The fascinating and significant sights of Dublin are so numerous that it is worthwhile to find out useful information about them in advance. Please read this review carefully. We will tell you about what every tourist should see in Dublin.
What is the first thing to see in Dublin?
For whatever period of the year your trip is planned, guides in Dublin will advise you to visit the following sites:
1. Dublin Castle
Dublin Castle in Dublin
The beautiful old palace was built on the instructions of King I. Bezzemelny in the 13th century. In that ancient era, the castle was the most modern building in the whole country. Currently, international level diplomats are meeting here, and conferences are being organized. Reviews of Dublin Castle indicate that it is possible to inspect it from the inside infrequently – on those infrequent days when it is not used for business purposes.
Official website: https://www.dublincastle.ie
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2. Kilmanham
Kilmainham Prison (Victorian Wing) in Dublin
In earlier times (18th and 20th centuries), the facility served as a prison for political criminals in Ireland. Many death executions have been carried out in the prison, so the atmosphere is quite gloomy and oppressive. What might attract you to a trip to Kilmanham? Our recommendations to visit it are related to the fact that now the prison has been converted into a curious museum – it is a huge maze with cells for especially dangerous prisoners.
Official website: https://kilmainhamgaolmuseum.ie
3. The National Gallery of Ireland
National Gallery of Ireland in Dublin dahon
Where can art fans go in Dublin? To the National Gallery of the 19th century (the new building was erected in the 20th century). In the exhibition halls you can enjoy the works of art by famous artists from Ireland, Holland, Italy and other European countries. Initially, the museum had about 120 paintings. But later, thanks to donations, this number increased significantly.
4. National Botanical Garden
A corner of the National Botanical Garden
The natural attractions of Dublin are no less interesting than the man-made ones. The garden, which covers an area of 25 hectares, has over 20,000 unique plantings from different parts of the world. The square is divided into themed areas, separated by ponds and colorful canals. Locals and visitors love to walk along the manicured alleys, look at the gorgeous greenhouses, original Alpine slides and luxurious flower beds. Such interesting places in Dublin can be visited at any time of the year.
Official website: https://botanicgardens.ie
5. The Irish Museum of Modern Art
Irish Museum of Modern Art in Dublin
Over 25 years ago, the grand opening of a museum complex dedicated to modern art took place in the former Royal Hospital of the 17th century. All rooms for the accommodation of patients and the work of doctors were rebuilt for the exhibition of expositions. At the cultural center, you can view paintings by both Irish and foreign artists. In addition, concerts and theatrical performances are regularly held here.
Official website: https://imma.ie
Check out the beautiful places of Dublin in this wonderful video!
6. Guinness Beer Museum
The Guinness Beer Museum in Dublin Doug Kerr
Even if you are not a beer lover, you should definitely visit such sights of Ireland. You will learn about the three-century history of the legendary Guinness brand. Including how a small family-owned brewery became one of the most expensive brands in the world. The museum has a brasserie with a beautiful observation deck, allowing you to exchange entrance tickets for glasses of a drink. If you don’t know what to visit in Dublin, but want to have fun and take your time, this option is just right for you.
Official website: https://www.guinness-storehouse.com
7. St. Patrick’s Cathedral
St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin
The largest temple of the state, created in the 12th century. The cathedral complex includes the main building, a beautiful garden, the archbishop’s palace and several other unique objects, such as the statue of D. Swift. Of particular interest is the architecture of the cathedral itself, built in the Neo-Gothic style.: high vaults, artistic wood carvings, giant windows. An organ is installed inside the temple.
Official website: https://www.stpatrickscathedral.ie
8. Powerscourt Estate
Powerscourt Estate south of Dublin William Murphy
This famous mansion has never been used as a residential building. Even today, the premises in it are offered for rent: there are offices of various companies, an Avoca village store and a toy museum. Once a week, tourists are allowed to explore the ballroom. On all other days, you can just walk around the building.
Official website: https://powerscourt.com
9. Phoenix Park
Phoenix Park is an urban park in Dublin
Speaking of the best sights of Dublin, it is worth mentioning this extensive green area. In the middle of the 17th century, the hunting grounds of the ruler of the state, the Duke of Ormond, were located here. Later, starting in 1745, the park complex was opened to all comers.
Official website: https://phoenixpark.ie
10. The Church of Christ
Cathedral of Christ in Dublin
The date of the cathedral’s construction is the 11th century. The original facade of the church has managed to remain unchanged to this day. As for the interiors, they have come down to us in the form that they were given during the restoration in the 19th century. One of the sacred treasures kept inside the cathedral is a fragment of the relics of Archbishop L. O’Toole, who is considered the patron saint of the city.
Dublin Attractions: What else to visit in Dublin?
Now you know which excursions in Dublin should definitely be booked. We have told you about the main attractions of Dublin briefly. In addition to them, the following objects deserve to be included in our rating:
11. Irish National Museum of Archaeology
The Archaeological Section of the National Museum of Ireland William Murphy
Date of creation – 19th century. The exhibition samples date back to the Celtic period – forged objects, crosses, religious-themed items. However, there are exhibits from different eras – jewelry, national clothes, ceramics, weapons. As you may have guessed, all the items in the collections are related to the history and traditions of Ireland.
Official website: https://www.museum.ie
12. St. Stephen Green
St. Stephen’s Green Public Park in Dublin
A 3.5-kilometer park area located in the central part of the city. There are playgrounds for children, a specially equipped garden for visually impaired people, and a beautiful artificial lake inhabited by birds. During the warmer months, outdoor concerts and festivities are organized. Even the best hotels in Dublin are sometimes unable to provide their guests with as pleasant a pastime as this park.
13. Croke Park
Croke Park Dublin William Murphy Sports Stadium
The date of construction of the city’s largest sports arena is 1884. Today it is Dublin’s main stadium, capable of accommodating approximately 82,500 guests. Initially, Croke Park was allowed to host competitions only in traditional Irish sports. This strict rule has now been lifted.
Official website: https://crokepark.ie
14. Malahide Castle
Medieval Irish Malahide Castle in Dublin
The palace was built about 8 centuries ago. During this long period, it was in the possession of the Talbot aristocrats. There are several old buildings on the territory at once. It is believed that ghosts live inside the castle, each of which has its own tragic story. It is best to explore such sights with a guide. The guide will tell you the fascinating history of these places.
Official website: https://www.malahidecastleandgardens.ie
15. The old Jameson Whiskey Factory
The old Jameson Whiskey Distillery in Dublin borshop
It’s easy to guess that the legendary Irish drink is made at this factory. Tastings are held during the guided tours. The exhibits include equipment and various devices for cooking and bottling whiskey – containers, ancient distillers, and distillation cubes. Guests are also invited to look at the brand bottles used by Jameson in various years. Thematic meetings are organized at the factory almost year-round, where folk music is played and high-quality aged whiskey is bottled. If you don’t know what to see in Dublin in 1 day, come here: time will fly by unnoticed.
Official website: https://www.jamesonwhiskey.com
16. The Museum of Medieval Dublin
Dublin – Henri Sivonen Museum of the Middle Ages in Dublin
An archaeological museum complex that tells in a game format about how and how Ireland lived in the old days. Exhibition collections with samples are themed installations (recreated commercial ports, streets with buildings, etc.). You can pick up any object, and even put on outfits.
Official website: https://www.dublinia.ie
17. The Irish Whiskey Museum
Irish Whiskey Museum in Dublin Steve Moses
The opening date is 2014. The museum, housed in a three-storey building, also includes a bar, a gift shop and a cafe. Currently, the largest collection of whiskey is stored here, including the most valuable bottles. Some of the exhibition samples are interactive (they can be used to see the beverage production process).
Official website: https://www.irishwhiskeymuseum.ie
18. Trinity College
Trinity College is an ancient Dublin college founded by Elizabeth I in the center of Dublin Jowaria
Today Dublin is a picturesque European capital, and the best sights of Ireland are concentrated here. One of its symbols is Trinity College, an ancient university in Dublin, which is still considered one of the most prestigious universities in Europe, along with Cambridge and Oxford. It was founded at the end of the 16th century, and today its campus in the center of the capital has excellent infrastructure: scientific laboratories, sports facilities, and a huge library are located here — the largest book depository in Ireland, whose collections are located in 8 buildings and number more than 4 million volumes. The college has a unique atmosphere: on the one hand, centuries—old traditions are honored here, on the other, the latest teaching methods are used. This university offers its students more than 400 programs, from art to natural sciences.
Official website: https://www.tcd.ie
19. National Maritime Museum of Ireland
Exhibits from the National Maritime Museum of Ireland in the former Sailors’ Church on High Terrace Miguel Mendez
The Irish have always been fascinated by the sea, the sea was their main breadwinner and opened up trade routes to other countries. Therefore, the people of Ireland treated the sea with great trepidation and even devoted a separate exhibition to the marine theme. The National Maritime Museum of Ireland reveals the history of navigation based on an interesting collection. It appeared in the 1940s, but for many decades its walls hid artifacts from outsiders. During this time, more than 4 thousand books on navigation and shipbuilding alone have accumulated here. 40 years later, the museum opened its doors to the general public and surprisingly quickly gained recognition. The exhibition is located in the historic building of St. Michael’s Church with spires, massive doors, and small windows. Here you can see models and drawings of sailboats that once delivered food supplies to Ireland, as well as everyday items for sailors – compasses, maps, underwater pipes and much more.
Official website: https://www.mariner.ie
20. Temple Bar
Plenty of pubs and shops in Dublin’s iconic Temple Bar area
Temple Bar is one of the oldest historic districts in Dublin, dating back to the 14th century. In the 80s of the last century, entrepreneurs and artists settled in its old buildings, but in the 90s the city authorities raised the issue of rehabilitation of this area. This is how the active restoration of historical buildings began, after which the area became a popular tourist destination in the capital — most visitors flock to local restaurants and pubs, bars and nightclubs. The local streets of Dublin are transformed in the evening, when they become more lively, filled with music, lights are lit everywhere and street performers perform. But still, it’s worth remembering that the Temple Bar was originally conceived as a cultural center, so next to the drinking establishments you can find a Film Institute, a Photography Center, a number of galleries, and on weekends there is a book bazaar.
21. Grafton Street
Busy pedestrian street Grafton Street in the capital of Ireland dahon
One of the main tourist spots in Dublin is the central Dublin Grafston Street, named after the first Duke, which was once his domain. Previously, this place was the lot of wealthy citizens, but today the street has become a pedestrian urban artery. Grafston Street is considered the most expensive shopping street in the world – back in the Victorian era, it was the mecca of commerce, and today you can see luxury mansions with luxury boutiques and fine restaurants here. Another essential attribute of Grafston Street is street performances by musicians, poets, jugglers and other artists. By the way, many of them later became real pop stars. The real symbol of Grafton Street is the monument to Molly Malone, the heroine of a folk song. The locals loved the monument very much, and today a variety of souvenirs with Molly’s image are presented in local shops.
22. National Museum of Ireland
19th Century National Museum of Ireland on Kildare Street, Dublin Mike Peel
In the city center, not far from the Irish Parliament, is the National Museum of Ireland, a modern exhibition space where you can immerse yourself in the history of Ireland and comprehend its culture. This institution was opened back in 1877, and initially its exposition consisted of coins, medals, archaeological artifacts, ethnographic and geological evidence. By the end of the last century, the growing collection was no longer housed in one building, and a complex of historical buildings from the 18th and 19th centuries, the so—called Collins Barracks, was additionally allocated for the museum. Today, about 4 million exhibits have accumulated in the collections of the National Museum, almost half of which belong to the archaeological section — finds from the era of the Celts and ancient Vikings, exhibits from the early Middle Ages are shown here. The true symbols of Celtic art were the bowls of Arda, the silver vessels of Derrinaflan, and the jewelry masterpiece, the Tara brooch.
Official website: https://www.museum.ie
23. National Museum of Leprechauns
The National Leprechaun Museum is dedicated to the characters of Irish folklore YvonneM
Mysticism, miracles, myths and legends have attracted the Irish since time immemorial, and this has given rise to many interesting characters. One of them is an Irish leprechaun, a prominent representative of Irish culture, who is a lilliputian wizard with a long beard and a pot of gold. It’s hard to find a more suitable place to meet this character than the National Leprechaun Museum. According to the creators, the museum visitor should not only get to know the leprechauns, but also feel like one of them. To do this, the tour begins with an introduction to leprechauns, then guests enter the hall, which describes how the theme of leprechauns has spread in popular culture. Finally, in the experimental room, visitors, imagining themselves to be leprechauns, can sit on a giant armchair or at a huge table, find themselves in a leprechaun forest, or jump into a magic well to search for a treasured treasure.
Official website: https://www.leprechaunmuseum.ie
24. The Abbey Theatre
Facade of the National Irish Abbey Theatre in Dublin bjaglin
The Abbey Theatre is the first national theatre in Ireland, whose history is inextricably linked with the history of Ireland’s struggle for independence. In the 1920s, as a sign of independence, the national flag was even erected over the theater sign, and this was a major event for the townspeople. Local plays about middle-class life were initially staged on the theater’s stage, but in the 1950s the building was almost completely destroyed by fire, and only after 15 years of endless wandering by the troupe was the theater restored. After the reconstruction, the Abbey returned to its original mission, which it adheres to today — the preservation and promotion of the national traditions of Irish drama. Every production here is imbued with love for Ireland and patriotism, and for the guests of the city, visiting this place is a unique chance to get to know the art of this country better.
Official website: https://www.abbeytheatre.ie
25. The Chester Beatty Library
The building of the famous Irish library of Chester Beatty and the William Murphy Museum in Dublin
The exhibition space of Chester Betty has a collection that was once donated to the state by a famous American entrepreneur. There is a huge collection of medieval manuscripts, ancient scrolls, old book editions and ancient documents. In general, this is not even a library, but a real museum with the rarest exhibits of print art, among which the oldest has been going back 4.5 millennia! The entire collection is divided into thematic sections. Thus, papyri with biblical texts from 2-4 centuries A.D., ancient Armenian and Western European manuscripts from the Middle Ages and Renaissance are kept in the Western Department. The Islamic Department has hundreds of complete copies of the Quran from different times and thousands of documents and illustrations on Islamic subjects. The East Asian collection includes Chinese scrolls and jade books, while the Japanese collection includes works by Japanese artists from the 17th and 19th centuries.
Official website: https://www.chesterbeatty.ie
26. Dublin Main Post Office
Majestic neoclassical Main Post Office building on O’Connell Street in Dublin Kaihsu Tai
The Dublin Main Post Office is one of the most famous historical buildings in Ireland, along with such structures as Dublin Castle and Christ Cathedral. The Main Post Office building dates back to the early 19th century and is famous for its magnificent facade in the Georgian architectural style, with geometrically regular shapes and intricate decor. The roof of the building is crowned with sculptural compositions depicting mythological gods. Upon entering, you can see another interesting composition depicting the death of Cuchulainn, a legendary character in Irish myths. At the beginning of the 20th century, the Main Post Office building became a symbol of the Easter Rising and as a result of military operations it was significantly damaged, and after restoration in 1922, the postal museum opened inside, the most valuable exhibit of which was the original declaration of independence of Ireland.
Official website: https://www.anpost.com
27. The Dublin Needle
View of the Monument of Light from O’Connell Street in the evening in Dublin
The Monument of Light is the official name of the monument, better known as the Dublin Needle. A steel monument in the shape of a giant needle was erected in 2003 on the site of the previously blown up monument to Admiral Nelson. The height of the pointed spire is more than 120 meters, the diameter of the base is about 3 meters, and at the highest point the “needle” narrows to 15 centimeters. The authors of the Dublin Needle project promised that it would become a matter of national pride, but its construction caused a lot of controversy about the money spent, because the country was in a difficult financial situation at that time. However, despite the significant blow to the state treasury, the monument has become one of the new symbols of the capital. The spire is constructed from hollow stainless steel pipes that have been thoroughly sanded, so it has excellent reflective properties.
28. Samuel Beckett Bridge
Samuel Beckett cable-stayed bridge over the Liffey River in Dublin Jnestorius
For independent travel in the Irish capital, it is recommended to purchase a tourist card — this will make it easier to navigate in unfamiliar places. So, if you look at the sights of Dublin on the map, in its eastern area you can see the bridge connecting the northern and southern banks of the River Liffey, on which the capital is located. This is the Samuel Beckett Bridge, a structure built in 2009 and named after the famous Irish playwright. This is the most modern ferry in Dublin, the creators of which simply could not fail to take advantage of the technologies of our time. Therefore, the bridge has an unusual design: it has only one support with 25 steel cables extending from it, which hold the roadway, which has lanes for cars and pedestrians. As a result, the bridge, resembling a giant harp, can turn on a support towards the shore and allow large vessels to pass.
29. St. Stephen’s Green Park
Aerial view of St. Stephen’s Green Park in central Dublin dronepicr
One of the most picturesque places in the city is located in the center of Dublin — St. Stephen’s Green Park, loved by both residents of the capital and its guests. Its history dates back 3.5 centuries, but the park acquired its current appearance at the end of the 19th century. In shape, it resembles a large, geometrically regular green square surrounded by the stone jungle of the capital, with its historical buildings and shopping malls. There are wide walking alleys throughout the park, along which numerous sculptures of historical figures are located. Lawns with greenery and blooming flower beds, ponds with waterfowl are spread around. Local attractions include an ancient 17th—century Huguenot cemetery. Cultural and festive events are regularly held in the park, cozy cafes and souvenir shops with a large assortment of memorabilia are open.
Official website: https://www.heritageireland.ie
30. Dublin Zoo
The inhabitants of the Dublin Zoo in the Phoenix Park in Dublin Cargoking
In addition to the famous streets and structures, there are other interesting places in Dublin — for example, the largest zoo in Ireland is located on the territory of the huge green Phoenix Park, a great place for a family holiday. It is one of the oldest European zoological gardens, and has been home to a large number of birds and animals since 1830. The entire territory is divided into thematic zones, but this division is conditional — conditions have been recreated for the inhabitants here, as close as possible to natural nature. So, here you can see animals of the African plains, representatives of felines, various species of primates, inhabitants of South America, the polar zones of the Arctic, reptiles, farm animals and representatives of rare endangered species. The main pride of the zoo is a large collection of birds, where you can find a wide variety of birds, from penguins and ostriches, to rhinoceros birds and Indian peacocks.
Official website: https://www.dublinzoo.ie
We hope that you can visit the sights of Dublin, the photos with the names and descriptions of which we have just given, in person. Read also about the sights of Belfast and be inspired to continue your journey through Ireland.
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