Dublin is a magical city that will welcome and enchant you from the minute you arrive. From the delicious local brew to the ever-present live music, to the incredibly good spirited locals to the hearts vitals, to the breathtaking natural wonders surrounding the city limits, it takes a few days to fully enjoy all the wonder that Dublin has to offer. Growing up with an Irish grandmother, visiting has been a dream for me and I always take the opportunity to spend a few days in this lovely city when visiting Europe.
Play
↑ Live Music
Live music can be found all around the city, particularly in the pubs filled with jolly locals. Typically playing Irish folk music, these pubs are a great way to meet Dubliners of all ages, drink a delicious stout, and enjoy some authentic local vitals. One of the most popular streets in Dublin, Grafton Street has plenty of welcoming pubs and is chock full of artisan stores, delicious restaurants, street performers, and public art.
One of the finest (and most famous) goods that come out of Ireland is their wool and mohair products made from the local sheep scattered around the hills and valleys of Ireland. Although the actual wool mill is located just outside of Dublin in the small town of Avoca, the company also sells their wool at various Avoca shops around Dublin. For those who can’t get out of the city, stop by the shop near the Dublin City Center to purchase some original handwoven luxurious scarves, sweaters or blankets made out of local Irish mohair. Make sure you go upstairs to visit their café, where you can enjoy a light lunch, tea or dessert of local Irish cuisine.
After you’ve enjoyed some local live music, Dublin Castle is absolutely worth a visit and dates back to 1166. You can feel the history as soon as you enter the grounds and the excavation site of the Viking and medieval parts of the castle is filled with historic gems and information about Celtic life in ancient times.
↑ Iveagh Gardens
I love visiting Iveagh Gardens which was founded in Victorian times and features a lovely rose garden, trickly waterfalls aplenty, and yew maze that we spent hours exploring. Iveagh Gardens is a wonderful bit of greenery amidst a bustling city and makes for a lovely place to take in nature when you’re ready for some quiet time.
↑ Wicklow Mountain National Park
Wicklow Mountain National Park is one of the regions true natural wonders, and although a visit requires a car or bus ride, it is absolutely worth the time. These mountains seem to be teaming with fairies and gnomes with the lushest greenery and vibrant plant life that I’ve ever seen. Filled with life, these enchanted mountains always help bring me back to mother nature and put life’s challenges in perspective. The historic valley of Glendalough is a great place to start your adventure at Wicklow Mountain and features ancient churches and charming little pubs and restaurant to start off a day of nature exploration.
Eat
↑ Irish Breakfast at The Hairy Lemon
Incredibly hearty and satisfying, I highly recommend the full Irish breakfast which is made up of bacon, sausages, black pudding, baked beans, eggs, mushrooms, grilled tomatoes, and potato hash. Stop into The Hairy Lemon for a traditional Irish breakfast all day long.
Right across from the famous Molly Malone statue stands O’Neill’s Pub, a spacious yet cosy Irish pub where you can experience the ‘craic’ (great atmosphere) as well as traditional Irish food. From a hearty Irish breakfast to bacon and cabbage with parsley sauce, this is the place for Irish pub food and banter. When visiting Dublin, try the city’s most traditional dish, Dublin Coddle: a sausage, bacon and potato stew.
Temple Bar is a destination spot in Dublin and has a vibe of “come one, come all.” Aside from the exceptionally cold and bold Guinness, I order the Spicy Mackerel with soda bread and chorizo salad. There’s usually great live music here as well, so makes for an overall great night out.
My favorite local restaurant for Irish Breakfast is Queen of Tarts’ which has one of the most scrumptious full breakfasts in the city. The famed pastry shop’s savory meals are absolutely worth taking time out of your busy Dublin day to enjoy. It is truly the perfect way to begin your morning, especially when accompanied by a big cup of local Irish tea.
Irish ice cream is extra creamy and I love stopping by Scoop Dessert Parlor for all sorts of creative flavors of gelato, milkshakes, and classic ice cream. This tiny ice cream shop offers an array of yummy toppings and perfectly compliments a delicious meal at a local cafe or night spent enjoying the local brews.
Stay
The Devlin is a funky and community focused hotel wrapped in all the amenities and luxuries that you could need. Featuring an in house cinema, an action-packed cocktail bar, and beautifully modern guest rooms, The Devlin is one of my very favorite places to stay in Dublin.
Whether you’re wanting to take in the rich local history, enjoy a pint at one of the famed local pubs, walk in lush green gardens or learn about the areas craft and folk art, Dublin has it all. I always leave this city grinning ear to ear and I look forward to my next trip to this enchanted isle.