72 Hours in Dublin: Chase the Luck of the Irish with This 3-Day Itinerary
Ash and her sister outside the Guinness factory!
Dublin is electric. It’s a vibrant mix of history, cozy pubs (and pubs that will make you sing at the top of your lungs), warm welcomes, and windswept coasts. Whether it’s your first visit to Dublin or your fifth, the city always finds a new way to surprise you. We love returning to this lively Irish capital for its historic charm, lucky Irish vibe, world-famous pubs with a nice pint of Guinness, and unforgettable day trips. With this 72-hour guide, we’ll help you make the most of your time in Dublin—packed with helpful tips, local favorites, and feel-good travel vibes. Whether your are planning to stay in Dublin the whole time or use it as a base for some amazing day trips, you will fall in love with the Irish capital.
Why Visit Dublin?
Dublin is a city of stories. Dublin has so much to offer and so many different vibes. You can get lost in the ancient manuscripts at Trinity College to the clink of pints in centuries-old pubs, every street feels alive. It's a place where you can dive into Irish history, enjoy a buzzing food scene, and still find peace in beautiful parks and coastal escapes. It's friendly, walkable, and endlessly photogenic. We love Dublin because every time we go back we experience something different. You can jump into a pub or find a lively Irish bar with music and meet new friends. You can find amazing trendy restaurants or indulge in some local fish and chips. Here you can marvel at the beautiful churches, see some amazing architecture, tuck into wonderful museums, and check out the Guinness Factory or Jameson Distillery.
Christ Church Cathedral
Best Time to Visit Dublin
Spring (April–June) and Fall (September–October) offer pleasant weather, fewer crowds, and colorful streets. Our favorite time to visit is September.
Summer is great for festivals and long daylight hours, but book ahead—it gets busy. Summer offers the driest months out of the year but still be prepared for some rain showers.
Winter is quieter, festive, and cozy, with holiday lights and warm pubs. We visited in November and enjoyed the vibe of tucking into pubs while exploring the history to warm up. It offers a cool and unique perspective! Something to be mindful of is that November - January see the most rainy days of the year with February being quite dry overall.
Weather & Packing Tips
Be mindful that Dublin weather can be unpredictable—sunshine, mist, and wind all in a day. Even if you are visiting in the summer the weather can be a little fickle with warm weather turning wet, cool, and windy. Here’s what we always pack:
Compact travel umbrella – Fits in your daypack and handles Irish drizzle.
Waterproof walking shoes – Great for cobblestones and unexpected rain.
Light layers – A fleece or pullover is always a good idea, even in summer.
A good women’s rain jacket or men’s rain jacket.
EU Plug Adapter – Ireland uses Type G plugs (UK-style). We also like this portable charger with built in charging cables.
Be sure to save some room in your backpack for some authentic Irish scarves and sweaters!
Ideal Visit Length:
We recommend staying for 3–4 days, which is perfect to explore the highlights of Dublin and enjoy a memorable day trip or two. If you're tight on time, a well-planned 72-hour trip still covers all the must-sees!
Helpful Hints for Visiting Dublin
Tipping: Tipping isn’t expected everywhere. Leave ~10% at restaurants if service was good.
Language: English is spoken everywhere, but you’ll see signs in Irish Gaelic too.
Queues: Book popular attractions (like the Book of Kells or Guinness Storehouse) in advance to skip long queues. Otherwise, be prepared to wait.
Stay central: Many attractions are walkable, so staying near the city center or St. Stephen’s Green helps maximize your time.
Getting to downtown: Most likely you will be traveling into Dublin International Airport. If so, we found the easiest way to get downtown was via the Dublin Express bus. It is pretty inexpensive (8 Euros per ticket each way) and get you into downtown in about 15 minutes.
If you are short on time - consider getting the Dublin Pass. This pass will get you into 40+ attractions and is an all-inclusive pass if you want to maximize your time sight seeing in Dublin. It also includes the hop-on hop-off bus as part of the pass, which can help you get around the town to many of the different sights.
View of Dublin from the Gravity Bar at the Guinness Experience
Quick Facts
Population: ~1.4 million in the greater Dublin area
Plug Type: Type G (UK-style three-prong), voltage is 230V
Currency: Euro (€)
Water: Yes, it’s safe to drink straight from the tap.
SIM Cards & WiFi: SIM cards are easily found at the airport or convenience stores. Free WiFi is common in cafes and hotels. We recommend using airalo if your phone allows for eSIMs (Feel free to use our referral code: MATTHE6398 for $3 off).
Entrance Requirements: Check your country’s visa rules. U.S. travelers can typically stay up to 90 days without a visa.
Cash or Card? Most places accept card, but it's handy to carry some euros for smaller pubs, taxis, and markets.
Reservations? Yes—for popular restaurants, especially on weekends or during festivals.
Fun Fact: Dublin has more pubs per person than almost any other city in Europe.
In fact, you could visit a different pub every day for over two years and still not hit them all. And yes—there’s a pub called The Confession Box, just in case you need to atone after a lively night out.Interesting Fact: The oldest known manuscript of the New Testament in Latin was found in Dublin.
It’s called the Book of Kells, created by Celtic monks around 800 AD. You can see it on display at Trinity College Library, one of the most visited attractions in Ireland and a major reason literature lovers flock to Dublin.
Top Things to Do in Dublin in 72 Hours
Christ Church Cathedral
✨ These are the spots that bring Dublin to life—history, culture, food, and fun:
Book of Kells & Trinity College Library – Home to one of the world’s most famous manuscripts and an Instagram dream. This was one of our favorite things to see while in Dublin. If you are a history fan, we highly recommend you go visit Trinity College and see the Book of Kells. Don’t miss out on visiting the library at Trinity College, which is truly impressive and a great quiet place to enjoy the beautiful oak bookshelves. We highly recommend booking in advance to make sure you reserve the time slot that you want.
Guinness Storehouse Tour – The Guinness Storehouse tour is one of our absolute favorite brewery tours and museums in Dublin. Even if you aren’t a fan of beer, this museum and tour are not to be missed. You first start by learning the process of brewing beer, all about the history of the brewery and world wide distribution, to wandering through a living history museum about the amazing marketing and impact Guinness has had on the world. You can learn to pour the perfect pint (and even receive a certificate!). One of our favorite things is ending the tour with a pint (or two) with fantastic city views at the Gravity Bar.
Temple Bar District – The famous Temple bar and district is home to lively pubs, colorful facades, and street musicians. Although this place and district can get extremely crowded (and even more so at night), it is definitely worth a quick visit to enjoy a pint or just to experience the electric atmosphere.
Teeling Whiskey Distillery – The Teeling Whiskey Distillery has a modern twist on Irish whiskey with its excellent tastings and tours. Although Jameson is the much more famous distillery in Dublin, Teeling feels more like a small batch or family distillery - with a much more intimate appeal. We really enjoyed the guided tour and especially the tasting room experience. If you like Whiskey, make sure to add this distillery this one on your list. We visited Teeling in November and it definitely warmed us up after our tasting!
Jameson Distillery Bow St. – It’s hard to deny the history and notoriety of Jameson. This is the most iconic distillery in Dublin and is definitely worth a visit. The distillery tour guides will share the distillery’s amazing history and you’ll have the opportunity to learn to do a proper tasting right in the heart of Smithfield.
St. Patrick’s Cathedral – No visit to Dublin is complete without visiting this iconic cathedral. The tickets cost 11 Euros, which gives you access to an incredible self guided tour to enjoy the stunning Gothic architecture and learn about Irish history.
Dublin Castle – Another attraction you should consider booking in advance. We really liked visiting the Dublin castle, which has a great mix of historical exhibits and offers a tour to explore the State Apartments. I wouldn’t necessarily put it on the must do list, but it is worth a visit if you have time.
The Brazen Head – If you want to step back in time and witness history, you have to visit Ireland’s oldest pub dating back to 1198.
Christ Church Cathedral – This Anglican church used was formerly a viking church and has amazing history. We enjoyed wandering the magnificent interiors and medieval crypts. The self-guided tour will allow you to wander around the crypts and is an interesting historical experience.
St. Stephen’s Green – If you are looking for a little greenery and relaxation while wandering the city, be sure to stop off at St. Stephen’s Green. We really like this serene city park and it is ideal for strolling or picnicking.
Iveagh Gardens – Another amazing park and green space. If you are looking for a little bit of a quieter park, come visit Iveagh Gardens and its beautiful waterfall. This garden is a hidden oasis tucked behind the city streets.
Howth Coastal Village – Easy DART ride or Hop-on Hop-off bus ride away. We loved visiting this quaint coastal city known for its fish & chips, scenic cliff walks, and lighthouse views!
Recommended Day Trips from Dublin
A great thing about Dublin is it serves as an amazing base to see a lot of the beautiful Irish countryside and other Irish sights. If you have extra time or want a break from the city, these day trips are unforgettable:
Galway & the Cliffs of Moher – If you only have time for one day tour - make it this one. We absolutely loved seeing the dramatic and green Cliffs of Moher and seeing the stunning Irish countryside. This was a very long day, but the Atlantic views, winding roads, and breathtaking landscapes made this trip unforgettable. We also really enjoyed visiting the beautiful town of Galway. This, to us, was a great quintessential Irish day trip!
Belfast & Giant’s Causeway – There are quite a few Belfast and Giant’s Causeway tours, but we ultimately chose this one because we were really interested in doing a black taxi tour. This tour provided an option to either see the Titanic museum (definitely worth a trip but we did this one a separate trip to Belfast) or take a black taxi tour to learn more about the political troubles in this region from someone who lived through them. Our taxi driver gave us amazing history and took us to some impactful areas showcasing the political “troubles” that were rampant starting the late 1960s. The main event is seeing the Giant’s Causeway, Northern Ireland’s dramatic basalt columns that rise from the ocean. The Giant’s Causeway is a photographer’s dream and an absolutely stunning natural wonder, not to be missed!
Sample 72-Hour Itinerary
Day 1: History, Pubs, Guinness, & Parks
Visit Trinity College and the Book of Kells
Stroll through St. Stephen’s Green (or if you prefer museums visit the National Gallery of Ireland)
Grab lunch at Sprezzatura (casual, local pasta spot)
Explore St. Patrick’s Cathedral and Dublin Castle
Head to the Guinness Storehouse and be sure to stop at the Gravity Bar for amazing city views
Dinner and live music at The Brazen Head (alternatively - you can head to Temple Bar District for Dinner and drinks)
Day 2: Day Tour (or Museum day)!
Option A: Take a day trip to the Cliffs of Moher or to Giant’s Causeway!
Option B: if you bought the Dublin City Pass - go check out some of the amazing museums around Dublin and wander the canal. Or if you were recovering from jet lag, consider splitting up Day 01 over two days and use this day to visit the Guinness Factory and the Jameson or Teeling Distillery from Day 03.
Dinner at Sophie’s Rooftop (great views + cocktails!)
Cliffs of Moher
Day 3: Coastal Vibes & Culture
Take the DART to Howth for a cliff walk and seafood lunch - try some delicious fish and chips!
Return for an afternoon coffee at Il Valentino Bakery
Visit Christ Church Cathedral or relax at Iveagh Gardens
Tour the Jameson Distillery or Teeling
Tapas dinner at The Port House Cava
More Optional Experiences
Walk the Grand Canal
Visit the Little Museum of Dublin
Catch a play at the Abbey Theatre
Try a traditional Irish music night or storytelling session
Take a bike tour for a unique perspective and tour of the city
Another day trip to consider is to visit beautiful Kilkenny and see the Wicklow Mountains. This tour also includes a sheepdog show!
Where to Stay in Dublin
Here are a few of our tried-and-true favorites:
🛏️ Iveagh Garden Hotel – We really enjoyed this modern, eco-friendly, and tucked in a peaceful part of the city. A little bit further out then some of our other recommendations but it is in a really cool area of Dublin right by the Iveagh Gardens. It is near a trolley station, which makes transportation convenient. We didn’t necessarily hear any noise, but just something to be aware of. Otherwise this hotel is beautiful and has an amazing bar and restaurant with an outdoor patio.
🛏️ Hyatt Centric The Liberties – This is one of our favorite hotels that we stayed in Dublin. The hotel is stylish and well-located near major sights. It had wonderful restaurants nearby and everything was quite walkable. Additionally, the hotel had a fantastic restaurant/bar and a great lounge area to relax.
🛏️ Ashling Hotel Dublin – We stayed here the very first time we visited Dublin. It offered spacious rooms and an ideal location near the Guinness Storehouse. This hotel is in a quieter part of Dublin but is an easy walk to a lot of attractions. If you are planning on exploring more of Ireland, another bonus is this hotel is very close to the Heuston Train Station which gives you easy access to the rest of Ireland.
The Iveagh Gardens right by the Iveagh Gardens Hotel
Favorite Restaurants & Cafés
🍽️ Tried, tested, and truly delicious:
Sprezzatura – Fresh handmade pasta, trendy local spot. We loved the ambiance and the food here!
Il Valentino Bakery & Café – Perfect for coffee and flaky pastries.
The Port House Cava – Cozy candlelit tapas bar. This is a really great tapas bar right in the heart of Dublin, with a fantastic wine selection. We took some family here on a visit and they also loved the variety of food to try.
Sophie’s Rooftop – Great food and panoramic city views!
Pubs - You’ll find tons of amazing pubs all throughout the city, many where you can grab an iconic pint of Guinness, a Guinness Pie, Burger or Fish and Chips. **Please note that there are some pubs that do not offer food. Traditionally pubs only served beverages but this has changed over the last several decades. One of our favorite things about Dublin is sitting down after a long day of sightseeing, enjoying a tasty, hearty meal, and washing it down with a nice pint.
Final Thoughts
Dublin is one of those cities that welcomes you like a friend. It’s lively without being overwhelming, historic without being stuck in the past, and fun without trying too hard. Whether you're sipping whiskey in a 200-year-old distillery, walking coastal cliffs in nearby Howth, or listening to live music in a backstreet pub, there's always something magical happening in Dublin. This is what keeps us coming back to this amazing city full of vibrancy and life with an amazing mix of modern touches and historical charm.
We hope this guide helps you plan your Dublin adventure! Sláinte!
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