Two Days In Dublin Itinerary
Two days in Dublin lets you see both the famous sights & more local Dublin. It's enough for you get a feel for the city and know there's a lot more to see on your next trip to Dublin.
You may have just landed after overnight flight, so on Day 1, you'll stay in the city, close to your hotel room and coffee shop. After some rest, on Day 2, you'll go explore more of coastal Dublin. This is the best part of Dublin and missed by so many visitors. But not you!
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Day 1 : Dublin City
9am-1pm. The Tourist Sights
This morning you'll see the main tourist landmarks. I know everyone wants to see them and this walk brings you past all of them. Go into any that interest you, but I'm only allocating one morning for the real tourist stuff, because I think there's much better things to see in Dublin.
We'll start at Trinity College which is the centre point for Dublin and a landmark you can use so you'll always know where you are.
From Trinity's main gate, follow Dame Street to the main tourist attractions in Dublin. Temple Bar, Dublin Castle, Christchurch Cathedral, Dublinia, Teeling Whiskey and Guinness Storehouse.
This page has full details of this route.
Darragh
1pm-2pm: Lunch
When I'm sightseeing, I just want a quick lunch. I don't want to linger and lose time. These are all on or very close to the route and do quick service.
Rosie's Cafe Across from Christchurch, this is a local family run cafe with good sandwiches. I used to live close by and ate here a lot.
Fallon & Byrne Foodhall Restaurant quality food served from counter. Very popular with nearby workers. Chat to locals at the communal table.
Loose Cannon I see visitors asking about "authentic Irish food" all the time. It's not fish & chips, definitely not anything with corn beef. No, it's the humble toasie. If you don't know what a toastie is, come here to learn.
2pm-5pm: Dubliners Dublin
Now we leave the tourist trail behind and go to more local Dublin, where Dublin itself is the attraction not museums.
Dublin is small and we can use Trinity as the base again and use Grafton Street as the street to follow.
One block from Grafton Street is my favorite part of all of Dublin, the Dublin Creative Quarter with its independent Irish shops, coffee shops and restaurants. St Stephen's Green is excellent for people watching, but make the effort to find the hidden Iveagh Gardens along this route too.
Here are some cool things to do along the route:
- Forge your own Irish Claddagh Ring in Silverworks.
- If you're tired of walking, you could take the Afternoon Tea on a vintage bus.
- Lunchtime theatre in Bewley's Cafe. One hour plays in this historic cafe.
Here is full details for this afternoon's route
Darragh
5pm : Your Hotel
The Green is one of my favorite Dublin hotels and is central to all of today's tours. Fantastic hotel. Here are all my Dublin hotel recommendations and which are the best areas to stay
Ireland by Locals
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Email me or comment below for free personal recommendation
7pm-Bed: Camden Street
You're going to spend the evening in Camden Street. It's full of restaurants and bars. This is where Dubliners go at night, not touristy Temple Bar.
Here are my favorite restaurants on Camden Street. Book ahead for all of them. Tuesday is the new Thursday in Dublin as I found out on my recent Tuesday night.
Dinner
- Camden Kitchen: Book ahead for this tiny but delicious restaurant. You'll be touching elbows with your neighbor but it just adds to the atmosphere. Love it!
- Richmond Restaurant: Michelin Bib Gourmand tells you all you need to know. A minimalistic menu which I love, less decisions, more eating.
- Mister S: Meat & more meat cooked over fire. When it's cold outside, eat here.
- Masa: A Dublin taqueria with super tacos and quick, friendly service.
- Pickle: I just read an article where Irish Michelin chefs were asked their favorite curry place in Ireland. Seven of them chose Pickle.
Drinks
The beauty of the Camden Mile is that you just walk into any bar that you like the look of. There's always another next door. Here are some of my regulars.
- Cassidy's on Camden is a classic Dublin pub. On Wednesday nights they have trad music. Not playing for tourists, but for themselves.
- The Bleeding Horse has been here for a few hundred years, at least they claim. I've enjoyed my few decades of pints in there.
- Devitt's has a lovely bar with a strong whiskey collection. Can be very busy and usually has music. Sometimes a younger crowd, always friendly.
Pub Tour
I lead pub tours if you'd like a local expert (really, I've spent way too much time in Dublin pubs) to show you around. Stories & pints. The perfect combo.
Day 2: Coastal Dublin & Guinness
Today is about getting out of the city and seeing my favorite part of Dublin, by the sea. It's the nicer part of Dublin for me and a side many visitors skip.
9am-1pm: Dalkey Island & Killiney Bay
Take the Dart train 25 minutes to Dalkey. This is a wealthy area with the most gorgeous sea views in Dublin. You'll take a 5 minute boat to an old Viking island and then walk along the Vico Road, Dublin's most expensive road, for views over Killiney Bay.
This is the most popular and my own favorite of all my walks. Full details here.
Ireland by Locals
The Goat Boat
You could also do see this area from the goat boat. This fast boat brings you on a wildlife and history tour in this part of Dublin Bay. It's the most fun thing to do in all of Dublin for me! You have to book well in advance for it. Superb!
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1pm-2pm: Lunch
Dalkey has so many excellent food spots. My favorites are:
- Thyme Out
- The Country Bake
- The Club
Have lunch out here surrounded by Dubliners, not other tourists. Then take the train back to the city.
3pm-6pm: Guinness Storehouse
Ok, no more waiting, it's time for Guinness. Honestly though, I'd be just as happy spending the money in some of Dublin's best pubs, but I get that everyone wants to go to Guinness when they're in Ireland. And it is a very good experience. The views from the Gravity Bar are worth it alone.
There are different tour options which people find confusing:
- Regular Entry: This is a self guided tour through the Storehouse with a free pint at the end. Noisy & crowded, but lots of fun.
- The Connoisseur Experience: Think of it as the Business Class of Guinness with a personal guided tour and tasting in a private bar. It gets very high ratings.
- Guinness Storehouse, Roe & Co Irish Whiskey Tour: Skip the line guided tour of Guinness & a whiskey distillery.
4pm-5pm Pearse Lyons Distillery
If you want a more relaxed day or crowds aren't your thing, you could do this instead of Guinness. Just across the road from Guinness is the Pearse Lyons Distillery. I like that it is the only Irish family owned distillery in Dublin. It is in an old church and I love that you get a whiskey as soon as you walk in!
Darragh
If It's Raining
It's Ireland and a sprinkle of rain is always possible so pack a good rain coat and you'll be ok. Our rain tends to be light mist rather than torrential downpour.
Here are some other things to do in Dublin on a rainy day.
- Go to a museum. Here are all my museum reviews
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pm
7pm: Last Night In Dublin
Relax at the hotel before heading out for the evening. You've had a busy day so we're going to stay very central tonight. All of these restaurants are within 5 minutes walk of Trinity College.
Dinner
It's your last night in Dublin (for now), so let's go somewhere nice and relax after a busy two days
- Trocadero. Long the home of the theatre patrons, it's been there so long, they are doing something right. Very central
- Comet: The Irish Times headline in their review was "Is this Irelandâs next Michelin star restaurant in the making?". Book now while you can.
- Montys of Kathmandu. You're probably going somewhere else in Ireland so enjoy some excellent ethnic food that you won't find in smaller towns.
Drinks
You've had some Guinness already, so let's go for a cocktail tonight.
- 9 Below is in a basement as all good cocktail bars should be. Dark & moodily lit.
- The Sidecar at the Westbury. A hotel bar but don't let that fool you. Locals go here too for one of their 18 superb cocktails.
If you do want one last pint of Guinness, here are my favorite pubs in Dublin. A lifetime of research has gone into this.
Darragh
Wrapping Up
In just two days, you'll have been all over Dublin City, both during the day and night and seen places even some locals haven't been to.
You might even go home with hint of a Dublin accent.
Darragh
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