Hey friends.
While visiting family back in Eastern Europe this August, we will do a short trip to Dublin, Ireland. We will arrive August 14th and stay 4 days.
It will be my wife and I and our 16 year old twin sons.
Any suggestions for things to do while there? Thanks in advance for recommendations.
We didn’t love Dublin so my advice would be to take a train to Galway or Cork or to one of the more touristy small village areas. Country is small so doesn’t take a long time to get between major areas. My biggest pleasant surprise of Ireland was that there was great food everywhere we went - I never expected that.
Well, you have to spend one day touring the Temple Bar, Trinity College, Grafton Street, St. Stephen’s Green area. Another day, you could take the DART up to Howth and book Shane’s Howth Adventures Walking Tours. I would also look to see what local festivals might be on while you’re there, depending on your interests. Enjoy!
Take one of those day trip bus tours out to the country - there are several options.
The Book of Kells is worth it just to see the library.
The highlight for us was the (somewhat quirky) Leprechaun Museum. Lots of great opportunities for interesting selfies and a fun hour.
Day trip 1: Newgrange (there are plenty of bus day trip options)- older than Stonehenge or the pyramids.
Day trip 2: Up & back to Belfast on the train: Titanic exhibit
OR (if they watched Game of Thrones) one of the bus trips to GoT sites
OR bus day trip to Giant’s Causeway & Carrick-a-rede bridge.
(nb, Viator tends to have good day trip options through various local outfits).
Dublin night activity: Johnnie Fox’s (up in the Wicklow mountains- they have a bus from various centers around Dublin) IF they would enjoy some singing & dancing
IF they would enjoy a good walk, day trip to Glenadalough
IF they enjoy theatre, see what’s on at the Abbey / Gate / Gaiety
Some additions to already listed stuff: Kilmainham Jail for the history.
The Celt pub for an authentic music experience
Guinness Tour for fun, good views
We loved the Viator day trip up to Belfast that included the Titanic museum and then over to Giant’s Causeway & Carrick-a-rede bridge. Otherwise just bumming around town with a hop on/off tour ticket is really easy. The Book of Kells was crazy busy when we were there Jan 2020 so we passed. Emigration Museum is very good. We also took a day trip down to Cork and Blarney for the full Tourist Experience.
We’re not super rigid, so we like to keep the expectations light, the itinerary loose and enjoy what turns up (eg the Dead Animal Zoo is worth an hour, but see note below.) YMMV, but know yourselves and how much structure you require to feel like you’re not wasting your time.
Note about Dublin’s Natural History Museum
Thanks all. Some really great suggestions. Started looking into all the things written above and I am sure my wife and I will create a good itinerary for us and the boys.
If you want to see some of the beautiful parts of coastal Dublin and do it cheaply, buy an all day ticket on the DART and go all the way up north to Malahide and Howth, and down south to Dun Laoghaire and Dalkey. There are some lovely villages along this line and some wonderful views of the Irish Sea.
And for meals, go to the pubs and partake of the “carvery”. Plenty of great food at reasonable prices (and TONS of potato dishes!)
Cheap travel and cheap great food…a twofer that can’t miss!
We went a few years ago. Took a bus took to the Cliffs of Moher which was a must see. Just FYI - it was in September and very cold/windy at the cliffs. I wish I had taken a heavier jacket.