3 Days In Dublin Itinerary: Travel Guide by a Local

Dublin will forever have a big piece of my heart. It is definitely one of the most magical cities in Europe! It truly seems like yesterday when we decided to spend 4 years living between Dublin and New York. And I still can’t believe that in just a few months, we’ll be moving back to the U.S. permanently! Growing up in the Caribbean, Dublin was really never a part of my travel bucket list, but once I moved to New York I started learning and feeling attracted by the Irish culture and the people. The two cities have had strong ties for many years.

And it truly seemed like I was the last person in the world to discover what everyone already knows: Ireland (and in particular its capital city Dublin) is one of the most popular travel destinations in the world, due to the good nature and warmth of its people, its world famous beer and whiskey, the pubs, the history, and the entertainment. Dublin has so much to offer and tons of fun and interesting places that you’ll want to add to your travel lists.

Travel Note: Some of the most common questions from my family and friends who have previously planned trips to Dublin include: “How many days do you need in Dublin?” And “How many days in Dublin is enough?” 3 days, in my opinion, is just the perfect amount of time to discover the most magical corners of the city without rushing or getting burned-out. With that said, there are plenty of things to do in Dublin and in the surrounding areas, so if you have time to book a trip for a bit longer (4-5 days) you are not going to regret it!

To share the best things to do in Dublin, all of our secret local spots & recommendations, the cutest cafes, historic landmarks in the city, and where to go on a Dublin day trip, I have put together this “3 days in Dublin Itinerary”. 

Use this guide to choose your favorite things to do, the must-visit local places, and create a personalized itinerary whether you're visiting for 3,4 days or more! 

HOW TO SPEND 3 DAYS IN DUBLIN

DAY 1: The National Gallery, St Stephens Green, Dublin Castle (library) ,Temple Bar and Jameson Distillery 

Stop 1: The National Gallery

The National Gallery is probably one of my favorite places in Dublin, and is one of those places that must be on every art lover's Dublin itinerary. It’s a beautiful building and has a great collection of mostly Irish, Dutch and Italian art, although you can find pieces from all over Europe. The gallery boasts a famous previously lost painting from Caravaggio, The Taking of Christ, as well as Two Ballet Dancers in a Dressing Room by Edgar Degas and A Convent Garden, Brittany by William John Leech among many other incredible pieces.

The Gallery is open 7 days a week: Mondays from 11:00 am to 5:15 pm, Tuesdays through Saturdays from 9:45 am to 5:15 pm, and on Sundays from 11:30 am - 5:15 pm. General admission is free for all visitors, although you must book your free ticket in advance.  For more up-to-date information about holiday closing hours, accessibility for visitors, and more head to their official site.

Once you have discovered and explored the National Gallery, it’s time to grab some delicious donuts and explore a bit of the city center before moving on to the other very well known historic landmarks of Dublin on your first day in the city. And there’s no better place to do so than...

Stop 2: The Rolling Donut, St Stephen's Green Park and Crafton St! 

The Rolling Donut is a superb little donut shop and cafe, located just in between St Stephen's Green Park and Grafton St, and just a 10 minute walk away from the National Gallery. It’s also close to our next destinations: the Dublin Castle, the Chester Beatty Library and Temple Bar.   

The Rolling Donut not only serves delicious sourdough donuts, but they also have vegan options, coffee, and tea drinks! The atmosphere is nice and upbeat, especially since this particular corner of the city is always busy.

 If you are planning to have a quick midday bite (in and out as soon as possible to keep moving), this is the perfect place for you. The Rolling Donut also has several other locations throughout Dublin. 

Make sure to grab one and enjoy it while you explore St Stephen's Green Park. 

For a more chill and relaxed atmosphere, we recommend Bestseller Wine Cafe, one of our go-to cafes in Dublin, especially on cold and rainy days. Their Baileys coffee is delicious, and if you’re visiting during the holidays their in-house mulled wine is a must for those exploring Dublin in 3 days and looking for great gastronomic experiences. 

St Stephen's Green Park

Preferably with a donut and coffee in hand, St Stephen's Green is a great Dublin destination all year round. The park is the perfect place to relax, unwind and immerse yourself in some of the greenery of the Emerald Island without leaving the city. 

The public park and square, located in the city center, opened in 1880 and is located right next to the famous shopping area of Grafton street and other busy neighboring areas. Yet once you are in the park, the trees, the lakes, and the ducks create the perfect little oasis to escape the busyness of the city.  My favorite seasons to visit any park are definitely Fall and Spring. I love seeing the leaves starting to change colors  in the fall, and  having a picnic next to the lake in the Spring. 

After grabbing a quick bite and enjoying a relaxing walk in the park, it’s time to head to two other of Dublin's more popular destinations: The Dublin Castle and the Chester Beatty Library. 

There are around 3 quick ways to get there from St Stephens Green, all between 12 to 15 mins walk. I suggest you go all the way down Grafton St. and then turn left on Wicklow/ Exchequer St and from there head to the castle.  You’ll be able to explore this famous shopping area and maybe stop in a store or two all while also saving some time. 

Travel tip: A well curated 3 days in Dublin Itinerary can be the difference between being able to check off most of the places in your itinerary versus just a few.

Stop 3: Dublin Castle and the Chester Beatty Library

The Castle and The Library are adjacent to each other, and they are some of the most interesting places to visit in the city. 

The Dublin Castle offers different kinds of tours to its many visitors and it has some very fascinating areas you shouldn't skip in your visit: the open wing which features different art exhibitions throughout the year, the medieval chapel, the underground section with the original castle walls, the undercroft, and the Viking history of Dublin. 

The Chester Beatty library on the other hand focuses more on its collection of books and manuscripts from all over the world. The library has copies of  a 3rd century Greek papyrus manuscript of the Gospel of Luke and the Egyptian Book of the Dead. It’s free admission, and its beautiful library roof garden makes it for me top of the list of libraries in Ireland. 

Stop 4: Temple Bar and the Jameson Distillery

To finish our first day in this “3 days in Dublin Itinerary” we’ll head to the Temple Bar area before making our way to the Jameson Distillery. While there are many fun and upbeat bars in the area, I choose the Temple Bar because it’s one of those staple places of the Irish capital and definitely a place where 1st time visitors would want to stop by during their time in the city.

If you are looking for a less touristy pub, I recommend The Ha'penny Bridge Inn Pub for a more local and cozy vibe with live music in the background.

The Jameson Distillery is another of the iconic places in the city. It was here that the famous Irish Jameson whiskey was distilled up until the 1970’s, and their whiskey tasting tour is one of the best things to do when visiting the city!  

Note: If you love beer more than whiskey, switch the Jameson distillery for the Guinness storehouse/factory and take one of their Guinness Brewery tours. If you have time to do both, it’s highly recommended!

Note: For those spending 3 days in Dublin, the Dublin Pass offers a great the most value for your money when visiting multiple landmarks and tourist attractions.

DAY 2: Trinity College, Grand Canal Dock, Portobello, and St Patrick’s Cathedral

Stop 1: Trinity College: ​​the Old Library and the Book of Kells

When exploring Dublin for just 3 days, I’d recommend taking the 1st day to visit as many popular tourist attractions as you want so that on day two you can see more of what the locals love to do in their everyday life in the city.

On day two, we are doing just that while also incorporating two quintessential Dublin attractions that we missed on day 1.  The 1st one being Trinity College, ​​their Old Library, and the Book of Kells.   

Start your 2nd morning in Dublin by visiting Trinity College. The institution is the oldest and most famous Irish University, dating from 1592 and featuring alumni like Oscar Wilde, Jonathan Swift and  Bram Stoker. 

 Two things you won’t want to miss here are a tour of the Old Library and the exhibition of the Book Of Kells. Standard tickets for the exhibition of the Book of Kells start at 16 euros for those 12 years and older. It’s a bit pricey, but worth it!

Stop 2: Grand Canal Dock area 

A 20 minute walk from Trinity College, you’ll find our next stop in this “3 days in Dublin Itinerary”: the Grand Canal Dock area. This neighborhood is famous for its modern bars, rooftops, and eateries, and for being home to local headquarters of big international companies like Google.  The Grand Canal Dock is a very fun area throughout the year but especially during the summer, when you’ll be able to find water sports like kayaking and windsurfing in the surrounding canals. 

Spending around 30 minutes exploring the area is something that  I have always included when writing my friends’ personalized Dublin itineraries. And If you are heading there around lunch time and have been craving a great culinary  experience in your second day, I recommend two places: the Charlotte Quay for food and drinks (with outside seatings right by the canal) or the The Marker hotel Rooftop Bar & Terrace, which serves delicious cocktails and has views from the highest rooftop in the area.

Another  one of my favorite eateries/ farmers markets is also just a few minutes by foot from the Grand Canal Dock area: Farmer Browns (Bath Avenue location).  If you choose to grab something to eat here, their sandwiches and burgers, as well as their many healthy options, never disappoint! 

After exploring the Canal area and grabbing some delicious food, it's time to make our way to another of the most popular neighborhoods in the city: the Portobello neighborhood.

Note: It takes around 30 minutes to get to the Portobello neighborhood from the Grand Canal Docks via the adjacent canal. Although a 30 minutes walk can sound tiring for some, I definitely recommend taking the time to walk around the smaller canal, which I find to be one of the most picturesques parts of Dublin!

Stop 4: Portobello

Portobello is one of the most upbeat and popular neighborhoods in Dublin. It’s the perfect place to find a cute street cafe, an up and coming restaurant, or even a fitness studio . The streets of Portobello also boost those iconic red brick houses, which are very characteristic of Ireland and the U.K.

Travel Tip: Check out Camden Street for the best pictures and the best eateries!

Stop 5: St Patrick’s Cathedral 

The last stop on this second day of our Dublin in 3 days itinerary is going to be the iconic St Patrick’s Cathedral!

St Patrick’s Cathedral is the national cathedral in Ireland, and is part of the church of Ireland. Currently St Patricks is not only a very popular destination  among tourists, but it’s also an important place of worship where the local church goers still attend for sunday services, choral practices, and other gatherings.

The Cathedral has been standing for more than 800 years, and it has been an important place for Dubliners for the entire time. It’s even the place of rest of many important Irish figures, including the writer Jonathan Swift.

Note: Other important churches in Dublin that you might want to visit include Christ church, St. Michan's Church and St Mary's Pro-Cathedral ( this one specifically belongs to the Roman Catholic denomination).

DAY 3: Dublin Day Trip: Howth, Malahide, Dun Laughaire, Dalkey or Bray

On your 3rd day in Dublin, you might head out of the city center and explore the beauty of the surrounding Irish countryside or one of its many attractive seaside villages. There are several towns and destinations just less than an hour or so away by train/car from the city. To get there, we found one of the cheapest, most reliable, and most comfortable ways was to take the Dart (a local train that goes up and down the coast through Dublin and surrounding counties) You can simply get your tickets in the closest dart station, with no need to purchase them in advance as you’ll have to print them in the station anyways. The dart comes every 15 or so minutes on the weekend, and during the week it runs more often.

Travel tip: Although you won’t have any problem buying tickets for the dart if you are visiting Dublin during the summer, the train tends to be very crowded during the weekend when all the locals head to the beach towns.   

There are many smaller destinations to pick from when you are traveling outside of Dublin. A lot depends on when you are visiting the island and your own personal choice: would you want to spend a day by the beach or prefer to enjoy the greenery of the countryside?

Whether you choose to visit a beach town, hop in between beach towns, or simply explore the countryside, I definitely recommend spending a day outside of Dublin city. Below, I’m sharing some travel tips for some of my favorite destinations: Malahide, Howth, Dun Laoghaire, Dalkey, Bray and even the famous Wicklow Mountains.

Malahide is well known for its beautiful big Georgian houses. This is the furthest the dart train will go in the northern coast of county Dublin. And besides its beautiful beaches and marinas, you can visit Malahide Castle, which is around 20 minutes by foot from the train station. It's the perfect destination for those wanting a bit of both worlds: the ocean and the castle/green magic that Ireland is known for.  

Howth is also located to the north of the city center, and it's very well known for the Howth Cliff Walk as well for really good seafood restaurants overlooking the marina. Among our favorite things to do in Howth are: taking the ferry to the nearby island of Ireland Eyes, spotting seals in the harbor,  and eating some late lunch Octopussy's Seafood Tapas. 

Dun Laoghaire (pronounced leery) is a very popular seaside town among the locals regardless of the time of year. We love to take long walks on the pier, sit by the lighthouse, and eat amazing fish and chips from the pier food trucks. Two things you won’t want to miss are: the yummy Cajun Fish and chips (if you love a bit of spicy flavors) and the weekend farmers market located in the middle of the promenade. 

Dalkey is known by some as the Amalfi Coast of Ireland, as the town is very posh. Many rich and famous people have rented or owned houses in the town at some point, including the actor Matt Damon. Some of the best things to do in Dalkey include kayaking, taking a boat to the Dalkey Island, visiting the Dalkey Castle, or simply strolling around the Coliemore Harbour. 

 Bray is the furthest southern stop in the dart, and another fun seaside town filled with restaurants and fun bars overlooking the ocean. The Bray-Greystones Cliff Walk is another great hike overlooking the ocean. 

Another Bray destination we loved is Kilruddery House and Gardens, a country estate perfect to spend a day in the countryside! You’ll want to grab a taxi from the train station, or just enjoy the 30 minute walk through the town areas.

The Wicklow Mountains are a breathtaking mountain range just outside of Dublin. Although the train doesn't take you there, you can always rent a car or take one of the tour buses that go to the area.

ADDITIONAL TRAVEL INFORMATION FOR YOUR 3 DAYS IN DUBLIN

With 3 days in Dublin, you’ll definitely get to discover a lot of the city and surrounding areas. If you are exploring the city for a couple of more days, check out some of the following destination below:

Kilmainham Gaol: A museum that used to serve as a prison.

Phoenix Park: It’s one of largest parks in Europe, known for reindeer sightings. 

In addition to the Grand Canal area and the Portobello neighborhood, other upbeat neighborhoods with great eateries are Ranelagh and Rathmines.

If you’re visiting the Wicklow Mountains, make sure to check out Glendalough for the history, the culture and the beautiful landscapes. 

LANGUAGES

Ireland's official languages are Irish and English! So English native speakers and those who speak the language would have no problem communicating in the country.

TRANSPORTATION TIPS

There are just a couple of  ways to get to the Isle of Ireland. One by plane and the other by ferry. To get from the airport to Dublin city center,  you can easily take a bus, a taxi or a car, and it will take you approximately 30 minutes. The bus can cost anywhere from around 8 euros or more per person, depending where you are getting off, and a taxi will be around 30-40 euros. Uber is not really available in Ireland, neither are other car services like Lyft etc. In order to request a taxi car, you can use a similar app called FREE NOW where you call a taxi car the same way you do an uber. Also note that Dublin taxis only accept card payments through this app, otherwise you’ll need cash! Drivers are happy to stop at an ATM if you forget this.

 Although we do own a car, we walk almost everywhere in and around the city center, as parking can be sometimes difficult to find/a bit expensive after a couple of hours. But we do use our car a lot when heading to the beach towns/ countryside attractions near the city. If you are visiting for just 3 days, unless you want to check out a specific location where public transportation doesn’t go, I recommend skipping the car rental companies and making use of local transit.

 A great option for those wanting to rent a car for a day in Ireland are the Go-Cars. Vehicles are parked all throughout the city and can be rented on the go for just an hour if needed. Prices are very reasonable and insurance is included. 

The train, dart, luas and bus services are also very reliable in the city and neighboring areas. 

BEST TIME TO VISIT DUBLIN

The high season in Ireland starts from June and runs through the end of August. And although some think this is the best time to visit, I personally love the fall or the beginning of the Spring more. I base my opinion on the fact that Ireland is not meant to be a hot summer destination. Although the island has beautiful beaches, the waters stay cold throughout the year and it’s not the place you visit to enjoy the sun and the summer weather. Visiting during the fall and spring will allow you to enjoy the changing colors in nature while still having mild temperatures. The best part is that you’ll beat the crowds and the high flight and hotel prices!

MORE RESTAURANT RECOMMENDATIONS

For food lovers like me: Grove Road is a popular cafe with delicious brunch food, coffees, teas and juices. You can also order the food to go and enjoy a picnic!

The Cake Cafe: an intimate Cafe hidden behind the last Bookshop in Camden St in a small alley. Every dish in the menu is a must try, and their cakes are super yummy!

Angelina’s: A super cute restaurant overlooking the canal. Their brunch pancakes are to die for! Just make sure to book it in advance, as spaces fill up really quick, especially on the weekends. 

The Bank on College Green is a bar and restaurant located in a very fancy building (that used to be a bank, of course!) that’s loved by locals and tourists alike! 

The Blind Pig: If you know me, then you know that there’s no place that I love more than NYC (unless it is Havana of course). The Blind Pig is a cool little bar that gives me all the vibes of an NYC speakeasy: great drinks, a very well hidden entrance, and a delicious variety of dishes. 

An always fun pub with a great courtyard is O'Donoghue’s Bar. Perfect to get some beers with friends in the afternoon!

HOTEL RECOMMENDATIONS

For those looking for hotel recommendations in Dublin, the Marker Hotel, the Dean Dublin and The Shelbourne Hotel are among my top choices in Dublin.

The Marker Hotel boosts great views of the cities from its rooftop. And its spa and pool amenities are like no other in the city.

The Dean Hotel will transport you back in time while also maintaining some modern and sleek touches.

The Shelbourne Hotel is old- fashion, charming and very well located facing St Stephen's Green. It's a great place to be within walking distance of the most popular landmarks and attractions in Dublin.

There are many other hotels, airbnbs listings, and hostels with great reviews around the city! Make sure to check some out before making your final selection.

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GENERAL TRAVEL TIPS

The GoDublin Days Out Card and the Dublin Pass are two great ways of saving money and skipping the lines. They include some of the most popular attractions! You can also find some public transportation savings using Dublin Airlink Transfer!

If after spending 3 days in Dublin, you'll be exploring other parts of the Emerald island next, head to our European destinations section to read and discover some more about some other incredible parts of Ireland, including the world famous Cliffs of Moher!

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Have you been to Dublin before? Did you create your own Dublin itinerary? Share with us some of your favorite experiences and your go-to places in the city!

Besitos from Dublin,

Laura  

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