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Dublin's fascinating and significant attractions are so numerous that it's worth learning useful information about them in advance. Please read this review carefully. We will tell you about what every tourist should see in Dublin.
What is the first thing to see in Dublin?
Whatever period of the year your trip is planned, guides in Dublin will advise you to visit the following objects:
1. Dublin Castle
Dublin Castle in Dublin
The beautiful old palace was erected at the direction of King I. Landless in the 13th century. In that ancient era, the castle was the most modern building in the whole country. Currently, meetings of international diplomats are held here, conferences are organized. Reviews of Dublin Castle indicate that you can inspect it from the inside infrequently – on those infrequent days when it is not used for business purposes.
Official website: http://www .dublincastle
2. Kilmanham
Kilmainham Prison (Victorian Wing) in Dublin
In former times (18th-20th centuries) the facility served as a prison for political criminals in Ireland. A lot of executions were carried out in the prison, so the atmosphere is quite gloomy and oppressive. What can attract you to a trip to Kilmanham? Our recommendation to visit it is due to the fact that now the prison has been converted into a curious museum – it is a huge labyrinth with cells for especially dangerous prisoners.
Official website:http://kilmainhamgaolmuseum
3. National Gallery of Ireland
National Gallery of Ireland Dublin dahon
Where to go in Dublin for art lovers? To the National Gallery of the 19th century (the new building was erected in the 20th century). In the exhibition halls you can enjoy the works of art by famous masters from Ireland, Holland, Italy and other European countries. Initially, the museum had about 120 paintings. But in the future, including thanks to donations, this number increased significantly.
4. National Botanical Garden
National Botanic Garden Corner
The natural attractions of Dublin are no less interesting than the man-made ones. In the garden, covering an area of 25 hectares, there are over 20,000 unique plantings from different parts of the Earth. The area is divided into thematic zones, separated by ponds and colorful canals. Local residents and guests of the city love to walk along well-groomed alleys, look at chic greenhouses, original alpine slides and luxurious flower beds. Such interesting places in Dublin can be visited at any time of the year.
Official website: http://botanicgardens.
5. Irish Museum of Modern Art
Irish Museum of Modern Art Dublin
Over 25 years ago, the grand opening of a museum complex dedicated to contemporary art took place in the former Royal Hospital of the 17th century. All rooms for the accommodation of patients and the work of doctors were converted into an exhibition of expositions. In the cultural center you can look at the paintings of both Irish and foreign artists. In addition, concerts and theatrical performances are regularly held here.
Official site: https://imma.
See the beautiful places of Dublin in this wonderful video!
6. Guinness Beer Museum
Guinness Museum Dublin Doug Kerr
Even if you are not a fan of beer, you should definitely visit such sights of Ireland. You will learn about the three-century history of the legendary Guinness brand. Including how a small family brewery became one of the most valuable brands in the world. The museum has a beer restaurant with a beautiful observation deck, which allows you to exchange entrance tickets for glasses of a drink. If you don't know what to visit in Dublin, but want to have fun and take your time, this option is just right for you.
Official website: https://www.guinness
7. St. Patrick's Cathedral
St. Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin
The largest temple of the state, created in the 12th century. The cathedral complex includes the main building, a beautiful garden, the archbishop's palace and several other unique objects, such as the statue of D. Swift. Of particular interest is the architecture of the cathedral itself, built in the Neo-Gothic style: high vaults, artistic carvings on wooden decor, giant windows. There is an organ inside the temple.
Official website: https://www.stpatrickscathedral
8. Powerscourt Estate
Powerscourt Estate south of Dublin William Murphy
This famous mansion has never been used as a residential building. Even today, premises in it are offered for rent: there are offices of various companies, a shop in the village of Avoca and a toy museum. Tourists are allowed to visit the ballroom once a week. On all other days, you can just walk around the building.
Official website: https://powerscourt.com/
9. Phoenix Park
Phoenix Park – city park in Dublin
Speaking about the best sights of Dublin, this vast green area should be mentioned. In the middle of the 17th century, the hunting estates of the ruler of the state, the Duke of Ormond, were located here. Later, starting from 1745, the park complex was opened to everyone.
Official website: http://phoenixpark
10. Church of Christ
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Christ Cathedral in Dublin
The date of construction of the cathedral is the 11th century. The original façade of the church has managed to survive unaltered to this day. As for the interiors, they came to us in the form that they were given during the restoration in the 19th century. One of the sacred values stored inside the cathedral is a piece of the relics of Archbishop L. O'Toole, who is considered the patron saint of the city.
Dublin attractions: what else to visit in Dublin?
Now you know which excursions in Dublin you should definitely book. We told you about the main attractions of Dublin briefly. In addition to them, the following objects deserve to be included in our rating:
11. Irish National Museum of Archeology
Archaeological section of the National Museum of Ireland William Murphy
Date of creation – 19th century. Exhibition samples belong to the Celtic period – forged objects, crosses, products on a religious theme. However, there are exhibits from different eras – jewelry, national clothes, ceramics, weapons. As you may have guessed, all items in the collections are related to the history and traditions of Ireland.
Official website: https://www.museum.
12. Saint Stephen Green
St. Stephen's Green Public Park in Dublin
3.5 km park area located in the central part of the city. On the territory there are: playgrounds for children, a specially equipped garden for visually impaired people, a beautiful artificial lake inhabited by birds. Outdoor concerts and festivities are organized during the warm season. Even the best hotels in Dublin are sometimes not able to provide their guests with such a pleasant pastime as this park.
13. Croke Park
Croke Park Sports Stadium Dublin William Murphy
The date of construction of the largest sports arena in the city is 1884. Today it is Dublin's main stadium with a capacity of approximately 82,500 guests. Initially, Croke Park was allowed to hold competitions only in traditional Irish sports. This strict rule has now been abolished.
Official site: https://crokepark.
14. Malahide Castle
The palace was built about 8 centuries ago. During this long period it was in the possession of the aristocrats of Talbot. There are several old buildings on the territory. It is believed that ghosts live inside the castle, each of which has its own tragic story. It is best to see such sights with a guide. The guide will tell you the fascinating history of these places.
Official website: https://www.malahidecast
15. Old Jameson whiskey distillery
Old distillery Jameson whiskey in Dublin borshop
It is easy to guess that the legendary Irish drink is made just at this plant. During the tours, tastings are held. The exhibits are equipment and various devices for cooking and bottling whiskey – containers, ancient distillers, stills for distillation. Guests are also invited to look at the bottles of the brand used by the Jameson company in different years. Almost all year round, the distillery organizes themed meetings, where folk music sounds and high-quality aged whiskey is bottled. If you don't know what to see in Dublin in 1 day, come here: the time will fly by.
Official website: https://www.jamesonwhiskey
16. Dublin Medieval Museum
Dublinia – Museum of the Middle Ages in Dublin Henri Sivonen
Archaeological museum complex, in a game format, telling about how and how Ireland lived in the old days. Exhibition collections with samples – thematic installations (recreated trading ports, streets with buildings, etc.). You can pick up any item and even wear outfits.
Official website: https://www.dublinia.
17. Irish Whiskey Museum< /h3>
Irish Whiskey Museum Dublin Steve Moses
Opening date – 2014. The museum, housed in a three-story building, also includes a bar, gift shop and café. Currently, the largest collection of whiskey is stored here, including the most valuable bottles. Some of the exhibition samples are interactive (with their help you can see the process of making the drink).
Official website: https://www.irishwhiskeymuseum
18. Trinity -college
Trinity College is an old Dublin college founded by Elizabeth I in the center of Dublin Jowaria
Today Dublin is a picturesque European capital, and the best sights of Ireland are concentrated here. One of its symbols is Trinity College – an old university in Dublin, which to this day is considered one of the most prestigious universities in Europe, along with Cambridge and Oxford. It was founded at the end of the 16th century, and today its campus in the center of the capital has an excellent infrastructure: scientific laboratories, sports facilities, and a huge library are located here – the largest book depository in Ireland, whose funds are housed in 8 buildings and contain more than 4 million volumes. The college gives a unique atmosphere: on the one hand, centuries-old traditions are honored here, on the other hand, the latest teaching methods are used. This university offers its students more than 400 programs, from art to science.
Official website: https://www.tcd
19. National Maritime Museum of Ireland
Exhibits from the National Maritime Museum of Ireland in the former Seamen's Church on High Terrace Miguel Mendez
The sea element has always fascinated the Irish, the sea was the main breadwinner for them and opened trade routes to other countries. Therefore, the inhabitants of Ireland treated the sea with great trepidation and even devoted a separate exhibition to the maritime theme. The National Maritime Museum of Ireland reveals the history of navigation based on the most interesting collection. It appeared in the 1940s, but for many decades its walls hid artifacts from outsiders. During this time, more than 4 thousand books on navigation and shipbuilding managed to accumulate here. After 40 years, the museum opened its doors to the general public and surprisingly quickly gained recognition. The exposition is located in the historic building of St. Michael's Church with spiers, massive doors, and small windows. Here you can see models and drawings of sailing ships that once delivered food products to Ireland, as well as everyday items for sailors – compasses, maps, underwater pipes and much more.
Official website: https://www.mariner
20. Temple Bar
Plenty of pubs and shops in Dublin's iconic Temple Bar area
Temple Bar is one of the oldest historical districts in Dublin, dating back to the 14th century. In the 80s of the last century, entrepreneurs and artists settled in its old buildings, but in the 90s the city authorities raised the issue of rehabilitating this area point-blank. This is how the active restoration of historical buildings began, after which the area became a popular tourist destination in the capital – most visitors flock to local restaurants and pubs, bars and nightclubs. The local streets of Dublin are transformed in the evening, when they become more lively, filled with music, lights are lit everywhere and performances of street artists take place. But still, you should not forget that Temple Bar was originally conceived as a cultural center, so next to drinking establishments you can find the Film Institute, the Photography Center, a number of galleries, and on weekends there is a book market.
21. Grafton Street
Busy pedestrian Grafton Street in Ireland's capital dahon
One of the main tourist places of Dublin is the central street of Dublin, Grafston Street, named after the first Duke – it was here that his possessions once were. Previously, this place was the lot of wealthy citizens, but today the street has turned into a pedestrian city artery. Grafston Street is considered the most expensive shopping street in the world – back in the Victorian era, it was a mecca of trade, and today you can see luxurious mansions with elite boutiques and fine restaurants here. Another integral attribute of Grafston Street is the street performances of musicians, poets, jugglers and other people of art. By the way, many of them later became real pop stars. The real symbol of Grafton Street is the monument to Molly Malone, the heroine of a folk song. The monument was very fond of the locals, and today local shops offer a variety of souvenirs with the image of Molly.
22. National Museum of Ireland
National Museum of 19th Century Ireland on Kildare Street in Dublin Mike Peel
In the city center, not far from the Irish Parliament, the National Museum of Ireland is located – a modern exposition space where you can plunge into the history of Ireland, comprehend its culture. This institution was opened back in 1877, and initially its exposition consisted of coins, medals, archaeological artifacts, ethnographic and geological evidence. By the end of the last century, the grown collection could no longer fit in one building, and a complex of historical buildings of the 18th and 19th centuries, the so-called Collins barracks, was additionally allocated for the museum. Today, the funds of the National Museum have accumulated about 4 million exhibits, almost half of which belong to the archaeological section – finds from the era of the Celts and the ancient Vikings, exhibits of the early Middle Ages are demonstrated here. The cups of Arda, the silver vessels of Derrinaflan, the jewelry masterpiece – the Tara brooch became the true symbols of Celtic art.
Official website: https://www.museum.
23. National Leprechaun Museum
The National Leprechaun Museum is dedicated to the characters of Irish folklore YvonneM
Mysticism, miracles, myths and legends have attracted the Irish since time immemorial, this has given rise to many interesting characters. One of them is an Irish leprechaun, a bright representative of Irish culture, which is a midget wizard with a long beard and a pot of gold. To get to know this character, it is difficult to find a more suitable place than the National Leprechaun Museum. According to the idea of the creators, the visitor of the museum should not only get acquainted with leprechauns, but also feel like one of them. To do this, the tour begins with an introduction to leprechauns, then the guests enter the hall, which describes how the theme of leprechauns has spread in popular culture. Finally, in the experimental room, visitors, imagining themselves as leprechauns, can sit on a giant chair or at a huge table, find themselves in a leprechaun forest, or, jumping into a magic well, search for the treasured treasure.
Official site: http://www.leprechaunmuseum
24. Abbey Theatre
Facade of Dublin's National Irish Abbey Theater bjaglin
The Abbey Abbey Theater is the first national theater in Ireland, whose history is inextricably linked with the history of the Irish struggle for independence. In the 1920s, as a sign of gaining independence, a state flag was even placed over the theater sign, and this was a major event for the townspeople. Local plays about the life of the middle class were originally staged on the stage of the theater, but in the 50s the building was almost completely destroyed by fire, and only after 15 years of endless wanderings of the troupe the theater was restored. After the reconstruction, “Abby” returned to its original mission, which it adheres to today – the preservation and promotion of the national traditions of Irish drama. Each performance here is imbued with love for Ireland, patriotism, and for city guests visiting this place is a unique chance to get to know the art of this country.
Official website: https://www. abbeytheatre
25. Chester Beatty Library
The building of the famous Chester Beatty Irish Library and William Murphy Museum in Dublin
The exposition space of Chester Betty has a collection that was once transferred to the state by a well-known American businessman. Here is a huge collection of medieval manuscripts, old scrolls, old books and ancient documents. In general, this is not even a library, but a real museum with the rarest exhibits of printed art, among which the oldest is already 4.5 thousand years old! The entire collection is divided into thematic sections. Thus, papyri with biblical texts of the 2nd-4th centuries AD, ancient Armenian and Western European manuscripts of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance are stored in the Western Department. The Islamic department has hundreds of complete copies of the Koran from different times and thousands of documents and illustrations of Islamic subjects. The East Asian collection contains Chinese scrolls and jade books, while the Japanese collection contains works by Japanese artists of the 17th-19th centuries.
Official website: https://www.chesterbeatty
26. Dublin Main Post Office
The majestic neoclassical building of the General Post Office on O'Connell Street in Dublin Kaihsu Tai
The Dublin General Post Office is one of the most famous historic buildings in Ireland, along with Dublin Castle and Christ Cathedral. The building of the General Post Office dates from the beginning of the 19th century and is famous for its magnificent facade in the Georgian architectural style, with geometrically regular shapes and intricate decoration. The roof of the building is crowned with sculptural compositions depicting mythological gods. Upon entering, you can see another interesting composition depicting the death of Cuchulain, the legendary character of Irish myths. At the beginning of the 20th century, the building of the General Post Office became a symbol of the Easter Rising and as a result of hostilities it was significantly damaged, and after restoration in 1922, a postal museum was opened inside, the most valuable exhibit of which was the original declaration of independence of Ireland.
Official website: https://www.anpost
27. Dublin Needle
View of the Monument of Light from O'Connell Street at night in Dublin
The monument of light is the official name of the monument, better known as the Dublin Needle. A steel monument in the form of a giant needle was erected in 2003 on the site of the previously blown up monument to Admiral Nelson. The height of the pointed spire is more than 120 meters, the diameter of the base is about 3 meters, and at the highest point the “needle” narrows to 15 centimeters. The authors of the Dublin Needle project promised that it would become a source of national pride, but its construction caused a lot of controversy regarding the funds spent, because the country at that time was in a difficult financial situation. However, despite a significant blow to the state treasury, the monument has become one of the new symbols of the capital. The spire is constructed from hollow stainless steel tubes that have been carefully polished, so it has excellent reflective properties.
28. Samuel Beckett Bridge
Samuel Beckett cable-stayed bridge across the River Liffey in Dublin Jnestorius
For independent travel around the Irish capital, it is recommended to purchase a tourist map – this will make it easier to navigate in unfamiliar places. So, if you look at the sights of Dublin on the map, in its eastern region you can see a bridge connecting the northern and southern banks of the Liffey River, on which the capital is located. This is the Samuel Beckett Bridge – a structure erected in 2009 and named after the famous Irish playwright. This is the most modern crossing in Dublin, the creators of which simply could not help but use the technologies of our time. Therefore, the bridge has an unusual design: it has only one support with 25 steel cables diverging from it, which hold the roadway, which has lanes for cars and pedestrians. As a result, the bridge, resembling a giant harp, can turn on a support towards the coast and allow large vessels to pass through.
29. St. Stephen's Green
Aerial view of St Stephen's Green in central Dublin dronepicr
In the center of Dublin, one of the most picturesque places in the city is located – St. Stephen's Green Park, beloved by both the residents of the capital and its guests. Its history dates back 3.5 centuries, but the park acquired its current appearance at the end of the 19th century. In shape, it resembles a large, geometrically correct green square surrounded by the stone jungle of the capital, with its historical buildings and shopping malls. Wide walking alleys are laid along the entire area of the park, along which there are numerous sculptures of historical figures. Around stretched lawns with greenery and flowering flower beds, ponds with waterfowl. Local attractions include the ancient Huguenot cemetery of the 17th century. The park regularly hosts cultural and festive events, cozy cafes and souvenir shops with a large assortment of memorabilia.
Official website: http://www.heritageireland
30. Dublin Zoo
Inhabitants of the Dublin Zoo at the Phoenix Park in Dublin Cargoking
In addition to the famous streets and buildings, there are other interesting places in Dublin – for example, the largest zoo in Ireland is located on the territory of the huge green Phoenix Park, a great place for a family holiday. This is one of the oldest European zoos – since 1830 a large number of birds and animals have been living here. The entire territory is divided into thematic zones, but this division is conditional – for the inhabitants, conditions are recreated here that are as close as possible to natural nature. So, here you can see animals of the African plains, representatives of cats, different types of primates, inhabitants of South America, the polar zones of the Arctic, reptiles, farm animals and representatives of rare species that are endangered. The main pride of the zoo is a large collection of birds, where you can meet a wide variety of birds, from penguins and ostriches to hornbills and Indian peacocks.
Official website: https://www .dublinzoo
We hope that those sights of Dublin, photos with names and descriptions of which we have now given, you will see personally. Read also about the sights of Belfast and get inspired for your further trip to Ireland.