5-Day Dublin Itinerary – The Best Things to Do in Dublin

When it comes to exploring the city of Dublin, Ireland, a well-planned itinerary can make all the difference in ensuring you hit the best sights!

From charming cafes to historic landmarks and lively pubs, Dublin offers plenty of fun activities for all travelers.

In this 5-day Dublin itinerary, I’ll guide you through the best places to stay in Dublin, transportation tips, and a day-by-day breakdown of the best things to do in Dublin as well as where to eat.

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5-Day Dublin Itinerary

Day 1: Grafton Street & Guinness Storehouse Connoisseur Experience

Breakfast at Keogh’s Cafe

Keogh’s Cafe is a great spot to grab breakfast in Dublin.

We went here twice during our trip!

I highly recommend the Full Irish Breakfast. 

Grab a Coffee at Kaph on Grafton Street

Before you start exploring Grafton Street, grab a coffee at Kaph.

They have a second floor seating area as well.

Walk Along Grafton Street

Grafton Street is the main shopping street in Dublin making it a perfect place to walk around and browse the shops.

Grafton Street is known for its street entertainment, and you will most likely see a musician or mime artist performing.  

Make sure to see the infamous Molly Malone Statue on the northern end of Grafton Street which is one of the most popular things to see in Dublin.

Lunch at The Hairy Lemon

The Hairy Lemon is a famous Dublin pub for good reason!

The Dublin Coddle is a popular menu choice for lunch or dinner.

Guinness Storehouse Tour – Connoisseur Experience

One of the best things to do in Dublin is to join the Guinness Storehouse Connoisseur Experience.

They run three sessions daily at 12:00 pm, 2:00 pm, and 4:00 pm. We decided to go with the 4:00 pm session.

You are with a small group led by one of the beer specialists at the Guinness Storehouse which involves a tasting of the sample beers brewed on site, learning about the history of Guinness, and you even get to learn how to pour your own pint!

It is definitely a unique experience, and it totally exceeded our expectations.

You get to enjoy a pint of Guinness on the top floor of the Guinness Storehouse which provides panoramic views of the city of Dublin.

Book your ticket for the Connoisseur Experience here. Please note that you must be 18 years of age or older.

If you get there with time to spare before your tour, pop into the Cooperage Cafe inside the Guinness Storehouse for a quick snack and coffee.

Dinner at Kehoe’s Pub

Grab a bite to eat at Kehoe’s which is an authentic Irish pub in Dublin!

Grab Drinks at the Iconic Temple Bar

Temple Bar is arguably the most famous bar in Dublin, and it is a big tourist attraction!

Be prepared for large crowds, but it is well worth a visit.

If you’re wanting to explore more than one pub, check out my blog post on the oldest pubs in Dublin to add to your pub hopping adventure!

Day 2: Book of Kells at Trinity College & Dublin Castle

Breakfast at Stage Door Cafe

Start your day with a delicious breakfast at Stage Door Cafe.

Grab Coffee at Legit Coffee Co.

Grab a warm croissant and a yummy drink at Legit Coffee Co.

Please note that they are closed on Sundays.

See the Book of Kells at Trinity College Library

One of the most popular things to do in Dublin is to visit the main chamber of the Old Library, the Long Room, where the Famous Book of Kells is located in Trinity College.

The Long Room houses some of the library’s oldest books, and the architecture and books stored in this room are stunning.

The Book of Kells contains the four Gospels of the New Testament in Latin, and it is well known. Purchase your tickets here

Walk Around St. Stephen’s Green Park

St. Stephen’s Green Park is a historical park and garden located in the heart of the city of Dublin!

Grab Lunch at Davy Byrnes

Have a great lunch at Davy Byrnes which has been operating in Dublin since 1798!

Tour Dublin Castle

Dublin Castle dates back to the early thirteenth century and now serves as a major government building and tourist attraction.

It is open seven days a week (including bank holidays) from 9:45 a.m. to 5:45 p.m.

Please note that the last admission into Dublin Castle is at 5:15 p.m.

If you are wanting to purchase self-guided tickets, you can do so online or in-person.

We were able to buy them in person at their ticket desk, but their website does mention that there are a limited number of self guided tickets available each day.

If you are wanting to do a guided tour, you must purchase those tickets on the day you are visiting at the ticket desk. The guided tours operate daily from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Dinner at Johnnie Fox’s Pub

Johnnie Fox’s is one of the oldest pubs in Ireland and known for being the highest pub in Ireland.

It is a must-visit in my opinion since it gives a very authentic experience of a pub in Ireland.

It is about a 40 minute taxi ride outside of downtown Dublin, but it is well worth the journey!

My recommendation is to get there for an early dinner to make sure you are able to get a taxi ride home in an efficient amount of time. 

I recommend the Beef & Guinness Pie. It was delicious!

Drinks at Mulligan’s after Dinner 

If you are looking for a place to grab drinks in Dublin, check out Mulligan’s!

If you’re looking to go on a pub hopping adventure, check out my post covering 32 of the oldest pubs in Dublin!

Day 3: Saint Patrick’s Cathedral & Kilmainham Gaol 

Get a Coffee at Shoe Lane Coffee

Try out the almond flour brownie and a yummy latte at Shoe Lane Coffee!

Please note they are closed on Sundays.

Tour Saint Patrick’s Cathedral

Saint Patrick’s Cathedral is Ireland’s largest church.

Learn about its history and see the beautiful architecture at your own pace on a self-guided tour.

Purchase your self-guided admission tickets here. 

Lunch at Bell Pesto Cafe

Grab some lunch at Bell Pesto Cafe which is within a mile walking distance to the Kilmainham Gaol Museum. 

Visit the Kilmainham Gaol Museum

Kilmainham Gaol was a former prison in Dublin for over 100 years and is now a museum.

It mostly held ordinary criminals, but it did hold political prisoners who fought for Irish independence.

There are only guided tours, and you must pre-book your ticket here.

This is a popular thing to do in Dublin so make sure to book in advance.!

Kilmainham Gaol is a little further out from the main city center in Dublin so make sure to give yourself enough time to walk there or get a taxi. 

Dinner at Old Mill

Old Mill was one of our favorite restaurants for dinner in Dublin!

There is usually a wait time due to its limited seating. For a party of two, we waited around 30 minutes.

You can make reservations here.

I highly recommend getting the Cottage Pie!

Please note that the only way to access the restaurant is by walking up stairs. There is no elevator.

If you’re looking for further ways to spend your night, check out my blog post on the best things to do at night in Dublin!

Day 4: Ha’Penny Bridge & Christ Church Cathedral

Get Breakfast at Lemon Jelly Cafe

Start your day with a yummy breakfast at Lemon Jelly Cafe.

Choose from a variety of savory or sweet crepes, omelets, and more!

Walk Across the Ha’Penny Bridge

Walk over Dublin’s oldest pedestrian bridge, the Ha’Penny Bridge, which crosses over the River Liffey.

Ha’penny Bridge is one of the most popular things to see in Dublin!

Explore the Shops and Cafes Near Ha’Penny Bridge

• Grab a Coffee at Cocobrew
• Browse the Books at Books Upstairs (Dublin’s Oldest Independent Bookstore)
• Grab a Souvenir at Carrolls

Lunch at Darkey Kelly’s

Grab lunch at Darkey Kelly’s which is a well-known pub in Dublin for its traditional Irish music. 

Tour the Christ Church Cathedral 

Christ Church Cathedral has been in Dublin for almost 1,000 years!

Its stunning architecture both inside and outside are definitely worth a visit as well as being able to learn about its history. 

Definitely check out the crypt in the basement while you are there which is Dublin’s oldest working structure! You even get to see the famous mummified cat and rat. 

Get your admission ticket online here or in person.

Dinner at The Old Storehouse

Head to The Old Storehouse for dinner which is a traditional Irish bar in Dublin.

They have 3 bar options to choose from which feature a more intimate and quiet bar, a lively main bar offering live music, and their venue bar.

Day 5: Day Trip to the Cliffs of Moher

We decided to save the last day of our trip for a day trip to the Cliffs of Moher.

There are many day trips to the Cliffs of Moher to choose from, but I highly recommend the one we did. Check it out here.

It featured a 2 hour stop at the Cliffs of Moher to explore and take in the views, a stop at the Barack Obama Gas Station to go to the restroom and purchase snacks, and 2 hours to explore Galway City.

It was a long 13-hour day but well worth it!

Another popular day trip in Dublin is to go see the Giants Causeway.

We did not personally do this, but there are multiple day trips to the Giant’s Causeway to choose from. Here is one I recommend.

Dinner at The Stag’s Head

Grab a late dinner at The Stag’s Head after your long day of travel to the Cliffs of Moher!

Places to Stay in Dublin, Ireland

Here are places to stay in Dublin, Ireland that I recommend:

• Staycity Aparthotels in City Quay – cost effective
• The Davenport Hotel – average price
• The Alex Hotel – average price
• The Mont Hotel – average price
• The Westbury Hotel – expensive luxury hotel

Utilize this interactive map below to find even more places to stay in Dublin!

How to Get Around in Dublin, Ireland

Use the FREENOW App to Get a Taxi

To get around in Dublin, I recommend downloading and using the FREENOW app to order a taxi.

While Uber is available, it only offers traditional taxis since private drivers are not allowed on Uber in Ireland.

Therefore, I recommend using the FREENOW since it proved to be efficient during our trip, offering quick pickups and accepting credit cards.

Take the Dublin Express From the Airport to Your Hotel

The cheapest way to get to and from the airport is to take the Dublin Express bus which gets you from the Dublin Airport to Dublin City in about 30 minutes.

Here are the the list of bus stops so you can see which stop is nearest your hotel. You can also get picked up at this stop on the way back to the airport.

You can book your ticket here ahead of time for a certain day/time, but it is flexible and you can use it 12 hours before and/or 12 hours after your scheduled time.

With that being said, you are not guaranteed a spot on the bus after your reserved time, but since there is a bus every 15 minutes, I don’t envision this being an issue. 

If you’re looking for ways to make the long international flight fly by, be sure to check out my list of things to do on long flights – some you might not have thought before!

Use a Hop On / Hop Off Bus

The Hop On / Hop Off Bus in Dublin stops at all of the major tourist attractions in Dublin every 20 or so minutes.

There is a tour guide aboard the bus pointing out the cool sights in Dublin and providing commentary. 

You can hop on and off the bus throughout the day as much as you please with a single ticket. A 24 hour pass costs 33 euros. Get your ticket and see the stops here.

I do not have experience using this service, but I have heard good things, and it is a great way to explore Dublin with less walking.

Should You Get a Rental Car in Dublin?

Personally, I do not recommend getting a rental car in Dublin if most of your trip is focused on staying in Dublin.

Dublin’s walkability makes it easy to reach all the attractions.

If you need transportation around Dublin, you can always get a taxi via the FREENOW app or use the Hop On / Hop off bus mentioned above.

If you plan to explore destinations beyond Dublin, consider day trip services through Get Your Guide for options like the Cliffs of Moher and The Giants Causeway.

Ireland’s narrow roads and left-side driving can be challenging if you are not used to it.

When I first started to look at rental cars in Dublin, I noticed that most of the options were manual cars and that there were not as many automatic car options.

The automatic cars were also more expensive. 

Currency in Ireland

In Dublin, the official currency is the euro. Northern Ireland uses the pound sterling since it is a part of the UK.

This 5-day Dublin itinerary does not include going to Northern Ireland. Therefore, the only currency you would need is the euro.

With that being said, we never had to pay in cash as everywhere we went accepted credit cards.

It is important to make sure your credit card offers no foreign transaction fees, because if it does not, you will be charged additional fees when using it internationally which is no fun!

If this is your first time traveling internationally, be sure to check out these 20 international travel tips to make your trip more seamless!

International Phone Plan

We have AT&T and were able to easily set up an International Day Pass on our phone plan before we left on our trip.

The AT&T International Day Pass costs $10 per day when you are using your phone outside of the United States.

Our phone was automatically able to tell when we were outside of the United States so there is nothing more you need to do on your end once you have it set up on your phone plan.

P.S. If you’re traveling internationally, I highly recommend purchasing the Airalo eSIM. It’s a great way to avoid those excessive roaming charges and eliminates the need for plastic eSIMs!

When to Visit Dublin, Ireland

The best time to visit Dublin is during the summer months from June to August.

This is when it is the warmest in Ireland making it pleasant to explore the city on foot.

There are also more events and things to do in Dublin during the summer months.

Our visit at the end of August was great, with temperatures hovering around 50 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit.

Be sure to pack a rain jacket as we experienced occasional rain showers while we were there, but there was never a day when it rained the entire day.

There were also some days where it didn’t rain at all!

Packing Recommendations for Ireland

Prepare for your trip to Dublin with these essentials:

• Fanny pack – to keep your belongings secure during the day
• Rain jacket – to stay dry during pop up showers
• International plug adapter – to ensure you can charge your phone and use your other tools that require an outlet
• Portable charger – to keep your phone charged while on the go. I know my phone battery drains significantly faster when traveling since I am using Google Maps, searching the Internet for things to do, and capturing photos and videos.

If you are trying to pack carry-on only, be sure to check out my carry-on packing tips to save space in your suitcase!

Conclusion

This 5-day Dublin itinerary is packed with the best things to do to experience its culture, try Irish cuisine, and learn about its rich history.

From iconic landmarks to unique pubs, there are things to do in Dublin for every type of traveler to enjoy!