Dublin

3 Days In Dublin Itinerary

Darragh

21 Jul 2025 — 6 min read

In three days you are going to see a lot of Dublin, more than most Dubliners have even seen!

This post builds on my 2 Days in Dublin Itinerary. Read that if you haven't already.

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Day 3

Howth Cliffs

9am: Howth is famous for the Howth Cliff Walk. It's hard to believe you're in a capital city when all you hear is sea birds as you walk along the narrow cliff paths. My Howth guide has all the info you need for the perfect day in Howth.

Lunch in Howth

12pm: Howth is a working fishing harbour with excellent fish restaurants.

Octopussy's Seafood Tapas has Irish seafood with a mediterranean twist.
Mamó is a step above a regular fish & chips restaurant. Pricey but worth it.

Howth Coastal Boat Tour

1pm: You've earned a rest after the cliff walk, take a boat trip around the Ireland's Eye island where you'll see birds, panoramic views & marine habitats.

Check Boat Schedule

2pm: Take the train 30 minutes back to the city

Note : Don't go to Howth at the weekend! Howth gets too busy on weekends and the cliff paths are not built for crowds. So get there by 10am or skip it.

The nearby Guinness Park walk is an excellent weekend alternative especially on Saturdays when the Farmers Market is on.

Relax in Dublin

3pm: Creative Quarter

You've had a busy few days. It can be overwhelming trying to fit everything it so let's relax and build in some downtime.

You're more a local than a tourist by now, so do as Dubliners do and go to South William Street for a quiet afternoon pint outside Grogans and people watch.

Or a coffee at Kaph, or a tea at Clement & Pekoe. Forge that souvenir ring at Silverworks. Do a recovery session sauna & Ice bath at Saint Studios

Your trip doesn't need to have every minute planned.

Dinner in Ranelagh

7pm: Dublin is a city of villages & Ranelagh is one of my favorites. This is an upmarket area with a main street filled of restaurants and bars and Dublin locals. It's within walking distance of the city or take the Luas tram. These is a side of Dublin tourists don't go to, which is exactly why you should.

One of my favourite hotels in Dublin is in Ranelagh. The Devlin is small on space, huge on style. Check if they have a rare availability and stay here.

Restaurants in Ranelagh

Go for a pre-dinner drink at McSorleys or Smiths. For dinner I love the tacos at Humphrey's, the Italian at Gigi and the Pakistani at Kinara, but the Irish Times restaurant critics Best Places to Eat in Ranelagh Now will tell you more.

Movie Or Comedy Club

9pm: After dinner, you have a choice. Have a quieter night at Dublin's best cinema or laugh at Irish comedians. Both are excellent options.

The Stella Cinema

Walk the ten minutes through a lovely part of old Dublin to another village, Rathmines. Rathmines has long been home to the students of Dublin so it has that energy that they bring, but with an old school Dublin feel too. The fantastic Stella Cinema is a vintage 30s era Art Deco theater where you get cocktails and popcorn.

Comedy Club

Alternatively, you've been in Dublin a few days now. You're used to our accent so let's go to a comedy club. Irish people are natural storytellers and our humor can't be beat. These are the best ones.

Well Done!

After 3 days, you've seen a huge amount of Dublin. A good mix of Dublin, some tourist sights, more local spots, and enough villages that you can see yourself living here.

The only way you could have do it better was if you came on a walking tour in Dublin with me!