What to do in Dublin in 2 days in 2025

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Ahhh, Dublin, land of Guinness, pubs, hearty stews, and chock-full of history. I visited Dublin for a conference for a whopping 10 days and while that was certainly too much time for a visit and I was itching to explore more of the country, I did get a good sense of what could be done in Dublin in 2 days, a much more reasonable trip duration!

In this guide to Dublin, I’ll share all the best things to do in Dublin in 2 days so you can experience the bucket list tourist attractions and check out some underrated local-recommended gems (that were rightfully recommended to be my Dublin locals). So whether you’re traveling solo in Ireland, on a couples getaway, or there for a conference 😉, this guide to 48 hours in Dublin will come in handy!

Map of your itinerary for Dublin in 2 Days

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Get Acquainted with Dublin on Day 1

One thing I certainly wasn’t expecting from Dublin was the stark variety of foods I found, starting with their incredible donut scene. Like what?? I wrote a whole post detailing my taste-testing of donuts in Dublin, so it’s no surprise that I’m recommending donuts for breakfast this morning.

I’d personally opt for The Rolling Donut. They have a variety of amazing options, but I’d go for their simple, yet satisfying cinnamon sugar coated sourdough donuts. They have 6 locations and a super cute kiosk on O’Connell Street Lower.

After breakfast, it’s time to make your way to Trinity College to visit their Old Library and see the Book of Kells. This is an absolute must on your 2 day trip to Dublin! Not only is the college campus historic (think 18^th century!), but the Old Library houses the Book of Kells.

If you’re not familiar (no judgement because…dammit Jim, I’m a scientist, not a historian), the Book of Kells is a gospel manuscript written and illustrated in the 9^th century…yes 9 not 19!

You’ll also likely recognize the Long Room, which is the beautiful, Harry Potter-esque library with busts, rolling ladders, and rows and rows of books on the most visually pleasing shelves. Too bad you can’t hole up there and read for a few hours.

There’s no rush to get through this area, but it can get very crowded. You’ll want to book a ticket ahead of time and don’t be late to your ticketed entry time. Tickets are €18.50 for adults or €15 for students. There’s also a family price of €46 for a family of 2 adults and 2 children.

For lunch I have 2 recommendations, so take your pick! These are actually local-recommended Dublin restaurants, so don’t take my word for it, take theirs…although, the food at both restaurants is delicious so my word also says YAY.

First is M&L Chinese where they have the most delicious Chinese staples like steamed dumplings, kung pao chicken, fried rice, and French beans. We went back twice during our trip!

The other option if you’d rather have Irish food is Madigan’s. This is a classic Irish pub founded in 1922 where they serve shepherd’s pie, Guinness stew, bangers and mash, and sticky toffee pudding. Yum!

After lunch, I recommend a walking tour of Dublin – either on your own or with a guide.

If you opt to do it on your own, here are few stops to be sure to hit.

Ha’penny Bridge was built in 1816 and is a must see (or must walk-over) spot in Dublin. It’s a pedestrian bridge made of iron in North City, Dublin, near the Temple Bar District. Historically, it was built to help people cross the river and the operator charged a ha’penny toll (half pence) and you can still walk over it, however, without the toll anymore!

One thing to note about Ha’penny Bridge is that for the last decade, they’ve had a problem with love locks weighing the bridge down, so please refrain from putting a lock on the bridge! They had to cut hundreds off a few years ago to save the bridge.

Visit the statue of Molly Malone on your walk. Her story, although fictional is still a sad one. It comes from a song where the story goes that this woman sold fish on the streets of Dublin until she died young of a fever. The song is as old as the 19^th century and its origins are not well known so it’s unknown if it is based on a real woman. Either way, you can visit the statue and if you touch her “goods” you’ll have good luck.

If you’re looking for some souvenirs or simply a beautiful architectural experience, I invite you to stop by Stephen’s Green Shopping Centre. The inside is STUNNING with a glass ceiling, clock, and archways spanning the entire atrium.

Another must see is the Temple Bar Pub and District. The Temple Bar District is an entire area of Dublin that includes a number of pubs on cobblestone streets. The Temple Bar Pub is the actual red pub covered in flowers that you likely recognize as one of the most Instagrammable spots in Dublin. The Temple Bar Pub is located in the Temple Bar District so you can cross off 2 birds, so to speak.

Once you’ve gotten your share of walking, take the tram to the Jameson Distillery for a whiskey tour where tickets are €26 . Even if you aren’t a big drinker, it’s a really fascinating tour to learn about the distilling process and experience a behind the scenes look at one of Ireland’s most famous whiskeys.

The Jameson Distillery is located in the Smithfield neighborhood, so for tonight, this is a great off the beaten path area to have dinner and enjoy some Irish music at a less-visited-by-tourists pub.

For dinner, I recommend Thundercut Alley where they serve woodfired stonebreads and tacos, or Sparks Bistro where you can enjoy pasta! Honestly, this whole area is full of incredible spots, so feel free to choose one that looks interesting and delicious.

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For drinks and music, I can’t recommend The Cobblestone enough! They claim to be “a drinking pub with a music problem” where live traditional music is played by local musicians every night. You can catch their show Monday from 7pm to close, Tuesday through Friday from 5pm to close, and Saturday and Sunday from 2pm to close. Grab a drink (Irish coffee and Bailey’s coffee are my favorites) and sit back and enjoy the ambience!

Classic Dublin on Day 2

Good morning! Time to start your day off with a classic full Irish breakfast. You can find this menu item around the city at many restaurants, but I’d go with Grainger’s Café Bar or The Stage Door Café.

Full Irish breakfast comes with an assortment of breakfast staples like eggs, ham, sausage, pudding, beans, and toast. You won’t leave hungry, that’s for sure!

Because there really is so much to do in Dublin, I don’t want to project my interests 100% onto your itinerary, so for this morning, I’ll give you some options of activities to choose from. I would recommend choosing your top pick and starting with that one activity. If you have more time, feel free to add in another!

First, consider a day trip to Trim Castle, which is located in County Meath about an hour northwest of Dublin. You can get there easily if driving, or take bus route 111 to the Ring Road stop.

This is a fantastic option if you’re looking to experience a bit of the Irish countryside, charming small towns, and dive a bit into medieval history beyond that in the big city. The castle itself is incredibly impressive with a 3-storey keep and a 20-sided tower! You may recognize the castle from the movie Braveheart, too.

Tickets for a guided tour are only €5 for adults or €3 for students, and there is a family discount. Alternatively, you can walk the castle grounds free of charge, but I do recommend the tour to see inside the keep.

The area also has lots to do to keep you occupied this morning including visiting Newgrange, a burial ground built in the Stone Age, The Old Bridge, which is Ireland’s oldest bridge built in 1393, and discovering the quaint town of Trim.

Another option of morning activities is to visit one of the museums in Dublin. The three to choose from are:

1. EPIC Irish Emigration Museum
2. Irish Rock ‘n’ Roll Museum Experience
3. Kilmainham Gaol Museum

I’ll dive into each one so you can decide which best patches your interests.

First, is EPIC Irish Emigration Museum, which tells the story of Irish diaspora and those who brought their culture and heritage across the world. This museum wins awards every year and is known for being amazingly interactive.

Tickets are €19 for adults and €16.50 for students, where audio guides are an additional €2 per person, if needed.

The other museum I’d recommend visiting if you like music, especially classic rock, is the Irish Rock ‘n’ Roll Museum Experience located in the heart of the Temple Bar District, which is part museum, part interactive experience, and part working studio.

You’ll learn about Ireland’s role in music development, the rock ‘n’ roll artists that Ireland is most famous for including U2, The Cranberries, and Thin Lizzy, but also the musicians you may not have heard of. It’s incredibly well done and lots of fun for music-lovers!

Tickets are €20 for adults and €18 for students. They also have prices for families, teens, and children under 12 years old.

Finally, Kilmainham Gaol is a historic prison in Dublin that held men, women, and children for all levels of criminal offences for over 100 years. When you visit, you’ll learn about the individuals that impacted Irish history, particularly those who fought for Irish independence. This is a great museum to visit to learn more about Ireland’s history over the 19^th and 20^th centuries.

You do need to book a guided tour ticket ahead of time, where on the tour you’ll actually go into the prison to hear its stories and then you’ll have time after on your own in the museum.

Tour tickets are €8 for adults and €20 for families of 4 or 5. I somehow missed this one and totally regret it, so I hope you get a chance to add it to your Dublin itinerary!

For lunch, I either recommend going to whichever restaurant you did not go to yesterday for lunch, or eat at your afternoon activity, which is the Guinness Storehouse.

This is a must when visiting Dublin as Guinness is so iconic. I’ve actually written a dedicated post all about my experience at the Storehouse…it totally surprised me and surpassed my expectations, so I have no doubt you’ll love it too!

Tickets are €22 per person for the basic experience, although I recommend opting for the Guinness Storehouse Experience + Guinness Academy ticket, which is €38, where you can also learn to pour the perfect pint of Guinness and get a certificate to prove it!

If you are in need of lunch, there is a great brasserie called 1837 Bar & Brasserie that serves a full menu including delicious beef and Guinness stew. They open at 1pm, so if you arrive at the Storehouse before then, you can do the self-guided tour first.

Don’t miss the rooftop bar where you can get your pint of Guinness that’s included in your ticket (or a non-alcoholic drink for those under 18).

You may be wondering if the Guinness Storehouse is fit for kids, and I think that really depends on the kid. The experience is interactive and interesting as it takes you through the process of making Guinness with really interactive exhibits, but afterall, what kid is interested in beer…I mean, doubtful.

That said, the food is good, the views of Dublin are great, and the museum is interesting, so you know your kids best!

For dinner, please please please go to Zaytoon. They have a location in the Temple Bar District and its seriously one of my favorite restaurants I’ve ever been to…like literally ever. I dream about this place.

They serve Persian quick service food and it’s the most delicious stuff handed to humans from the gods.

If you do nothing else on this itinerary, please treat yourself to Zaytoon.

Okay, I’m done.

This evening, if you’re game, indulge in a classic pub crawl. There are lots of guided options that often include a drink at each stop.

When I visited, I stayed in a hostel and they offered a nightly pub crawl that was so fun. We traipsed around the Temple Bar District popping in all sorts of pubs from classic to historic to underground punk with a unique drink at each including Guinness, Jello shots, and cocktails.

For a more chill night, check out a Dublin ghost tour to learn about the macabre!

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How to get to Dublin

Dublin is most accessible internationally from their international airport (DUB). You’ll often find flight deals to Dublin from New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Nashville, and Orlando for as little as $480.

How to get around Dublin, Ireland

While it may be tempting to rent a car, you really don’t need to in Dublin. Their public transportation system is great! It can be a bit daunting to learn, but once you do it a couple times, it’s pretty easy.

My favorite way to get around Dublin was Luas, their tram system (which is also Irish for the word speed). To ride, you’ll purchase a Leap Card from the machines outside the stations. When you ride, you’ll validate the card at the beginning and end of your journey aka tap on, tap off.

Fares vary based on distance traveled or time traveled, but are typically €2 for 90 minutes for adults or €1 for students. The daily cap is €5.60 for adults and €2.80 for students.

You can also use your Leap Card to travel on the bus system, run by Dublin Bus. At night, there is a specialty bus route called Nitelink.

Now that I’m typing this, I’m realizing this might be a lot and a bit confusing.

As always, I recommend downloading Google Maps offline, planning your route through Google Maps, screenshotting the route, and using it as your guide.

Other travel apps that are helpful include Citymapper, Rome2Rio, and the official Transport for Ireland and Luas apps. Last thing I’ll say here is that there does seem to be a Leap Card app, but it has pretty terrible reviews with users claiming the scanner doesn’t work often so I would stick to the paper tickets.

Related read >> Useful travel tools and apps to download before your trip

Where to stay for your 2 days in Dublin

I stayed at Kavanagh Court (~$90+ USD per night), which was an interesting student hostel condo building conversion thing…truly, I don’t know how to define it. The rooms were all private and had a full bed, a desk, and bathroom. Then in the hall, there was a community kitchen. Honestly, I loved that I could bring food back to save or cook my own meals if I wanted to save a bit. Again, I was in Dublin for 10 days!

If you’re looking for a budget accommodation, this is certainly that. But because it’s a hostel, there are a ton of hostel-sanctioned tours and discounts, which is so great! For example, you could pay for the pub crawl once and with the wristband, go every night without paying again!

It was located near O’Connell Street, a main transportation and restaurant hub, but far enough away from the action that it was a peaceful stay. If I returned to Dublin, I would probably opt to stay closer to the action near Stephen’s Green and Trinity College. I’d go with The Marlin Hotel (~$160+ USD per night), Iveagh Garden Hotel ($180+ USD per night), or Drury Court Hotel (~$190+ USD per night).

How much does Dublin in 2 days cost?

Is 2 days in Dublin enough time?

You can pack a punch in Dublin in 2 days! While I certainly think my 10 days was excessive, 2 days gives you just enough time to hit the highlights and experience the best of Dublin. If you have an extra day or 2, even before you depart the DUB airport, you can always squeeze in a bit more, but one day in Dublin is definitely going to leave some essential things out.

Two days will also give you more time in other beautiful places if you’re traveling around Ireland…like the Cliffs of Moher!

When is the best time to visit Dublin?

The weather in Dublin makes the winter months quite cold and unpleasant for some to visit if you aren’t accustomed to the cold (aka my fellow Angelenos). The summer is the best time to visit because the temperatures are in the mid to high 60s with lows only in the low 50s. However, that makes summer peak season for visiting Dublin.

If you want travel cheaper, the off season will be winter, and the shoulder seasons will be fall and spring.

I visited in summer and while the weather was nice, places were definitely crowded. Advanced reservations were required and by afternoon, some big attractions like the Guinness Storehouse were too crowded to enjoy.

I’d go for spring and fall for slightly warmer weather and fewer crowds.

What should you pack for a trip to Dublin

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My Travel Essentials

• Travel Insurance – Going on an international trip? Don’t forget travel and medical insurance with SafetyWing.
• Travel Card – If you’re new to travel hacking, fear not! My favorite card for beginners gives you $750 in rewards when you spend $4,000 in the first 3 months, plus lounge access, 10x points on hotel bookings, and free TSA pre-check!
• Get Your Guide – Check out Get Your Guide for a one-stop-shop for booking travel activities.
• Booking.com – This is my favorite hotel search aggregator, specifically for reading reviews. On Booking.com, the reviews can be searched for keywords like WiFi, breakfast, pool, amenities, etc.! So helpful!
• Anti-pickpocket bag – Worried about having your valuables swiped? PacSafe makes the best travel bags with zippers and straps that lock and with mesh steel enforced fabric.
• Give the Gift of Travel – This is the perfect gift for travelers in your life! Tinggly allows you to gift experiences around the world, perfect for birthdays, weddings, or anniversaries.
• Staycation Idea – Check out Resort Pass, which gives you day passes to resorts so you can use their pool, spa, and fitness center, a great staycation idea!

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