Dublin itinerary for first-timers
The classic neighborhoods in an order that works, with a 4K street walk for every stop. Watch your trip before you take it.
Day 1: Trinity, Grafton Street & Temple Bar
Trinity College, Grafton Street and the Molly Malone statue, St Stephen's Green, and Temple Bar at night.
- 1
Morning
Trinity College
Ireland's oldest university, founded in 1592, a calm quadrangle of cobbles and lawns in the middle of the city, home to the Book of Kells and the Long Room library.
- Front Square
- The Long Room
- Book of Kells
Book a Book of Kells time slot online; the walk-up queue can be long in summer.
Walk round the corner to the bottom of Grafton Street, about 5 min.
- 2
Late morning
Grafton Street & the Molly Malone statue
Dublin's pedestrian shopping street, full of buskers, with the Molly Malone statue at the bottom and the arcades and cafés of the side streets.
- Molly Malone statue
- Grafton Street buskers
- George's Street Arcade
Dublin: The Capital of Pubs, Day Walk and Nightlife
Video by World Wanderings: 4K Walking Tours on YouTube
Jump toWalk up Grafton Street, about 10 min.
- 3
Afternoon
St Stephen's Green
The Georgian park at the top of Grafton Street: a lake, flowerbeds, a bandstand and benches where the city eats its lunch, ringed by 18th-century houses.
- The lake
- Fusiliers' Arch
- Georgian terraces
Dublin: The Capital of Pubs, Day Walk and Nightlife
Video by World Wanderings: 4K Walking Tours on YouTube
Jump toWalk back down to the river, about 15 min.
- 4
Night
Temple Bar at night
The cobbled quarter by the river where the pubs fill up after dark and live music spills into the streets, the busiest few blocks in Ireland on a weekend night.
- Temple Bar Square
- Live music pubs
- Fleet Street
Prices are high here; the pubs a few streets away on Dame Lane or South Great George's Street are cheaper and more local.
Dublin: The Capital of Pubs, Day Walk and Nightlife
Video by World Wanderings: 4K Walking Tours on YouTube
Jump to
Day 2: The Liffey & the Docklands
O'Connell Street and its bridge, the Ha'penny Bridge and Dame Street, the Docklands and the Samuel Beckett Bridge, and an evening on Drury Street.
- 1
Morning
O'Connell Street & O'Connell Bridge
The broad main street of the north side, with the GPO, headquarters of the 1916 Rising, the 120-metre Spire and the wide bridge over the Liffey.
- The GPO
- The Spire
- O'Connell Bridge
Walk along the quays, about 5 min.
- 2
Late morning
The Ha'penny Bridge & Dame Street
The cast-iron footbridge of 1816, once crossed for a halfpenny toll, leading into Temple Bar by day and on to City Hall and Dublin Castle on Dame Street.
- Ha'penny Bridge
- City Hall
- Dublin Castle
Walk east along the quays, about 25 min, or Luas to Mayor Square.
- 3
Afternoon
The Docklands & the Samuel Beckett Bridge
The old port rebuilt as a glass quarter on both banks of the Liffey, with the harp-shaped Samuel Beckett Bridge, the Convention Centre and the EPIC emigration museum in a 19th-century warehouse.
- Samuel Beckett Bridge
- Convention Centre
- EPIC museum
Dublin Docklands Walk around the Samuel Beckett Bridge
Video by Cityscape Tours on YouTube
Walk or bus back to the centre, about 25 min.
- 4
Evening
Drury Street & the Creative Quarter
The streets west of Grafton Street, with pavement cafés, the Victorian George's Street Arcade and the pubs of South Great George's Street for the evening.
- Drury Street cafés
- George's Street Arcade
- South Great George's Street
Day 3: Phoenix Park & a slow afternoon
A morning among the deer in Phoenix Park, Temple Bar by day, and a last night around Temple Bar Square.
- 1
Morning
Phoenix Park
Seven square kilometres of walled parkland west of the centre, with herds of wild fallow deer, the Wellington obelisk, Dublin Zoo and the Irish President's residence.
- Fallow deer
- Wellington Monument
- Áras an Uachtaráin
Rent a bike at the Parkgate Street entrance; the park is too big to cross on foot in a morning.
Phoenix Park Afternoon Walk
Video by World View Walk on YouTube
Luas from Heuston to Jervis, about 15 min, then cross the river.
- 2
Afternoon
Temple Bar by day
The same cobbled lanes without the crowds: galleries, record shops, the food market on Meeting House Square on Saturdays and the Millennium Bridge over the river.
- Millennium Bridge
- Meeting House Square
- Essex Street
Walk a few streets east, about 5 min.
- 3
Night
Temple Bar Square after dark
A last evening among the music pubs around Temple Bar Square, ending on O'Connell Bridge with the lights on the Liffey.
- Temple Bar Square
- Music pubs
- O'Connell Bridge at night
Travelling with someone?
Send them this 3-day Dublin plan, videos included.
Planning your first trip to Dublin
How many days?
Three days covers the south side, the river and the Docklands, and Phoenix Park with a slower afternoon in Temple Bar. Two days is enough for the highlights.
Where to stay
Temple Bar and the Grafton Street area are in the middle of everything but noisy at night; the Docklands are modern and quiet; Smithfield and Stoneybatter are local and relaxed; O'Connell Street and the north city are cheaper and well connected. Compare areas →
Getting around
Walk. Everything in the centre is within twenty minutes on foot; the Luas tram and buses help for Phoenix Park and the Docklands. Tap a Leap card or contactless card on board.
Dublin's centre is small and split by the River Liffey. South of the river are Trinity College, the shops of Grafton Street, St Stephen's Green and the cobbled pub streets of Temple Bar; north of it, O'Connell Street and the markets. East along the quays the old docks have become a glass-and-steel quarter around the Samuel Beckett Bridge, and to the west the walled Phoenix Park is one of the largest city parks in Europe.
Every stop comes with a walking video filmed on those streets, so you can see the bridges, the pubs and the green squares before you arrive. Use the buttons under each video to jump to the landmark, or press Preview to watch a whole day in a row.
Dublin itinerary: common questions
How many days do you need in Dublin?
Two days covers the centre comfortably; a third adds Phoenix Park and a slower look at Temple Bar. Many visitors use the extra days for the coast or the countryside instead.
Is Dublin a walkable city?
Very. The centre is flat and small, and every stop on this plan is within twenty minutes on foot of the next, except Phoenix Park and the Docklands, which are a short tram ride away.
Is Temple Bar worth visiting?
Yes for the atmosphere, the music and the cobbled streets, but it is the most expensive place in the city to drink. Walk a few streets away for a quieter, cheaper pub.
When is the best time to visit Dublin?
May to September has the longest days and the best chance of dry weather, though rain is possible in any month. St Patrick's Day in March and the Christmas lights in December are the busiest times.
Travel times are approximate. Check opening days and any booking requirements before you go.
Where to stay in Dublin
6 areas compared, each with a street walk so you can see the neighborhood before you book.
Read the guide →Keep exploring Dublin
More 4K walking videos, top sights, food markets and dishes to try.
Dublin city guide →