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Check out this amazing Dublin weekend trip! Here is the best 2-day getaway that you don’t want to miss!
Day 1 – Dublin Weekend Trip Begins at Trinity College
Start at Trinity College, Ireland’s oldest university. Trinity College was founded in 1592, to resemble the colleges of Oxford and Cambridge. This is a beautiful campus! Trinity College is also one of my most favorite campuses to visit. I used to dream of going to college here years ago. It is picturesque and a walkable location to most of the spectacular city of Dublin.
We next explored the Library’s Reading Room where the Book of Kells is housed. Written around 800 AD, the Book of Kells is a beautiful Latin manuscript of the Four Gospels written by Irish monks.
Dublin Castle
From Trinity, take a short walk to Dublin Castle, located in the city’s historic section. In continuous operation since 1204, the castle has hosted every presidential inauguration and other prestigious government events.
Next door is the Chester Beatty Library, which houses ancient Western, Islamic, and East Asian texts. Open 10am-5pm, verify hours on their website found here. Admission is FREE. It was a fun visit, but we kept it relatively short as we had a full day still ahead!
A history focused trip to Dublin wouldn’t be complete without a stop at the cathedral of the country’s patron saint, St. Patrick. Built between the years of 1220 and 1260, Saint Patrick’s Cathedral is one of the last buildings from the Medieval period and is the largest cathedral in Ireland. Definitely beautiful, and worth a visit if you enjoy visiting cathedrals.
Next, head further west and see Kilmainham Gaol Museum. Approximately 45 minutes to see. Hours are currently, April – September: Daily 09:30 – 18:00 (last admission at 17:00). Last tickets at 5pm and closes at 6pm. Be sure to book in advance as tickets for sell out fast. This is a must see if you are visiting Dublin! I do recommend a early morning tour if your schedule allows, and see the museum following the tour.
On the way back into Dublin City Center stop at The Brazen Head, Ireland’s oldest pub (dating back to 1198). Here is their website information found here. A fun place to grab a quick pint.
Dublin Weekend in the Temple Bar District
Eat dinner and we explored Temple Bar district. Lot of fun and interesting pubs to check out. Trip Advisor has a lot of great information found here.
HOTEL: The Merrion, a gorgeous 5-star boutique hotel and spa is located between St. Stephen’s Green and Merrion Square Park. It is like an oasis in the middle of bustling city with it’s beautiful garden area. Their service is top rated as well as their food. However, if you are looking for a most cost friendly option, I would also recommend The Morgan Hotel in Temple Bar which is in the heart middle of the action, Grafton Street and O’Connell Street in Dublin city center. The rooms are well appointed and contemporary style. After dinner there is plenty of action in the Temple Bar scene.
Day 2 – Dublin Weekend – Shopping & Guinness Tour
We started our day with shopping and exploring the city of Dublin. A couple hours were spent just on Grafton Street, strolling along and seeing the sights.
After lunch, I recommend seeing either the Guinness Storehouse or Jameson Distillery (or even better do both!).
I have been to Dublin a few times, and for a first time visitor the Guinness Storehouse an enjoyable tour with a free pint at the end with an amazing city view. I loved it at 18 years old, over 18 years ago now. Where does time go?! Anyway, it’s worth a visit if Guinness is something you drink. Plan at least a couple hours.
The Jameson Distillery is another great stop while in Dublin. It is located just off of Smithfield Square in Dublin, Ireland. It is the original site where Jameson Irish Whiskey was distilled until 1971. The tour begins with a self guided e section going through the history of Jameson. Then, you get a guided version that goes into more depth on how the whiskey is made, and of course, taste test. It is a fun experience!
St. Stephen’s Green
The afternoon we spent time in the leisurely park, St. Stephen’s Green. It is a Victorian layout with paths winding through the trees, fountains and ponds, grassy fields and themed gardens. Here is a link to their website. Nearby is Stephen’s Green Shopping Center, which is nice on a rainy day when we needed to get out of the weather. Also, nearby is the National Museum of Ireland, Little Museum of Dublin, and the National Gallery of Ireland.
I hope you enjoyed my short weekend, or 2-day trip to Dublin! There is so much to see and do in this city. Therefore, we try to see something new each time we visit.
