Dublin Things to Do

Fans of the book from all corners of the world gather in Dublin for the celebration, to commemorate the life and works of the legendary Joyce and to indulge in a tour of Dublin’s Ulysses-inspired sights. The principal pastime of festival participants is to recreate ‘a day in the life of Leopold Bloom’ as told in the book, and many fans take to dressing in early 20th century period clothing (the book is set in 1904) and starting their day with a breakfast of sausages, beans, black and white pudding and toast in honor of their beloved protagonist.

St Patrick’s Day, held annually on March 17th, is one of Ireland’s biggest celebrations with Dublin at the center of festivities. Held in honor of St Patrick, the Patron Saint of Ireland, St Patrick’s Day, or St Paddy’s Day as it’s often nicknamed, is the most traditionally Irish day of the year, a national holiday on which huge crowds of revelers take to the streets wearing shamrocks, donning green clothing (the symbolic color of Ireland) and downing pints of Guinness.

Dublin might not boast an iconic lookout point like the London Eye or the Eiffel Tower, but there are still a number of ways to get a great view of the city. Whether sipping a hearty pint of Guinness in the city’s highest bar or watching the sunset from the nearby mountaintop, here are 5 of Dublin’s best viewpoints.

Whether you’re traveling Dublin on a tight budget or blew your travel funds on one of the city’s notorious pub-crawls, there are plenty of ways to explore the Irish capital for free. Here are some ideas for exploring Dublin without spending a cent.

While visitors to Dublin flock to marvel at the historic grounds of Dublin Castle, few take the time to wander the castle gardens, a pocket of tranquility despite their central location, and a popular picnic spot for locals in the know.

With shorter days, frosty mornings and more than a few downpours, you’d be forgiven for thinking Dublin is a gloomy place to spend the winter months, but think again. Whether celebrating at one of the many winter festivals or cozying up in the local pub, Dublin has plenty to offer this winter.

With almost as many museums in the city as pubs, Dublin’s reputation as a cultural center remains secure, but the best thing about the city’s impressive art and science exhibits is that a huge number of them are absolutely free.

With its rich literary history, landmark architecture and vibrant pub culture, Ireland’s capital has plenty to entice visitors to its shores, but with prices on par with the rest of Western Europe, a trip to Dublin can soon run up a hefty bill. Don’t be put off if you’re on a budget, though; with some careful planning, a little money can go a long way. Here are a few tips to get you started.

As a UNESCO City of Literature, Dublin has long nurtured its reputation for inspiring writers, playwrights and poets. James Joyce, Oscar Wilde and Samuel Beckett have all called the Irish capital home, and the city’s rich literary history has set the scene for an impressive array of independent bookstores. Whether you’re looking to pick up a bargain, hunt down a rare find or purchase a classic novel, here are five of the best places to start looking.

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.