Things to Do on Your Next Trip to Dublin
Dublin—the home to the Book of Kells, Croke Park, and (much, much more importantly) Guinness! The Vikings founded this magnificent city on Ireland’s east coast back in 841AD. Now, it’s home to a unique combination of Irish culture and myth. Whether you’re up for catching a game of hurling, reading some of the oldest books in Europe, or itching for a trip to the National Leprechaun Museum (yes, that’s a thing), Dublin is the city for you.
There really is a new attraction around every corner—but not all of them are worth your time (ahem, The Spire, ahem). So, to avoid going green with jealousy in the Emerald Isle, take a look at our list of the top things to do on your trip to Dublin!
1. Take In a Game at Croke Park
Croke Park has been home to the Gaelic Athletic Association since they purchased the iconic venue in 1913. It’s actually the third largest stadium in Europe, with a maximum capacity of 82,300 people! Located just north of the city centre, there’s plenty to do at the stadium, including tours and concerts.
What you should really check out, though, is a game of hurling—a traditional Irish sport that has pre-medieval origins. It’s practically impossible to be bored at a hurling match; it’s one of the fastest-paced and most intense sports on the planet. Finals are often played at Croke Park, making it the perfect place to take in a match.
A Beyond Basic Guide to Hurling
In teams of 15, players use giant wooden spoon-shaped implements called hurleys to carry the small white ball (a sliotar). The aim of the game is to hit the ball into the opponent’s net, which resembles the one used in football, or over their crossbar, which resembles the one used in rugby. The ball can only be picked up from the ground using a hurley, and it can’t be thrown, but it can be hand-passed (slapped) unless scoring a goal. It also can’t be caught more than three times in a row without touching the ground, which is why it sometimes looks like hockey.
Hurling is a pretty heavy contact sport, which can leave you wondering what exactly the rules are when you see players go flying left and right. Pretty much anything goes when it comes to contact—aside from aggressive use of the hurley or pulling an opponent to the ground; all of this makes for electric atmospheres at any hurling match you check out.
2. Read at the Old Library
It’s hard to fully capture just how incredible the Old Library at Trinity College Dublin is. In fact, before you continue reading, you need to look at a picture of the Long Room to see how beautiful this historic library is. It contains row after row of floor-to-ceiling oak bookcases, which are home to over 200,000 of the library’s oldest books!
Construction on the Long Room first began back in 1712—with the iconic marble busts of famous philosophers and writers added later in the 1740s. The room also has a barrel-vaulted ceiling—constructed in the 1860s after the library was given the right to a free copy of every book published. If you’re not bowled over by the books, check out the Brian Boru harp—the oldest of its kind in Ireland, dating back to the 15th century! You might even recognise it as it’s the model for the emblem of Ireland.
Become a Bookworm
One of the most important books housed in the Long Room is one of the few existing original copies of The Proclamation of the Irish Republic. The hugely significant book dates back to 1916 and was the copy read by Pádraig Pearse at the start of the Easter Rising—the rebellion against British rule in Ireland.
After that, you can take in another of the library’s most famous books—the ninth-century gospel manuscript called the Book of Kells. You can look at the stunning ancient artistry on the pages currently on display while listening to an expert guide. To reveal more about the book, you can take a seat in the 360 experience, which displays additional images and excerpts.
Currently, you can also experience the Gaia exhibit—an illuminated installation of Earth by artist Luke Jerram. There’s also the Secret Life of the Collections, where you can learn about the overlooked history of Irish figures like Oscar Wilde and Johnathan Swift.
3. Chase a Pot of Gold at the Leprechaun Museum
No, we really weren’t joking when we said that Dublin is home to the National Leprechaun Museum! You can get lost in a magical world of myth and Irish folklore in this museum just north of Ha’penny Bridge (which is also worth a brief pit stop).
Ireland is a country steeped in folklore and legend—from the selkie and fairy trees to the Tuatha Dé Danann and Cú Chulainn. The Leprechaun Museum allows visitors to delve into Celtic myths and explore the tales behind pots of gold and leprechauns. There are storytellers and interactive graphics to guide you on your voyage through Ireland’s folklore collection, which is actually the second largest in Europe!
The Luck of the Irish
Today, leprechauns are often used—alongside shamrocks and pots of gold—to indicate the luck of the Irish. Leading Irish casino comparison site, Irishluck, even has a cheeky leprechaun as one of their mascots to bring players luck. They’re used by over 67,000 Irish players to find the very top online casino options on offer and are home to prominent voices in the industry—like Cameron Murphy, who has 12 years of industry experience under his belt and has even written a book, The Ultimate Ireland Casino and Gambling Handbook, to guide players. You can check out Irishluck’s reviews to find the best online casinos to play at while you travel to our other top Dublin destinations.
4. Sink a Pint at the Guinness Storehouse
Could we really call this a list of the best things to do in Dublin if we didn’t include sampling some of the city’s most famous export? The Guinness Storehouse is the beating heart of the city—with seven floors taking you through the journey from grain to the black stuff. For over 250 years, there’s been continuous beer brewing on the site, and it’s not set to dry up anytime soon—with Arthur Guinness signing a 9,000-year lease on the building in 1759!
It’s not just about taking a picture at the iconic St James’s Gate—there’s more to do at the Guinness Storehouse. On top of a tour exploring just how the world-famous tipple is made, you can, of course, sample some of the good stuff. Expert guides will lead you through the iconic building and even teach you how to pull a pint!
Ireland’s Most Popular Experience
Touring the Guinness brewery is, in fact, the most popular experience in the country. It’s fully immersive, with installations highlighting the different processes, ingredients, and the development of Guinness. There’s also the completely unique chance to get a ‘Stoutie’—a selfie printed onto the head of your Guinness!
If you’ve ever wandered past the Storehouse, you might have wondered what the glass additions to the top are. Well, that’s the Gravity Bar; Dubbed Dublin’s best viewpoint, it offers panoramic views of the city—the perfect accompaniment to your pint! When you come back down to Earth, you can check out the quirky collection of Guinness merch available at their gift shop. You can even pick up a personalised pint glass or go home with something you never knew you needed—like a Guinness golf ball!
5. Honourable Mentions
We simply don’t have time to cover all the awesome things you can take in on your next trip to Dublin, so we’re going to condense a few options here.
More Museums
If you’re not feeling the love for leprechauns, there are plenty of other museums to check out throughout the city. That includes EPIC—The Irish Emigration Museum—which tells the tale of Irish emigrants and their global achievements. There’s also the Museum of Literature Ireland, which is housed in the UCD Newman House, where James Joyce himself once studied. It’s well worth a trip to learn about the minds behind Ireland’s rich literary identity—whether it’s Joyce, Wilde, or Sally Rooney.
A Hat-Trick of Cathedrals
Dublin is home to three cathedrals—with the two major ones being St. Patrick’s and Christ Church, the latter of which dates back to around 1030AD and welcomed Viking worshippers. Visitors can admire the medieval tiled floor, an early copy of the Magna Carta, and even a mummified cat!
Dublin Castle
Dublin Castle was constructed on an early Viking settlement in the early 13th century; you’re still able to peer into the Viking origins of the building by checking out the Viking Excavation—a series of underground chambers. The castle is also home to one of the oldest surviving parts of the city—the Medieval Tower, which dates from the early 1200s. There’s plenty more to check out, including the Chapel Royal—a spectacular display of Gothic Revival architecture!
Where Should You Visit in Dublin?
It’s impossible to include everything that’s worth checking out in this great city in this short of a list, but we have covered some of the highlights. Ticking off a combination of these attractions will mean you get that perfect balance of history and culture, not to mention pints of Guinness!
