Dublin in 4 Days: everything you need to know

Visiting Dublin is an experience that every traveler should live at least once in a lifetime. I share with you my detailed travel plan so you know everything there is to see and do in Dublin in 4 days. Keep in mind that this itinerary leaves out the day of arrival and the day of departure.

On the first day take in the sights and explore the city with a guided tour.

Take a tour to see the best Dublin has to offer

Start the morning of your first day with a sightseeing tour to quickly get to know the monuments and highlights of Dublin. In the capital of Ireland you will find many alternatives, here are my favorites.

• Bike Tour: the central part of Dublin is a practically flat terrain ideal for exploring by bike. Together with a group and an expert guide you will visit the most charming corners of Dublin for 3 hours and from 37 euros.
• Tourist bus: you are offered a bus ticket valid from 24 to 48 hours, with which you can get on as many times as you want, in addition to getting on and off at any of the more than 30 stops along the route. The price starts at 32 euros.

Visit the National Museum of Archaeology

Once you have finished your tour of Dublin, you may find yourself full of curiosity, so I recommend you take advantage of your first day to visit the most important museum in the city: the National Museum of Archaeology.

Located in the heart of Dublin, it houses an impressive collection that traces the evolution of Irish civilization since its first inhabitants with objects from 7,000 BC. You can see tools and weapons, objects from the Bronze Age and even objects from ancient Egypt.

• Hours: Monday and Sunday from 1 pm to 5 pm; Tuesday to Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm.
• Price: free of charge
• Duration of the visit: approximately 2.5 hours.

Explore Trinity College

You can't leave Dublin without visiting the oldest university in the country and the place where important figures such as Oscar Wilde and Bram Stoker received their academic training. It is only an 8-minute walk from the museum.

One of the main rooms is the Trinity College library, the oldest on campus. It houses the largest collection of manuscripts and books in the country. I recommend booking a visit to the Book of Kells to see one of the most important.

• Hours: it is best to consult the official website.
• Price: from 16€ for the adult ticket to see the library and the collection.
• Duration of the visit: the tour of the library will take 30 to 40 minutes; you can take as much time as you like touring the campus and the surrounding area.

End the day on Grafton Street

Grafton Street is one of Dublin's most important streets and a must-see. It is a busy pedestrian street as numerous musicians, street performers, stores and the pretty cafes.

The statue of Molly Malone is one of the main attractions of Grafton Street. Protagonist of Irish songs and legends, this fictional character was dedicated during the day to selling fish around the city and at night to other less respected trades.

In this famous street you will find some of the most famous Irish pubs and bars in the city, ideal for tasting the famous Irish beer. And if you're up for it, you can book a Dublin pub crawl to see the best pubs and the most important brands.

Spend the second day of your itinerary continuing your exploration of Dublin's historic center and the city's most prominent landmarks.

Wake up early to make the most of your time and see the architectural and historical gems around Dame Street.

See Dublin Castle

Dublin is a city full of impressive castles, but if you have time to see just one I would recommend booking a tour of Dublin Castle, located in the historic city center.

Over the years, this space has served multiple functions and is a place full of secrets. Although the exteriors were rebuilt in 1684, most of the interior and the rooms of the Royal Family remain intact.

• Hours: from 9.45 am to 5.45 pm.
• Price: about 8€ per person.
• Duration of the visit: 45 minutes maximum.

Stop at Dublin City Hall

Leaving the castle, the City Hall building is only a 5 minute walk away. If you like architecture, take this moment to see the beautiful structure of the Town Hall. Built in 1769, it is one of the most important jewels of Gregorian architecture in Ireland.

In addition to the beautiful facade, the most impressive of the building is the entrance hall. In addition, the roof is crowned with an imposing dome where natural light pours in through the skylights.

• Hours: from 10 am to 5.15 pm.
• Price: it is free, but if you want to see some of the exhibitions the price may vary depending on the season.
• Duration of the visit: 30 minutes are enough.

Continue to Christ Church Cathedral

Leaving the City Hall building behind, walking along Fishamble St, you will come across the oldest Protestant church in Dublin, the Christ Church or Holy Trinity Cathedral.

The structure today stands in what was originally a small wooden temple erected in 1038. During the Middle Ages much of the structure we know today was built, but a series of restorations carried out a century later accentuated the marked neo-Gothic style.

• Hours: from April to September from 9.30 am to 7 pm; from November to February from 9.30 am to 5 pm and from May to October from 9.30 am to 6 pm. Every Sunday there are reduced hours from 12.30 am.
• Price: about 7,50€ for an adult ticket.
• Duration of the visit: about 1.5 hours.

Take a break for lunch in the surrounding area

In the vicinity of the Castle and Christ Church Cathedral you will find excellent alternatives. Here are some suggestions.

• The Bull & Castle: the best place if you are in the mood for a good steak.
• Copper Alley Bistro: its specialty is traditional Irish cuisine.
• Zampas Bar & Restaurant: combines Peruvian cuisine and drinks with an Irish touch.
• Toscana City Centre: top quality Italian cuisine served in an elegant atmosphere.

Experience the Guinness' experience

From around Christ Church, the Guinness Storehouse is about a 15-minute walk west of the city. You can also get there by public transport by taking the 13 or 40 at the James Street and Lord Edward stops.

The Guinness Experience is a unique attraction and one of the most interesting things to do in Dublin. By booking your visit to the Guinness Storehouse you can see the behind-the-scenes process of the creation of this historic beer and do a tasting of the product.

• Opening hours: from 9.30 am to 7 pm; in summer July and August from 9 am to 8 pm.
• Price: 30 euros admission with audio guide.
• Duration of the visit: about 3 hours.

Get to know the dark side of Dublin

Booking the Dublin Ghost Tour is one of the best things to do in Dublin at night.

An expert guide takes the tour group by bus through the city as he narrates the shadiest aspects of the city and its people, ranging from serial killers to terrifying cannibals.

• Price: from 36€ per person.
• Duration: 2 hours.

On this day you will visit the bourgeois housing estates of central Dublin, including the Oscar Wilde House.

Spend the morning exploring Kilmainham

The former prison now converted into a museum was built in 1796. It was here that many of the leaders involved in the independence struggles of 1916 were imprisoned, tortured and executed by order of the UK government.

Although there have been no more prisoners in the cells since 1924, Dubliners continue to maintain a solemn character about Kilmainham Prison, considered a fundamental part of the nation's history.

• Hours: from April to September from 9 am to 6 pm; from October to March from 9.30 am to 5.30 pm.
• Admission fee: approximately 8€ for the adult ticket.
• Duration of the visit: about 1.5 hours.

Take the opportunity to have an early lunch

At the exit of the museum you will find many options of good restaurants and cafes in the area. Whether you are in the mood for a light snack or a more sumptuous lunch, consider the following alternatives.

• La Dolce Vita: Italian restaurant with beautiful wooden tables and chairs.
• Broyage Bar & Bistro: with a beautiful terrace, it is ideal for sitting in the sun if you visit Dublin in summer.
• URBAN8: a restaurant with a relaxed atmosphere and where to enjoy surrounded by locals.
• Four Star Pizza Kilmainham: possibly one of the best pizzerias in the area.

Start the afternoon at St. Patrick's Cathedral

From Kilmainham you can get to the Liberties Historic District by taking the 13 or 40 bus from the Inchicore Library stop. You should get off at High Street, a 7-minute walk from St. Patrick's Cathedral.

This religious temple was erected in 1191 in honor of the patron saint of the Irish and is one of the most important and beloved churches of the citizens. It is one of the most important works of English Gothic style. It is also home to Ireland's most famous choir.

• Opening hours: from March to October from 9 am to 5.30 pm; from November to February from 9.30 am to 5 pm. On Sundays the church operates on a reduced schedule.
• Admission fee: from 8 € the adult ticket.
• Duration of the visit: 30 minutes.

Visit St. Stephen's Park

Leaving St. Patrick's Cathedral, St. Stephen's Park is about 900 meters away. A 10-minute walk will bring you to the gates of one of the most important and beautiful green lungs of the city.

The park was built in 1664 and renovated in the beautiful Victorian garden style in the 19th century. It is considered one of the oldest parks in the country as well as one of the most diverse in terms of variety of trees and flowers.

• Opening hours: from 07.30 am to sunset; Sundays from 09.30 am.
• Entrance fee: free of charge.
• Duration of the visit: 1 to 2 hours is usually enough.

Visit house No. 29

After leaving the park, a 14-minute walk will take you to Fitzwilliam Street in the vicinity of Merrion Square Park. Here is your next stop: the Number Twenty Nine Museum.

It is a fabulous Georgian house in the heart of Dublin perfectly preserved and converted into a museum to give visitors a glimpse into the lifestyle of the wealthy families of the time.

• Hours: closed Mondays, all other days from 10 am to 5 pm; Sundays from 12 noon to 5 pm.
• Admission fee: from €6 per adult ticket.
• Duration of the visit: about 1 hour.

Oscar Wilde's House

In the same Merrion Square, just 5 minutes away, is the house where the famous Irish writer and his family lived until 1878.

In 1994 began an intense work of renovation to the home of Oscar Wilde and unfortunately (and for the moment) visits are complicated and is only open to the public temporarily and at certain times of the year, but you can stop by and admire the beautiful facade.

If you talk to a seasoned traveler who has visited Ireland's capital on more than one occasion, he or she may give you the following advice for seeing Dublin: if you can see other destinations beyond the capital, don't hesitate for a second!

I invite you to take advantage of your last day in the capital to book an excursion to Moher and Galway.

The cliffs, located in County Clare in the west of the country, were recognized as a UNESCO heritage site. It is a very popular attraction and for many travelers it is the main reason for a trip to Ireland.

What these tours include

Rated as one of the best tours from Dublin, you will find several local tour operators offering this experience. Although in general terms certain details of the experience may change depending on the company you hire.

In general terms, when booking a private tour you could expect:

• Private transfer to and from your location in Dublin and around all the attractions included in the tour.
• The accompaniment of an expert guide, it is possible to find even guides in Spanish for this type of experience.
• Entrance fees to the main attractions.
• Guides and gratuities are usually not included.

Useful information

• Price: from 80€ per traveler.
• Duration of the tour: about 12 hours on average, leaving early in the morning from Dublin and returning in the evening.