If you’re heading to Ireland, there’s a good chance you’ll be passing through its capital city, Dublin, at some point. Whether that’s where your plane will touch down or you’re simply heading through the city, you’ll likely explore this exciting city on your trip to the Emerald Isle. If you only have two days or 48 hours to spend in Dublin, you can still fit a lot in! Here is a suggested 2 days in Dublin itinerary that you can follow to get the most out of your short trip to this wonderful city.
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2 Days in Dublin Itinerary: Day One
Start your two day adventure through Dublin by grabbing a bite to eat and some coffee at The Bakery in Temple Bar. This trendy area of the city has plenty of shops and restaurants, but the Bakery is often considered to be one of the best in the city. You can choose from a selection of muffins and delicious pastries or indulge in some incredible soda bread. Although we’ll suggest a place to stop for lunch, you can also grab some sandwiches here to eat later if you’d rather minimize the amount of time spent stopping for a meal in the middle of your sightseeing.
After breakfast, head towards the campus of Trinity College, Ireland’s most prominent university which dates back to the 16th century. You can spend time simply wandering through this iconic institution and exploring the area. Step inside the Long Room, the library at the school, and check out the famous Book of Kells. This illustrated literary masterpiece originated in the 9th century and is an incredibly well preserved artifact. While you’re wandering around campus, you can stop by any of the cafes and restaurants in the area to eat lunch. Kilkenny Cafe and Restaurant and Dunne and Crescenzi are two popular options.
After you get your fill of the enchanting campus of Trinity College, head to the historic Dublin Castle. You can spend a short visit here simply admiring the exterior but you can purchase access to a guided tour to really immerse yourself in the history and culture of this 13th century castle. After the castle, you can stop by the famous Christ Church Cathedral which is one of the most famous in the city.
Once you’re finished exploring Dublin Castle, head to the Temple Bar district for dinner. Although the neighborhood is a bit more modern, you can still experience a lively nightlife complete with great drinks and delicious food. If you’re looking for a particular place to stop for dinner, head to Leo Burdock’s to grab some fish and chips. You can head back to your hotel whenever you’d like after dinner, but if you’re interested in staying out late, there are plenty of bars and pubs where you can do just that.
2 Days in Dublin Itinerary: Day Two
Start your second day in Dublin with a full Irish breakfast. This kind of breakfast typically includes bacon, sausage, baked beans, eggs, mushrooms, and grilled tomatoes and is a filling comfort meal. You can find an Irish breakfast at many pubs and restaurants, but one of the best in the area can be found at a bar called the Hairy Lemon. It’s a unique and trendy pub that is beloved by locals and tourists alike.
After you finish your breakfast, take a quick ten minute walk over to Saint Stephen’s Green Park. This beautiful garden square is a great place to enjoy the ambiance of the city but if the weather isn’t great or you’d rather not spend too much time outside, you can head to the nearby Saint Stephen’s Shopping Center which is not only a great place to shop but is a beautiful structure made from glass and ornate white iron work.
After you work off your breakfast at Saint Stephen’s Green, head to Saint Patrick’s Cathedral. This iconic church was founded in 1191 and is one of the most famous Catholic churches in the world. Legend says that Saint Patrick’s Cathedral was the place where the saying “chancing your arm” was created. The phrase is another way of saying “take a risk” and is said to reference the event where the 8th Earl of Kildare, Gerald FitzGerald, cut a hole in a door and stuck his arm through to shake hands with James, Earl of Ormond, in 1492 in an attempt to settle the Butler-FitzGerald dispute. The hole can be seen today in the Door of Reconciliation.
After your visit to Saint Patrick’s Cathedral, take a short ten minute walk to the Green Bench Cafe. This charming cafe serves up sandwiches that were voted as the best sandwiches in Dublin by the Independent. It’s a casual spot where you can grab a quick bite to eat so you can be on your way to your next spot. The menu changes on occasion but the pork sandwiches are always a favorite.
After lunch, head to the Guinness Storehouse. You can take the half hour walk if you’re up to it or catch a taxi for a five minute drive. You can book a variety of experiences such as a Self-Guided Tour that includes a pint of Guinness Beer and a chance to walk through the iconic structure. You’ll be able to learn all about the building that was once the fermentation plant of the Guinness Brewery and learn all about the Guinness story. If you’re a fan of beer at all, this is a can’t-miss experience. If you’re traveling with someone who isn’t a fan of beer but would still like to come, there are alternatives to the pint of beer available such as soft drinks.
After you’re done at the Guinness Storehouse, catch a quick cab ride to The Brazen Head. This traditional Irish pub is often said to be the oldest tavern in the city and although there isn’t much evidence to support this claim, it’s a great place to grab some traditional Irish fare and some beer if you’re up for it.
Travel resources for planning a 2-day trip to Dublin
To make planning a trip to Dublin easier, we included some of our recommended travel resources below. You can search and find the best flights, transportation options, hotels to stay in, tours/activities, and things you can do in each destination during your trip to Dublin.
Flights:
Agoda: Search thousands of destinations around the world & quickly compare prices to find amazing deals on the best flights.
CheapOAir: You can find airline tickets, hotel rooms, rental cars, and vacation packages all on one site!
Kiwi.com: What we like about Kiwi is the fact that they are able to create combinations of flight, train, and bus tickets and offer them in a single itinerary. Also, Kiwi has what they called “Nomad” which helps you find the best way of visiting multiple destinations, saving you time and money.
JetRadar: You can search and compare airfares from 726 airlines and dozens of travel agencies and systems.
Hotels:
Agoda: Agoda is one of the world’s largest online travel accommodation platforms with a network of over 2,000,000 vacation rentals and hotels worldwide.
Hotellook: They have more than 250,000 hotels in 205 countries, working with data from more than 10 online booking systems, such as Booking.com, Agoda.com, Hotels.com, Expedia, and others.
Transportations:
Airport Transfers: KiwiTaxi, Viator
Train: EuRail, Trainline or RailEurope
Bus: Flixbus: Very affordable (as low as $6) and convenient way to transfer between cities in Europe.
Car Rentals: AutoEurope, EconomyBookings, or GetTransfer (transfers & car rentals with a personal driver)
Bike Rental: BikesBooking (Bikes & scooter rentals)
Transportation Comparison: Omio (search, compare, and book tickets for buses, trains, and flights all in one site)
Tours & Activities:
TakeWalks (WalkofItaly): This is our favorite site for walking tours & day trips.
Tiqets: Great site for entrance tickets. It offers directly bookable, instantly available, and completely mobile tickets for museums, shows, and attractions all over the world.
Musement: They have good activities and tours in Italy and Spain, also many great day trips you can choose from.
GetYourGuide: A large number of tours, excursions, and other travel activities
Viator: The largest one. It has everything from tours, attractions, shore excursions, and private guides in over 2,700 destinations worldwide. It also has many transportations and transfers options and some unique experiences we didn’t find anywhere else.
Need help planning a trip to Dublin?
Want to plan a trip to Europe but only can spend 2 days in Dublin? If you find this type of trip planning to be too complicated to plan on your own, we’re here to help!
At MultiCityTrips, multi-destination travel and complicated itineraries such as a short trip where you only have 2 days in Dublin are our specialties. Contact us today to learn more about how one of our experienced travel experts/destination specialists can personalize your multi-city vacations at the best price.
Don’t want to start from scratch and need some trip inspiration? Check out our marketplace for customizable pre-designed packages available right now for many amazing destinations.
To learn more about how our process of trip planning works in detail, please see our “How It Works” page or check out our video on “How to Plan a Multi-City Trip to Europe in 5 Easy Steps” here.
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