Dublin Things to Do

Ireland’s lively capital never fails to win over visitors with its blend of historic sights and laid-back social scene, but before you plan your itinerary, here are a few things NOT to do in Dublin.

With its penchant for lively Irish dancing and beer-fuelled pub sing-alongs, it’s no surprise that Dublin’s music scene makes a popular haunt for music lovers. While music fans will find plenty of variety in the Irish capital, most popular is the chance to watch some traditional Irish music and many of the city’s historic pubs host live music sessions.

Gaelic football might be the national sport, but rugby is the sport of choice for many of Ireland’s sports fans and such is the popularity of the rough-and-tumble sport, that if there’s a rugby match on, you’ll be hard pushed to find a pub in Dublin that hasn’t tuned their TVs into the game. A major competitor in the annual Six Nations Championship (contested against England, France, Italy, Scotland and Wales) and 11-time champions, Ireland’s love of rugby shows no sign of waning.

With its heavy drinking reputation and abundance of bars, pubs and clubs, Dublin’s nightlife is legendary and whether you’re looking to listen to live music, tour the city’s historic pubs or dance until the early hours, there are options to suit all tastes. The party atmosphere is in full swing during the city’s annual festivals, especially St Patrick’s Day, but whenever you arrive in Dublin, they’ll always be a good excuse for a pint, or several, of Ireland’s national brew, Guinness.

Held in honor of the region’s world-renowned prawns – large, flavorsome crustaceans that originated from Dublin’s coast – the Dublin Bay Prawn Festival is one of the city’s most exciting food events, running over 3 days each spring in the coastal suburb of Howth.

From riotous pub-crawls to a packed calendar of city festivals, Dublin knows a thing or two about how to throw a party. Vibrant parades, talented buskers and an endless supply of Guinness are on the agenda at the city’s annual street festivals – here’s the lowdown on the best events.

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.

With its original construction dating between 1204 and 1220, Dublin Castle encompasses some of the city’s oldest surviving structures, although today much of its façade dates back to 18th century restorations. The dramatic fortress boasts a varied history, built on the site of an earlier Viking fortress and serving as the seat of British for over 700 years. Since the 1922 establishment of the Irish Free State, the castle has become a major conference centre for the Irish Government, as well as topping the list of Dublin tourist attractions.

Whether you’re into effects-heavy blockbusters or hip art house flicks, you’ll likely still enjoy the vibe at Dublin’s coolest cinema, the Irish Film Institute (IFI). In the center of Dublin’s popular Temple Bar District, the institute is home to a cinema, library, bookshop and café, and hosts an ever-changing roster of independent films, many of which are not shown anywhere else in Ireland.

Nobody wants to miss an opportunity to party and Dublin’s epic NYE Dublin festival provides a myriad of options for making New Year’s Eve a night to remember. From street markets and movie screenings to a public fireworks display and an enormous music concert, here’s the lowdown on bringing in 2013, Dublin-style.