Dublin Tourist Attractions That Are Actually Worth Visiting
Dublin is one of my favorite cities in the world, but I will confess… it took me 7 trips to Ireland’s capital city to finally sink in and enjoy some “touristy” things, and I can fully admit: I had been missing out!
While Dublin is the perfect place to just come and hang out, there is SO much to see, do, and learn. Dublin is packed with cultural experiences, sites, museums, and attractions that definitely warrant a visit. Throughout my visits to Dublin, I covered a few of the common things to do, but on my last trip I really dove into the tourist experience to see what in Dublin is worth doing and what’s worth skipping.
This is a list of the things in Dublin I found absolutely worth doing.
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I do not promote any activities or experiences I have not personally done and enjoyed.
A Whiskey Experience
It is nearly impossible to think of Ireland without thinking of whiskey and there is no better place to learn about the history of Ireland’s whiskey than in Dublin.
Dublin, once home to 37 distilleries, has a long standing and proud history of distilling whiskey. While the number of distilleries in Ireland’s capital city has greatly declined, there are still several amazing distilleries to tour and enjoy.
Distillery tours offer much more than just whiskey tastings. They provide a great deal of information about not only the history of whiskey in Ireland, but also the people, culture, country, geography and politics. Even if you aren’t a big fan of whiskey, there is much to take away from a whiskey tour in Dublin.
Over the course of several trips to Dublin, I have done tours/tastings at the Jameson Distillery, Teelings Distillery and also enjoyed a tour and tasting at the Dublin Whiskey Museum. Other main distilleries offering tours and tastings in Dublin are Pearse Lyons Distillery and Roe & Co Distillery.
Personally, I don’t think you can go wrong with any of these experiences and find they are all interesting and informative.
Irish Whiskey Museum Tour & Tasting
While the distillery tours are great and offer a lot of insights and history about whiskey production in Ireland, they focus more on the specifics of that particular brewery. If you want an experience that offers a well-rounded and thorough history of whiskey in Ireland, I highly recommend a visit to the Irish Whiskey Museum. This tour and tasting offers a broader overview, as well as wider range of tastings from various distilleries.
I especially loved the story telling aspect and cultural overview of this tour, in addition to the Irish Whiskey component.
No matter which whiskey experience you choose, you won’t be disappointed. Even if you aren’t a whiskey fan, there is so much to be learned and enjoyed on these tours and experiences.
Guinness Storehouse
🗺️St. James's Gate, Dublin 8, D08 VF8H, Ireland
🕰️Mon-Thurs 10a-5p, Fri 10a-6p, Sat-Sun 9:30a-6p
Is the Guinness Storehouse worth it? Yes.
This is one tourist experience in Dublin that is absolutely worth visiting. I have been three times and would go again.
There is so much more to this experience than I expected, with a few surprising twists, like that incredible views offered from the rooftop bar where the tour ends with a tasting. The tour offers a robust history of Guinness in Ireland, as well as an overall history of Ireland, while keeping it engaging and interesting. That set up of the interior is also unique and I find something new in it every visit.
This is one “Must See In Dublin” that is worth the hype.
Kilmainham Gaol
Kilmainham Gaol is a former prison in Kilmainham, Dublin. Opened in the late 18th century as the County of Dublin Gaol, it is now a museum run by the Office of Public Works.
🗺️Inchicore Rd, Kilmainham, Dublin 8, D08 RK28, Ireland
🕰️Daily 10:30a-5:15
🎟️For Tickets *Tickets sell out weeks-months in advance
If you are looking for a truly unique experience, this hidden gem in Dublin is definitely for you!
I tried for 3 trips to get tickets, but never looked far enough in advance and wasn’t able to get one until my last trip. I am so glad I was finally able to go, because this was one of the most fascinating and interesting things I have done in Dublin.
This is not just a Dublin jail tour, it covers so much history of the country and Irish revolution. I have done several tours in Dublin and this one offered the most unique perspectives and information of all of them. The guide was engaging and entertaining, and I really appreciated that groups are kept rather small (even if that makes tickets hard to snag).
⭐After getting my tickets, I learned that there is a small amount of same day tickets released every morning between 9:15a and 9:30a (Irish time). If you have a flexible schedule, you can check in the morning for availability.
The Jeanie Johnston Famine Ship
Jeanie Johnston is a replica of a three-masted barque that was originally built in Quebec, Canada, in 1847 by the Scottish-born shipbuilder John Munn. The replica Jeanie Johnston performs a number of functions
🗺️Custom House Quay, North Wall, Dublin 1, D01 T9C2, Ireland
🕰️Daily 10a-4p
💶€16 adult
Located across the street from the EPIC Museum, the Jeanie Johnston was one of my favorite experienced in Dublin… and I almost skipped it.
I didn’t even know this amazing historical replica existed until it was offered in addition to my EPIC ticket when I booked online, and it ended up being one of the most interesting things I did while in Dublin. The guide was engaging, the information was fascinating and hearing it on board the ship made it even more impactful.
Even if you are not a “museum person”, like me, this is one well worth visiting. The whole tour takes about an hour and is a great stand-alone activity or perfectly paired with a visit to the EPIC museum.
EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum
EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum, located in Dublin's Docklands, covers the history of the Irish diaspora and emigration to other countries. The museum, which is privately owned, was designed by the London-based design firm Event Communications.
🗺️ The Chq Building, Custom House Quay, North Wall, Dublin 1, Ireland
🕰️Daily 10a-6:3-p (last admission 5p)
🌐EPIC Museum | Official Website | Dublin's Must-See Tourist Attraction
I am not one for ‘typical’ museums, but I really enjoyed the EPIC.
I loved the layout, how interactive and interesting it was, and how much different information was presented without being overwhelming or repetitive.
This museum is super family friendly without feeling like getting caught up in a field trip or being too childish. The flow also makes it seem less crowded, even on busy days. There are discounted “end of day” tickets available, and I was told this is a great time to go to avoid crowds and families.
If you only go to one museum in Dublin: make it the EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum, and make sure to tour the Jeanie Johnston Famine Ship while you are there.
☔This is an ideal rainy-day activity in Dublin.
Dublin Food Tour
In full transparency, I took this food tour for free as a sponsored experience.
In full-full transparency: I would ABSOLUTELY pay for it.
I have done a few food tours, and this one really takes the cake (pun intended). It combines all the things that make Dublin so great: food, drinks, storytelling, history, culture and a bit of sightseeing. From starting with the most divine Irish coffee to finishing with potato ice cream, this tour offered some of the most delicious food and drinks I have had in Dublin, all while offering engaging history and storytelling.
Dublin Free Walking Tour
Whether you are looking for a budget friendly experience, or just want a more lowkey tour, I always recommend a free walking tour in any city you visit. Free walking tours are a great start to any visit, as they give an outline of what you may want to return to and the guides always give the best local recommendations. I have done two free walking tours in Dublin, and both were fantastic.
I didn’t do a walking tour of Dublin until my 5th visit (and another on my most recent) and was surprised at how much I learned, especially after having already been to Dublin numerous times and having taken the hop-on-hop-off tour.
Dublin is the perfect place to take a free walking tour, or two or three, because there is a wide selection of tours to choose from: everything from traditional Irish history tours to Dark History tours to Myths and Legends tours and so much more.
You can find all of these and more on GuruWalk.
⭐Always be sure to tip your guide!
Have a Pint
Maybe my favorite thing to do in Dublin is sit in a pub and have a pint of Guinness.
While the pint is optional, a visit to a pub is a must while in Dublin. It is so much more than just a bar. A traditional Irish pub is a full-on cultural experience, mixing locals and visitors, storytelling, live music and an overall jovial vibe, there is truly nothing like an Irish pub.
I do highly recommend taking a walk through the Temple Bar to see the beautiful pub exteriors and get a glimpse of some of Ireland’s most famed spots, but would caution against spending too much time, or money, in this area. It is overly touristic, and with that: overly priced.
For my complete list of Irish Pubs worth visiting, click here!
Whether you are in Dublin for a short city break, spending a few days before or after touring the country, or dedicating your entire visit to this famed Irish city, there is so much to see and do for every type of visitor.
Dublin really is one of my favorite cities in the world, and one I keep going back to and uncovering more and more exciting and interesting things to do.
I hope you love this city as much as I do, and this guide helps you uncover the best things to do while in Dublin.
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