks, trips, skip-the-line tickets, tours, and much more. We always find some extra fun there!
