Our Perfect 1 Day in Dublin Itinerary: Guinness, Boxty, and the Book of Kells

Only have 1 day in Dublin? Thankfully, 1 day there is perfect to get a good idea of this Irish city before exploring the best part of Ireland: the countryside!

When we went on our 2-week trip through Paris, London, Scotland, and Ireland, we only had 4 days to spare for the whole country. I know, it wasn’t much time, but we wanted to see as much as we could in our 2 week trip.

So, during our 4 days in Ireland, we spent just a day in Dublin. And it was perfect! We saw the main highlights of the city, ate delicious food, and yes…had a Guinness or two!

I’ve been to Dublin a couple of times, and while you’re not going to see it all in just one day, you can certainly see a lot. So let’s talk about it!

How to Spend 24 Hours in Dublin, Ireland

Here is a quick reference guide to spending 1 day in Dublin. If you want more details, including where to stay, when to visit, and other tips, keep on reading below!

• Breakfast at Bakehouse
• Explore the Bridges Along River Liffey
• Temple Bar District
• Temple Bar for Lunch
• Book of Kells Experience
• Walk by Molly Malone, Dublin Castle, and Christ Church Cathedral
• Tour of the Guinness Storehouse
• Dinner at Gallagher’s Boxty House

Want to check out our podcast about Dublin?

Dubin in 1 Day Map

Best Things to Do With Just 1 Day in Dublin

Now, the first part of this itinerary is optional and depends on whether you’re here in the morning or not. We actually landed in Dublin in the morning, and by the time we dropped off bags, checked in, etc., it was almost lunchtime. 

But for the perfect day in Dublin for first timers this is what you’re going to want to do!

1. Bakehouse for Breakfast

As we landed in Dublin in the morning, sadly, we didn’t get the chance to try this place out. But I love a good bakery (especially as a France-travel fanatic) and this place looks absolutely delicious. I wish we had time to go here.

So, if you’ve landed the evening before, grab breakfast at the Bakehouse in Dublin. Get a specialty coffee, and tuck into a delightful breakfast to get you fueled up for a day of exploring.

They serve anything from fresh pastries (always a great choice!) and pancakes to breakfast sandwiches and bowls.

Bakehouse Dublin Address: 6 Bachelors Walk, North City, Dublin

Bakehouse Dublin Hours: Monday-Saturday from 8 am-4 pm and Sunday from 9 am-3 pm.

2. Explore the Bridges Along River Liffey

After breakfast, you’ll want to walk along the River Liffey, checking out the cool bridges like the O’Connell Bridge, the Ha’penny Bridge (the iconic cast-iron bridge from the 19th century), and the Millennium Bridge.

The O’Connell Bridge actually has a plaque on one side called the Fr. Pat Noise Plaque. It was put there as a prank by two brothers and is “dedicated” to the fictitious Father Pat Noise, who “died under suspicious circumstances when his carriage plunged into the Liffey on August 10, 1919.”

So snap a photo of that before continuing on to the Temple Bar District. 

3. Temple Bar District

This isn’t just the famous bar, although we’ll get to that in a minute. 

There are plenty of things to see and do in this district including vintage shops, street art, the Temple Bar Food Market, the Photo Museum Ireland (if you’re a photography fan!), and even close by is the Irish Rock ‘n’ Roll Museum Experience. 

Learn about the history of Irish Rock ‘n’ Roll here if you’ve got the time! 

If not, no worries (you likely won’t have the time)! Just wander through Temple Bar District, pop into some fun shops, and take in the atmosphere. Is it touristy? Sure, but it’s FUN!

The energy can’t be matched!

4. Lunch at Temple Bar

Locals may warn you to avoid Temple Bar at all costs. I know our cab driver on the way into the city did. I get it. It doesn’t quite have that “local” feel that I’m sure many other places further from the main tourist drag would have in Dublin.

However, where else can you get good live music at lunchtime on a random Tuesday in April? If you want to soak up the atmosphere, listen to a live band playing, have a real Irish pint, and a good lunch, then go here!

If you only have 1 day in Dublin, you should be a tourist! If you’ve got loads of time, sure go and explore further out. But if this is your first time in Dublin, see the cool attractions!

And Temple Bar is one of those places. 

Yes, it is overpriced, but the vibes were great and we really enjoyed it! I got a Kilkenny Smooth Ale and Chris got a Guinness. We even enjoyed their toasties! So go, have a pint, listen to music, and enjoy. It’s a popular place for a reason!

Temple Bar Address: 47-48 Temple Bar, Dublin

Temple Bar Hours: Monday-Wednesday from 10:30 am-1:30 am, Thursday-Saturday from 10:30 am-2:30 am, and Sunday from 12:30 pm-2:30 am. They have live music while they’re open, although, they wrap up an hour earlier at 1:30 am on Sunday. 

5. Book of Kells Experience

After a fun lunch, it is time to head over to Trinity College. Ireland’s oldest university was founded in 1592 and they have a whole section dedicated to the Book of Kells Experience.

On your way to the Book of Kells, why not walk around the exterior and admire the architecture and collegiate atmosphere? 

Then, make your way to the Book of Kells Experience (they have signs to point the way!). 

The Book of Kells is a 1,200-year-old illuminated manuscript that contains the 4 Gospels of the New Testament.

Due to Viking raids on the Isle of Iona in Scotland, the manuscript was moved to the Abbey of Kells in County Meath for protection. As a result, the manuscript took on its name from the Abbey of Kells.

Today, you can visit this famous book and see one of the illuminated manuscript pages. There is also an exhibit on the history of the book, how they created all the pigments to make it colorful, etc. 

Aside from the Book of Kells, you also get to check out the Old Library and the Long Room at Trinity College. This room had most of the books cleared out for cleaning and restoration when we visited, but they had a few rows on display. 

Either way, it was a spectacular sight! Some of these books date back centuries! The library was definitely giving Harry Potter vibes, and we enjoyed seeing the Gaia Globe with NASA images of Earth projected on it.

After that, there is an interactive and immersive Book of Kells and Old Library experience where the words literally jump off the page and the library is a spiral of colors and sounds!

It is honestly really well done, and I can’t recommend it enough. One of my biggest regrets about visiting Dublin the first time was skipping this. I’m so happy I did it this time.

Note, you’ll want to book this in advance for a timed entry slot. It fills up quickly! I think we ended up buying the 1:30 pm tickets (it is a 90-minute experience).

Book it here!

Book of Kells Experience Address: Trinity Long Room, The University of Dublin Trinity College, College Green, South-East Inner City, Dublin

Book of Kells Experience Hours: Monday-Friday from 9:30 am-4:30 pm. Saturday from 9:30 am-4:45 pm. Sunday from 10 am-4:30 pm.

Book of Kells Experience Admission: Starting at €21.50 for adults for a self-guided tour. Book it here!

6. Walk by Molly Malone, Dublin Castle, and Christ Church Cathedral

Now, after the Book of Kells Experience, I recommend walking to your last big stop of the day. However, the 40-minute walk there includes a few stops.

About 5 minutes from the Book of Kells is the famous Molly Malone statue. This is a statue of a possibly fictional character, who may have been a fishwife or hawker. 

Either way, this is a statue showing a character from a folk song. Take photos and enjoy the lovely statue, but please do not touch it. And for the love of all things, do NOT touch her bosom. It’s weird, I know, but people do it and it’s messed up. Just leave her alone, take photos, and be on your way to your next stop. 

Then, you’ll continue your walk for another 10 minutes until you reach Dublin Castle. This castle complex is now full of government buildings and most were built around the 18th century. 

However, there has been a castle here since the days of King John in the 13th century. 

So just walk around, admire the architecture and the statues, and then keep walking another 5 minutes to Christ Church Cathedral.

If you’ve got the time, you could pop in to visit this place! This church is full of artifacts including a copy of the Magna Carta, a mummified rat and cat, and Strongbow’s final resting place. 

Even if you don’t have time, you can walk around it and admire this lovely place.

Then, you’ll walk about another 20 minutes to the next big stop.

7. Guinness Storehouse

This is a must-visit even if you only have a day in Dublin. Ireland and Guinness seem to go hand-in-hand, and it even tastes better fresh from the tap at pubs across the country.

But you can visit and go on a self-guided tour to learn more about the history of Guinness, discover its vintage ads, have a wee pint to discover the flavors and aromas of this inky Irish stout, and perhaps even pour your perfect pint (if you book this option).

It is such an interactive experience, and I highly recommend doing a perfect pint pour. We all learned the best way to pour a pint of Guinness to ensure that thick, creamy head. 

And then at the very end of the tour, you’re treated to 360º views of Dublin and the mountains in the distance at the glass-windowed Gravity Bar. 

Each tour includes a free pint of Guinness at the top as well! Now, if you don’t drink, you can opt for either the Guinness 0.0% or a soda, which are free of charge if you choose this in lieu of a regular pint.

Note: Guinness Clear is just water. I felt stupid learning that after asking, but you never know. I know Guinness makes a blonde lager, so I just figured that was what that was. It’s not. 

But take in the views before going back to the Temple Bar area to wrap up your day.

Be sure to book tickets in advance, as this fills up too! I want to say our tickets were for 4:30 pm. 

Guinness Storehouse Address: St. Jame’s Gate, Dublin 8

Guinness Storehouse Hours: Monday-Thursday from 9:30 am-5 pm, Friday and Saturday from 9:30 am-6 pm, and Sunday from 9:30 am-5 pm.

Guinness Storehouse Admission: Starting at €20 per adult. Book tickets here!

8. Gallagher’s Boxty House

For your last stop of the day, you’ve got to wrap up with dinner! And what could be a better place than where you can get an Irish boxty?

A boxty is a potato pancake. At this place, they pair it with some sort of filling like chicken, chili, Irish lamb stew, or even spice bag (with fried chicken, peppers and onions, sauce, and spices). 

If you don’t love this, they also offer other classic Irish staples like fish and chips, shepherd’s pie, corned beef, lamb stew, and more.

They also have signature cocktails, Irish whiskey, and even their own draught beer. We enjoyed the spice bag boxty with a Jack Smyth beer to wash it all down!

Be sure to make reservations in advance!

Gallagher’s Boxty House Address: 20-21 Temple Bar, Dublin 2

Gallagher’s Boxty House Hours: Monday-Saturday from 9 am-10 pm and Sunday from 10 am-10 pm.

After dinner, you can go out for drinks at a pub if you like or call it a day. 

Either way, this wraps up Dublin in a day! Tomorrow, you can either fly home, fly to your next place, or hop in the car to see more of this beautiful green island nation.

Note: Don’t want to worry about planning things on your own? Check out this epic Dublin in a Day tour that includes a stop at Trinity College and the Book of Kells, a guided walking tour with a stop at Dublin Castle, a whiskey distillery visit, and the Guinness Storehouse audio tour. 

Book it here!

If You Have More Than 24 Hours in Dublin

Thankfully, being a decent-sized city, there is plenty to do in 2+ days! You’ve certainly hit the highlights in just a day, but with more time, you can dive deeper!

Visit St Patrick’s Cathedral,and go to some fun museums like the National Museum of Ireland, EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum, National Gallery of Ireland, Irish Whiskey Museum, or even the National Leprechaun Museum of Ireland. 

Love Irish whisky? You could tour the Jameson Distillery as well.

For some fun tours, you could opt for Irish music with a dance lesson, an afternoon tea bus tour, a hidden gems and highlights walking tour, a ghost tour, or even a traditional pub tour.

Want to get outside the city? Here are some day trip ideas:

• Cliffs of Moher, Burren, and Galway
• Wicklow Mountains, Glendalough, & Kilkenny Tour
• Giant’s Causeway, Dark Hedges, Dunluce, and Belfast Tour
• Giant’s Causeway & Belfast Titanic
• Blarney Castle

Where to Stay in Dublin

Staying in the central part of Dublin close to the action is your best bet so that you can walk around easily. 

Here are a few great places to check out!

Budget: The Address Connolly

Located not too far from the Temple Bar District and Trinity College, this is a great place for exploring! This spot also has places to eat, a fitness center, and good rooms.

Book it here!

Mid-Range: Zanzibar Locke Ha’Penny Bridge

As the name suggests, this is near Ha’Penny Bridge and is close to many attractions. This is where we stayed and could get to most places on foot! The rooms here were great, and they even have a little coffee shop for a pick-me-up! 

Book it here!

Luxury: The Shelbourne Dublin

This 5-star hotel is next to St. Stephen’s Green and has a spa/fitness center, a spot for afternoon tea, and a restaurant. Plus, the rooms here are gorgeous and you’re close to the National Museum of Ireland!

Book it here!

Getting to Dublin/Getting Around Dublin

The easiest way to get to Dublin is by flying. The Dublin Airport has several international flights a day with airlines like Aer Lingus, RyanAir, Delta, United, American Airlines, Air Canada, British Airways, and more.

I love checking flight prices on Skyscanner!

You can also visit Dublin from other cities in Ireland via train. 

Once you’re in Dublin, especially in the main touristy area, you can get around on foot, if you’re able to. 

You can also take the bus or tram. Just note, for buses, you either need a Leap Card or exact change. It isn’t like London where you can just tap your credit card.

You can buy Leap Cards either online or in various places in Dublin. Check this out to find out where to buy them.

For trams, you can use the Leap Card or just buy tickets at the ticket machine at a tram stop. Leap Cards are a cheaper option, though.

Alternatively, you can use the many bike rentals.

Lastly, there is also the option to get a taxi. Ask your hotel for a good company and save their Whatsapp number.

Note: It’ll be a lot harder to get a taxi in the city center, especially along the river, as they are shutting traffic off here. So, if you want a cab, you’ll have to walk further out.

And if you want to get out of Dublin and explore, you’ll want a rental car. Check out rental car prices here!

Other Tips For Spending Time in Dublin

Ireland is on the Euro.

While Northern Ireland is on the £ (which is good to know if you’re taking a day trip to Northern Ireland), Ireland is on the €. 

This converts to about $1.05 USD to €1, $1.49 CAD to €1, $1.64 AUD to €1, and £0.83 per €1. 

Most People Speak English, But Some Speak Irish Too

English is the main language of Ireland, so you’ll have no issues with that. But, I thought it was really cool to see Irish and English on signs everywhere. 

If you want to impress some Irish people that you meet, you can always check out Duolingo to pick up some Irish words.

When to Visit Dublin

You can visit Dublin any time of the year and have a great time! We were there in April and it was great! It wasn’t crowded at all, and the weather was pretty nice (although this is never a guarantee at any time of the year).

I would avoid Dublin around Saint Patrick’s Day, especially the Temple Bar area, as that does get really busy and crowded.

But if you want to visit for specific events like Saint Patrick’s Day, the Christmas markets, etc., then you’ll want to visit then.

Now, for decent weather and longer days, I’d opt for April-October for a visit. Note that July and August can be busy as well with people around Europe taking their vacations. 

So perhaps a good time frame is April-May and September-October.

Book Things in Advance

Whether that be dinner reservations, the Book of Kells Experience, or the Guinness Storehouse, you’ll want to book things in advance. If not, they could be sold out.

We ended up booking our Book of Kells Experience while we were at lunch at Temple Bar when we went, but being mid-April, it wasn’t as busy.

However, only 1-2 time slots were left so we honestly got lucky. I think it was sold out shortly after we booked it.

What to Pack For Dublin

I mentioned packing for an Irish trip in this article, but here are some things you’ll want to wear in Dublin.

You’ll definitely want some kind of waterproof jacket and leather tennis shoes (or waterproof boots if you prefer). Ireland is a rainy destination, so rain can happen at any time of the year. Be prepared ahead of time. I also recommend an umbrella. This one honestly surprised me with how sturdy it was even with the strong winds on the Isle of Skye!

Jeans are fine for exploring Dublin, and for a top, you’ll want to check the weather. If it is cold, then I’d opt for a sweater. If not, then usually a long-sleeved shirt. You may be able to get away with a short-sleeve top in the summer if it is hot, but Ireland is a cooler climate. 

Either way, a jacket is necessary. I love my TriClimate jacket with the rainjacket shell and thermal jacket underneath. You can also separate the two for either just a rain jacket or just a thermal (the thermal isn’t waterproof though, as opposed to the rain jacket part). 

There you have it- your ultimate guide to Dublin in a day. I enjoyed seeing the highlights of this fair city in just 24 hours and hope you do too! Then, I hope you get the chance to extend your time in Ireland with a visit to the countryside! 

The castles, national parks, and coast are truly a thing of beauty! 

Would you spend 1 day in Dublin?

Want more European travel inspiration? Check out these posts:

• 5 Days in Scotland Road Trip
• Perfect 1 Day in Edinburgh
• 4 Days in London
• How to Spend 4 Days in Paris
• Cost of a Trip to Paris
• What to Wear in Paris
• Top Paris Honeymoon Hotels
• 2 Days in Prague
• 2 Days in Vienna
• 4 Days in Budapest
• 2 Days in Budapest
• 3 Days in Stockholm
• 3 Days in Copenhagen
• Best Europe Winter Packing List
• 10-Day Central European Christmas Market Trip
• Unique 7-Day Italy Itinerary
• 2 Days in Piedmont
• 2 Days in Bologna
• Ultimate Rome Honeymoon Guide
• Honeymoon in Italy Cost
• Italy Honeymoon Itinerary Ideas
• Best France Honeymoon Destinations
• Top European Honeymoon Destinations
• 7 Days in France
• 1 Day in Antwerp
• 1 Day in Bratislava
• 1 Day in Bruges

Pin it here!