Ireland is the land of picturesque green fields and hills. It is the home of St. Patrick’s Day, the shamrock, and endless pubs. Ireland has many stereotypes known around the world. For all these reasons and many more, Ireland deserves a spot on your upcoming vacations list. The following is the first part of a four-part Ireland Itinerary starting with its capital city of Dublin. As a bonus, the itinerary even includes a little Northern Ireland as well given its close proximity.
- 2 Full Days in Dublin (this post)
- Twin K Cities: Kilkenny and Killarney
- Irish West Coast: Dingle and Galway
- Overview of Belfast in 2 Days
Post Contents
Day 0 – Overnight Flight
Step one of a trip to Ireland is flying there. Similar to the vast majority of Europe-bound flights leaving from the United States, the flight will operate overnight. Non-stop flight options will typically leave between 5:00 PM and 10:00 PM. This means that flights arrive between 5:00 AM and 10:00 AM coming from the East Coast of the United States.
Flights from further west in the US, generally depart in the same time frame as East Coast flights. However, they will obviously arrive in Dublin later due to the longer flight times. West Coast flights will typically arrive around noon the next day.
Day 1 – Dublin
A grand tour of Ireland has to start or finish in Ireland’s capital city of Dublin. While the capital city has so much to offer, almost all international flights into Dublin also arrive and depart from this airport.
As with most itineraries, individuals and groups arriving from different locations will arrive at different times. For this reason, the first part of the day is filled with lower priority sights. The reason for this is to avoid missing a prime attraction due to a delayed flight.
Check into Accommodations
The first thing you will want to do after arriving is checking into your accommodation (if you are able). Due to arriving early in the day, hotels may not allow you into a room. All reputable hotels will at least let you drop your luggage with the bellhop so that you are not touring Dublin with bags in tow. Being able to clean up and refresh after an overnight flight does wonders to make you feel ready to explore a new country.
National Museum of Ireland
The National Museum of Ireland consists of several branches and museums, two of which are colocated. These two colocated museums are the Natural History Museum and the Archaeology Museum. Each of these is free to visit and has an extensive collection of items local to Ireland as well as items on loan from around the world.
First, the Natural History Museum is filled with many different species of animals from the local environment. The variety of animals on display is impressive for an island nation like Ireland. Each of the animals is taxidermy arranged in display environments. Some of these are quite well done; while others are somewhat comical. One could almost imagine this as the real-life set of the “Night at the Museum” movie. For a free museum, it is quite informative and is a fun place to wander.
The second museum in the complex is the Archaeology Museum. This museum is well done, resides in an impressive building, and provides a nice history of many regions of Ireland. The museum spans Neolithic Ireland (5,000 years ago) to Medieval Ireland so there is a lot of content. If you are one to read every plaque, you won’t be able to get through the museum in an hour. The most famous collection is the “bog people” – ancient people mummified in a local Irish bog. While it’s a little gruesome sounding (and kind of is), the history, science, methods of dating, and extraction are all covered in detail and make the experience educational and interesting.
St. Stephen’s Green
This central Dublin public park is popular with both locals and tourists alike. It is designed as a Georgian garden and is filled with ponds, monuments, and statues. The highlight of the park is undoubtedly the beautiful flower beds and displays throughout as long as you aren’t visiting during the winter.
There are so many walking paths and benches throughout the park to aid in your exploration. Spend some time in the park soaking up the meticulous care and artfully designed landscaping. The park is very large at over 22 acres. The walking paths total over two miles. Therefore, select a few different paths to walk during the time you have. Unfortunately, you won’t be able to see the whole thing.
Grafton Street
One of the next stops after this is the Jameson Distillery at Bow St. However, before we get there, along the way is Grafton Street. This street is a well-known pedestrian walking street in Central Dublin. As it is on the way, it is best to walk through it and see a little of what it has to offer. If you see some stores that are of interest, peek inside. You will just want to make sure that you keep track of the time and don’t miss your appointment at Jameson.
Among the establishments that Grafton Street boasts are upscale clothing stores (River Island, Brown Thomas), jewelry (Weir & Sons, John Brereton Jewellers), and traditional stores recognizable around the world (Ray-Ban, Levi’s, The North Face). Grafton Street skews towards the upscale retailers, but anyone can find something to their liking here. If you are interested in more than what you can go in now, make a note and come back one night. There are also several cafés and restaurants spread around Grafton Street.
Jameson Whiskey Company
It’s debatable whether Ireland is more well-known for its beer, Guinness, or its Irish whiskey, Jameson. While a visit to either of these provides a great experience, I prefer the Jameson Distillery at Bow Street. While both experiences are somewhat touristy, Guinness is a completely self-guided tour. The experience is well-done, but you miss out on the personal element and the ability to interact with a local resident. At the Jameson Distillery at Bow Street, all the tours and tastings are led by Jameson employees which means you get some personal interaction. With that being said, if you are a big fan of Guinness then you should tour that facility. The opportunity to tour the birthplace of a product that you enjoy will outweigh any small differences in these experiences.
Bow St. Experience Tour
If you choose to visit the Jameson Distillery, the two most popular experiences are the Bow St. Experience Tour and the Whiskey Tasting Experience. Both of these are well done. If you are new to whiskey or aren’t particularly a fan of the taste of whiskey the Bow St. Experience Tour is best for you. This will take you around the facility and explain the process of making an Irish whiskey. There are several hands-on experiences that allow you to hold the barley and identify the differences between processed and unprocessed barley. The tour also ends with a small taste of the flagship Jameson whiskey and comparison tastes of Scotch and American whiskey. A drink ticket is also provided that entitles the holder to one mixed Jameson whiskey drink from the on-site bar.
Whiskey Tasting Experience
The other most popular experience option is the Whiskey Tasting Experience. This is ideal for those familiar with the whiskey-making process and those who want to taste several different (and some hard to get) Jameson whiskeys. The tasting experience includes four healthy pours of Jameson whiskeys. While these can rotate, the regular offerings are flagship Jameson, Jameson Crested, Jameson Distillery Edition, and Jameson Black Barrel. Jameson Crested and Jameson Distillery Edition are hard to get whiskeys; therefore, it is unlikely that you will be able to find these outside of Ireland and select European countries (for Crested) or outside of this visit (for Distillery Edition). The guides for this experience are great and provide appropriate tasting notes throughout. Finally, the tasting is conducted in what used to be John Jameson’s office, the founder of Jameson Distillery. This makes for a great ambiance, great picture opportunities, and creates smaller more intimate groups.
Day 2 – Dublin
Christ Church Cathedral
Dublin has many historic and beautiful churches throughout the city. The two most famous churches are Christ Church Cathedral and Saint Patrick’s Cathedral (there has to be a Saint Patrick’s in Ireland). There are so many churches and castles throughout Ireland that you will want to pick the best ones to visit. Christ Church is the better one to visit in my opinion.
Christ Church is older than Saint Patrick’s having been constructed around 1030. While it has obviously been renovated many times since then, many of the structures of the church date back many centuries. The cathedral started as a Roman Catholic church but became part of the Church of Ireland (a branch of the Anglican Church of England) during the Protestant Reformation. To date, it is still claimed by both churches. This church is well-known for its architecture (both exterior and interior). Extremely decorative floor tiles are featured throughout the cathedral as well. The last claim to fame for the cathedral is the medieval crypt underneath the church. It is the largest crypt in Ireland and has the tomb of Strongbow (Norman leader who captured Dublin in 1170).
Trinity College & Book of Kells
Trinity College and the Book of Kells are some of Dublin’s most famous attractions. First, the Book of Kells and the Long Library are must-see experiences. Viewing the Book of Kells is very popular, so you have to get a timed ticket to do this. The exhibit starts out with a history of illustrated books from the same era. Many of these books don’t have the same fame as the Book of Kells, but they are still masterpieces of art. The museum does a good job of explaining their significance and how they came to be.
The visit ends in the Long Library where the Book of Kells is held. Even without the Book of Kells, the library is a work of great architecture. If you had no idea what the Library at Alexandria looked like, this could easily fit the bill in your mind. The library contains over 7 million printed volumes. Among these is one of the original copies of the 1916 Proclamation of the Irish Republic. All in all, the visit to the Library and the Book of Kells is a must for anyone in Dublin.
Trinity College
While many people will come to see the Book of Kells, Trinity College which hosts the book, is a renowned site as well. Queen Elizabeth I founded the college in 1592. Trinity College looks very similar to Cambridge or Oxford, as it was mirrored after these British universities. The university is the most well-regarded in Ireland due to its history.
Because of the picturesque nature of the campus, it has been the host for many television shows and movies that have been filmed on location. While you can walk around the campus yourself, one of the best ways to tour is via a student-led walking tour. For a very reasonable price, current Trinity College students will provide a walking tour of the campus. They provide great insights into the traditions and customs of academic and social life at the college. These tours meet and depart from just inside the main gate to the college (beside Parliament Square).
Kilmainham Gaol
Kilmainham Gaol is a historic prison just outside the city center of Dublin. The prison’s claim to fame is that it was the home (and unfortunately sometimes the final home) of many Irish revolutionaries. These revolutionaries include most of the leaders of the 1916 Easter Rising. While the Easter Rising didn’t immediately lead to Irish independence from Britain, it was pivotal in changing the general public sentiment in favor of independence after the harsh punishment from the United Kingdom for the uprising.
A visit to Kilmainham Gaol is well-deserved. The political strife and revolution that this country went through mark much of its recent history. A visit to this jail brings its conditions and harshness of the penalties to life. The plight of the Irish revolutionaries against England is also a great juxtaposition to the counter-revolutionary history in Northern Ireland.
Bully’s Acre and Gardens at the Royal Hospital Kilmainham
There is a very large park located near the entrance to Kilmainham. This large park and gardens are a great way to enjoy a little daylight after being in a former prison with such a heavy history. A stroll is a great opportunity to discuss and reflect on some of the knowledge and history gained from the visit to Kilmainham. The first part of this park is known as Bully’s Acre. It is a wide-open grassy park with several walking paths. Upon reaching the other side of the park, you will find the Gardens at the Royal Hospital Kilmainham. These well-groomed gardens are part of the grounds of the Irish Museum of Modern Art. They are free to visit anytime that the museum is open to guests.
Temple Bar Area
If you are one to enjoy a bar and nightlife, Ireland is well-known for its pubs. After having dinner, make it a point to check out the local nightlife scene. Temple Bar earned the title of most famous nightlife area in Dublin. The namesake bar, Temple Bar Pub (located on Temple Lane) is also one of the most famous pubs in Dublin. Unfortunately, this means the bar is also the most crowded, touristy, and expensive. Definitely walk by and take some pictures as it is an icon of Dublin. However, decide for yourself if it is worth going in for one drink.
There are many other pubs in the area that all have different themes and may be better than the Temple Bar Pub. Some of these include Old Storehouse, Porterhouse Temple Bar, and The Stag’s Head. With so many pubs situated close together, walk into a couple to get a feel and decide what works for you. Feel free to check out multiple until you find the scene that is right for you. If you haven’t had a chance to try some other Irish whiskies or a Guinness, this is a great opportunity. Finally, just sit back, relax, enjoy the company of travel companions, and take in this part of Ireland.
Next up are the towns of Kilkenny and Killarney.
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