Beyond the Guidebook: A Curated 2-Day Dublin Itinerary

With all of Ireland to explore and only a short time to do it, 2 days in Dublin will allow you to see much of the city while experiencing the warm Irish culture. The city is very walkable, and you can easily mix parks, museums, great food, and historic sites into your best 2-day Dublin itinerary!

So, grab a coffee (or a pint!) and let’s journey through Dublin together! Sláinte!

Where to Stay in Dublin

No matter where you choose to stay, I would focus on making sure that you stay in Dublin City Centre. This will make most of the main sites walkable! I can personally recommend the two hotels below, as we stayed at both!

Stauntons on the Green

I am a lover of unique stays, and this historic hotel fits the bill. Perfect for a couples trip, Stauntons on the Green* faces St. Stephen’s Green and is full of charm. Our room looked out over the back courtyard, neighboring fountain, and the Iveagh Gardens (another city greenspace) behind. Since our flight arrived early, they held our luggage until our room was ready and carried it to our room. Every interaction we had with staff was wonderful! Two things to note about this historic hotel – there is no elevator or central A/C (which was not a problem for us in September!). I loved getting to walk through the park multiple times throughout our stay.

The Mont Hotel

For a more modern feel, stay at The Mont.* Located on the corner by Merrion Square Park, we stayed at The Mont for our last night in Dublin before we flew home. I chose it for the location. We had a midafternoon flight, and its proximity to the National Gallery meant we could spend almost an hour wandering the halls and looking at art before catching a cab to the airport.

Day 1 – Dublin Highlights

You will most likely land in Dublin early to mid-morning. To keep things simple, we took a taxi directly to our hotel. You’ll want to download the FreeNow app for the easiest way to call a taxi. The app doesn’t have great reviews, but we personally never had any problems. When exiting the airport, you’ll want to follow signs to the Car Park, go through the glass walkway and turn left at the “Zone 1-18” sign, following the path across the crosswalk. Walking under the covered walkway, you’ll turn right into the taxi pickup parking lot. (Finding the pick up zone without joining the giant line of taxis was confusing!)

After dropping your bags at your hotel, you might want to grab a coffee or some breakfast before you explore. For a charming and quick stop, try Emer’s Kitchen. Or, if you want a full Irish breakfast and unique latte art, why not try BeanHive Coffee? They also have huge muffins (even some that are vegan and gluten-free!). Just be aware that BeanHive starts serving full breakfast after 8AM!

Stop 1: St. Stephen’s Green & Lunch

Walking in the sunshine (or beneath the cloudy, misty skies of Ireland!) can help with jetlag, so why not explore one of the Dublin’s beautiful green spaces! St. Stephen’s Green has a long history, and it still retains its Victorian layout. It’s a great place for a stroll with a coffee! There are multiple statues, an old bandstand, and even the old caretaker’s house at the corner of the park. The gorgeous Fusiliers’ Arch stands at the northwest corner of the park – great for that Instagram photo op!

One very important warning – this park is FULL of seagulls and pigeons ( a few beautiful swans!). And the seagulls will literally steal the food from your hands. (I wish I had photo evidence!) I thought it might be a quaint spot for a picnic lunch, but I don’t recommend it!

Ready for lunch? Head to Green Bench Cafe for some of the best sandwiches we’ve ever eaten. And they’re big enough for two people to share! We were the only tourists, so it was a bit confusing to order, but trust me when I say the sandwiches were worth it! Highly recommend both the falafel and chicken – you can choose to order it as a sandwich or a wrap. The menu can change daily and is posted on Instagram/hung in the window! They also have “takeaway” coffee (which the Irish say instead of “to go”). We took our sandwiches back to our hotel and ate in the courtyard.

Stop 2: Visit a Museum

Dublin has world-class museums – and many of them are free! For this next stop on your 2-day Dublin itinerary, choose one of the museums below, all within walking distance of St. Stephen’s Green. Spend about an hour exploring and learning!

• Museum of Literature Ireland (MoLI): If you want to learn a bit about the Dublin’s strong literary history, this small museum is a great place to do it! Our flight actually arrived early (so this wasn’t on our original itinerary), and we spent about 45 minutes learning about the history of literature in Dublin. My favorite part was seeing some of the author’s personal items (like typewriters and glasses!). There is a children’s area, but it wouldn’t be my top spot for kids. There is a fee for admittance, about €15 per adult at the time of writing.

• National Museum of Ireland – Natural History: Also affectionately known as the “Dead Zoo,” this one was of my top “must sees” for Dublin. Unfortunately, it closed as of September 2024 for major renovations on the historic building itself. It’s worth checking to see if they’ve opened the Dead Zoo Lab at the Collins Barracks. Visiting is free!

• National Gallery of Ireland: While it doesn’t house the most famous works, the National Gallery has curated a wide variety of art, ranging from an entire wing of Irish painters (including Yeats) and works by Caravaggio, Vermeer, Monet, and Picasso. Definitely grab a map, and I highly recommend asking for directions if there’s something specific you want to see! Like the other national museums, the gallery is free.

• National Museum of Ireland – Archaeology: A great choice if you’re interested in bog men and ancient hoards, this (free!) museum is home to many of the significant archaeological finds of Ireland – from the Stone Age to the Middle Ages.

• Little Museum of Dublin: Interested in a quirky museum experience that lasts only 29 minutes? On a €15 guided tour, learn all about the history of Dublin from items donated by Dubliners themselves! While their main building is under renovation, the pop-up location is nearby – although truly it’s the tour guides that everyone comes to see.

Stop 3: Trinity College

By now, you’ll be ready for a little more time outside (and maybe another coffee!). My personal favorite coffee stop in Dublin, Fable Bakery has the very best baked goods (strawberry rhubarb and vanilla cream brioche topped with crushed pistachio?!) and is just a short stroll away from Trinity College!

With your takeaway coffee in hand, head across the street to Trinity College, Ireland’s oldest university. Stroll through the courtyards and enjoy the historic architecture, vast greenspaces, and the buzz of student life.

This is also where you’ll find the Book of Kells Experience. You’ll want to book your timed entry tickets ahead of time! While many Dublin itineraries have this as a cornerstone of your visit, we personally chose to skip this part of the stop. The majority of the books from the Long Room have been removed for renovation, leaving an empty library. If you love books and old libraries, I have two more stops below that may interest you!

From Trinity, it’s only a short walk to the famous Molly Malone statue. A fictional fishmonger and the main character of a Irish folk song, her statue is famous for where the bronze has aged (hint hint). Worth a quick stop by for a selfie with Molly. There was street music playing both times we passed, making for fun atmosphere!

Stop 4: Chester Beatty

You can’t miss this stop! Chester Beatty is another FREE museum that houses ancient manuscripts, rare books, and other unusual objects from around the world. Once the library of a collector, the works span ancient Biblical papyri, Japanese scrolls, early European prints, and more. This was one of one of the best museums I’ve ever visited – the collection is that good! I’ll say it one more time – don’t miss it!

Stop 5: Marsh’s Library

While it’s a bit of a walk further south (and depending on your day may not fit!), I have to mention Marsh’s Library. Opened as the first public library in Ireland, Marsh’s hasn’t undergone any major changes since 1707! The shelves are full of books in old bindings, and while the building is small, you can’t help but feel part of the history. Famous Irish authors such as Joyce and Stoker may have sat at the table in the reading room, and you’ll walk past reading “cages” where readers would have been locked in (so they wouldn’t steal the books!).

Marsh’s is a great stop for kids as well. Lego minifigures are hidden throughout the library in a scavenger hunt! And bonus – kids under 18 are free! Adults are  €7 each, and definitely worth it for a quick, 30-minute historic stop!

We also visited St. Patrick’s Cathedral, and it was my least favorite of any historic church I’ve ever visited. While pretty on the outside, it feels very inauthentic inside, with the gift shop right in the middle of the narthex. It does have a long history, and, if interested, you can purchase a joint ticket with Marsh’s.

Stop 6: Darkey Kelly’s & Dublin Pubs

Depending on the time, you can choose to take a bit of a stroll through the Temple Bar district or head straight to dinner! Right across from Christ Church Cathedral, you’ll find Darkey Kelly’s – my recommendation for a great first pub meal in Dublin. While considered touristy, it’s authentic and has traditional musicians playing music every night of the week. (Just don’t arrive too early – check their website to see when the entertainment begins for the night!) It’s a great spot to relax and enjoy a pint after a long day of walking. Bonus – the food was amazing. We shared the Guinness Stew, and I’m still thinking about how good the gravy was on top of the potatoes.

After dinner, walk along the River Liffey toward the Temple Bar. Probably on every Dublin itinerary, Temple Bar is well known for its atmosphere, music, and general feeling of being “Irish.” I would walk past for a photo (or pop in for one pint!), then check out a few of the other pubs nearby, like The Palace Bar or The Stag’s Head. Looking for more Dublin pubs? Check out my post listing all the pubs I saved for our trip – 15 Iconic Pubs in Central Dublin.

Day 2 – Explore Modern Dublin

Ready to explore a bit more of Dublin? After full day of walking around, I wanted this day to feel a bit more relaxed to allow us to just enjoy strolling through the city. If you’re wanting to push through to more sites to your 2-day Dublin itinerary, I’ve listed a few more attractions and activities a bit further down.

Stop 1: Breakfast at Tang

For breakfast, you’ll want to head to Tang! Tang has two locations in Dublin, and I can say that at the Dawson Street location, we were the only tourists. Locals kept popping in to grab takeaway coffee! Their breakfast has a Middle Eastern flair, and we loved the shakshuka. This was also my husband’s favorite coffee of the whole trip (and he’s one of those “grind his own beans” coffee drinkers). If you’re nearby instead around lunchtime, they have a great lunch menu!

Stop 2: Shopping in Dublin

Grab your walking shoes and explore some of Dublin’s local shops! To be honest, I’m not a huge shopper, but I do love visiting small local stores and looking for gifts for family. There are so many unique shops in Dublin, but I’ll list three of my favorites below. (Need more shopping? Check out this post – 20 Unique Shops in Ireland You’ll Love.)

• Hodges Figgis: I love a good bookstore, and I can’t resist one that’s been open since 1768. The selection here was fantastic and included a variety of Irish works, both old and new! I enjoy gifting unique books to our littles, and we purchased a collection of Irish fairy tales here! If you’re able, definitely add it to your Dublin itinerary!

• Fallon & Byrne: In need of a snack? We stocked up on road trip snacks and fresh fruits at this award winning food hall! Freshly baked bread, artisanal crackers, chocolate bars, Irish cheeses – if you’re a foodie, this stop is for you! If you’re not planning on driving out of Dublin, consider this stop to build your own picnic or charcuterie board.

• Avoca: The Anthropologie of Ireland, Avoca carries a variety of on-trend home goods, books, and gift items. But my favorite part? The beautifully colored wool scarves and blankets made in their Wicklow mill, just like they have been since 1723. Avoca is also known for its wonderful cafés! Not able to stop in Dublin? There are 14 locations across Ireland!

This was also the time that we picked up our rental car! If you’re renting a car to explore more of Ireland, I highly recommend renting from the Enterprise location in St. Stephen’s Green Shopping Centre. We didn’t have to mess with the car rental the day we flew in or pay to park it somewhere in Dublin. Even though our car wasn’t ready the first time we visited, we simply walked around town, got some lunch, and came back! Bonus? Since we just moved the car to a lower level of the garage, we didn’t have to pay for parking and could leave early the next morning! More general car rental tips are below.

Stop 3: Lunch

After strolling through Dublin and finding unique souvenirs, you’ll be ready for lunch! I always like having a few options depending on what we’re feeling for the day. Choose one of the options below, or check out even more options in my post – Discover Dublin’s Best Small Restaurants and Charming Cafes.

• Pi George’s Street: Wood-fired pizza with Irish artisan ingredients in a modern setting.
• Sheehan’s: For traditional Irish fare in a cozy family-run pub.

Sidenote: We had tacos at Masa, and while the food was good, it opened late and was probably our least favorite meal of the trip.

Stop 4: Rest & Recharge

Head back to your hotel for a rest. Drop your shopping bags, put your feet up, and get ready for a full evening! We even squeezed in a little 45 minute nap before we needed to leave to catch our taxi! Although this Dublin itinerary is packed with great stops, you’ll want to build in a little down time.

Stop 5: Guinness Storehouse

Now it’s time to venture to the most touristy location in all of Dublin, visited by more than 1.5 million people every year – the Guinness Storehouse!* Even though it is on every Dublin itinerary, I promise it’s still a great stop to add to yours!

If you are staying around St. Stephen’s Green, I recommend calling a taxi to drive you directly there. Our tickets were for 3:15PM, which allowed plenty of time to travel through all the floors, create and enjoy our Stouties, and shop for a few gifts before the experience closed (and allowed us to arrive at our next location on time!). Buy your tickets online as soon as they are available for your chosen date and time so that they don’t sell out!

On arrival, you’ll ride the escalator to the top, where you can wait in the center of the building (shaped like a giant pint glass!), to hear a brief history of Guinness. Then you’re on your way – learning and experiencing the ingredients, history, advertising, and flavors that all make Guinness unique! It is extremely immersive, which I appreciated since I’m not a big beer drinker.

We paid extra for the Stoutie experience, and if you have the time, do it! It was so fun to take a picture and see it “printed” on top of our Guinness. I’ll also say that this space was much more relaxing than the top floor Gravity Bar, and I loved the view from the windows! Still thirsty? Head to the top floor for your additional pint of Guinness at the Gravity Bar.

Stop 6: Roe & Co. Distillery

From Guinness, head 5 minutes up the street to Roe & Co. Distillery,* where you’ll join the 5:30PM “Beyond the Blend” experience. During this 45 minute experience, you’ll learn all about their history, how they distill their range of Irish whiskeys, taste three of the whiskeys with a confectionary pairing, and create your own whiskey blend cocktail. (This ticket is another that you will want to book online well in advance!)

As someone who does not enjoy whiskey and literally only booked this for my husband, I have to admit that this was one of my favorite stops in Dublin. The guide was so personable, I learned a lot, and it was fun! After the experience is over, you can finish your cocktail in the modern Power House Bar, where you can also order additional drinks.

Stop 7: Dinner at Hang Dai Chinese

Grab a cab and head to dinner at Hang Dai Chinese. I know what you’re thinking – Chinese food in Dublin? First, if you’re planning on traveling outside of Dublin at any point, I promise there will be more Irish pubs. Second, this was one of the best meals of our trip. Third, the atmosphere is just as good as the food. Trust me! This was one of the places we visited and were one of the only tourists, and I can’t recommend it enough!

Seated inside what feels like a subway car, you can order dishes like Cheeseburger Spring Rolls with Sichuan Ketchup, Nameko Mushrooms with Spring Onion Butter, and (if you preorder) Half Roast Skeaghanore Duck. Just a heads up that they will call you the day before to confirm your reservation and ask if you want to preorder the duck. Say yes! They also are known for their music and have a custom-built sound system, even being included in a list of the best “audiophile bars” around the world. But even if that’s not your thing, the food was amazing!

From here, Dublin is your oyster! Head to a pub nearby for drinks and music, head back to your hotel for a nightcap – whatever fits best with your itinerary tomorrow. As a reminder, if you want to check out the full list of Dublin pubs I saved for our trip, check out this blog post – 15 Iconic Pubs in Central Dublin.

Dublin with Kids

While our visit was for our anniversary, I wanted to share how I would have changed our Dublin itinerary a bit if our kids were along for the trip! On our family trips, I try to make sure that there are things throughout our itinerary that are specifically for the kids, specifically for the adults (or just one of us!), and things that we love to do together as a family. Seeing you enjoying yourself, learning, growing, is important for your kids, too! You can use the itinerary above as a general guide and replace a few of the stops with the suggestions below:

• Find a Playground: Both St. Stephen’s Green and Merrion Square Park have playgrounds for children. Especially after a flight, having a place for them to run and play while you drink a cup of coffee is a must!

• Dublinia & Christ Church Cathedral: Start at Dublinia, an interactive museum about the Vikings and their history in Dublin. (What child can resist ships and ancient armor?) You can purchase a combined ticket with Christ Church Cathedral at the welcome desk! With your combo ticket, you can walk across the famous Neo-Gothic archway from Dublinia and into the cathedral. Learn about its history while exploring the medieval crypt! Also important to note, adults might love adding this to their itinerary, too!

• The Ark: The Ark is a cultural center for children, schools, and families that works with both Irish and international artists. There are both free and paid performances and workshops. You’ll have to check their offerings well in advance, but they look adorable! This would be a great day to break up a day of walking or give something to look forward to in the evening!

• Vintage Tea Trips:* Looking for a unique experience? Settle into your seat on a restored double decker bus for an Afternoon Tea Trip! As they drive through Dublin and tell local stories, you’ll be sipping tea and snacking on sandwiches, cakes, and scones.

Final Thoughts

Dublin is an amazing city to visit, and two days of exploration will let you explore the variety the city has to offer – from parks to Guinness to historic sites and expertly-curated museums. But there’s so much more to Ireland beyond Dublin! If you’re planning to explore the countryside, be sure to check out the rest of my Ireland blogs for more inspiration and tips on your journey.