If I had to pick the perfect location for a long weekend – let me tell you it would be Dublin. Of all the short trips I have been on, this was one of my favorites for sure and I can’t wait go back.
I do have to add that we were incredibly lucky with the weather as Ireland greeted us with sunshine all the way.
So here is a little guide for your perfect 3-4 day short trip to Ireland.
Note: This blog post contains links & mentions to third party sites etc. – this is non commercial as nothing was paid for. But let me mark this as an Ad for legal reasons. 🙂
Scroll all the way down, to find a map I created for you! It shows all the sights and recommended places in Dublin, to make your planning even easier!
General Tips & Infos
✔Ireland is part of the EU so the Euro is the national currency.
✔Irish is the official language, though English is the working language. You will find all signs are both in Irish and English (and I must say Irish is really interesting!).
✔Dublin is actually a rather small city, so I was told the city center was basically everywhere.
And it’s true, we’ve walked almost everywhere and it was absolutely doable. Most of our time we did spend in what I would call the most central part of Dublin and you can roughly say it is between Christ Church on one side and Trinity College on the other.
Transport
Let’s start at the beginning – from the airport, take the Bus AirLink 747 in the direction of Heuston Stn.
This will cost you 7€ one way or 12€ if you buy a return ticket right away to safe some money. The bus goes through the entire city and will take from 30min to 1 hour depending on where you need to go.
❗Generally, if you want to hop on a bus, make sure to stop it like you would if it were a cab. Bus stops are generally for more than one bus line so the bus might drive past you, if you don’t wave for it to stop!❗
The Book of Kells 
Dame Lane 
The Temple Bar
Sights
The Book of Kells at Trinity College.
It is best to buy your ticket in advance, I’ve heard the queues are endless sometimes! We opted for a morning slot at 9am where it wasn’t as crowded yet, which is something I always try to go for.
The Guinness Storehouse.
We were debating about that one, not sure whether we should go or not – but we’re so glad we went! It was definitely an experience. The ticket prices vary depending on the date and time, but we got the “cheaper” ones for 18,50€. You will get a complimentary Guinness at the end that can be enjoyed with a view of Dublin! I recommend going to the little restaurant 2nd to the top floor because the glass dome on the top was very crowded and not really enjoyable to sit it. The restaurant one floor down on the other hand was lovely!
Guided Tours
A friend recommended Sandeman’s Free Walking Tour to me and I have to say that it was perfect and I would absolutely recommend it as well! I like to do walking tours etc. as early as possible on a trip, because it gives you a nice overview of the place you’ve travelled to.
A free walking tour is based on tips, which is why it is affordable for any budget. Usually one would pay between 5€-20€.
Day Trip
If you have the time, definitely go see Ireland outside of Dublin, it has so much to offer! We booked a tour through getyourguide (I am a big fan!) and it was all we could have hoped for and more!
Of course, please keep in mind that you will be traveling as part of a tour group and this is not everyone’s thing. If you have more than a day’s time, you can also opt for a rental car and drive on your own which means having much more freedom but if you’re on a budget and have a time limit, this is a great way to see as much as you can!
Our bus left quite early, so we made it to the Cliffs of Moher by around 10am. Even if you decide to take your own car – always, always make sure you get there as soon as possible because it will get crowded! When we got there our group had the place almost to ourselves, whereas the place was packed with people by the time we left around 2 hours later. I am so thankful we got to experience the cliffs when it was still much quieter. And WOW guys, this is definitely a place you should add to your bucket list, it was breathtaking and I still dream about going back.
Next up on the trip: Galway. On our way there we passed incredible nature while driving along the Wild Atlantic Way. We made a few stops here and there but personally I would have loved to stop for much longer and way more often – but then of course, it would not have been possible as a day trip.
Tip: try to get a seat on the left side of the bus – the views while driving along the coastline are amazing! Lastly we spent the afternoon in Galway, a lovely little city: colorful and buzzing with music.
Click HERE for the tour, I would 100% recommend!
Cliffs of Moher 
Cliffs of Moher 
Pubs
Let me say the most important thing first: Do not go inside of the Temple Bar. I don’t think I can count how many locals told us this. Apparently it is a cartoon version of what an Irish Pub should look like in a tourists mind, it is expensive and you will definitely find no locals here. Do, however, go to the Bar, look at it from the outside, and admire the beauty of the building!
When asked where you should go I was told: 10 minutes in any direction of The Temple Bar! (Let me add: Temple Bar is the whole district and there are many pubs with the name. I am just telling you to avoid the #1 red bar that is the „original“ Temple Bar.
▪ Dame Lane. Not too far from the Temple Bar District is Dame Lane and we loved that part of the town, it is absolutely lovely. You’ll find many bigger and smaller pubs here.
▪ Williams Street is also a very crowded fun place with many bars+pubs, where you will find the locals!
▪ We went to a cute little authentic Pub in the Kilmainham District, and I’ll keep the name a secret. A friend of mine took us here, a very authentic Irish Pub that we loved! It’s very out of the way of the city center (ca. 30min walk) and all you want from an Irish Pub! So I do want to encourage you to look outside of the city center for the authentic experience!
▪ Fun Fact: The Brazen Head is actually Dublin’s oldest pub if you want to check that out!
Plantbased Food Options
Cornucopia Restaurant. This is a fast food type vegan restaurant that I can absolutely recommend. The food options are quite interesting and not very mainstream in my opinion, also a little bit on the expensive side. For a main dish it will be around 15€ but it is definitely worth it.
Murphy’s Ice Cream. What a lovely ice cream shop! It actually had a bit of a Disney Feel to it, with the employees running around giving you samples to try – and I do mean multiple. They give you as many samples as you like before you decide on your cone. And they have wonderful sorbet options for vegans!
For your morning tea (or coffee) definitely try Bewley’s on Grafton Street. A beautiful place with fantastic tea. I actually bought some to take home, the flavors are so good! Unfortunately the bakery options are not vegan here.
Dublin was honestly a dream! I had no idea, I would love it so much…. can’t wait to return and explore even more!
Below you can find a map with all the markings for sights, food, photos spots. Feel free to add it to your Google Maps when you’re in Dublin yourself!
Love & happy travels to you all,
Jules
Julia I loved traveling in Dublin with you. I can just hear you in person taking me on this tour. Love and Happiness. American Gma
Oh I am so happy to see your comment! And thank you for your feedback, this means so much to me! Maybe we should try meeting up somewhere again, like we did in Amsterdam! Sending so much love to you!