A Walk from Trinity College to Guinness Storehouse in Dublin
Dublin Without Maps
Dublin's twisted streets confuse visitors. Vikings cities weren't built for tourists. My solution is routes which follows one main street. Like a walking subway line, with stops on and just off the route. Never worry about getting lost!
Dame Route
The Dame Street Route takes in a lot of the most popular sites in the city. Trinity, Books of Kells, Temple Bar, Dublin Castle, Christchurch, and Guinness.
This follows Dame Street. Once you're past Christchurch, it becomes Thomas Street. Just remember those two streets and you won't get lost !
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1.Trinity College Dublin
Trinity is a 432 year old university in the heart of Dublin City. I feel lucky to be an alumni. It is free to walk through its historic grounds, but be sure to explore more than just the main square, this is a big campus full of fabulous old buildings. Trinity students lead a tour of the Trinity campus which is excellent.
2.The Book Of Kells
The Book of Kells is a 1,200-year old manuscript of the four Gospels. You'll only see four pages under glass for about 30 seconds. More impressive to me is the 300 year old Long Room. Think the kind of ancient library that Harry Potter would whizz around on.
👉1 million people a year come here. Book the fast pass to skip the long line here
3.Temple Bar
From Trinity, as you walk along Dame Street, turn down any street on the right. You are now in Temple Bar. I'm not a big fan of super touristy Temple Bar.
At the weekend, Temple Bar is full of Hen & Stag parties (Bachelor parties for our American friends). The Hens are probably going to the Irish Dance Party to learn how to Irish dance. Run by my good friend & talented musician, Dan.
There are studios, galleries & vintage stores here that make it interesting to walk through during the day. Go elsewhere at night though. Here's my alternatives to Temple Bar.
Darragh
4.Dublin Castle
Dublin Castle isn't a big hilltop castle like Edinburgh. The castle was built in 1204 and was probably impressive then. But it burned down in 1684.
Today the Record Tower remains and looks like a classic castle, but it's attached to 18th century version of government office buildings. The best part of Dublin Castle is the beautiful Dubh Linn gardens (#5 on map) behind it.
You can pay to tour the buildings but it's not one of Dublin's best museums.
Are You Flying A Red-Eye To Dublin ?
Then my Jetlag Blaster tour of Dublin City is perfect for your arrival day.
Darragh
6.Christchurch Cathedral
Vikings used to go to this 1000 year old church. I actually rang the bells at Christchurch last year! The crypt is the most interesting part of the tour for me. Not for religious reasons but to see the real cool mummified remains of Tom & Jerry, a cat and rat who got stuck in an organ pipe.
👉Book your Christchurch tour
Hotels Along The Dame Route
This is an excellent part of Dublin to stay. Very central.
- The Leonardo Dublin Christchurch. Directly across from Christchurch
- NYX Hotel Dublin. You can see Dublin Castle from its entrance. Just on the very edge of Temple Bar too, but far enough away not to be bothered by it.
Darragh
7.Dublinia
Dublinia is a museum about Vikings and medieval Dublin. Dublinia has been here nearly as long, I went here as a school kid! It's a good museum though.
Darragh
8.St Audoen’s Church
I love this old church. This is the only remaining medieval parish church in the Dublin. 900 years of weekly prayers! And it has lovely gardens to rest your feet.
Even more exciting is that it is home to the only surviving gate to Medieval Dublin. But it's hidden. Come on my guided tour and I'll show it to you. Or if you remember my tip from Dublin Castle, you might find it yourself.
9.The Liberties
The road curves a little and now you're on Thomas Street. This is the Liberties area of Dublin. It's called the Liberties because it used to be outside the city walls, so the people living here had more freedom than those within. It still has a rebellious, independent feel today. I love this part of town.
The Liberties is full of character. You'll see street traders selling toilet roll in front of an Argentinian bakery (which is delicioso!). Vicar Street is one of Dublin's best music venues, check their schedule to see who is playing.
10.Teeling Distillery
This is Ireland, so of course there's lots of whiskey. In Dublin we have Jameson, Roe & Co and the more personal Teeling Distillery.
But my favourite Dublin distillery is further down this list at #12.
11.Guinness Storehouse
It's Guinness. Go. Everyone goes. 1.7 million people went last year. It gets very busy, but I'm going to tell you the best ways to visit.
Guinness Storehouse Experience
The basic entry self guided tour. You don't actually tour the brewery. It is an exhibition with bars. But it is superbly done.. Definitely book ahead of time !!
The Guinness Connoisseur Tour
Visiting Guinness is something you'll do once in your life, so you may as well do it properly. The Connoisseur Tour is the business class of Guinness tours.
I was trying to think of how to describe it when I saw this online.
The connoisseur experience was 100% worth it. It was our first day after an overnight flight so sitting and listening to history, storytelling (& a bit of traditional irish music peppered in from a speaker at the bartender’s leisure from time to time), inside a really nice bar amid a small group was perfect. We also skipped a SUPER long line that stretched back and forth outside while it was pouring rain. They lifted a velvet rope and we were seated 2-3 mins later upstairs. It’s a flight of pints, so a lot of beer— at least 5. You learn to pour the last one yourself & they give you a certificate. 10/10 worth it over a “self tour” which is just walking around and reading things (you can still do this after the connoisseurs experience if you want to)
12.Pearse Lyons Distillery
This is my favourite Dublin distiller. It is family owned. It's an actually distillery, not an exhibition (like Jameson). Here's where to get your tickets
Read my full review about my visit to the Pearse Lyon Distillery
Darragh
Next Up
Grafton Street & its shopping district is the next route for you to explore in Dublin City.
Darragh
Come on Walking Tour
I lead walking tours, in the same style as you've just read here. No BS, but lots of good entertaining stories and spots you won't find on your own. And the best tours are my coastal village ones.
Darragh
