Dublin Things to Do

Largely regarded as one of the most quintessentially ‘Irish’ of Ireland’s cities, Galway is the gateway to Western Ireland’s many sights and makes a hugely popular inclusion on any visitor’s travel itinerary.

Around 2.5 hours from Dublin, Galway is well connected to the capital, with daily trains and buses running to the west coast and a wide range of options for day trips and tours from Dublin. Galway’s main attractions lie along the rugged Atlantic coastline of Galway Bay, straddling the border of County Clare and County Galway.

With an abundance of scenic landscapes and historic sights easily reachable from Dublin, there are plenty of options for getting out of the city. Wicklow, known as the ‘Garden of Ireland’ thanks to its diverse and beautiful greenery, makes for a popular day trip and hikers can enjoy the varied terrain of the 132km-long Wicklow Way walking trail that crosses the county. Combine a visit to the town with a look at the 6^th century monastic ruins nearby Glendalough located in the rugged Wicklow Mountains National park, where scenes from Braveheart and, more recently, PS.I Love You, were filmed.

You can’t get more romantic than the resting place of Saint Valentine himself (relics of the patron Saint are located in the Whitefriar Street Church) and Dublin offers the perfect backdrop for a romantic city break. Here are a few ideas for getting in the mood in Ireland‘s capital.

If you’ve only got one day in Dublin you’ll need to get busy because this is a city with a long history and plenty of world-class things to see and experience.

1) Hop-On-Hop-Off Bus

This is a great way to move between all the important sights and see the city as you go by from the open-top double-decker bus. There are 20 stops around the city and on-board commentary, so you will have seen and learned about the whole city by the end of the day.

When you feel like a break from the bustling city life of Dublin, do what the Dubliners do and head for a walk along the Howth Coastal Path.

The small village of Howth is located 9.5 miles (15 kilometers) northeast of Dublin’s city center and easily reached on the DART, Dublin’s rapid transport system.

South of the village is Howth Head, a headland full of sights and scents to fill the senses and views to take your breath away. The coastal path is well-marked.