dublin self tours

Best Self-Guided Walking Tour of Dublin (With Map)

By Author Keith O'Hara

Posted on Last updated: December 29, 2023

If you’re after a self-guided walking tour of Dublin that packs a punch, you’ve landed in the right spot.

I’ve lived in Ireland’s capital for 34 years and I’m very confident you’ll love the mini-itinerary that I’ve outlined below.

It includes a one and two day option and it takes in the main things to do in Dublin , unique sights that tourists tend to miss and some historical pubs, too.

Our free Dublin walking tour follows a clear, logical route to ensure that you make the most of your time here. Dive on in!

Table of Contents

Day 1 of our self-guided walking tour of Dublin

Click to enlarge image

The Dublin walking tour map above will give you an overview of where our route will take you over each day.

As you can see, each day has a clear route and packs in a mix of key attractions and places you hopefully won’t have heard of.

If you want a guided tour, you’ll find organised Dublin walking tours with excellent reviews right here (affiliate link).

Money saving tip: If you’re planning on visit some of the main fee-paying attractions in the city, the Dublin Pass can save you €50+

1. Molly Malone Statue

Photos via Shutterstock

Day 1 of our self-guided walking tour of Dublin kicks-off at the now-iconic Molly Malone Statue on Suffolk Street in the heart of the city.

The bronze statue shows Molly, a famous character from the Irish song ‘Molly Malone’, who sold ‘Cockles and Mussels’ on the streets of the capital.

The statue was erected in 1988 and it has moved a handful of times. You won’t spend long here, but it’s a nice starting point for your stroll!

2. Trinity College

Our second stop of the day is a handy 2-minute walk from the first! Trinity College is one of the most famous landmarks in Ireland .

It is a renowned educational institution and it was established in 1592. It’s also inside the grounds of Trinity that you’ll find the ancient Book of Kells .

Trinity is the oldest university in Ireland and you can take a ramble through its impressive grounds, admire its magnificent architecture and tour the wonderful Long Room Library .

It’s in the Long Room that you’ll find 200,000+ of the college’s oldest books. It’s worth booking the skip-the-line ticket here as it gets busy ( this ticket gets you access to Trinity and Dublin Castle).

Related reads: See our guides on where to stay in Dublin + the best hotels in Dublin in 2024

3. The Palace Bar

Photos via The Palace on FB

The next stop on our self-guided walking tour of Dublin is going to be a brief one (I’m not suggesting you go drinking at this stage of the day!).

While there are many old pubs in Dublin , few are as visually impressive as the Palace Bar, which you’ll find a 3-minute walk from Trinity.

This pub was built in 1823 and it stands today, many years later, as a Victorian shrine, of sorts. Admire its impressive interior, first, and then saunter inside for a nosey (you can return here later).

It’s located just inside the cobbled streets of Temple Bar , so you can have a nosey around this area, if you like.

Related reads: See our guides on the best pubs in Dublin , the best Guinness in Dublin and the best pubs with live music in Dublin

4. O’Connell Bridge

When you’re ready, take the 3-minute walk to O’Connell Bridge, which spans the murky waters of Dublin’s River Liffey.

O’Connell Bridge replaced Gandon’s Carlisle Bridge, which opened in 1794. The bridge that stands to this day opened back in 1880 and cost £70,000 to build.

It measures at 148 ft in length and 160 ft in width. Named after political leader Daniel ‘The Liberator’ O’Connell it boasts impressive features, like its impressive lanterns.

Related reads: See our guides on spending 1 day in Dublin , 2 days in Dublin and 3 days in Dublin

5. The General Post Office

Walk up the historic O’Connell Street (be careful – there are plenty of dodgy characters that hang around here) and head straight from the The General Post Office (GPO) – it’s around a 4-minute walk from the last stop.

The GPO was built during the early 19th century and it’s here that you’ll see some of the more impressive architecture in Dublin , courtesy of the buildings neoclassical design.

This building played a key part in Irish history during the Easter Rising of 1916 when it served as the rebel headquarters. You can take a tour here that’ll immerse you in the city’s past.

6. The Spire

One of the more unique places you’ll visit on this walking tour of Dublin is the Spire – it’s less than 1-minute walk from the GPO… you can’t miss it.

Also known as ‘the Monument of Light’ (along with many other colourful nicknames…), the Spire stands 394 feet tall and it was erected in 2003.

I’ll be honest – the Spire is impressive when viewed from afar, but there’s no real point of seeing it up close.

7. The Ha’penny Bridge

The next stop on our self-guided walking tour of Dublin is a 7-minute walk from the Spire and it’s arguably one of the most beautiful bridges in Europe!

The Ha’penny Bridge , officially known as the Liffey Bridge, is an iconic pedestrian bridge that spans the River Liffey that was built in 1816.

It’s name comes from the fact that you once had to pay a toll to cross the bridge. The cost was a Ha’penny and there were turnstiles at either end of the bridge.

The bridge is a little slice of ‘old-Dublin’ that still used heavily to this day. It’s believed that around 27,000 people cross it each day.

Related read: See our guide on how to get around Dublin

8. St. Michan’s Church

Photos with thanks to Jennifer Boyer

You won’t find our next stop, St. Michan’s Church , on many Dublin walking tours, however, it’s  well-worth  a visit.

It’s a 12-minute walk from the Ha’penny Bridge and it’s here that you’ll find a historic building that dates back to the 11th century.

Oh, you’ll also find crypts with mummies… yes, mummies. In fact, some of the mummies at St. Michan’s are thought to be over 400 years old.

If you’re looking for unique things to see in the capital, make sure to add this one to your self-guided walking tour of Dublin.

9. The Brazen Head

We’re off Dublin’s oldest pub, next – The Brazen Head (a 4-minute walk from St. Michan’s).

The present building that you see today dates back to 1754, local legend claims that the site has housed a tavern since 1198.

And though no documents exist to prove that, we know that there’s been a licensed alehouse here since the mid 17th-century at least (which is old enough!).

If you’re feeling peckish, this is a handy lunch-spot. It’s well worth visiting either way as this place is steeped in history .

10. Christ Church Cathedral

One of the most popular stops on this self-guided walking tour of Dublin is the stunning Christ Church Cathedral , a 6-minute walk from The Brazen Head.

Christ Church Cathedral was founded in the early 11th century under the Viking king Sitruic Silkenbeard (amazingly, that is his real name!).

Originally built as a wooden structure in 1030 with the help of an Irish priest, it was rebuilt in stone in 1172.

The current Gothic-style cathedral, with its striking architecture and impressive interior, has been standing since the 12th century.

11. Dublin Castle

Few castles in Ireland receive visitor numbers like our next stop. Dublin Castle is a 4-minute walk away and it’s here you’ll find an impressive structure that dates back over 800 years.

Originally developed as a medieval fortress under the orders of King John of England, work on Dublin Castle was started by Meiler Fitzhenry in 1204 when the city was under Norman rule following the invasion of 1169.

Constructed on elevated ground once occupied by an earlier Viking settlement, it was completed in 1230 and took on the look of a classic Norman courtyard design.

One of the most prominent parts of the castle today, the imposing Record Tower is the only surviving tower of the original Medieval fortifications.

While its rectangular battlements on the roof are actually a 19th-century addition, they look pretty convincing! 

Related read: See our guide on the best castles in Dublin

12. St. Patrick’s Cathedral

Another firm favourite on this self-guided walking tour of Dublin is located a 12-minute walk from the castle.

St. Patrick’s Cathedral is a historic religious landmark that was founded in 1191. It’s the largest church in Ireland and it boasts Gothic architecture.

When you arrive here, take some time to saunter around the part and admire the cathedral’s exterior, before heading inside to get an eyeful of its outstanding interior.

13. The Guinness Storehouse

Photos © Diageo via Ireland’s Content Pool

Few Dublin walking tours can resist rounding off a day of strolling at The Guinness Storehouse , which is a 17-minute walk from St. Patrick’s Cathedral.

Book your tickets in advance (self-guided or guided) and immerse yourself in the story of the most famous of the many Irish beers .

The building itself is part of the Guinness Brewery and it acts as a seven-story visitor centre that takes visitors through the history of Guinness along with how it’s made and more.

The tour finishes on the rooftop in the impressive Gravity Bar that overlooks Dublin City and beyond.

Day 2 of our self-guided walking tour of Dublin

1. St. Stephen’s Green

We’re going to kick-start day two of our self-guided walking tour of Dublin at St. Stephen’s Green , which is often referred to as the ‘Lungs of Dublin’.

You’ll find the nine hectare/22-acre park at the top of busy Grafton Street when it’s home to commemorative sculptures, extensive trees and a large pond.

It has a pretty  wild  history that few are familiar with (read more here ) and it’s a nice, calm spot to kick-start the day!

2. Leinster House

The second stop of the day takes us 4 minutes down the road to Leinster House – the epicenter of Irish politics.

This is an impressive Georgian building that dates back to the 18th century. Now, while you can take a guided tour, if you like, you’re arguably best off admiring Leinster House from afar.

Unless you’re interested in politics, that is – in that case head on in for a journey back through Ireland’s political past.

3. National Gallery of Ireland

Photo left: Cathy Wheatley. Others: James Fennell (Tourism Ireland)

The National Gallery of Ireland is a 5-minute walk from Leinster House and it’s here you’ll find one of the most popular museums in Dublin .

It’s also one of the best free things to do in Dublin when it’s raining! For visiting art enthusiasts, the National Gallery of Ireland is an absolute must.

This cultural treasure trove houses a vast collection of paintings, sculptures, and decorative arts spanning various periods, from the Renaissance to the present.

Ireland’s artistic heritage can go overlooked by tourists and locals alike – this is an excellent opportunity to immerse yourself in it.

4. Merrion Square

Located in Dublin’s charming Georgian quarter, Merrion Square is a delightful mix of greenery and history (and it’s only 5 minutes from our last stop).

The square boasts finely manicured gardens that feel a far-cry from the busy city streets that lay just minutes away.

If you head for a stroll through its grounds, you’ll stumble upon impressive sculptures (including one of Oscar Wilde).

5. Irish Whiskey Museum

Photos by Brian Morrison via Failte Ireland

If you’re taking this self-guided walking tour of Dublin and it’s raining, our next stop will provide some welcome respite from the elements!

You’ll find the Irish Whiskey Museum a handy 15-minute stroll from Merrion Square and it’s here that you’ll discover the story behind the coveted Irish Whiskey .

I’ve done this tour in recent years and it offers a good mix (terrible pub intended…) of sippin’ and storytellin’.

You’ll get an insight into the history of whiskey and how it’s made and there’s also a tasting at the end.

6. Mulligan’s

© Tourism Ireland

Many Dublin walking tours take you to the busy pubs in Temple Bar . However, if you want to dodge the tourist traps, take the 6-minute walk from the Whiskey Museum to Mulligan’s.

You’ll find it on Poolbeg Street where it’s loved by locals and tourists alike for its old-worlde charm.

The pub received its license in 1782 but it operated as a Shebeen (a place where drink was sold illegally) for many years before.

The biggest compliment that I can give Mulligan’s is that walking through its doors makes you feel like you’ve stepped back in time.

Expect a lovely, traditional interior, a fine pint of Guinness and a furnishings that have stood the test of time.

7. The Custom House

The next stop on our self-guided walking tour of Dublin is the magnificent Custom House, a 4-minute walk from Mulligan’s.

This is an architectural marvel on Dublin’s waterfront and it was designed by James Gandon in the late 18th century.

The Custom House is famous for its neoclassical facade which is best admired from afar, first, before up close.

The building is now home to the Department of Housing.

8. The Famine Memorial

Dublin’s Famine Memorial is a poignant tribute to one of Ireland’s darkest chapters in history.

Located on Custom House Quay, a 4-minute walk from the Custom House, these haunting sculptures depict the devastating impact of the Great Famine in the 19th century.

The memorial serves as a solemn reminder of the suffering endured by the Irish people during that time and stands as a testament to the resilience and spirit of those who lived through the tragedy.

Photo left: Eileen Coffey. Others: Ros Kavanagh (via Fáilte Ireland)

The next stop on our self-guided walking tour of Dublin is a handy 2-minute walk from The Famine Memorial.

EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum explores the profound impact that Irish emigrants have had across the world.

The museum is housed inside a vaulted space and stories are told via interactive exhibitions and striking displays.

You’ll need to pay into this one but it’s well-worth it (especially if it’s raining!).

10. The Jeanie Johnston

Photo left: Gareth McCormack. Others: Dylan Vaughan (via Failte Ireland)

Many Dublin walking tours omit the brilliant Jeanie Johnston Famine Ship which sits a 2-minute walk from the EPIC Museum.

The Jeanie Johnston is an impressive replica of the original ship that transported Irish emigrants to North America during the Great Famine.

The ship is a floating museum that offers an insight into the challenges faced by those Irish men and women that sought a better life across the pond.

You can take a guided tour here where you’ll be immersed in a story that shaped the very DNA of Ireland.

Dublin walking tours FAQs

We’ve had a lot of questions over the years asking about everything from ‘What’s a good route with free attractions?’ to ‘What unique stops should be included?’.

In the section below, we’ve popped in the most FAQs that we’ve received. If you have a question that we haven’t tackled, ask away in the comments section below.

What’s a good route for a self-guided walking tour of Dublin?

If you use our Dublin walking tour map above, you’ll find a clear, logical route that takes in the city’s top sights over the course of two days. You could easily chop and change this route if needed.

Can you walk around Dublin in a day?

You can see the main sights in Dublin city in one day. If you follow the route on our Dublin walking tour map, you’ll only be walking from attraction-to-attraction for a total of 1.5 to 2 hours.

Can you walk around Dublin easily?

Yes. Dublin City is very walkable. Once you have a clear itinerary and know where you’re visiting and when, you’ll have no problem exploring the city on a self-guided walking tour of Dublin.

Keith O’Hara has lived in Ireland for 35 years and has spent most of the last 10 creating what is now The Irish Road Trip guide. Over the years, the website has published thousands of meticulously researched Ireland travel guides, welcoming 30 million+ visitors along the way. In 2022, the Irish Road Trip team published the world’s largest collection of Irish Road Trip itineraries . Keith lives in Dublin with his dog Toby and finds writing in the 3rd person minus craic altogether.

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15 Sights in One Day | A Self-Guided Walking Tour of Dublin

Dublin city centre is fairly compact and can be easily explored on foot. Knowing the Irish capital very well, I put together an itinerary for a self-guided walking tour of Dublin focusing on sights located in the city centre so you can see as much as possible in one day.

Time spent on this tour depends entirely on you. It can be completed in less than 2 hours if you plan on just getting a feel for the city. Or you can spend all day if you decide to explore further and visit some of the attractions along this walking route of Dublin .

So let’s jump right in!

Disclaimer This post may contain affiliate links. If you click on a link, I earn a little money at no extra cost to you.

Best Online Resources to Book your Trip to Dublin

• Getting There | I would recommend Aer Lingus and Air France , two reliable and affordable airlines. If you’re travelling from the UK or France, you can also sail to Dublin with Irish Ferries and Stena Line .
• Where to Stay | You’ll find accommodation for every budget on Booking.com . Cheaper options can be found on Hostelworld .
• Things to Do | You can buy tickets, skip-the-line passes and day trips with GetYourGuide and Viator .
• Getting Around | Travel from and to Dublin airport with AirCoach or Dublin Express . Transport For Ireland free app will help you navigate the city transport network if you ever need a bus.
• Planning | Lonely Planet Dublin city guide is one of my favourite travel guides when it comes to planning a trip to the Irish capital.
• Travel Insurance | Don’t forget to buy travel insurance before visiting Dublin. Heymondo has a nifty app to help you get the assistance you need while on the go.

Self-Guided Walking Tour of Dublin – PART 1

A. O’Connell Street

Start your day on  O’Connell Street . This large thoroughfare featuring statues to various Irish political leaders was in large part rebuilt after the violence of the  1916 Easter Rising . O’Connell Street has been the backdrop to several political events over the years and remains today the starting point of public protests and demonstrations.

On O’Connell Street is one of Dublin’s main landmarks: the  General Post Office . It is still a working post office today, rebuilt after its near-destruction during the 1916 events. Don’t hesitate to have a quick look inside, or why not check out its Easter Rising museum .

Also on O’Connell Street can be found the  Spire , a controversial 121-metre-high needle of stainless steel that is now one of Dublin’s most recognisable features.

B. Ha’Penny Bridge

Taking a selfie on the  Ha’Penny Bridge  is a real cliché that few can resist. It is also a real challenge. Made of cast iron, this elegant but narrow 19th century pedestrian bridge over the  River Liffey  is a Dubliners’ favourite to cross between the North and South side of the city. Also very popular with tourists, it can become congested at times.

The bridge was built in 1816 to replace rickety ferries used by pedestrians to move between the North and South bank of the river. It owes its name to the toll that people had to pay to cross the river: half a penny.

You might also be interested in: – Ireland Travel Books | The Best Guidebooks to Plan your Irish Adventure – Beyond the Cityscape | The Best Seaside Towns Near Dublin – The 4 Best Distillery Tours in Dublin To Learn About Irish Whiskey – 5 Amazing Places to Visit Near Dublin Without a Car

C. Temple Bar

Once you have crossed the Ha’Penny Bridge, head straight beneath the archway and enter  Temple Bar . The most photographed part of Dublin, Temple Bar is famous for its colourful pubs and Irish music pouring down its cobbled streets.

Often decried by locals as a tourist trap charging exorbitant prices for a pint of beer, Temple Bar is also Dublin’s cultural quarter , home to funky vintage shops, interesting art galleries, reputable restaurants and – a favourite of mine – a food market every Saturday.

D. Dublin Castle

Just across from Temple Bar is Dublin Castle . This wonderful piece of Georgian architecture is a must-see castle to visit on your first trip to Dublin . Dating from the 18th century, it replaced an earlier Norman fortress ravaged by a fire in 1684.

You won’t be allowed to enter the building without a ticket, but you can take a stroll around the Upper Yard for free and admire the Chapel Royal from outside.

At the back of the Castle can be found the Dubh Linn Gardens , a landscaped haven of peace in bustling Dublin. It is also here you’ll discover the Chester Beatty Library . No doubt one of the best art museums in Dublin, the world renowned Chester Beatty Library is also free to visit. Your chance to take a peek at rare and richly decorated Bibles and Qurans dating back centuries ago.

E. City Hall

Next to Dublin Castle is the  City Hall . Built in the 18th century, the building is a great piece of neo-classical architecture. City Hall holds temporary exhibitions and access is free.

F. Christ Church Cathedral

Five minutes away is  Christ Church , Dublin’s oldest cathedral. Extensively restored in the 1870s, it is an interesting mix of 12th-13th century architecture and Victorian Gothic features. Entrance is not free. If you decide to spend some time here, the guided tour will give you the opportunity to ring the bells in the belfry. Cheaper, you can also book a self-guided tour with audio guide (different languages available).

In the Synod Hall of the Cathedral across the bridge is  Dublinia , a museum dedicated to Viking and Medieval Dublin that commands the access to the medieval St Michael’s Tower. Entrance is with ticket only.

G. Saint Patrick’s Cathedral

Located 5-10 minutes down St Patrick’s Street,  Saint Patrick’s  is Dublin’s second cathedral. Jonathan Swift, best known as the author of Gulliver’s Travels, is buried under its floor. He was Dean of the Cathedral from 1713 to 1745. Tickets must be purchased to enter the edifice.

Adjacent to the Cathedral is the picturesque  St. Patrick’s Park  created in 1901 by Sir Edward Guinness. Around the corner from the Cathedral down St. Patrick’s Close can be found the  Marsh’s Library . One of Dublin’s oldest libraries , the Marsh’s Library is a perfectly preserved 18th century library.

H. George’s Street Arcade

This walking itinerary will now take you back to the heart of the city.

One of Europe’s oldest shopping centres,  George’s Street Arcade  is a Victorian indoor market home to an eclectic range of stores, stalls and cafés. Visit its vintage shops or browse drawings from local artists. Discover the unexpected in George’s Street Arcade.

I. Powerscourt Centre

In the heart of the Creative Quarter,  Powerscourt Centre  is a beautiful townhouse elegantly transformed into a shopping centre. Discover designer and craft shops, antique Irish brooches and rings including the famous  Claddagh ring , or just take some time to relax with a coffee.

Wander through the streets of the Creative Quarter for more independent stores with locally made products and some of the best Irish craft and souvenir shops in Dublin .

J. Grafton Street

You’ve reached  Grafton Street , Dublin’s main shopping district. This pedestrian-only street is home to many high-street brands, from Vans to Victoria’s Secret. On sunny days, Grafton Street is taken over by buskers and inventive entertainers. Talented or not, that’s up to you to decide!

At Grafton Street’s far end sits  Stephen’s Green Shopping Centre . Its impressive architecture of glass and steel should convince you to have a peek inside. Across from it can be found the  Gaiety Theatre . Every summer, the Gaiety welcomes a world-renowned show: River Dance.

Feeling hungry or tired? Time to get some energy back before exploring further. Cafés and restaurants abound in Grafton Street and nearby side streets. Eat a sandwich on the go, sit on a terrace for a coffee and light bite, or enjoy comforting pub food. There’s something for every taste in and around Grafton Street.

Self-Guided Walking Tour of Dublin – PART 2

Now that you have rested your feet for a little while, let’s get back to our walking tour of Dublin.

A. St. Stephen’s Green

St. Stephen’s Green  is Dublin’s largest Georgian garden square and one of the most popular public parks in the city. Donated by Sir Arthur Guinness to the people of Dublin in the 19th century, St. Stephen’s Green has been a respite from the bustling city ever since.

Across from St. Stephen’s Green, you might spot a 300-year-old cemetery on Merrion Row. Established in 1693, it was the burial ground for French Huguenots in Dublin , who fled religious persecution in France.

B. Merrion Square

With elegant Georgian townhouses lined up all around it,  Merrion Square  is considered Dublin’s finest Georgian garden square. Among other notable residents, famous writers Oscar Wilde and W.B. Yeats lived in those desirable homes, as well as Irish political leader Daniel O’Connell.

Only open to the public since the 1960s, it is worth wandering around the garden’s well maintained alleys and manicured lawns until you bump into the great Oscar Wilde himself resting on a rock.

Behind a secured gate,  Leinster House  and the  Government Buildings  can be observed at a distance from Merrion Square. If you fancy a breath of culture along your walking tour, the  National Museum of Ireland  and the  National Gallery  both have their entrances around the corner. If you are visiting Dublin on a budget, these free leading museums have to be on your do-list !

C. Trinity College

Enter  Trinity College  through Nassau Street. Founded in 1592 by Queen Elizabeth I, Trinity College is Ireland’s oldest surviving university and its most prestigious. You can roam the grounds freely and observe the elegant architecture of its oldest buildings harmoniously arranged in squares.

Tours are available from the main entrance on College Green, though not offered all year round. If you have some spare time, visit the  Old Library  (tickets only) that hosts an exhibition of the famous  Book of Kells , an illuminated manuscript believed to date back to the 9th century. The Long Room with its spectacular vaulted ceiling is a must-see masterpiece.

D. Molly Malone

End your self-guided walking tour in front of St Andrew’s Church in St. Andrew’s Street where the statue of  Molly Malone  is now located. Molly Malone is a fictional fishmonger rendered famous by a popular song of the same name. The song has become the unofficial anthem of Dublin and ending a tour of the city without paying your respect to Molly Malone could be perceived as rude.

Guided Tours for the History Enthusiast

Self-guided tours are great. You can go at your own pace and decide where and how you want to spend your time.

But if, like me, you like learning about the history and interesting anecdotes of the place you visit, why not book a guided tour with someone knowledgeable?

Check out the recommendations below!

Where to Stay in Dublin City Centre

To make the most of your day, I recommend staying in the city centre to allow for an early start. Here are some recommendations of top-rated hotels with the perfect location:

• O’Connell Street: The Gresham
• Ha’Penny Bridge: Zanzibar Lock
• Temple Bar: The Hard Rock Hotel
• Grafton Street: The Westbury Hotel
• Merrion Square: The Alex

Click here for more options, or read the latest reviews on Tripadvisor . Dublin can be very pricey, especially in the summer months. Always book early to get the best deal.

I hope you will enjoy this self-walking tour of Dublin and you will get to see as many sights as possible in just one day. There is so much to see that you might want to come back and explore Dublin even more. Hopefully this Dublin city guide will give you more ideas of things to do during your next visit to this wonderful and lively city.

Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. If you click on a link, I earn a little money at no extra cost to you.

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Dublin: A Walking Tour of the Main Sights

Ready to explore Dublin on foot? Follow this guide to cover the compact Irish capital and see all of the main sights without needed to hop on a guided Dublin tour.

Starting Out on O'Connell Bridge

 TripSavvy / Jamie Ditaranto

A walking tour of Dublin, self-guided, does it need a lot of preparation and map-work? Actually, it does not, as Ireland's capital is ideal for a leisurely stroll that will take in most of the top attractions too.

Most of the best sights of Dublin are situated in a comparatively small area. To get a good impression of this lively and historic city you only need to take a walk. And you can travel light as shelter from rain and refreshments can be found virtually everywhere. The whole tour of Dublin's Fair City should take anything between two and six hours - two hours for energetic walkers and without lingering too long at any place, six hours including stops, the Trinity College tour and a pause or two in a café. So put on your walking shoes and off we go ...

Start your walk on O'Connell Bridge, the nearest equivalent of a central place Dublin can boast. Reputed to be one of the only bridge in the world that is wider than it is actually long, this is the heart of Dublin, admire the view for a few minutes, then start walking up O'Connell Street . Cross over to the central reservation and have a good look at the O'Connell Memorial with its magnificent statues full of allegory. See an angel crushing a serpent, spot the faithful Irish wolfhound and notice some bullet holes. These were caused by gunfire during the fighting in 1916 and have never been repaired.

O'Connell Street and the General Post Office

Further statues and "The Spire of Dublin" await you—the latter was erected to mark the millennium and is also known as "The Stiletto in the Ghetto."

Of the impressive buildings on O'Connell Street, the General Post Office  takes pride of place. This was the central fighting area of 1916 but has been lovingly restored - it is open to the public during daytime as it still is Dublin's GPO. Have a look around and maybe buy some commemorative stamps in the Philatelic Office. Then continue up O'Connell Street, past the trompe d'oeil Carlton Cinema and on to the Parnell Statue.

Charles Stewart Parnell is remembered more low-key than O'Connell but his monument is among the most beautiful in Dublin. Walk around it and read the names of all 32 counties ... including pre-independence "King's County" and "Queen's County". Carry on past the "Ambassador" (a former cinema converted to a rock venue) for a walk around Parnell Square. You will pass a small monument with a broken chain and an Irish inscription commemorating the founding of the nationalist Irish Volunteers in 1913 on your left.

The Garden of Remembrance and Moore Street Market

Continue towards the magnificent Presbyterian Church and reach the Garden of Remembrance . These were established to honor all the victims of the fight for Irish independence - at all times. The theme is mythical. The large pond, forming a cross, has representations of discarded bronze age weapons at its bottom. The focus of attention will almost invariably be on the massive statue showing the transformation of the "Children of Lír", an evocative and fitting memorial.

When you leave the Garden continue the walk by turning left and then left and left again, passing the historic (and still very busy) Rotunda Hospital and the low-key headquarters of Sinn Fein until you hit Parnell Street. Turn right and then left again into Moore Street , noticing how Dubliners have elevated jaywalking to an art form. Moore Street itself is a semi-pedestrian zone and a collision of Dublin old and new. Traditional street traders hawk their wares from barrows and you might jostle for a place with a horse looking for a snack. The modern ILAC-Centre is on your right, countless Asian, African and East European "supermarkets" are on your left. Smuggled tobacco and cigarettes are sold next to butchers who do a mean breakfast roll. Take some time to enjoy this truly cosmopolitan and colorful area and then take a right into Henry Street to see South Dublin's premier shopping street.

Ha'penny Bridge, Temple Bar and the Bank of Ireland

TripSavvy / Jamie Ditaranto 

Now turn left into Liffey Street and walk down to the river of the same name. You will see the "Hags with the Bags" on your right just before having to cross the river using Ha'penny Bridge (officially "Liffey Bridge"). Dublin's most photographed river crossing was originally financed by a toll of one Halfpenny, hence the name. Today crossing is free.

On the south bank, a small (and sometimes very smelly) thoroughfare will take you straight into the "bohemian" ​ Temple Bar area, the hub of Dublin's trendy nightlife. Assuming you will make this walk during the daytime you may wonder what the fuss is all about - especially in the mornings Temple Bar is near deserted. Most of the action would be in the streets to the right - have a look and judge for yourself whether to come back later.

For now, you may well walk straight on past the looming Central Bank until you reach Dame Street. Take a left here and walk to College Green. On your left is the stately building that once was Ireland's parliament and now is the Bank of Ireland - take a look at the slightly dated security measures including small cannons. The Irish parliament is known as the only democratic representation that voted itself out of existence, effectively accepting direct British rule at the start of the 19th century.

Trinity College and Environs

TripSavvy / Kathleen Messmer

Exactly opposite to the Bank of Ireland, the entrance to Trinity College can be found - do not, under any circumstances, attempt to cross the road without using the regulated crossings. Even hardened Dubliners only attempt this in utter desperation!

After the crossing, you will want to enter the inner courtyard of Trinity College through the arch. It will be a revelation - a wide-open space with the impressive campanile at its center awaits you. The effect can be stunning, so watch out for fellow visitors stopping dead in their tracks right in front of you. Also, watch out for the more daring students trying to cycle through the narrow entrance! Immediately after coming out into the open again you will be invited to join the tour of Trinity College for a fee of € 10. As this includes the entrance fee for the library and the Book of Kells it is a worthwhile option. Should you have no time or restricted funds just have a look around the college grounds and then exit through the same gateway again.

After leaving Trinity College and turning left you will have to brave throngs of people waiting to catch a bus. On your right, you will see  a statue of Molly Malone in a very kitschy music hall style. Nearly every tourist has his or her photo taken here and some scurrilous street "performers" regularly frequent the site. Watching for a few minutes before continuing to Grafton Street can be very amusing.

Grafton Street, Stephen's Green and Merrion Row

Further on you will then find the pedestrian zone of Grafton Street, Dublin's "posh" shopping area. Do some window shopping but also have a look at the magnificent details to be found on the upper facades of the buildings themselves.

At the upper end of Grafton Street, some excellent buskers can occasionally be found performing on the streets for tips. Don't miss the life-size statue of Phil Lynott in a street to the right. The singer of "Thin Lizzy" was Ireland's rock hero long before Bono.

At the end of Grafton Street, the magnificent Stephen's Green Shopping Centre will dazzle you - the faux-Victorian metal and glass building holds dozens of shops plus a good food court and is the perfect place for a quick refresher.

Opposite the shopping center, you'll then notice the Fusilier's Arch, the grandiose entrance to Stephen's Green proper. Take a leisurely stroll through the park and also take in the surrounding areas. In the park, you will find a number of monuments, a garden dedicated to W.B.Yeats (won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1923) with a cryptic piece by Henry Moore, a quaint lodge and numerous ducks on the lakes. You will also find shop assistants, office workers and students having their lunch al fresco .

Exit the park at the Wolfe Tone Memorial (commonly called "Tonehenge" for obvious reasons) in the northeast corner and then turn into Merrion Row. Here you will find the picturesque Huguenot Cemetery on your left and O'Donoghue's Pub on your right - where the seminal folk group "The Dubliners" started their rise to worldwide fame.

Merrion Square and Kildare Street

When you reach Merrion Street turn left and walk past the impressive Government Buildings, the Natural History Museum (the "Dead Zoo") and the National Gallery . You are now in the center of Georgian Dublin and near the Center of Irish politics. Merrion Square is on your right and in the northwest corner, the strange monument to Oscar Wilde is to be admired - opposite his childhood home. If you are feeling energetic take a stroll around the park, originally earmarked for construction of a cathedral. As the Catholic Church ran out of funds and steam for this project the park was presented to the citizens of Dublin. Today it hosts memorials, flowerbeds, pleasant walks and the buried remains of a bomb shelter.

From Oscar Wilde's statue carry on into Clare Street and then straight on to Leinster Street. At the corner of Kildare Street, the former Kildare Street Club can be admired - look at the curious carvings at the windows, from squirrels playing the lute to monkeys playing pool. Today the French Cultural Institute and the Heraldic Museum are based here. Walk up Kildare Street past the National Library and have a look at Leinster House and the National Museum . On a normal day, you will see protesters in front of Leinster house proclaiming worthy or simply bizarre causes. The gardai on duty seem to have seen it all and are usually visibly bored.

Dawson Street, Burgh Quay and the Custom House

Carry on up Kildare Street and at Stephen's Green take a right and then a right again down into Dawson Street. On your right Mansion House, the official residence of the Lord Mayor of Dublin is seen. A palatial building with the Dublin coat-of-arms on display and frequently used for official functions.

Walking on you cross the road at the bottom of Dawson Street and then bear left, following the footpath right past Trinity College, finally taking a right onto College Street. There you have to cross the street opposite D'Olier Street. Admire the gothic Pearse Street Garda Station to your right, the romantic D'Olier-Building in front and the charming bronze sculpture showing the way to the "Screen" cinema in-between. Walk down Hawkins Street towards the Liffey, passing the faux-Tudor building of the Dublin Gasworks on your left. At the end of the street, you will find a nice memorial to a policeman who died saving the lives of Victorian workmen trapped underground.

You are now at Burgh Quay and will have to bear right to walk downstream along the Liffey. Do not worry if the Liffey seems to flow in the opposite direction, this will be just a strong tide coming in. After a short walk, you will have a splendid view of the faithfully restored Custom House on the north bank of the river. Cross over to the Northside using the modern Talbot Memorial Bridge and you will see the International Financial Services Centre on your right, dwarfing the moving Famine Memorial just beside the river.

Back to O'Connell Bridge ... or Further?

From the bridge, you might also see the replica "famine ship" Jeanie Johnston lying at berth in the redeveloped Dublin Docklands to the right. Have a closer look if you like, then head back westwards (or upstream) along the quays, passing Custom House until you come to the unashamedly ugly Liberty Hall (the Trade Union Headquarters) and turn right. Tucked away under the railway overpass and facing Liberty Hall is a memorial to James Connolly, the Irish-American socialist who fought and died with his small Irish Citizen Army in 1916.

Near the tram tracks take a left turn into Abbey Street and you will be guided towards the Abbey Theatre - Ireland's national theatre founded by W.B.Yeats. Unimposing on the outside but still putting on top-notch productions, though the scandals of O'Casey's days seem to be truly a thing of the past. Just a few yards more will bring you to O'Connell Street and O'Connell Bridge is to your left.

Your walking tour of Dublin has ended.

If you still feel energetic (maybe after a coffee and some cake) you could hop on a LUAS tram going westwards. This will take you to the Four Courts, the National Museum in Collins Barracks and on to Kilmainham Gaol. You will also be able to see the sprawling Guinness brewery and could even walk up to the Phoenix Park .

Dublin in 1 Day Itinerary

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20 Best Things to Do in Dublin

How to Spend 5 Days in Ireland

How to Visit Dublin on a Budget

Boston Irish Heritage Trail

Dublin Guide: Planning Your Trip

Dublin's Must-See Architecture

Sightseeing on the Number 11 London Bus

15 Best Pubs in Dublin

One Day Los Angeles Self-Driving Tour

The 10 Neighborhoods You Need to Know in Dublin

Romantic Dublin, Ireland's Sights and Attractions

Parks and Gardens in Central Dublin

20 Best Things to Do for Free in Dublin, Ireland

Dublin's Temple Bar District

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Dublin Walking Tour: A Self-Guided Walk To Dublin, Ireland Sights

Welcome to JetSetting Fools, here you will find our best travel tips for destinations worldwide. Some of the links on this site are Affiliate Links and if you use them to make a purchase, we may earn a commission. For more information, read our Disclosure Policy .

Dublin, Ireland is home to numerous iconic sights and historic attractions – and the best way to see them is on a Dublin Walking Tour. We have devised a go-at-your-own-pace Free Self Guided Walking Tour of Dublin that features the best of the city. 

The top places to visit in Dublin are clustered together in the heart of the city center, which allows guests the opportunity to explore on foot. Travelers can use our easy-to-follow Self-Guided Dublin Walking Tour to navigate to the top sights… for free ! We even include a helpful Dublin Walking Tour Map to help you make your way.

Free Walking Tour Dublin, Ireland

Our free walking tour of Dublin is a self-guided adventure to top attractions. The walk focuses on downtown Dublin and is an easy, flat stroll through the city center. Our Dublin sightseeing tour, without any stops, should take about 2 hours at a casual pace.

How To Use Our Free Walking Tour Dublin

For each sight on our Dublin free tour, we provide a brief introduction, as well as some background information. Additionally, we include directions from one sight to the next. You will find our helpful map of Dublin tourist attractions – plus a printable Dublin, Ireland tour map –  at the end of the article. 

The route includes 15 Must-See Dublin Attractions, many of which can be entered. Some sights are free, while other require a ticket (we indicate if there is an admission fee). If you plan on entering several sights, the Dublin Pass will likely save you money and so will our article covering 50 Free Things To Do in Dublin !

Why Use Our Dublin Walking Tour Free Route

If you only have one day, this free walking tour of Dublin, Ireland will surely get you acquainted with the city, as it includes stops at all the top things to see. Visitors can complete the walk of Dublin highlights in just 2 hours, but those who are entering attractions can plan a full day of sightseeing. 

Those with 2 days in Dublin – or more – can use our Free Tour Dublin Walk on the first day of their trip to get oriented. We also offer recommendations for more things to do in Dublin at the end of the article.

Free Tours Dublin: What You Need To Know

Our Free Tour of Dublin, Ireland is as advertised: absolutely free! Visitors simply follow our step-by-step tour as outlined below to the top sights. Our self-guided tour allows travelers to experience Dublin at their own pace and enter attractions as desired.

Walking Tour Dublin: Free & Guided

Visitors will see touts for many Free Tours in Dublin that are guide-led. However, it is essential to understand that a Guided Dublin Free Walking Tour is not, in fact, free. These Free Walking Tours Dublin are tip based – and guides expect (and hopefully deserve) tips. 

While we have outlined our Best Free Walking Tour of Dublin, visitors may opt to join one of the many guided tours. There are many themed guided walks in Dublin, including historical walking tours, street art tours and Dublin food tours.  We feature a few of the highly-rated Dublin walking tours – that are guided and require a fee – at the end of the article. 

Save, Pin or Bookmark our Free Dublin  Walk to use during your trip to Ireland!

Dublin Walking Tour: 15 Sights To See

Our self-guided, free tour of Dublin begins at Saint Patrick’s Cathedral. Use the provided links or the downtown Dublin Map at the end of the post to navigate from sight to sight. 

#1 St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin, Ireland

The first sight on our city tour of Dublin is the iconic St. Patrick’s Cathedral. It was on this site that in 450 AD St. Patrick baptized the first Irish converts. St. Patrick’s Cathedral was completed in 1191 and is the largest church in Ireland. The spire reaches 140 feet.

The cathedral is one of the top attractions in Dublin and visiting requires an entry ticket. Buy your ticket now and download it to your phone!

Map Directions from St. Patrick’s Cathedral to St. Stephen’s Green.

#2 St. Stephen’s Green

The second attraction on our Dublin, Ireland sightseeing tour is St. Stephen’s Green. The 22-acre park in the center of Dublin was created in 1664 and has been open to the public since 1880. St. Stephen’s Green features a pond, a bandstand, memorials, statues, several paths and green lawns. If you wish, you can visit the official site for more information about the park.

If there is time in your Dublin itinerary, consider having a relaxing picnic in the park. Alternatively, explore the area directly north of St. Stephen’s Green. Top attractions in the vicinity are museums (The Little Museum of Dublin, The National Museum of Ireland Archeology, The National Gallery of Ireland), the Irish parliament building (called Leinster), the historic Mansion House (the residence of the Lord Mayor of Dublin) and Merrion Square Park. 

Map Directions from Saint Stephen’s Green to Grafton Street.

#3 Grafton Street

The pedestrian-only shopping district, Grafton Street, is the next stop on our tour – and one of the must-see sights in Dublin. Grafton Street leads from St. Stephen’s Green to Trinity College and features long-standing stores, recognizable brands, and historic cafes.

Sights to look for are the Brown Thomas Department Store (opened in 1849), Weir & Sons jewelry store (opened in 1869) and Bewley’s Café (opened in 1927). 

Grafton Street is also popular with street performers and musicians that entertain the passers-by. In fact, even U2’s Bono has performed on Grafton. No Dublin visit is complete without strolling the iconic street. 

Map Directions from Grafton Street to Irish Whiskey Museum.

#4 Irish Whiskey Museum

Whiskey is firmly part of Irish history. Today, distilleries dot the city landscape – each one offering their own story and tastings of their product. At the Irish Whiskey Museum, however, visitors get an unbiased version of the history of Irish whiskey…plus a chance to taste the product from several distillers. 

The Irish Whiskey Museum is conveniently located on Grafton Street – making it a popular stop on walking tours in Dublin, Ireland.

While tickets are required for the tour and tasting experiences at the Irish Whiskey Museum, visitors are free to stop in and check out the bar and shop. If you are skipping the guided tour, brush up on your Irish whiskey history . 

Map Directions from Irish Whiskey Museum to Trinity College.

#5 Dublin Trinity College

The famous Trinity College is the next stop on our Dublin walk (and it’s just across the street from the Whiskey Museum).

Established in 1592, Trinity College is Ireland’s oldest university and a must see in Dublin. The official name is College of the “Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin”, but is just called Trinity College for short.

Some of the college’s famous attendees are Oscar Wilde, Bram Stoker, Samuel Becket and Courtney Love. The 47-acre campus has buildings arranged in squares around a bell tower and the library houses the Book of Kells (buy your fast-track ticket ). 

Map Directions from Trinity College to the Irish House of Parliament.

#6 Irish House of Parliament

Directly opposite the main entrance to Trinity College is the former Irish House of Parliament, and today houses the Bank of Ireland. The building is both architecturally and historically significant, which is why it is an important stop on walks around Dublin. 

Built in the mid-1700s, the Irish House of Parliament was the first ever specifically designed parliament structure, in that it featured an interior with a dual chamber – one for the House of Lords and one for the House of Commons. It’s a design that is still used today in bicameral government buildings around the world.

In the year 1800, however, it was inside the building that the parliament voted (under bribery and threat of King George III) to abolish itself in order to unite Ireland and Britain under as the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. It was a relationship that only lasted 22 years. 

One odd thing to note about the building is the absence of windows. While there are places for windows, glass panes were never installed as there was a Window Tax that would have driven up the cost. 

Want to take a fun detour? Just around the corner from the House of Parliament is one of the most famous statues in Dublin – the Molly Malone Statue ( MAP ). Walk past the front of the Parliament House and turn left on Church Lane and walk about a block to find the famous Molly Malone. She is a character in an Irish song – a fishmonger by day and prostitute by night. The statue is often referred to as ‘The Tart with the Cart’ and visitors rub her bosoms for good luck. 

Map Directions from Parliament Building to O’Connell Street.

#7 O’Connell Street and The Spire

Continue your Free Dublin Walking Tour by making your way north to the O’ Connell Street Bridge. Standing on the bridge, look up the stretch of O’Connell Street as it leads north from the River Liffey. The street has been the site of massive protests, the annual St. Patrick’s Day parades, shellings during the 1916 Easter Rising and a bombing of the Nelson Pillar in 1966. 

The street is named after the influential Daniel O’Connell (who is called The Liberator for his part in the Catholic Emancipation and his efforts to repeal the 1800 Act of Union). His statue stands at the north end of the bridge.

Further along the street are many other statues featuring some of Ireland’s most celebrated figures – as well as the Spire of Dublin. Officially called Monument of Light , the Spire was built on the site of Nelson’s Pillar and reaches a height of 390 feet. The needle-like monument stands as a symbol of Dublin.

Map Directions from O’Connell Bridge to Ha’Penny Bridge.

#8 River Liffey and the Ha’Penny Bridge

The next sight on our free Dublin Tour is the River Liffey. The river runs through the center of Dublin, dividing the city into north and south. The river has been an important part of the city’s trade since the time of the Vikings. 

Several bridges span the river, including three that are designated pedestrian-only, which makes for nice walks in Dublin. The most popular footbridge is the Liffey Bridge, which dates to 1816 and is better known as the Ha’ Penny Bridge for the 1/2 pence toll once required to cross it. 

Map Directions from River Liffey to Temple Bar District.

#9 The Dublin Temple Bar District

Every Dublin itinerary should include one or two stops at a traditional pub! The energetic Temple Bar District on the south side of the river is chock-full of Irish pubs, restaurants and tourist shops – and is one of the Dublin areas most visited by tourists.

Enter the district through the Merchant’s Arch, directly across from Ha’Penny Bridge and turn right onto Temple Bar. It’s fun to simply roam, but Temple Bar Street is not to be missed! 

The Temple Bar District is one of the best places in Dublin for a Pub Crawl ( like this one! ). Several of the bars have a line-up of live music starting mid-day and going late into the night. Our favorite pubs in the district are The Temple Bar and The Quays. 

Map Directions from Temple Bar to Dame Street and the Olympia Theater.

#10 Dame Street Dublin and The Olympia Theater

The next stop on our free tour of Dublin is Dame Street, a major thoroughfare through the heart of Dublin City Centre. Lined with a mishmash of architectural styles, the street is home to numerous banking institutions, restaurants and shops. 

That said, the still-operating Olympia Theater is, perhaps, the most prominent landmark on the street. Opened in 1879, The Olympia Theater is the premier theater and concert hall in the Dublin city center. 

The stage has seen a slew of famous acts from Charlie Chaplin to Mumford & Sons. The theater underwent a major overhaul in the 1970s and the original iron and glass awning had to be completely restored after a truck crashed into it in 2004. For more about the history – and upcoming events – visit the official website . 

Map Directions from Olympia Theater to Dublin City Hall.

#11 Dublin City Hall

Built as the Royal Exchange in the mid-1800s, the building was transferred to the city government and renamed Dublin City Hall in 1850. The building is still used by the Dublin City Council today.

It is free to visit Dublin City Hall. Step inside the rotunda, where giant columns support the domed ceiling. The murals on the walls of the rotunda tell the story of Dublin’s history, which the tiled floor mosaic depicts the city’s Coat of Arms.  

Map Directions from Dublin City Hall to the Dublin Castle.

#12 Dublin Castle

Next up on our Dublin historic walking tour is the grand Dublin Castle. The Dublin Castle was built between 1208 and 1220 as the residence of viceroys.

Although the castle is now used as a conference center and event complex, the buildings of Dublin Castle represent some of the oldest architecture in the city. It remains one of the top tourist attractions in Dublin. It is free to walk on the grounds, but a ticket is required for admission inside, where they also offer tours of Dublin Castle. Get more details for you visit.

Map Directions from Dublin Castle to Christ Church Cathedral. 

#13 Christ Church Cathedral of Dublin

The Christ Church Cathedral is the next stop on our tour. One of the top attractions in Dublin, Ireland, the Christ Church Cathedral dates to Medieval times. 

The church was built around the year 1030 – making it older than St. Patrick’s and one of the best places to visit in Dublin for a history lesson. It was expanded in 1171, but most of the current structure was built between 1871 and 1878. An entry ticket is required for admission, unless you are there to pray. Visit the official Christ Church website for more information.

Map Directions from Christ Church Cathedral to John’s Lane Church. 

#14 John’s Lane Church

Although lesser-known than St. Patrick’s and Christ Church Cathedral, we think the John’s Lane Church is one of the Dublin hidden gems, which is why we include it in our free Dublin walking tour. 

The church was built on the previous site of St. John’s Hospital between 1862 and 1895. The French Gothic steeple reaches over 200 feet and is the tallest in Dublin – however, it is the colorful interior that is most striking. John’s Lane Church is one of the churches you can enter in Dublin for free.

Map Directions from John’s Lane Church to The Brazen Head Pub. 

#15 The Brazen Head

Claiming to be Ireland’s oldest pub, The Brazen Head is said to have origins dating back to the year 1198. The classic Irish pub features quaint rooms, three bars and live music. 

The traditional Brazen Head pub is a perfect place to stop for a pint at the end of a Dublin Self-Guided Walking Tour. For more information, read our article about The Brazen Head and be sure to also check out our Guide to Dublin’s Best Pubs !

MAP OF CITY CENTER DUBLIN, IRELAND

When embarking on Self Guided Walking Tours of Dublin, Ireland, a map is a must! We provided map links to each sight on our free Dublin walk, but we have a few more maps that will help you get from the first to the last stop!

Walking Route for Self Guided Tours in Dublin

Use this  link to Google for a Dublin sightseeing map that has turn-by-turn directions for our Self-Guided Walking Tour Dublin, Ireland. Note: While the map does not list every sight, the route is inclusive of all the stops on our tour.

Interactive City Center Map: Dublin, Ireland

Use this link to a Interactive Downtown Dublin Map to help route your way to the sights and attractions listed on our Self-Guided Dublin Walking Tour. 

Dublin, Ireland Self-Guided Walking Tour Map PRINTABLE

This is a printable map of Dublin. To print our Dublin, Ireland must-see map, first click on the map to enlarge it, then right-click and select Print. 

More Tours and Guided Walks in Dublin

Our above outlined free tour of Dublin is a great way to see the city. In fact, we think it is the Best Free Walking Tour Dublin that allows visitors to see the city at their own pace. 

However, visitors who want to learn more about the history of Dublin and meet fellow travelers may want to consider joining a Dublin tour guide for their walk.

The guided tours in Dublin range in price and duration – and focus on specific themes. 

Dublin Historical Walking Tour

The history of Dublin is fascinating. Join one of the easy 2-hour walking tours of Dublin that focuses on that vibrant history. Led by a local guide, participants are guided through the city while listening to the interesting facts and information that shaped Dublin. Get the details!  

Dublin Pub Crawl

When we think about things to do in Dublin, the first thing that comes to mind is drinking in pubs. We could have easily spent our days in Dublin doing nothing more than sipping pints of Guinness goodness; it really does taste better in Dublin!

However, then we would have missed out on Dublin sightseeing – and we weren’t going to visit Dublin and not see the top tourist attractions!

After a day of Dublin city sightseeing, however, visit the best pubs in Temple Bar on one of the entertaining Dublin night tours to the best bars! Book this tour!

Dublin Dark Side Walking Tour

There is a dark side to Dublin – as evidenced by gruesome stories of the past. On the Dark Dublin Tour participants will learn about the brothels and witches and the Hellfire Club while waltzing through back alleys and dark city streets. Book it…if you dare!

Ghost Tour Dublin

Join one of the Dublin guided tours to the spookiest spots in town! Learn the haunted history of Dublin on a spooky Gravedigger Ghost Tour. Note: This is a bus tour…which will give your feet a much-needed rest. Find out more!

Dublin Literary Pub Crawl

Follow in the footsteps of Ireland’s most famous writers…to the pubs, of course! On this Dublin Literary Tour, listen to stories of the great writers and learn about Dublin’s pub culture. Book the Literary Pub Crawl! 

1916 Tour Dublin

The 1916 Tour is a Dublin history tour that focuses on the events of the Uprising. The 1916 Rebellion Walking Tour includes visiting key locations, re-enactments and multi-media presentations for a unique experience. Learn more!

Pro Tip: Looking for free walking tours about the Easter Rising? Use the Self Guided Dublin Walking Tour audio guide podcast for a basic intro.

Food Tour in Dublin

Join a guide for a grazing tour of Dublin on this highly rated Food Tour. Learn about the history and local cuisine while feasting your way past city sights. Reserve your space!

Alternatively, embark on a journey to experience the contemporary food culture with the best bites at a few of the top restaurants. Get the details!

Street Art Tour Dublin

The city of Dublin has a vibrant street art scene. Visitors interested in learning more about the alternative side of Dublin can join the Street Art Tour to find off the beaten path local haunts. Book it!

Dublin Private City Tour

Those who want a personal introduction can join one of the Dublin Private Walking Tours. On this private tour, visitors get to see Dublin with the help of a local guide. Get the details!

For more themed Dublin walking tours, check out these of Dublin City Tours .  

More Fun Dublin, Ireland Tours

Once you have the lay of the land, indulge in a few essential Dublin experiences and tours.

• Visit Dublin’s Guinness Storehouse for a connoisseur tasting
• Head to the Jameson Distillery for a lesson on Irish whiskey
• Take a River Liffey cruise

Hop On Hop Off Dublin Tour Bus

Visitors interested in sightseeing without all the walking can catch a ride on one of the Dublin Bus Tours. The Dublin sightseeing bus routes make stops at (or near) all of the top attractions. The bus tickets also include other perks, like on-board commentary, discounts at top sights and a guided Dublin walking tour. 

Sightseeing Hop On Hop Off Bus Dublin

The classic, red Hop On Hop Off Tour in Dublin has two routes that stop at 28 places of interest – plus two walking tours included in the price. Visitors can opt for a 1- or 2-Day Pass .  

Green Do Dublin Hop On Hop Off Bus

Do Dublin is another tour company that offers a Hop On Hop Off Dublin, Ireland bus service. In addition to the 24- and 48-hour bus tickets , the Dublin tour company tickets also include transportation to and from the airport, as well as use of all Dublin city bus routes – plus free admission to The Little Museum of Dublin. 

Top Tip : A Dublin City Bus Tour is also included in the Dublin Pass , which can save money on entry into sights, too!

Tours and Day Trips From Dublin, Ireland

Use the city as a base and explore Ireland on one of many Dublin day trips. Visitors can explore on their own or join one of the highly rated tours that explores the region outside of Dublin City Center.

One of our favorite getaways is a short jaunt to the coastal village of Howth. Visitors can easily plan their own Day Trip To Howth – or book a guided trip . Other simple day trips from Dublin include the beachside community of Bray and the lovely village of Malahide .

Visitors can also travel to Northern Ireland to see the city of Belfast . Again, plan the trip on your own or join a tour from Dublin of Northern Ireland and Giant’s Causeway .

Other popular day tours from Dublin include seeing the stunning Cliffs of Moher (with a stop in quaint Doolin ), Visiting Galway or making a trip to the Blarney Castle (and kissing the Blarney Stone, of course!).  

Dublin day tours are offered by many companies. Read reviews from fellow travelers to find the best Ireland tours from Dublin on Viator ! 

Looking for multi-day Ireland trips? Set out from Dublin to see Ireland highlights on a five-day tour or enjoy the sights of Ireland on a six-day trip . 

Travel Tips For Your Dublin Trip

We have just a few final tips for your trip to Dublin! Planning an Ireland trip can feel a bit overwhelming – so we are outlining the essentials below – like where to stay, how to get there and what to pack.

Also check out our 3 Day Dublin Itinerary and 7 Day Ireland Itinerary for even more things to do! If you are coming from abroad, read our advice on Planning a Trip to Europe . 

As you make your plans, you will find that staying organized is key. To stay on top of all the details, use our Printable Travel Planner , which includes 25+ pages of travel organization! 

Where To Stay in Dublin, Ireland

We think the best place to stay in Dublin, Ireland is in the center, where it is easy to access the top sights and attractions on foot.

That said, during the summer tourist season, top value hotels book up quickly – so you will want to make sure you secure Dublin accommodations in advance of your trip. Before you start your search, read our tips for Booking the Best Hotels . 

Two of the highly-rated Dublin hotels are Leonardo Dublin Christchurch and Temple Bar Inn . Budget travelers can search for Dublin Hostels – like  Garden Lane Backpackers . Finding a vacation rental through Airbnb is another option on your vacation to Ireland.

Getting To Dublin, Ireland

Dublin can be reached by plane, train, bus, or ferry. Our preferred method of getting anywhere is by flying, we are JetSettingFools, after all! When we do need to purchase cheap plane tickets , we start our search for the best deals on airline fares on Skyscanner . 

Flying to Dublin from the US is easy, with direct flights from DC , Philadelphia , Boston , NYC , Chicago , and SFO . Additionally, DUB is well-connected with all major European hubs like London , Frankfurt , Paris , Madrid , Lisbon and Amsterdam !

To get between destinations when flights are not possible, we usually rely on public transportation and take trains or buses. Dublin Bus and Bus Eireann provide bus transportation services in Ireland. 

We aren’t keen on driving abroad, but renting a car can often save time and money (especially when traveling with more than two people) – and having a car rental allows for greater discovery.  

Dublin Walking Tours: What You Will Need

Now that you know all about the Best Walking Tours of Dublin – plus other fun activities and essentials – it’s time to get ready for your sightseeing!

Make sure you are prepared by bringing the following items along with you. You can find all of our packing hacks  and advice on our Packing Page  – and grab your FREE packing checklist !

Travel Shoes

Although Downtown Dublin, Ireland is a very walkable, travelers will want to ensure they pack comfortable city walking shoes . I like to wear lightweight, rubber-soled shoes, like Columbia shoes or NB Trainers . Kris prefers wearing Merrell trail shoes, even in the city!

Ireland Weather Attire

The weather in Dublin is always unpredictable. It’s best to bring along a packable raincoat or travel umbrella for your free walking tour of Dublin. For those sunny moments, don’t forget sunglasses ,  sunscreen and a wide-brimmed travel hat . 

Whether you travel with a backpack or a suitcase , you will also want to have a great day bag to organize all your daily travel essentials . When we explore a city on foot, we like to wear small backpacks where we can stow our wallets, keys, map, jacket and umbrella.

Travel Camera

On walking tours of Dublin, Ireland visitors see heaps of top sights. While many travelers use their phone, we believe it is best to invest in an actual travel camera that will take high-quality photographs. We carry a Canon Rebel  with a 18-135mm lens . This DSLR is a perfect budget camera for beginner photographers – as it comes bundled with heaps of accessories and is easy to use! 

WiFi Connection

In our free Dublin Walking Tour, we include map links to get from sight to sight. However, in order to use those links, you will need a WiFi Connection . While many US cellphone providers offer temporary international data packages, they can be expensive! Instead, we recommend purchasing a WiFi Mobile Hotspot . 

Not only can we connect up to ten devices at one time (which is perfect for families or friends traveling together), but we purchase an eSIM in advance and are connected the minute we touch down off that long-haul flight . We would be lost without it – literally! That said, we still think it is also a good idea to carry a paper Dublin map and/or guidebook .

Ireland Travel Insurance

Travel insurance may help in the case of cancelled flights or lost luggage – as well as illness or injury while abroad. Consider traveling protected with World Nomads .

Start planning your trip to Ireland ! Search for the lowest airfares , the best accommodations and fun things to do …then start packing !   Want more travel advice? Head over to our Travel Planning Page for more tips on traveling – and for country-specific information, take a look at our Travel Guides Page !

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Velvet Escape

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Dublin in a day

Dublin , the captivating capital of the Republic of Ireland, offers a wealth of experiences for visitors. Immerse yourself in the city’s vibrant streets, known for their rich storytelling tradition and lively music scene. As the birthplace of iconic beverages like Guinness and Jameson, exploring Dublin’s pubs is a must. During my recent business trip to Dublin, I set aside an extra day to revisit my favorite spots and embark on a walking adventure through the city center. Join me as I share my self-guided walking tour, highlighting Dublin’s top attractions and the charming pubs I discovered along the way. Whether you’re short on time or seeking a comprehensive day-long exploration, this walking route is an ideal choice.

The highlights of Dublin: one day walking tour

This self-guided walking tour of Dublin is approximately 8km (5 miles) long and can easily be covered in a day, including visits to some of the attractions along the way. I ventured off this route many times whenever I spotted something interesting, which resulted in a total walking distance that day of 12+km (7.5 miles). The orange pins in the map represent the top attractions in Dublin covered in the walking route below. The purple pins are Dublin pubs I can recommend.

Dublin Castle

I stayed at the Marlin Hotel , a cool design hotel with a terrific location. From there, it was a short walk to Dublin Castle , my first stop. One of the most important buildings in Irish history, Dublin Castle was constructed in the 13th century on the site of a Viking settlement.

Chester Beatty Library

Within the castle grounds, I visited the Chester Beatty Library , often mentioned as the best museum in Dublin. Formerly the library of Sir Alfred Chester Beatty (a 20th century mining magnate), the museum houses his incredible collection of ancient manuscripts, rare books and miniature paintings. Entrance is free and it’s absolutely worth a visit!

St. Patrick’s Cathedral

From Dublin Castle, I made my way to St. Patrick’s Cathedral and its adjacent park. The national Cathedral of the Church of Ireland, St. Patrick’s Cathedral was built in the 13th century and features a stunning nave and beautiful stained glass windows.

Christ Church Cathedral

I continued my ‘Cathedral Hop’ with a visit to the Christ Church Cathedral (or the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity). Constructed in the 12th century, this medieval Cathedral is even older than St. Patrick’s.

If you have time, continue up Lord Edward Road to the Guinness Storehouse , the famous brewery and museum. There are also panoramic views of Dublin from the Guinness Gravity Bar.

River Liffey

From the Christ Church cathedral, I walked down Lord Edward Street to the Dublin City Hall before turning left towards the River Liffey . The river is lined by beautiful, historic buildings on both banks.

I crossed the river and continued my walk along the promenade to one of Dublin’s most iconic structures, the Ha’penny Bridge . If you’re following this Dublin walking route, consider visiting the Jameson Distillery on Bow Street, not far from the river. You can also buy a combined skip-the-line ticket for Guinness Storehouse and Jameson Distillery.

I crossed the Ha’Penny Bridge to the Temple Bar district. It’s one of my favourite areas in Dublin because of its lively pubs, vintage shops and colourful street art. I explored the streets and lanes in Temple Bar, looking for cool street art and simply soaking up the vibes, even if it was early in the afternoon.

Don’t miss the world famous Temple Bar Pub , where bands often perform. If you have time, check out the Irish Rock ‘n’ Roll Museum in Curved Street. Temple Bar is also the perfect area for a lunch break as there are many restaurants, cafés and pubs serving food. I had a meal at Elephant & Castle .

Molly Malone

From Temple Bar, I walked up Church Lane to St. Andrew’s Street, the location of the Molly Malone statue. Molly Malone is from a song called Cockles and Mussels, the city’s unofficial anthem. A statue representing the character in the song was unveiled in 1988. Over the years, the practice of rubbing her bosom for luck became popular among tourists, resulting in a very polished bosom!

Irish Whiskey Museum

I continued my walk and stopped at the Irish Whiskey Museum . I enjoyed the interactive exhibits that tell the history of whiskey in Ireland, followed by a whiskey tasting.

Trinity College

My next stop was Trinity College , across the road from the Irish Whiskey Museum. Established in 1592 by Queen Elizabeth I, Trinity College is another iconic Dublin landmark. One of Europe’s most prestigious academic institutions, the main attraction for tourists is the Library , which houses important artifacts such as the Book of Kells and an ancient wooden harp, the national emblem of Ireland.

National Museum of Ireland

From Trinity College, I continued my walk along Kildare Street, the location of the Irish Parliament . Surrounding the Parliament are several notable institutions and museums such as the National Library , the National Gallery of Ireland and the National Museum of Ireland . I ventured into the National Museum (free entrance) and found a stunning interior with interesting exhibits and stories of voyages, battles and struggles.

St. Stephen’s Green

After the museum, it was time for another break so I headed to nearby St. Stephen’s Green , one of Dublin’s most popular parks. I found a bench to enjoy the sunshine and beautiful greenery. Instead of the park, if you’d like to visit another nearby museum, I recommend the Little Museum of Dublin opposite the park.

Grafton Street

From the park, I headed for Grafton Street , Dublin’s main shopping street. Near the top of the street, you’ll find Brown Thomas , Ireland’s answer to Harrod’s.

George’s Street Arcade

I turned off Grafton Street into Wicklow Street and explored the surrounding neighbourhood, with its countless restaurants and pubs. On previous trips to Dublin, I visited Mary’s Bar & Hardware (a pub in a ‘hardware’ store!), Grogan’s (a Dublin institution) and the quirky The Hairy Lemon . I ended up at the George’s Street Arcade , a shopping arcade inside a stunning brick building.

Whitefriar Street Church

I continued up Aungier Street to my final stop: Whitefriar Street Church . A friend of mine mentioned this church to me. One of the most popular churches in central Dublin, Whitefriar Street Church is home to important relics of St. Valentine, a gift from Pope Gregory XVI in the 19th century. Since then, the church has become a popular pilgrimage site especially during Valentine’s Day.

I ended my walk at The Long Hall , just down the road from the Whitefriar Street Church, for a well-deserved Guinness. This historic pub has a striking Victorian interior and a great ambiance.

Read bout my drive along the Wild Atlantic Way on Ireland’s rugged west coast and my visit to the stunning Cliffs of Moher .

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2 Responses

Hello there! I just finished reading your article on the Dublin highlights walking tour, and I must say, it’s a fantastic guide that showcases the vibrant city of Dublin. Your article provides a comprehensive itinerary that allows readers to explore the best of Dublin’s cultural and historical treasures on foot.

I appreciate how you’ve highlighted the must-visit attractions and hidden gems that make Dublin such a captivating destination. From the iconic Trinity College and St. Patrick’s Cathedral to the lively Temple Bar area and the charming streets of Dublin’s Creative Quarter, your walking tour covers a diverse range of experiences. Your descriptions and historical insights add depth to the itinerary, making it even more intriguing.

Furthermore, your practical tips on where to grab a bite to eat and where to enjoy a pint of Guinness along the way are highly appreciated. It’s evident that you have a deep knowledge of Dublin and have curated this walking tour to offer an immersive experience for visitors.

Thank you for sharing this insightful walking tour of Dublin. Your article has sparked my wanderlust and made me eager to explore the city’s rich history and vibrant culture. Keep up the fantastic work, and I’ll be eagerly waiting for more of your travel guides and recommendations.

Awesome walking tour of Dublin! Love this – thanks for this. And yes I love it that you ended the tour with a pint of Guinness!

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Free & Self-Guided Dublin Walking Tour

By: Author Sophie Nadeau

Posted on Last updated: 4th January 2023

Categories Ireland , walking tour

Last Updated on 4th January 2023 by Sophie Nadeau

As the capital of the Emerald Isle, Dublin is a beautiful destination worthy of a stop-off on any European adventure. Filled with quirky coffee shops, plenty of museums, and oodles of culture, the city is best explored on foot over the course of several days. Here’s a free and self-guided Dublin walking tour you’ll want to follow by way of introduction to Dublin.

Self-Guided Dublin Walking Tour: Practical Advice, Tricks, and Tips

The brazen head, christ church cathedral, dublin castle, queen of tarts, ha’penny bridge, river liffey, trinity college dublin & the book of kells, national gallery, st stephen’s green, marsh’s library, st patrick’s cathedral & st patrick’s green, enjoyed reading this dublin walking tour pin it now, read it again later:.

While total walking time is less than an hour, I highly recommend setting aside at least a few hours to undertake the guided walk as there are plenty of things to visit and even more places to see!

While you’ll still experience plenty should you attempt this walk in under sixty minutes, you’ll likely want to enter into some of the attractions and snap some photos along the way. If it’s a rainy day in Dublin during your visit, that’s even more of a reason to make stops en route of this tour.

When it comes to stopping off for refreshments, Dublin has plenty of quirky and quaint coffee shops which are well worth a stop off in. Highlights along the way include Peacock Green & Co. (specialising in tea) and Queen of Tarts (whose sweet delights lie in the sheer number of cakes on offer) .

Meanwhile, the best time I have when it comes to dressing for the occasion is to wear flat and comfortable shoes, as well as bringing along a rain jacket or umbrella.

After all, Ireland isn’t known as the ‘Emerald Isle’ for nothing (all the green rolling hills are thanks to plenty of rain) and you’ll want some rainproof shoes if you’re planning to spend one day in Dublin or even a weekend in Dublin .

Walking time: 58 minutes.

Distance covered: 4.6 km

The oldest pub in Dublin, and indeed all of Ireland, can be found in the form of The Brazen Head, a drinking establishment dating all the way back to 1198. Historically, the tavern has seen plenty of events over the years.

After all, the pub is referenced in James Joyce’s iconic work, Ulysses, and Jonathan Swift (author of Gulliver’s Travels) is alleged to have drunk here at some point or another. In other histories, the pub was the meeting point for famous revolutionaries such as Robert Emmet and Wolfe Tone. Book now: Brazen Head and Castle City Tour.

Following your foray into Dublin’s oldest tavern, next up it’s a visit to the oldest Cathedral in the city. Located not far from the River Liffey and comprising of centuries worth of history, Christ Church Cathedral is one of those must-see Dublin attractions.

Complete with Ireland’s oldest copy of the Magna Carta in the expansive crypt, Christ Church’s history dates back well over a thousand years. Purchase your Christ Church Cathedral ticket here in advance.

Anyone familiar with Ireland will know that the country is characterised by its castles. But what you may well not know is that there’s a castle in the very centre of the Irish capital.

Now often used as the site of a wedding venue and conference hall, Dublin Castle remains a dramatic and imposing structure on the Dublin skyline. It’s also possible to visit the interior of the castle for a fee, though of course, its exterior can still be admired for free! Book now: fast-Track Access Book of Kells and Dublin Castle Tour.

If you’re on the lookout for some good coffee and even better cakes, then the Queen of Tarts offers all this and more. Founded by sisters Regina and Yvonne Fallon, who first trained as pastry chefs in NYC, they have been in business selling sweet treats across two locations in Dublin since the late 1990s.

Today, the Queen of Tarts makes for the perfect rest stop in the middle of this Dublin Walking Tour to enjoy delicious coffees and even better cakes. While ordering be sure to bear in mind that while the sweets are on the pricier side of things, the portions are incredibly generous and you’ll be full after just one slice of cake!

As the most famous of all of Dublin’s, if not all of Ireland’s, pubs, the Temple bar merits a visit on any trip to the city, if only to pass by and snap a quick photo. While the pub is lively during the day, it truly comes to life at night when the whole place is lit up by a thousand twinkling lights and the sound of live music is continuously drifting out the ever-open door…

So-called because once upon a time travellers had to pay half a penny in order to cross the murky waters of the River Liffey below, no cityscape of Dublin would be complete without a nod to the Ha’Penny Bridge.

First constructed as a pedestrian walkway in 1816, should you choose to cross the bridge today (for free) on the other side of the river you’ll find the Winding Stair (one of the best bookshops in Dublin), as well as the National Leprechaun Museum.

Wending its way through the city centre, should you opt to wander along the River Liffey you can expect to find the traditional Irish architecture of Dublin reflected in the waters below. In Irish, the waterway is known as ‘An Life’ and is referenced in plenty of great literary works and songs, including, of course, Ulysses.

First founded by Queen Elizabeth I in the 16th-century, today Trinity College remains one of the most prestigious seats of learning in the Irish capital. While the grounds are open, free to visit, and definitely worth a peek around (especially in cherry blossom season when the magnolias are in full bloom).

Trinity College Library is one of the most beautiful sets of bookshelves in Europe. A visit to Trinity College Library also includes the chance to peek a glimpse of the Book of Kells, the most important medieval manuscript in Ireland.

Ireland has four national museums, three of which are located in central Dublin. Free to visit, the Irish capital locations feature museums on Archaeology, the Decorative Arts and a spectacular Victorian architecturally designed Natural History Museum.

Elsewhere in the Irish capital city, not far from Sweny’s Pharmacy (a 19th-century pharmacy which has since been transformed into a bookstore), the National Gallery is also free to visit and houses some of Ireland’s greatest masterpieces.

If you’re looking for a great picnic spot surrounded by coffee shops and the place where all the locals hang out, then you simply must head to St Stephen’s Green, a public park in the very heart of the city.

Opened to the public in the late 19th-century, it first started out as a grazing common on the fringes of the city. Today, the green space is filled with landscaped gardens, ponds, and is a real oasis of calm in the middle of the hustle and bustle of everyday city life.

While everyone has heard of the ornate library of Trinity College Dublin, few know about the rather secret spot of Marsh’s Library . Tucked away behind St Stephen’s Cathedral and a solid wrought iron gate, you’ll find the unique Dublin Gem.

Marsh’s Library is where Bram Stoker (author of Dracula) once studied and where Jonathan Swift (writer of Gulliver’s Travels) would sit, research, and read. Today, the centuries-old shelves are not only one of Dublin’s best-hidden attractions, but one of the best-kept secrets of Ireland . If you choose just one paid attraction to visit while in Dublin, I would say that a trip inside Marsh’s Library is well worth the entry fee of a few euros.

Dublin’s other cathedral is tucked away, a short distance from the city centre. While you must pay to enter, the cathedral’s Park is completely free to spend time in and is a source of joy to flower lovers come springtime when the air is perfumed by the scent of dozens of hyacinths.

St Stephen’s Green is a great place to end this Dublin Walking Tour as once there you can simply sit, relax for a little while, and soak up all the history you’ve just strolled through.

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Routes and Trips Travel Guide with Maps and Photos

Self-guided dublin walking tour: dublin’s top sights.

Posted by: Liisa Nygård

I spent a week in Dublin, walking a lot each day. That made me plan a self-guided Dublin walking tour and mark it on a map. My tour will show you the best of Dublin – in a day, two days or using a week, whatever you like.

Ireland’s  cosmopolitan  capital draws millions of tourists. The city has something that makes people return, time after time.

Maybe the pubs with live Irish music, or maybe Dublin’s past, present or future? Or is it the Liffey and other waterways with old Georgian houses and Dublin doors?

My walk will take you to the banks of the Liffey were most Dublin sights are and follow the Grand Canal to Dublin’s Georgian streets and coloured doors, like this one:.

Self-guided Dublin walking tour: a Dublin door

Dublin is an ideal city to walk around. It’s not too big to walk as the population is only half a million. Dublin centre is small enough to stroll through and there’s seldom too much traffic. All this makes walking the best way to explore Dublin. though there are hop on hop off buses and arranged Dublin tours as well.

Dublin has a small centre but the whole metropolitan area has almost 2 million people which is a third of Ireland’s total population. Ireland has 5 million people.

It could be more, 10 million  people have left the country over the centuries. That makes there are 17 million people with an Irish background spread around the world. So in a way Dublin is the capital of a big nationality.

My Self-guided Dublin Walking Tour on the Map

This is a map of Dublin city centre with the river Liffey running through it. The red marker points at Temple Bar where my self-guided walking tour starts. We first walk south of the Liffey and return north along the Grand Canal that is in west.

North of the Liffey we walk west along the quays and cross the famous Ha’penny Bridge back to Temple Bar. Then we will still visit Dublin Castle and Christ Church Cathedral in the city’s old part.

Of course it’s not mandatory to start at Temple Bar. You can start wherever you like or walk in the opposite direction. This walk has no rules.

Zoom in the map to see more details or zoom it out to see Dublin in another scale.

Self-guided Dublin walking tour: a Temple Bar pub

Temple Bar is the heart of the city that most tourist want to see first and that’s why the self-guided Dublin walking tour starts there too.

What Temple Bar is famous for are the pubs. There are pubs in every street corner and more pubs in between so you can’t visit every pub. Most of them are traditional Irish pubs and look very old.

Temple Bar is one of the oldest areas in Dublin and it dates back to Viking times. Over centuries craftsmen and merchants moved to these narrow quarters that got their name from Sir William Temple who owned the land.

Click on these small photos of Temple Bar to see them in a slideshow:

Walking up and down these cobbled streets you will hear Irish music drift from pubs. Mostly exactly the kind of Irish music you recognize, the kind of music people all over the world love. The Irish that left abroad packed Irish music in their suitcases.

Look inside the pubs and sit down for a while and listen, but not too long. This is a self-guided Dublin Walking Tour and we have to go on. You can come back and you sure want to!

The colourful area of Temple Bar, Dublin

But Temple Bar has more than the pubs, it’s a large entertainment area with theatre, art exhibitions, galleries and so on. And all venues look like pubs, or what do you say about this one?It’s a pharmacy.

This pub fills the narrow gateway that leads to Ha’penny Bridge. We will come back to that well known bridge later.

Self-guided Dublin walking tour: an Irish pub

More Dublin Pubs

As we are in Ireland there are Irish pubs all over the city, not just in Temple Bar. We found great pubs east of St Stephen’s Green (this Dublin walking tour will bring you there too) and those pubs were not touristic at all. In Temple Bar most pub guests are tourists.

Another Irish pub

This pub is next to Trinity College that is what we will see next.

Trinity College

Dublin’s Trinity College

Trinity College is a world-famous university and highly respected. The college was built before year 1600 and for hundreds of years, until the 1970’s, they only let protestants in to study.

The Trinity College courtyard has green lawns for students to sit, an old clock tower and many beautiful old buildings – and a huge tree to give shade. The tree is like a well planned monument.

Even if you are not a student you are free to walk on Trinity College grounds. But to get to the library you will need a ticket.

Trinity College Library

Trinity College Library has a huge 64 metres long room with 200 000 old books and there are more books in other rooms. This is Ireland’s biggest book collection. All books are not Irish and a part of them came from the Dutch prime minister’s book collection.

The old library of Trinity College

Trinity College Library also has Ireland’s oldest harp and the Irish national script, the Book of Kells.

The Book of Kells is a book in four parts that has the four gospels written down in Latin. Monks in other parts of Ireland did the job over 1000 years ago and the book finally came to Dublin in 1653.

Trinity College Dublin

These photos show the Book of Kells, but I can’t show you the original. I only have photos on Book of Kells souvenirs from the bookstore. It was not allowed to take any photos on the real one.

But you can see the writing: the monks wrote in Latin but used Celtic letters. They decorated the each chapter with large initial letters that had many colours. And to end the lines they used decoration as well. Book of Kells also has beautiful picture pages that include a lot of symbols. The exhibition explains that all.

Statues in Trinity College Library

Sooner of later you will want to leave the dusty library. Take Grafton Street south.

Grafton Street is Dublin’s most important shopping street and leads to St Stephen’s Park that has a lot of flowers and a pond. There is another park too, Merrion Square that has beautiful Georgian houses around it.

In general this area has a lot of old Georgian houses that have colourful doors, doors of Dublin.

Doors of Dublin

A Dublin door

The residential area south of Temple Bar and Trinity College was built in the Georgian time in the 1700’s and 1800’s. Dublin was one of the most important cities in the British Empire, second only to London and Dublin needed to grow.

Wealthy families built their houses south of the Liffey and they built them all in the Georgian style. The rules said that all houses have to look the same. That’s what they really do.

But the families didn’t like it that way and made the doors individual. The result was that each door in a house has a different colour.

You can see coloured Dublin doors around Merrion Square and Fitzwilliam Square south of it and on Baggot Street between them. And there are more doors around the Grand Canal.

Emerald green, royal blue,  deep purple, bright yellow, black and white, turquoise and of course red doors. And why not pink:

Another coloured door

A typical Dublin iron gate

And Georgian houses all have some great details like iron gates and apartments below ground level. I loved walking around and snapping photos on these Georgian houses and we even stayed in one. We rented an apartment and our Georgian Dublin door was black.

Dublin Museums

Dublin self-guided walking tour: visiting museums

The area south of the Liffey is an interesting place for tourists. There are a lot of Irish pubs that have live music and some great museums. There is the Irish National Gallery, Natural History Museum, the Irish National Museum – Archaelogy, the National Library and a museum called Science Gallery.

The museums I went to happened to be free so it was easy to drop in and have a look. You can do that on rainy days, probably you will have them during your Dublin stay. Dublin weather is hard to predict, or you can predict that it’s going to change in a minute.

National Museum – Archaeology exhibition

The photos are from the National Museum – Archaeology that opened my eyes to Irish history. The museum is full of old findings from prehistoric and Viking times and from medieval Ireland and some of these findings are from places where I have been to in this country so I know where they come from.

That’s imposing, thousands of years old pottery and jewellery from the Irish countryside!

Self-Guided Dublin Walking Tour along the Grand Canal

Dublin self-guided walking tour: walking along the Grand Canal

Did you know Dublin has more waterways than the Liffey? There are the canals that were originally built for transport needs. The Grand Canal is the longest of them. It makes a 6 km loop around Dublin city centre.

There is no traffic more, just occasional house boats. And you can see more Dublin doors behind the canal.

I would like to walk the whole loop but didn’t have time with that. But you can do it if you like. So my self-guided Dublin walking tour only covers a part of the Grand Canal.

We are walking along the canal from the old Georgian part of Dublin to its modern part, the Docklands.

The Grand Canal of Dublin, Ireland

It’s quite a difference if you can walk along a waterway compared to ordinary streets. You hear the birds and sit down for a while like my husband Clas did while I took photos on Dublin doors. There was someone else too, the Irish sculptor Rowan Gillespie.

Two men sitting in a Dublin park

Dublin Docklands

Self-guided Dublin walking tour: Dublin Docklands

This is the Grand Canal Docklands a bit north, a new built area where red sticks are used as a decoration. That reminds me of boating on the lake which is my summer hobby.

The Docklands has mainly office buildings but there are hotels and culture venues as well.

This (below) is Bord Gais Energy Theatre, also called Grand Canal Theatre, on a huge square built in 2007. It certainly brings a lot of energy to the docklands.

Bord Gais Energy Theatre

Self-Guided Dublin Walking Tour: Liffey Riverside

Samuel Beckett bridge

The Grand Canal waterway takes you back to the Liffey that you can cross along s a modern bridge, Samuel Beckett bridge that looks like a harp. Beckett was a writer and a Nobel Prize winner and a Trinity College student. The harp bridge was designed by a Spanish architect inspired by Irish music.

One of the new buildings across the bridge looks like a Guinness glass. But Guinness that is a Dublin sight too, is in west. This is a new landmark in Dublin, the Convention Centre Dublin. An American-Irish architect designed it and building it took a long time. The CCD opened for international business visitors in 2010.

The Convention Centre Dublin says it can take up to 8000 conference guests and there are 22 meeting rooms. The Guinness glass hides a large atrium that has curved walls and many escalators. A great example of what modern architecture can do! I came here many times since Clas was working here the whole weekk.

Convention Centre Dublin

The CCD represents modern Ireland and nearby there is something that takes you back to the old days. The Jeanie  Johnston Tallship shows us the hard times Ireland has had.

The Great Famine

The Jeanie Johnston is a museum ship that shows how Irish emigrants left their homes when they were starving during the Great Famine and had to take the weeks long trip on rocky ocean waves and begin a new live in the New World.

Jeanie Johnston, self-guided Dublin walking tour

The Great Famine lasted for years around 1850 and changed Ireland quite a bit. One million people died from the lack of food and one and a half million left the country, most of them with ships similar to the Jeannie Johnston.

These quayside statues by the Dublin sculptor Rowan Gillespie bring back the Great Famine. They touch so much.  The sculptor himself sits on a bench by the Grand Canal. Maybe you walked by him?

The quays are a wonderful area to walk along and there are good places to sit down. It’s mostly a modern area, office blocks and so, but old harbour equipment has been saved as well. And there are many bridges across the Liffey for cars, walkers and trains.

Sitting by the Liffey

A Liffey bridge

And you can learn more about the Great Famine and Irish history:

EPIC, the Irish Emigration Museum

EPIC, the Irish Immigration Museum

I said in the beginning that 10 million people have left Ireland and told that one and a half million left in the Famine years. When did all the others leave? You will get to know that in this glass building. It is the Irish Emigration Museum EPIC.

The museum shows Irish history in a modern, interactive way. I was planning just to drop in and finally spent hours in the museum listening to Irish stories and learning about Irish culture.

The focus of EPIC is yet on when, why and how so many people left Ireland, where they went and what they did in their new home country. Very fascinating stories and a very nice way to show it all. The museum has got a lot of praise and I agree. If you can go and see EPIC.

EPIC The Irish Immigration Museum

Entrance to EPIC, the Irish Immigration Museum

Self-guided Dublin Walking Tour: North of the Liffey

Dublin’s Custom House

Walking north of the Liffey there is this large building. It is called Custom House but it is a government office. The Irish built this huge custom house but after a while custom business moved to London. Neither is a custom house needed in today’s EU.

These photos show O’Connell Street that is the main street between north and south in Dublin. There is the Old Post Office, in fact it’s only the facade of it. The rest was destroyed in an uprising in 1916 that finally led to Irish independence.

Dublin self-guided walking tour: the Monument of Light.

This is the Spire. Its real name is the Monument of Light. It is 120 m high and made of stainless steel. It’s three metres wide in the beginning and 10 cm wide at the top.

Ha’penny Bridge

On Ha’penny Bridge

Ha’penny bridge is what most people think about when they hear the word Dublin and you can see the bridge here. The bridge links Temple Bar to the north and 30 000 people cross the bridge each day.

There is no fee but there used to be. That’s what the name comes from. For over a hundred years they took a fee for crossing the bridge, a half penny.

The half penny bridge was made by an English iron worker in 1816. He made the bridge of cast iron and painted it white. He designed nice gates and on the top he put iron lanterns. Ha’penny bridge, the symbol of Dublin.

Crossing the Liffey on Dublin’s Ha’penny Bridge

Ha’penny Bridge takes you back to Temple Bar and beyond it, to the old part of Dublin. There is the Dublin Castle.

Self-Guided Dublin Walking Tour: Dublin Castle

Interior of Dublin Castle

Dublin Castle is located in the place Dublin got its name from. There was a dark pool (Dub Linn) that later on got covered. You don’t see much about the old centre of Dublin. But Dublin Castle is left, rebuilt over centuries and added to.

Originally built in 1204 by King John of England the castle was the headquarters of the English that ruled Ireland for the next 750 years. Since Ireland got independent in 1922 Dublin Castle is the place for Ireland’s big state events.

One of the halls of Dublin Castle

Dublin Castle, Ireland

The present Georgian palace was added in the 18th century and there are the castle’s state apartments that you can visit. The state apartments consist of dining and drawing rooms and a throne room. All rooms are very decorative.

St Patrick’s Hall,  Dublin Castle

This is St Patrick’s Hall that used to be the castle’s ballroom. Today it is the most important ceremonial room in Ireland. It is a hall with beautiful ceiling paintings and many banners on sides. They are banners of the knights of St Patrick.

Dublin Castle

Christ Church Cathedral

The 1038 Christ Church Cathedral

Christ Church Cathedral is close to Dublin Castle and it is Dublin’s oldest building. A Norse king and an Irish bishop built the cathedral in 1038 after the Normans took over the city.

Christ Church Cathedral has changed its form since but there is an old leaning wall inside and other old parts remain. And you have to see the interior decoration. You can also see that if you go on a concert in the church.

Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin

Self-guided Dublin Walking Tour Ends

Self-guided Dublin walking tour along Dublin waterways

If you followed my Dublin walking tour you have been walking 8 km in a day which is quite a bit. You deserve a beer in Temple Bar, and Irish live music. Hoping to meet you one day in Dublin and have a great evening!

Have a great Temple Bar evening!

More on Dublin and Ireland

• Maybe you want to make a day trip from Dublin? Check out my post  Giants Causeway Day Trip from Dublin
• Or rent a car and head to the Wicklow Mountains?  Wicklow Mountains Scenic Drive from Dublin
• We also have a guest post about a road trip around Ireland: Road Trip in Ireland: Dublin to Galway, Moher and Cork

Giants Causeway day trip from Dublin

Read about European Cities

• Amsterdam, Antwerp, Bruges and Gent
• Tallinn Old Town
• Palma de Mallorca

Trinity College has admitted Catholics since the 1870s. It was the Catholic Church itself that forbade it’s members from attending without specific permission until 1970.

Thank you for your lovely walking tour and for your information and photos of Giant’s Causeway. We are planning a trip in the near future to Ireland and your site has been very helpful. We can’t wait!

So glad to hear you find my site helpful. I also recommend you go and see Wicklow mountains, I went there too but didn’t write about it yet. You can rent a car or take a bus tour.

This was very helpful! Thank you! We are visiting in May and spending 2 nights in Dublin. How is parking around town? We plan on staying in outer Dublin as the hotel prices are cheaper, but want to go into the city.

I’m sure you will have great days in Dublin, May is a wonderful time to visit! But I have to say I don’t know about parking. We only rented a car to make a day trip to Glendalough and Wicklow mountains so I don’t have any experience in parking in the city.

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One Day in Dublin: A Relaxed Self-Guided Tour (A Local’s Guide)

‘I was in Dublin once, only for a day though and I don’t really remember it’. This is something I am sad to admit that I hear all too often when people tell me about their stopover in Dublin. Now, I do understand, that many of those who have just one day in Dublin City often want to tick the stereotypical ‘Irish Experience’ off their bucket list. And, to be honest, I don’t blame them.

We Irish sure do know how to have a good time and as a result, it is easy for tourists to fall down the ‘Temple Bar Trap’ so to speak. Without even having the opportunity to experience the ‘real’ Dublin because all their time is spent in the bars. So, what if I told you that you could experience both. Yes, that’s right in just 24 hours, you can tick most of Dublin’s leading tourist attractions off your bucket list and then still have time to party the night away in Temple Bar. Don’t worry if drinking isn’t your thing, I have plenty of alternative suggestions for you to enjoy!

1 day in Dublin Layout

I wasn’t all too sure how to divide this post up, as a local, I know the most convenient way to walk around the city. And considering you only have 1 day in Dublin, I wanted to come up with a stress FREE way for you to see all the highlights, without feeling as if you were doing a marathon or a sprint. My solution was to break the day up into morning, mid-day, evening and night-time activities. You will be glad to hear that all experiences are of walking distance of each other, making it easy for you to do a self-guided tour of Dublin in just one day.

Getting from Dublin Airport to the city centre

An Air Coach runs from the airport into the city centre and at the time of writing costs €12 for a return ticket.

Alternatively, the  41 Dublin bus route is 24 hours and will transport people from  Lower Abbey Street  to the Dublin Airport and vice versa. This is a much cheaper option and is available on the Leap Card.

Getting Around Dublin City

Public Transport  is the easiest way to get around the city. Services include the bus, Luas and the DART. The easiest way to pay is via the leap card click  here  to find tourist rates.

Dublin Bikes  is another great way to get around the city. It’s FREE for the first 30-minutes. Download the app here ( Android / IOS ).

Getting a  Taxi  is another option, however, they can be rather expensive. If you need a taxi it’s best to download the FREE Now app ( Android / IOS ).

Local Tip: To hail a taxi or stop a bus (at bus stops), you must place your hand out towards the road. Otherwise, they will drive on by.

Where to Stay in Dublin

Below is a list of possible accommodations to stay in on your trip to Dublin. I have personally never stayed in any of them as I live in Dublin. I can, however, point you in the right direction in terms of Budget.

Budget-Friendly Hostel:   Abigail’s Hostel

A Good Location Hotel:   The Moxy Dublin City Hotel

A Good Location/Trendy Apartment:  Locke Zanzibar Aparthotels

Now, I know they are all rather expensive, If you stay a little further outside the city you will for sure get a better deal. Some Area’s with good public transport routes include Rathmines, Terenure and Dundrum.

Where to stay in Dublin Pricing Map

What to pack for dublin.

Ireland is known for getting 4 seasons in the one day, that is why it is best to follow this Ireland packing list  for a detailed guide. I have, however, listed down below some essential items needed for a trip to Dublin.

• Waterproof Jacket
• A Day Bag  (<- Also my favourite)
• A Windproof Umbrella
• Travel First Aid Kit
• Water Bottle  (The Tap Water is Drinkable)

One Day in Dublin: Spend the Morning Exploring College Green & Beyond

Stop 1: Stephens Green, Grafton Street & Molly Malone

I’d highly suggest waking up bright and early to take on Dublin’s beautiful city park, St. Stephen’s Green . The green is one of the many beautiful walks in Dublin . It is a lovely place to begin the day as it helps clear the mind and have you feeling fresh for a fun-filled day of activities. It can take anywhere from 30 minutes to 1 hour to loop around the park depending on which root you take.

Once you have enjoyed the peace and quiet of the green it is time to head toward Dublin’s main shopping district, Grafton Street . However, Grafton Street is not only known for its high-end retail stores. It is also the place to go to see Dublin’s thriving music scene , with buskers from all over the country singing and performing for the public.

As you walk towards the end of Grafton Street take a sharp to the left turn Suffolk Street, here you will find the famous Irish statue, Molly Malone . Take a moment to catch a snap with Molly before making your way to college green.

Stop 2: College Green, Trinity College & The Book of Kells

College Green is home to one of the most iconic universities in all of Dublin, Trinity College . If you are looking for free things to do in Dublin , then walking around the grounds of Trinity is a good option.

Some of the buildings date back as far as 1592 . No matter how many times I stroll the ground of Trinity, I always feel as if I have stepped back in time .

It’s a truly unique experience. And the building kind of gives off Harry Potter Vibes.

Once you have finished exploring it is time to pay a visit one of the top tourist attractions in all of Dublin, the Book of Kells . The world’s oldest book lies right on the grounds of Trinity College and is visited by over 500,000 visitors each year.

Those who purchase tickets to the Book of Kells exhibition can also visit Trinity’s famous Long Room free of charge. The whole attraction is one of my favourites things to do in all of Dublin.

Don’t forget to Book your tickets nice and early to avoid disappointment.

1 Day in Dublin: Take a Mid-Day Stroll through Historic Dublin

Stop 3: The GPO, O’Connell Street & The Spire

Once you have finished walking around the stunning grounds of Trinity College it is time to start walking towards Dublin’s General Post Office, otherwise known as the GPO.

Now, because this is only a 1 day Dublin itinerary we do not have time to enjoy the museum inside the GPO, it is, however, nice to get a picture of the Historic building. The GPO played a big role in Ireland’s fight for independence and if you look really hard the bullet holes from the 1916 rising can still be seen on the building’s exterior.

A little further up O’Connell Street (Dublin’s most famous street) lies the new modern symbol of Dublin’s fair city, The Spire .

When the government announced the plans to build The Spire the public made a mockery of it. However, we quickly learned to love the monument as it can be seen from all angles of the city, making it the perfect meeting point for gatherings.

Stop 4: The Ha’Penny Bridge & Temple Bar

Once you had a glance high in the sky at the Spire, it is time cross the River Liffey using the famous Ha’ Penny Bridge. This is the Bridge seen all over Instagram and is the gateway into the Temple Bar District .

Temple Bar is an old cobblestone quarter that the most famous spot in Dublin for tourist. It is where the Irish personality, music, and tales come to life. The most popular building who be the official Temple Bar Inn , a red brick pub seen on most postcards and information brochures. Don’t forget to keep an eye out for Dublin Hidden Gems like Find  Rory Gallagher’s Guitar .

This may be a good time to grab a bite to eat, consider eating in the delicious Elephant Castle , or if you fancy designing your own cheesecake, check out the Mad Egg .

Please note, that mad egg is before the crossing of the River Liffey, see google maps for reference.

Stop 5: Go for a stroll by Dublin Castle, Christchurch & St. Patricks Catedral

Once your Tummy is all full up, it is time to walk towards Dublin Castle . You may be surprised that there is only one section of the castle that in fact looks like a real-life castle. Nonetheless, it is still a significant building in Irish history. You can go inside the castle for a fee , although I suggest skipping this step due to time restrictions.

Following the royal visit, it is time to walk towards the stunning Christchurch Cathedral . The Medieval Cathedral will make you feel as if you are stepping back in time with its a truly unique architecture. Continuing on the with the Medieval theme, a few minutes down the road lies Dublin 2nd Medieval Church, Saint Patricks Cathedral . This is one stunning building, with a beautiful garden adjacent to it.

24 hours in Dublin: Spend the Evening in the home of the Black Stuff

Stop 6: The Guinness Storehouse

The final stop on today’s self-guided tour of Dublin brings us to the home of the Black Stuff, The Guinness Storehouse .

This is my favourite attraction in all of Dublin. And, that is even a little controversial, as I’m Irish, but I’m not all too fond of the taste of Guinness. My point is, that anyone can visit the famous storehouse without having to like the taste of the Black Stuff! Visit for the brilliant storytelling , to have a laugh trying to pull your own pint and for the phenomenal 360 views of Dublin .

If this sounds like a fun-filled evening, book your tickets now as they sell out fast.

Things to do in Dublin in One Day: Night Time Shenanigans

There are many things to do at night in Dublin, whether you want to enjoy some time on the town or take part in some lesser know activities. I’ve listed down my favourite down below.

Things to do in Dublin at night

• There are many beautiful places in Dublin to watch the Sunset . The sky lights up in beautiful colours along the River Liffey. Or, if time allows, you could check out some of Dublins walks , there are many that offer some epic sunset locations.
• If drinking isn’t your scene, why not consider going to see a comedy gig in Vicar Street . Or, visit one of Dublin’s best hidden gems , the Stella Cinema , a vintage cinema complex that transports you back in time.

Best places in Dublin to have a drink

• Temple Bar is the place to go if you are hoping to listen to some Traditional Irish Music with a modern twist. I must warn you that the district is insanely expensive and you won’t find much Irish hanging about in the pubs. But… It certainly lives up to the stereotypical ‘Irish Experience’.
• Another great spot for traditional music is just across the street from Temple Bar, Dame Lane . The prices here are slightly cheaper, only slightly though and you may find a local or two jamming out to the great music scene.
• If you are looking for a nice chill place to have a few drinks with the possibility of having a little boogie as the night progresses. The make your way to Dawson Street , home to some modern bars with little dance floors.
• For those wanting to dance the night away then the Night Clubs on Harcourt Street is the place for you! It is a whole street dedicated to late-night dancing. If you are brave, you may even find yourself in coppers, dancing the night away until 5 am. Now, you have been warned, coppers can get CRAZY at night, so come prepared.
• Looking for Cocktails? Check out Pygmalion , Capitol Lounge or Copan (a little bit out of the city).

Stopover in Dublin Map & Suggested Timetable

Suggested Timetable

8.30am – 9.00am:  Breakfast 9.00am- 10.00am:  Saint Stephens Green 10.00am – 10.30pm:   Grafton Street & Molly Malone Statue 10.30am – 12.00pm:  Explore the Grounds of Trinity College and visit the Book of Kells 12.00pm – 1.00pm:  GPO, The Spire & Ha’Penny Bridge. 1.00pm – 2.00pm:  Lunch Break in Temple Bar 2.00pm – 3.30pm:  Dublin Castle, Christ Church & Saint Patricks Cathedral 3.00pm – 5.30pm:  The Guinness Storehouse

When is the best to visit Dublin?

July and August is by far the busiest time of year to visit Dublin due to the typically good weather and schools being on their summer holidays.

June and September are considered the months with the best weather yet the best off peak crowd levels.

Halloween originated in Ireland. There are many Halloween celebrations that take place across the country. Including many events in the city centre.

In November/December time the city is highlight in Christmas lights. It is a truly magical time to visit.

St. Patricks day is on the 17th of March , the streets are packed with those celebrating. March is quite an expensive time to visit, but it is also one of the best months for an eventful trip.

I, however, do not recommend visiting in January or Feb , these months tend to be cold, and we sometimes even get some snow . The days are also very short with it getting dark around 4pm.

Have more time in Dublin?

If you are considering spending more time in Dublin then check out my 2 days in Dublin post to further help plan your trip to Ireland . One of the best things about Dublin is the cities location. Dublin is the perfect place to begin or end you Ireland Itinerary . Or, you could base yourself in Dublin and visit some of Ireland’s top attractions on Dublin Day Trips . Below are some of my favourites:

The Cliffs of Moher is Ireland’s leading tourist attraction. It is possible to visit the famous cliffs on a short day trip from Dublin . The drive takes 3 and a half hours in Total.

The Causeway Coast is another popular Day Trip from Dublin, day tours give visitors the opportunity to explore the beautiful Giants Causeway and Game of Thrones filming sites.

Wicklow National Park is just a 50-minute drive from Dublin City. Most will visit the iconic Glendalough to discover some of the best walks in Wicklow . Book your day trip here .

A little lesser known day trip from Dublin is the stunning Stairway to Heaven trail.

You can even explore beautiful towns such as Kinsale on a Dublin day trip. This is the perfect day trip for those looking to catch a glimpse of West Cork .

Walks in Dublin

Another great thing about Dublin is the cities close proximity to the ocean, mountains and surrounding counties. On Dublin’s doorstep there are many wonderful walks to explore. Like, the Hellfire Club for example, this is a nice place to go for a walk in the mountains and enjoy the amazing views.

Or, the nearby Ticknock is a great place to go for a short brisk hike or to watch the sunset over the city.

If you are looking for an uphill walk that is accessible via public transport then consider hiking up Killiney Hill . The walk is nice and easy and offers insane views of both Dublin and Wicklow.

Many of those visiting Dublin tend to get the DART to Bray, a beautiful coastal town in County Wicklow. The journey takes just under 40 minutes and the most popular thing to do in Bray is the Bray to Greystones Cliff Walk . It’s also a nice place to grab a bite to eat before returning to the city.

Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed it. If you have any further questions be sure to reach out to me on  Instagram . As Always, happy travels and see you in the next blog!

Disclaimer: Please note that some blog posts on LiveAdventureTravel may contain affiliate links meaning that I may make some commission on purchases made through said links at no extra cost to you.

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Complete Dublin Walking Tour

3 dublin walking tours, map and attractions guide, visit 50 attractions in central dublin using the three self guided walking tour maps below.

Use the Dublin google map below to visit the attractions in Dublin city center. A complete self guided walking tour with map and guide to Dublin attractions, including Cathedrals, Squares, and historic Dublin sites. Follow the walking route to explore the city at your own place. Spend a few hours or two days depending on how long you want to spend at each attraction. There are three separate Dublin self guided walking walking tours: Tour 1- Downtown Central Dublin located north of River Liffey, Tour 2 – Temple Bar Region, St Stephens Green and Grafton Street located south of River Liffey and Tour 3 – Historic Dublin includes Dublin Corporation, Dublin City Hall (and includes parts of the Temple Bar Region).

Click on the arrow icon to the left of the title to display the legend. Click on the Attractions attractions map pins (green, red, black, purple or blue pins) or on the legend (left icon on the title bar) or the PDF map that you download for additional information including images of the attraction. Each set of colored map pins can be used as a separate walking tour of Dublin making it flexible to work into your schedule of other planned events or lunch breaks.

• Dublin City Center – Purple Map pins below. For accompanying Central Dublin Walking Tour 1 attractions guide click HERE
• Dublin Temple Bar Region – Black Map pins below. For accompanying Templar Bar Dublin Walking Tour 2 attractions guide click HERE
• Historic, Old Dublin Walk – Red Map pins below. For accompanying Historic Dublin Walking Tour 3 attractions guide click HERE

Wifi – SIM card

We brought an old smartphone for our trip and purchased a SIM card from one of the major carriers in Dublin. You will need an unlocked smartphone, the SIM will give you a local number. Purchase from one of the major carriers and not a phone shop. If you use your existing iphone, keep your original SIM card safe and put it back in your phone when you leave Ireland

• Eir – check their pre-pay plan

I purchased mine from Vodafone but you can get one at any major provider. They have flexible “pay as you go” plans that you can top up as needed. You will need to purchase both a SIM card and a data plan to use your smartphone in Ireland. Download the google map below onto your smartphone using the instructions below for easy to use free Dublin self guided walking tours to the major attractions

Zoom in to view the color coded three self Guided walking tours in Dublin. Instructions to download Interactive Dublin Ireland map are at the end of the post

Download PDF Map HERE

Self guided dublin walking tour, dublin ireland map.

When to Visit Dublin

The peak season in Ireland is between June and September. At this time central Dublin is teaming with tourists and many of the attractions in the Dublin Walking tour may have line ups, especially the Book of Kells at Trinity College. Plan accordingly if you want to complete all three Dublin tours as lineups in the peak season may mean that you it will take longer to complete all three Dublin Walking tours

What to Wear on the Dublin Walking Tour?

While visiting in the shoulder season (April-May or October) means that there are less tourists and shorter lineup but it may also mean colder weather and start of the rainy season. In addition to shorter lines for attractions at this time, pub entertainment is limited, and live pub crawls are eliminated to weekends only.  Dress warmly during the shoulder months during the Dublin Walking tours, layering is essential. The temperature can drop and a wool sweater, cardigan, rain coat with a hood, waterproof walking shoes are helpful to keep warm and dry.

From Dublin Airport to Central Dublin and onto the Dublin Walking Tour

Ireland has a well used and convenient public transportation system to travel within Dublin, its surrounding areas and to connect to the different cities towns and villages in Ireland. In Dublin, the well-connected transport system means that tourist do not have to rent a car, look for expensive parking spots in the center and get caught up in the traffic jams.

Public transportation, the local buses run by Dublin Bus will take you into central Dublin. It takes about 45-60 min by bus. The Buses 16, 41 will take you to the city center. However, Dublin Bus 102 takes you to Sutton Station outside of Dublin, it does not stop in downtown Dublin. You can board these buses in Zone 15 in the parking lot. View Dublin Airport bus map  here . Tickets can be purchased right on the bus but you will need exact change or euro dollars; the machine does not give out change. Just drop the money into the machine when you board.

Once you arrive in the city center, follow the maps and tours below to explore central Dublin using the three Dublin Walking Tours

Getting around using the Dublin Walking Tour

Dublin’s downtown core is fairly compact and a walk from the GPO (General Post Office) to Stephens Green should take about an hour.

A useful tip if you are looking for a specific address or postal code, the numbers on the Northside of the street are odd numbers while the Southside the numbers are even numbers.  In general, the higher the number, the further away the address is from Dublin’s core. Names of streets are not on sign posts, they are plastered along the side of buildings.

If you would like to explore Dublin, then Dublin has a good public transport network with a choice of buses, two tram lines (the Luas), a local area train running all the way along Dublin Bay (the Dart) and a large number of taxis

Dublin Walking Tour – Identify functional Quarters

As you walk in central Dublin, keep in mind that Dublin is divided into several quarters as follows:

• Medieval Quarter – It is the oldest part of the city and includes the attractions such as St Patrick’s Cathedral, Christ Church and Dublin Castle. of the Dublin Walking Tour
• Cultural Quarter – This is the area around the Temple Bar region. Attractions in the area are in the Dublin Walk
• Georgian Quarter   – Merrion Square, St Stephen’s Green and Fitzwilliam square showcase some of the finest Georgian architecture in Dublin Tech Quarter – Dublin’s Docklands in the Grand Canal Dock Area. Tech giants such as Facebook, Google amongst others can be found here
• Creative Quarter – The hub of design and creativity is located South William Street to George’s Street, and from Lower Stephen’s Street to Exchequer Street

Pubs in the Dublin Walking Tour

Pub life is interwoven within the fabric of the society. History shows that many Dubliners lived in unheated, overcrowded accommodations and a visit to the local pub was common to warm up, enjoy company and take the Craic (fun). On the Dublin Walking tours, you will see pubs almost every 100 meters. The staff are friendly and often times you will see locals at the popular local pubs discussing world news, get a tip on the horses or maybe sing a song or two (evenings).  Traditional pubs do not have table service so if you are lucky to find a seat, you will need to go to the bar to order. Typical beer orders are half pints.

Queen of Tarts

If you’re on the lookout for some good coffee and even better cakes, then the Queen of Tarts on Dame Street. The caffe founded by NYC pastry chefs trained sisters Regina and Yvonne Fallon. They offer generous and delicious portions of sweet treats across two locations in Dublin since the late 1990s. This is the perfect rest stop in the middle of the Dublin Walking Tours

Instructions to download the interactive map to a smart phone:

Take the map with you when you travel:.

Instructions on:

• Using it offline
• Using it online – We bring one of our older smart phones when we travel and buy a local SIM card. You can purchase a local tourist SIM card from one of the main local providers, they are usually pretty inexpensive. You may need your passport to purchase as its a tourist SIM if you are an international tourist. You should have them put it in your old smartphone and check that it works before leaving the store. Use it to follow the map online, its the best way to explore

Sign into google using your Gmail account on your smart phone and be connected to the internet. If you do not sign in, this process will not work . You will be downloading this map to save it. You will be saving it in google maps in two places:

• Save in “Your Places” for online use and
• Save in “Offline map” for offline use
• Youtube instructions on link as follows: https://youtu.be/_6j9koieMsU

Instructions to save above map:

• Click on the rectangle on the top right hand side of the above map [ ] – if you move your mouse to it, it will say “view larger map”
• It will take you into google maps on your smartphone and it will automatically save this map. You must be already be signed into google maps with your Gmail account, if you are not signed into google maps then the map will not be saved
• In google maps, click on the menu which is the three horizontal lines on the top left of the google map (it is to the left of the search box)
• From the menu, click on “Your Places”. This will take you to another screen with a menu at the top. From the top menu bar select “maps”. A list of your maps will be displayed including the map that was just saved. Select the map you just saved
• Make sure the map is still onscreen; do not close out of it as you will be downloading this map and it has to be onscreen to download. While the map is onscreen, click on menu again (three horizontal lines top left hand corner)
• Select “Offline maps” then select “custom map”
• Once you select “custom map”, the onscreen map will be displayed; select the area you want downloaded (zoom in or out to get all the data points into the blue square outline; pinch fingers for zooming)
• Click on “download” – this will save the map in an offline area that you can use when you are not connected to the internet

The map is now saved in two places. To see this, click on the menu (three horizontal line on top right hand corner) in google maps:

• Click on “Your Places” from the menu, then select “Custom Map”. The map will be listed and you can use the map while connected to the internet
• Click on “Offline Maps” from the menu. The map will be listed to use the map offline ie: not connected to the internet (make sure location services is turned on and your will see the blue dot indicating your location as you navigate with the offline map)
• After you download a map, use the Google Maps app just like you normally would. If your Internet connection is slow or absent, or if you are in “airplane mode” Google Maps will automatically use your offline maps to give you directions

Dublin Self-Guided Tours

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Dublin Self-Guided Tours - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

• RADICAL STORAGE

Self-guided sightseeing tour of Dublin

Our self-guided tour of Dublin includes all the best sites and attractions that will get you into the heart of the city without wasting your time.

Supported languages

Cancellation Policy

Non-refundable

You will do more than just see the sights; you will discover their deepest secrets and fascinating facts. Whether you prefer to walk or take a bus, this tour will provide enough information so that your visit at each stop will be packed with history and engagement. The city has much more to offer than just free museums and galleries. You can also use tour recommendations and tips to discover hidden gems, major shopping areas, and fantastic Instagram-worthy locations.

The capital of Ireland has a vibrant culture and a stunning setting amid the banks of the River Liffey. The streets and buildings of Dublin are filled with Irish charm, making it the ideal place for a trip. The city is not only about architecture or history but also about culture. There are world-class museums, theaters, and art galleries.  

With so many things to see and do in Dublin, planning a tour can be tricky. You can start at Trinity College and visit Stephen’s Green and Merrion Square, some of the most famous areas of Dublin. Then continue to the Medieval Quarter for a glimpse into what Dublin looked like in the past. And end your tour with a walk to Temple Bar, where you will have plenty of opportunities to enjoy and have fun at some Irish pubs and restaurants.

Choose from several attractions, unusual places, and must-see landmarks to make the most of your time.

Self-guided tour of Dublin | How does it work

Smartphone users can now pick up their mobile devices to start exploring the city like a pro! 

Access your self-guided tour of Dublin through the Vox City app . This app was created with your needs in mind, and it includes a detailed offline map, excellent audio tracks, a comprehensive public transport guide, and useful tips on things to see and do in the city. 

Follow these simple steps to start your walking tour of Dublin:

• Book the tour.
• Download the Vox City app.
• Scan the QR code received after booking to activate the digital content.

Here is what includes the self-guided tour of Dublin :

• Offline digital maps
• Walking itineraries and bicycle routes
• Public transport itineraries
• Great photo-spots
• Free Wi-Fi and charging spots

Dublin self-guided tour does not include:

• Food and drinks
• Headphones and devices
• Hotel pick up/drop off
• Entrance tickets to museums and attractions

Plan your walking tour of Dublin

Our self-guided tour is a great way to create your own customized itinerary through the capital of Ireland. It includes all the city’s main attractions, such as Guinness Storehouse or Connell Street. What’s more, is that it offers a lot of tips and highlights some of the lesser-known sights.

Whether you want to spend time touring the many historical sites such as Trinity College or stroll around the cobblestone streets of the Temple Bar area, whatever you will choose, it will be easy and fun to explore.

Walk along the River Liffey, go shopping in one of the many shops, or visit St. Patrick’s Cathedral . Dublin is a historic and vibrant city that won’t get you bored!

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Dublin Walking Tours

This post provides information about several different free walking tours you can take in Dublin, including the history of the city, fables, folklore, and even pub crawls.

• Overview + Schedule
• Intro to Dublin
• Folklore + Fables
• Self-Guided

OVERVIEW + SCHEDULE

There are several great free walking tours you can take in Dublin which are led by locals and cover multiple different subjects and locations throughout the city.

The most popular free tours focus on the history of the city and some sightseeing of the most notable landmarks you can see in Dublin.

Visitors can expect to hear the story of Dublin while walking through the city streets with an expert guide.

The tour listed below is operated through us. The calendar below lists additional options.

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Additional Tour Options

Alternatively, you might also want to consider a tour covering the mythological history of this city as told through folklore and fables .

Dublin pub crawls are another popular choice due to all the great, historic pubs you’ll find in the city and of course the popularity of Guinness. Taking a pub tour is a great way to figure out the best places to grab a pint.

If all else fails, you may also want to consider taking a self-guided tour of Dublin , and these services include interactive maps you can use to find your way from one stop to the next.

Most of these outings are technically pay-what-you-want walking tours, which means it is essentially tip-based and you get to decide how much the tour was worth once it is complete.

There are more south-side tours than there are on the north side of the river, but you can explore and see the highlights and top attractions of both areas while being led by local guides throughout the Irish capital.

If you’re looking for an alternative that covers other subjects or locations in this city, there are several paid Dublin tours you might want to consider.

You can also save money on some of the best-paid tours by using a Dublin Tourist Pass . 

These services typically include hop-on hop-off bus tours and individual tours of popular attractions like the Jameson Distillery.

Disclosure:  We think you should consider our free tours, but we have also provided other options. While our recommendations are always unbiased, we may receive a small share of sales through some of the links below at no cost to you. See the  full text .

How much should you pay for a free walking tour?

According to online reviews, it seems people pay around €5 - €20 per person to their tour guides.

How long does a free walking tour take to complete?

Most excursions will last for between 1-2 hours, but there are some outings that could take up to 3 hours.

We offer tours globally . Check out our other Irish and U.K. cities.

FREE INTRO TO DUBLIN TOURS 

These tours focus on the most notable sites in Dublin, making stops at several popular locations while providing information about the history of the city.

In addition to learning about the foundations of the city, your tour guides may also include details about famous artists such as the author James Joyce and the rock band U2.

You can expect to see the following landmarks on a free intro to Dublin tour:

• Dublin Castle
• Trinity College
• Christ Church Cathedral
• Chester Beatty Library

Consider taking one of the following tours to see and learn more about these historic locations.

GPS-Enabled Dublin Audio Tour

We also offer an audio tour of historic Dublin, researched, written, and recorded by one of our own tour guides.

Here are a few of the more notable attractions included on this tour:

• The Book of Kells
• Christchurch Cathedral
• Irish Whiskey Museum
• National Museum of Ireland

Purchase your audio tour here

Click the map to enlarge it or to download it to a smartphone.

Here’s a sample.

Dublin Free Walking Tour

This company offers a tour of the southside of Dublin every day at 11 am and 14:00 (2 pm), as well as a North Dublin tour daily at 15:30 (3:30 pm). 

Both outings are available in English and Spanish. 

According to guests, this free walking tour of Dublin takes about 2 ½ hours to complete, which isn’t quite as long as some of their competitors.

In the colder months, they offer slightly fewer tours, but still daily outings. You can book their tours here .

You can also find paid pub tours and other themed tours that center on Dublin’s history or culture.

Dublin Northside Tour | Irish Independence

This free tour of Dublin takes place in the northern area of the Irish capital, and it covers the subject of the independence movement and the 1916 rebellion known as the Easter Rising.

If you're interested in learning about the political history of Dublin, this is an excellent tour to take, and it's pay-what-you-wish!

The tour is available every day at 3:30 pm. You can book this tour here .

Self-Guided and Audio Tours

We also offer a self-guided Dublin tour you can use for free if you don’t mind guiding yourself around the city.

You may also want to consider a self-guided exploration game that covers the 7 Wonders of Dublin .

This service isn't free, but at only €15, it costs about as much as you might tip a guide for one of the pay-what-you-wish walking tours listed above.

DUBLIN FOLKLORE TOURS

With a history that dates back to medieval times, it shouldn’t be too surprising that Dublin has an interesting history filled with folk tales, fables, secrets, myths, legends and more.

There is currently at least one free walking tour that covers this subject.

Tour participants can expect to learn about a wide range of mythological stories from Dublin’s past on this outing.

Dublin folklore tours typically include the following topics:

• Irish Gods and Heroes
• Witches & Heresy
• Ancient Beliefs
• The Faerie World
• Gaelic Revival
• Pagan Ireland

If you’re interested in learning about these mythical stories and the history behind them, consider taking the walking tour listed below.

Generation Tours

This company also offers the only free folklore and mythology tour available in this city, and it covers a lot of interesting stories and characters that came from Ireland.

A local expert will explain some of the more disturbing facts about Dublin's history, as well as a mystery or two that may remain unsolved to this day!

This pay-what-you-want walking tour is available every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday at 14:30 (2:30 pm).

Additional Dublin Folklore Tours

If you’re looking for another type of tour that covers these types of subjects, there are some paid tours available that you might want to consider.

Most of these outings are haunted tours that delve a bit deeper into the more disturbing stories from throughout the history of Dublin.

Check this list of Dublin Folklore/Haunted History tours to find a service you might want to take.

Alternatively, there is also a self-guided exploration game you can enjoy which covers the haunted history of Dublin .

DUBLIN PUB CRAWLS

Although there aren’t any pay-what-you-wish pub crawls in Dublin, we actually offer a self-guided pub crawl you can use to find some of the best bars in the city.

This outing includes 9 different stops at traditional pubs and provides information about the history of each location on the tour. 

The only problem with this option is that it doesn’t include any free drinks and you won’t have a tour guide to show you around town.

If you’d prefer to have the help of a guide, meet fellow travelers, and potentially enjoy some free or discounted drinks, there are several paid pub crawls you can enjoy which start at around €10-€15 per person.

In addition to their free walking tours, this company also offers a paid pub crawl for just €14 per person and it lasts for approximately 5 hours.

While on this Dublin pub crawl, you’ll receive free shots, a complimentary Guinness, and drink discounts at the 6 different pubs you’ll visit.

You can join this outing every night at 20:00 (8 pm).

Purchase tickets for this pub crawl .

Dublin Literary Pub Crawl

This pub crawl focuses more on the literary heritage of Dublin, covering locations that inspired some of the most famous writers in the history of the city.

Drinks are not included on this pub crawl, but you will have several opportunities to grab a drink at multiple historic pubs. At the end of the tour, you'll be given a literary quiz, and there will be prizes for the winners!

Tickets are €15.25 and the outing lasts for approximately 2 hours.

This is available Thursday - Sunday at 7:15 pm.

Purchase tickets for their pub crawl .

SELF-GUIDED DUBLIN TOURS 

If you’d rather be in complete control of your walkthrough Dublin, a self-guided or audio tour is a great option for you.

Free Tours by Foot Self-Guided Dublin

This self-guided tour of Dublin will take you past the main sites and attractions of the city, from St. Patrick’s Cathedral and peaceful St. Stephens Green to the boozy Temple Bar district.

This written guide also comes with an interactive map.

We offer tours globally . Check out our other Irish and U.K. cities.

RELATED POSTS:

• Guinness Storehouse Tickets and Discounts
• Which Dublin Bus Tour is Best?
• Go City Dublin Pass vs DoDublin Card
• Things to Do with Kids in Dublin
• Things to Do at Night in Dublin

And much, much more

North america, united kingdom & ireland, middle east & india, asia & oceania.

Take a walk through history

• Trinity Trails

Take a guided tour through the grounds of Trinity College Dublin and discover the hidden gems that make Ireland’s oldest university such a special place.

Make the most out of your day in Dublin with a Book of Kells Experience & Trinity Trails bundle. This combined ticket includes a guided campus tour followed by access to the Book of Kells and Old Library, Gaia & new immersive digital experience.

Book of Kells Experience & Trinity Trails

Self-Guided Trinity Trails

Funding The Future

Proceeds from your visit are invested back into trinity college dublin..

Every visit counts. Revenue from your visit is invested back into Trinity College Dublin to support the academic mission of the University and fund development projects and conservation programmes.

Meet our Tour Guides

Testimonials

We loved hearing about Trinity from a real life student. The Museum building was the highlight!

Columbus, Ohio

Our guide was super informative and really passionate about the topics in the tour.

The tour was fascinating from start to finish. Loved our guide!

Answers to your questions

Do I have to book tickets online?

Online booking is recommended, since this is a timed experience there is no guarantee that a slot will be available on your arrival to Trinity campus.

Are tours available in other languages?

All standard tours are provided in English. Visitors can currently book private guided tours in German language. Contact us on [email protected] for more information.

Where is the meeting point for the tour?

Visitors with tickets for the Book of Kells Experience & Trinity Trails Campus tour and the Trinity Trails Campus Tour will start in Front Square at the Bell Tower.

What is included in my guided tour?

Trinity Trails is an outdoor walking tour for 45 mins.

What is your refund and cancellation policy?

Tickets cannot be exchanged or refunded, except at the absolute discretion of the Visit Trinity team. For further details contact [email protected]

Are the guided and self-guided tours wheelchair accessible?

The tours follow accessible walkways across Trinity campus. Please be advised that from time to time, there may be an area that is not entirely suitable, in which case there will simply be a slight delay on route. If you have any questions regarding your visit please contact our team on [email protected]

Are there special rates for carers?

We offer a complimentary ticket for carers who accompany a visitor with a disability. To obtain a carer ticket, first book your ticket and then email [email protected] quoting your booking reference number and we will add the complimentary ticket to your booking.

Are there accessible parking facilities on campus?

Visitors with a Parking Permit for People with Disabilities (blue badge) can avail this facility, enter via Lincoln Gate and ask where best to park nearest your business meeting/activity on Campus. The Trinity maps has a list of all disabled parking bays on campus at the following link: https://www.tcd.ie/Maps/map.php

Are the guided and self-guided tours suitable for families?

Yes, the tours are suitable for families. Please advise, children must be supervised at all times.

How do I book for groups?

For bookings of 20 or more please email us directly at [email protected]. We can also arrange bespoke tours for smaller groups.

How many are in a guided tour of the campus?

The standard Trinity Trails tour can facilitate up to 25.

Is the tour included in the Go City pass?

The Book of Kells Experience & The Trinity Trails Campus tours are not included in the Go City Pass.

I am a tour guide. Can I guide groups through Trinity’s campus?

Guided tours of Trinity campus can only be conducted by Trinity Trails (Trinity’s official tour guides) and by authorised staff of the University. For more information email: [email protected]

Are there toilet facilities on campus?

Yes, the nearest accessible toilets for visitors are located:

Monday – Friday: The Arts Block (beside the Perch Café)

Saturday – Sunday: The Berkeley Library (inside the front door on the left)

Join in the conversation

See what else you can do at trinity.

Meetings & Events

Stay at Trinity

Places to eat

• Book of Kells Experience

• Best Price Guarantee You won't find a better deal anywhere else!
• No Booking Fee Book Now - Pay Later!
• Free Cancellation Up to 72 hours before arrival
• City-Centre Location Located in the heart of Dublin City

Sidewalk Safari | Part-time Travel Blog

12 of the best ireland self-driving tours (a local's guide).

Plan a short trip to Ireland by car or plan a longer Ireland self-drive itinerary. You may even consider picking and choosing the best Ireland destinations from among my many Ireland road trip itineraries. Buckle up and let's plan a drive on the Emerald Isle!

Ireland's Best Self-Driving Tours

• Drive County Kildare
• Waterford and Wexford by car
• Dublin to Tipperary
• Carlingford Lough
• Drive the Ring of Kerry
• A Poetic and Food-Filled Trip to Sligo
• Donegal Fly and Drive Weekend
• Galway to Connemara
• Dublin to Kinsale
• County Clare and the Cliffs of Moher
• A West Cork Road Trip
• The Dingle Peninsula

Ireland Car Hire Options

Traditional car rentals.

A Luxury Eco-Friendly Self-Drive

Short ireland self-driving tours that are closer to dublin, 1. drive county kildare.

County Kildare is Dublin's closest neighbor. Plan a one day Kildare itinerary for a fun day out. Go shopping at Ireland's top outlet mall or visit the Irish National Stud farm. 

They don't call Kildare Ireland's horse country for nothing! Extend this short Irish road trip from one day to a weekend and venture into South Kildare . Here you'll find tales of Antarctic adventure in Athy which Ernest Shackleton once called home. 

Stay in the historic and posh Kilkea Castle , one of the coolest castles in Ireland . Explore the various manor homes and gardens in South Kildare and you may even come face to face with a smiling donkey! 

2. Waterford and Wexford

Whatever the season, a Waterford and Wexford road trip in Ireland's Ancient East has something special to offer. Wexford is known for having the best strawberries in Ireland so time your Waterford and Wexford road trip for the summer season. 

Dungarvan is a great home base for exploring County Waterford. If you happen to do this Ireland self-drive tour in winter instead, make sure to plan a stop at the Wexford Wildfowl Reserve to see Greenland White-Fronted Geese as they overwinter in Ireland. 

You'll find traces of beloved American President JFK all around Waterford and Wexford. The JFK Arboretum is a great place to stop and stretch your legs with a short hike. 

This Ireland road trip is easily doable in a weekend, but there is plenty to do if you'd like to take a longer or more leisurely Irish road trip in this area.

3. Dublin to Tipperary

Dublin to Tipperary is another fantastic short self-driving tour that can easily be accomplished in a weekend. Make a beeline for the bad-ass Rock of Cashel with detours to discover all the things to do in Kilkenny City and Carlow along the way.

4. Carlingford Lough

Head North from Dublin for an ideal long weekend drive that covers both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. Carlingford Lough is the dividing line between the North and South. 

Book in at Ghan House Hotel . From here it takes less than 10 minutes to walk into Carlingford Town with its spectacular colorful pubs and picturesque King John's Castle jutting out into Carlingford Lough. 

Take Carlingford Lough Ferry into Northern Ireland and enjoy views of the Cooley Mountains and Cooley Peninsula from the Mourne Coastal Drive. Discover quaint little towns in Northern Ireland like Rostrevor where echos of C.S. Lewis' Narnia can be felt everywhere. 

This Ireland road trip is ideal if you prefer a more relaxed pace and don't want to be in the car every day. Once you arrive in Carlingford Town, you could cycle to Omeath or take a long hike into the Cooley Mountains.

Short Irish Road Trips That Are Further Afield

5. drive the ring of kerry.

6. A Poetic and Food-Filled Trip to Sligo

7. Donegal Fly and Drive

8. Galway to Connemara

9. Dublin to Kinsale

10. County Clare and the Cliffs of Moher

Longer Ireland Road Trip Itineraries

11. a west cork road trip .

12. The Dingle Peninsula

Places to Stop on an Irish Road Trip

North of dublin.

En Route to the West of Ireland

Ireland's Midlands

Ireland's Northwest

Southwest Ireland

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The settlement began to flourish in 1833, when the National Road reached Columbus and canals were completed. However, when the Columbus, Piqua and Indiana Railroad bypassed Dublin its heydays ended and it became just a trade center for the nearby farmers. Prosperity once more came in 1970 when the I-70 bypass, I-270, linked Dublin with Columbus, and the transformation from a village of 861 residents into a city began.

Today, low limestone fences form a border between emerald-green lawns and local roads in this quaint Columbus suburb. Historic Dublin, on North and South High Street and South Riverview Street roughly between Bridge Street and Waterford Drive/Short Street, contains examples of 19th-century architecture on a streetscape as well-scrubbed as a Hollywood movie set. Fronted by brick sidewalks, the same 19th-century buildings now house lovely shops, galleries, pubs and cafés. Have the barkeep pour you an Irish whiskey or choose from a list of more than 60 imports, crafts and microbrews at Brazenhead Irish Pub, 56 N. High St.; the pub is named after Ireland's oldest pub, established in 1198, and its owners have faithfully created a near-perfect Irish pub experience, down to the drawing room fireplace and the bar itself. At Ha'Penny Bridge Imports, 75 S. High St., experience shopping in Ireland without the expensive airfare and peruse the historic home's collection of Galway Irish crystal, fine jewelry, wool sweaters, and other fine imported goods from the motherland.

Have fun outdoors courtesy of the city's 1,500 acres of parkland and the town's proximity to the Scioto River. Ninety-six miles of bike trails connect 56 parks that feature hardwood forests and wetlands. Area parks feature playgrounds, basketball and tennis courts, and fishing ponds. Check out the fishing pier and pond, sensory garden and restored log cabin at the M.L. Red Trabue Nature Reserve, 6500 Post Rd. Test your disc-tossing skills at a 9-hole disc golf course across from Balgriffin Park, 5715 Norn St. Phone (614) 410-4400 for further park information.

Dublin's parks also are home to outdoor art installations. A 12-foot-tall sculpture of Wyandot Native American “Chief Leatherlips,” made of stacks of native limestone, resides at Scioto Park; in the whimsical “Field of Corn (with Osage Orange Trees),” 109 gigantic ears of corn stand at attention in Sam and Eulalia Frantz Park.

Although their ancestry may not be entirely Irish, Dublin townspeople embrace the folklore of its namesake city. That includes hosting several Celtic-themed events each year. The 3-day Dublin Irish Festival is held in late July or early August at Coffman Park and has drawn more than 100,000 guests. The celebration showcases Irish culture with an assortment of entertainment and activities, including Irish storytelling, sporting events, musical performances, professional genealogy services and craft workshops; even the town's fire hydrants are painted green.

Do the jig, do a jog at the annual St. Patrick's Day Parade in mid-March. The event features an Irish breakfast, a 5K run through town and a 90-minute parade with Irish dancers and marching bands playing traditional Irish music. The Blarney Bash, featuring live music, food trucks, beer and Irish dancers, begins immediately after the parade and continues into the evening. Venues throughout town also celebrate the day with Irish step dancing, classic Irish cuisine, music by bagpipe and drum corps, activities for wee ones and a pot of gold relay.

The Abbey Theater of Dublin, located in the Dublin Community Recreation Center, 5600 Post Rd., presents children's theater and holiday programs such as “A Christmas Carol.” Phone (614) 410-4550 for schedules.

Native Dubliner and pro golfer Jack Nicklaus created The Memorial Tournament, an annual stop on the PGA tour held in late May or early June at the Nicklaus-designed course at Muirfield Village Golf Club. Tickets are available for practice rounds; phone (614) 889-6712.

Visitor Centers Dublin Convention & Visitors Bureau 9 S. High St. Dublin, OH 43017. Phone:(614)792-7666 or (800)245-8387

Self-guiding Tours A map and brochure detailing a tour of Historic Dublin is available from the convention and visitors bureau.

Shopping The 100 establishments in The Mall at Tuttle Crossing, southeast corner of I-270 and Tuttle Crossing Boulevard, are anchored by JCPenney and Macy's.

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Kygo Announces World Tour Across North America and Europe

SPECIAL GUESTS SOFI TUKKER, GRYFFIN, SAM FELDT, ZARA LARSSON, KLANGKARUSSELL, HAYLA, VICTORIA NADINE AND VANDELUX TO JOIN ON SELECT DATES

New single, “for life” ft. zak abel & nile rodgers out now, listen here, tickets available starting tuesday, april 23 with presales, general onsale begins on friday, april 26 at 10am local at kygothealbum.com.

Today,  global superstar, producer, and DJ Kygo announced part one of his 2024 world tour across North America, Europe and the UK. Produced by Live Nation, the 26-date run kicks off on Saturday, September 7 in Commerce City, CO at DICK’S Sporting Goods Park, with stops in Boston, Toronto, Chicago, Berlin, Amsterdam, Paris, London and more before wrapping up on Friday, December 13 in Dublin, Ireland at 3Arena. As the highest-selling ticket artist in dance music, part one of Kygo’s 2024 dates marks his first tour since 2018 and will bring his incredible live show across the globe. The impressive, must-see performance will feature Kygo’s signature piano, as well as strings, singers, and drummers. Special guests SOFI TUKKER, GRYFFIN, Sam Feldt , Zara Larsson, Klangkarussell, Hayla , Victoria Nadine , and Vandelux will join on select dates.

The Kygo World Tour will feature performances at iconic venues around the world, including Los Angeles’ Hollywood Bowl, Brooklyn’s Barclays Center and a hometown show at Telenor Arena in Oslo, Norway.

The new tour announcement comes on the heels of Kygo’s new single release, “For Life” ft. Zak Abel & Nile Rodgers, from last week.

NORTH AMERICA TICKETS: Tickets for the U.S. dates will be available starting with a Verizon presale (details below) beginning Tuesday, April 23 at 10am local time. An artist presale will begin Wednesday, April 24 at 10am local time. Additional presales will run throughout the week ahead of the general onsale beginning Friday, April 26 at 10am local time at kygothealbum.com .

• VERIZON PRESALE: Verizon will offer customers presale access for the The Kygo Tour for applicable U.S dates through Verizon Up. Customers will have access to purchase presale tickets for the shows beginning Tuesday, April 23 at 10am local time to Friday, April 26 at 9am local time. For more details visit Verizon Up .
• AMEX PRESALE: For the Hollywood Bowl show, American Express® Card Members can purchase tickets before the general public beginning Tuesday, April 23 at 10am PT through Friday, April 26 at 9am PT.

EUROPE + UK TICKETS: Tickets for the Europe/UK dates will be available starting with a Mastercard presale (details below) beginning Tuesday, April 23 at 10am local time. An artist presale will begin Wednesday, April 24 at 10am local time. Additional presales will run throughout the week ahead of the general onsale beginning Friday, April 26 at 10am local time at kygothealbum.com .

• MASTERCARD PRESALE: Mastercard cardholders have special access to presale tickets in Norway, France, Netherlands, Italy, Sweden, Denmark and Belgium starting from Tuesday, April 23 at 10am local time until Friday, April 26 at 10am local time. Preferred ticket access is available to Mastercard cardholders in the UK on April 26 at 10am. Visit priceless.com/music to find out more.

VIP: Fans can also purchase VIP Packages, which may include premium tickets, an on stage photo op, access to the VIP Lounge, a VIP-exclusive Kygo gift item and more. VIP package contents vary based on the offer selected. For more information, visit vipnation.com .

KYGO WORLD TOUR 2024 DATES:

Sat Sep 07 – Commerce City, CO – DICK’S Sporting Goods Park *+

Thu Sep 12 – Columbia, MD – Merriweather Post Pavilion *+

Fri Sep 13 – Brooklyn, NY – Barclays Center *+

Tue Sep 17 – Boston, MA – TD Garden *+

Fri Sep 20 – Montreal, QC – Bell Centre *+

Sat Sep 21 – Toronto, ON – Woodbine Park *+

Wed Sep 25 – Chicago, IL – Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island ^~

Sat Sep 28 – Austin, TX – Germania Insurance Amphitheater ^~

Fri Oct 04 – San Francisco, CA – Chase Center ^~

Wed Oct 09 – Seattle, WA – Climate Pledge Arena ^~

Thu Oct 10 – Vancouver, BC – Rogers Arena ^~

Thu Oct 17 – Los Angeles, CA – Hollywood Bowl ^~

Wed Nov 06 – Copenhagen, Denmark – Royal Arena > =

Fri Nov 08 – Oslo, Norway – Telenor Arena > %

Wed Nov 13 – Stockholm, Sweden – Tele2 Arena >=

Fri Nov 15 – Berlin, Germany – Uber Arena >=

Sun Nov 17 – Budapest, Hungary – MVM Dome *=

Thu Nov 21 – Cologne, Germany – Lanxess Arena #=

Sat Nov 23 – Vienna, Austria – Stadthalle #=

Tue Nov 26 – Amsterdam, Netherlands – Ziggo Dome #=

Fri Nov 29 – Milan, Italy – Forum #=

Tue Dec 03 – Madrid, Spain – Wizink Center #=

Fri Dec 06 – Brussels, Belgium – ING Arena #=

Sat Dec 07 – Paris, France – Accor Arena #=

Wed Dec 11 – London, UK – The O2  #+

Fri Dec 13 – Dublin, Ireland – 3Arena #+

# With SOFI TUKKER

> With GRYFFIN

* With Sam Feldt

^ With Zara Larsson

= With Klangkarussell

+ With Hayla

% With Victoria Nadine

~ With Vandelux

Whether behind the piano in his studio or headlining a sold-out festival, Kygo quietly reaffirms his status as a prodigious talent, forward-thinking producer, dynamic DJ, and influential global superstar. The Norwegian musician born Kyrre Gørvell-Dahll first introduced himself in 2013 and quietly became one of the most ubiquitous hitmakers in the world. Amassing over 23 billion cumulative global audio and video streams, he has broken numerous streaming records. Kygo earned one of his biggest hits with the multiplatinum “It Ain’t Me” (feat. Selena Gomez), going Top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 and clocking over 2.9 billion streams worldwide. In 2019, Kygo unleashed “Higher Love” with Whitney Houston and generated another 1.4 billion combined streams/views worldwide and peaked at #1 on Dance Radio, in addition to leaving his imprint on a classic.

He heralded his 2020 critically acclaimed third full-length album Golden Hour [Sony Music International/Ultra Records/RCA Records] with the anthems “Like It Is” (feat. Zara Larsson & Tyga), “Lose Somebody” (with OneRepublic), and “I’ll Wait” (feat. Sasha Alex Sloan). The album has garnered over 2.6 billion streams worldwide. Following Golden Hour , Kygo released his remix of Tina Turner’s “What’s Love Got To Do With It” and Donna Summer’s “Hot Stuff” to rave reviews. In 2022, after headlining Lollapalooza and Life Is Beautiful, along with sold-out headlining shows at Madison Square Garden and Oslo’s Ullevaal Stadion, Kygo surprised fans with the release of his fourth album Thrill Of The Chase [RCA Records]. The album featured notable singles including “Dancing Feet” (feat. DNCE), “Woke Up In Love” (with Gryffin feat. Calum Scott), and “Never Really Loved Me” (feat. Dean Lewis), amassing over 1 billion streams worldwide and debuting in the Top 5 on the Billboard Top Dance/Electronic Albums Chart. This year, Kygo continues his run of stunning collaborations, teaming up with Ava Max for his latest single “Whatever,” which the pair performed on Jimmy Kimmel Live! .

Connect with Kygo:

Instagram // YouTube // Twitter // Facebook // Website

About Live Nation Entertainment

Live Nation Entertainment (NYSE: LYV) is the world’s leading live entertainment company comprised of global market leaders: Ticketmaster, Live Nation Concerts, and Live Nation Sponsorship. For additional information, visit www.livenationentertainment.com .

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Alex John | [email protected]

Cara Hutchinson | [email protected]

Sami Brensilber | [email protected]

Live Nation Concerts

Monique Sowinski | [email protected]

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Top 20 Global Concert Tours from Pollstar

AP Global Top 20 Pollstar Week of 04/29/24

The Top 20 Global Concert Tours ranks artists by average box office gross per city and includes the average ticket price for shows Worldwide. The list is based on data provided to the trade publication Pollstar by concert promoters and venue managers. Week of April 29, 2024:

For free upcoming tour information, go to www.pollstar.com

TOP 20 GLOBAL CONCERT TOURS

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Daily EV Recap: Tesla in talks over licensing Full Self-Driving

Listen to a recap of the top stories of the day from Electrek. Quick Charge is now available on  Apple Podcasts ,  Spotify ,  TuneIn  and our  RSS feed  for Overcast and other podcast players.

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Stories we discuss in this episode (with links):

Tesla may start selling its Optimus humanoid robot next year, says Elon Musk

Tesla is in talks with ‘one major automaker about licensing Full Self-Driving’

BETA hits its latest eVTOL milestone, transitioning mid-air with a pilot onboard [Video]

Tesla announces change of plans to build cheaper electric cars

Tesla teases its upcoming Uber-like self-driving ride-hailing app

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