Top Things to Do in the Dublin | Must-See Attractions & Experiences

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Places To Visit In Dublin

Chester Beatty Library

The Chester Beatty Library is a huge collection of paintings, literature, drawings and arts from all over the world. The library was initially established in 1950, and showcases the extensive collection of Sir Alfred Chester Beatty. The Library comprises many priceless, rare classics. The current building of the library, within the expanse of the Dublin Castle's area, was opened in the year 2000. The collections are from different regions of the world, mainly Islamic, Western, and East Asia. These provide a great insight to the knowledge, lives and values of the people from these regions. The library is home to many absolutely rare and priceless objects, including a volume of the 'Life of the Prophet', and the 'Gospel of Mani'. Read More

Christ Church Cathedral is the official seat of the Archbishop of Dublin. It is the older of the two Cathedrals in Dublin. The church's architecture is from both the medieval and the Victorian eras. This historic cathedral is located near Wood Quay, at the end of Lord Edward Street. Built around 1030, it has seen a huge number of changes to it's affiliations and administration since it's inception. A large part of the cathedral today dates back to the Victorian era, due to it's desperate need of renovation. The crypt of the Christ Church is massive in size, in fact the largest in Britain and Ireland, adorned with historical monuments and architectural features. The cathedral bells are also a famous feature of the Christ Church. Read More

The Dublin Castle is a historic structure that has served many purposes since it's inception in the 13th century. Today, it serves as a government complex. Various halls and rooms of the castle are used to on various occasions, and the castle grounds also play host to musical concerts. The Dublin Castle was initially built as a defence structure in 1230 on the orders of King John. It then served as the seat of the British govt of Ireland till the 16th century, the Kingdom of Ireland till the 18th century, and then till 1922, was the centre of administration for the government of the United Kingdom in Ireland. The castle has a courtyard in the middle, surrounded by large walls on all sides, accompanied by watch towers. Over the years, however, owing to damage sustained due to time and many fire outbreaks, many renovations have taken place, and hardly any of the medieval castle is now left standing. Today, the castle serves as a tourist attraction, and for state ceremonies. Read More

The Dublin Writers Museum was opened in 1991, in an authentic 18th century house at Parnell Square. It aims to promote Irish literature and interest in the subject. The museum came up in an attempt to spread the knowledge about Irish literature. The museum has a wide collection of works by Irishmen, and also hosts numerous activities regularly to incite an interest in the subject and lives of the famous Irish writers. The museum features artists who have contributed to Irish literature as a whole, or have made substantial contributions locally as well. Read More

What is a visit to Dublin without indulging in Irish beer? The Guinness Storehouse allows you to do so, with quite the unique experience. Several bars in the building itself give one plethora of options to taste different kinds of beers. There is also a souvenir shop onsite. Opened in 2000, the Guinness Storehouse is a major tourist attraction of Dublin. The 7 floor building takes you through the process of brewing, and also the history of the brand and it's famous advertising. There are various bars throughout the building, such as the Perfect Pint Bar, where you can pour your own pint, the Brewery bar, where Guinness is used in cooking of food, and the rooftop Gravity Bar, where you can cash in for your complimentary Guinness which is included in the ticket. There is also a souvenir shop, with items such as mugs, tee shirts and other mementos for you to take home. Read More

Kilmainham Gaol is a prison museum in Dublin. Built in 1796 as a prison and re-opened as a museum in 1971, this was the place where several Irish rebels and leaders were imprisoned and hung during the national movement of 1916, the Easter Rising, in addition to common criminals. It houses a huge part of the Irish nationalist history. After it was shut down in 1924, there were various agitations to preserve the prison as a monument of national history. Since opening in 1971, it has proven to be a very important museum of Irish history. It takes the visitor back to the times of the Easter Rising and the struggles for independence throughout history. Over the independence struggles of the last 2 centuries, nearly all the leading Irish revolutionaries have been inside the walls of this prison. There are exhibitions of paintings and sculptures of prisoners in the museum now, and guided tours will take you through the minute details of the prison. Read More

Located just north of Dublin, the majestic Malahide Castle dates back to the 12th century, when Richard Talbot was given the 'lands and harbour of Malahide' by King Henry II. The total area of the castle estate, which stands at a staggering 260 acres, today serves as a tourist attraction operated by Dublin Tourism. Some parts of the castle dates back to it's construction in the 12th century, while others, like the towers, were added as recently as the late 18th century. You can take a guided tour of the castle, or visit the botanical garden behind the castle. The vast parkland has been used for concerts of famous artists, such as Radiohead, Arctic Monkeys, Eric Clapton and Prince. At the same time, a golf course, tennis courts, a cricket ground are also used often. Read More

Established in 1795, the National Botanical Gardens today are the center of botanical research in the country. The gardens are made brilliantly, complete with glasshouses to cater to the specific needs of some plants. It is located in Glasnevin, just a few kilometers away from city centre. The garden today is home to more than 20,000 specimens of plants, which can be found all over the green expanse. Since it's establishment, it has gone through numerous renovations over the years after deteriorating due to negligence. It also contains a museum which displays a vast variety of plant products ranging from seeds to fruits. The Palm House and the Curvilinear Range are the two glasshouses currently functional in the garden, which have been refurbished a few times over the years due to the rotting of wood and iron used in their construction. Today, the entire complex serves to provide an interesting insight into plants and the field of botany. Read More

The National Gallery of Ireland is the country's national Irish and European arts collection. Its collection is expansive, housing around 14000 pieces of artwork. It houses art pieces from all over Europe and some of the most historical Irish and European artwork on Merrion Square West. It was initially founded in 1852, and has been renovated and extended, along with receiving donations of both artworks and finances to aid the process over the years. Whereas it started out with a small collection of merely 125 paintings Works of men from France, Italy, Germany, Spain, and Netherlands among others are laid out all over the museum. It has various exhibitions throughout the year. Read More

National Museum of Ireland - Archaeology

The archaeology wing of the National Museum of Ireland is located on Kildare Street. It showcases artifacts uncovered in Ireland since pre-historic times, all the way up to the medieval period. It best known globally for gems like Ardagh Chalice, Tara Brooch and Derrynaflan Hoard. These particular collections are depicted in permanent exhibitions in the museum, which will guide you through the timeline of how tools, ornaments and daily objects evolved over centuries, from the stone age to the medieval period. Bodies of men believed to be sacrificed have also been recovered, with 4 of them on display in the museum. Read More