Whether you’re arriving on a glorious summer’s day or a moody winter’s night, Ireland’s capital city promises a warm welcome like no other. A place shaped by its joyous, generous people and their hallmark hospitality, whether you’re itching to immerse yourself in the city’s rich history, determined to tackle a mountain, or are simply seeking a sanctuary in which to sink innumerable pints, Dublin will no doubt feel like a home from home. From Francis Bacon’s eccentric studio to Malahide’s haunted castle and mind-bending boat trips, this is one city that masters culture both high and low. So, without further ado, these are the twenty best things to do.
How many days should I spend in Dublin?
We recommend spending three to four days in Dublin to explore all that the city has to offer, leaving some time to take a day trip outside the city if you like.
Alamy
1. Have the most invigorating swim of your life
Irish people are hardy. To prove it, they love jumping into freezing-cold water (just observe the blueish bathers, teeth clenched, braving the chill on beaches during the so-called ‘summer’). But they take it to the extreme at the colloquially known Forty Foot bathing pool – a deep inlet in Sandycove on the southern tip of Dublin Bay. Christmas Day is a particularly popular time to dive into the icy Irish Sea – well, naturally. But if you’re gutsy enough, you can take the plunge any time of the year (wetsuits for lightweights).
Howth Head, IrelandAlamy
2. Delve into the lore of Ireland’s Eye
Don’t fancy getting in the water? We don’t blame you. Take the dart to Howth and hop aboard seaman Shane’s small, ruby red fishing boat for an intimate (and, needless to say, far warmer) look at the rugged cliffs of Howth, Lambay Island, and along the coast from the Mountains of Mourne to Binn Eadair, all from the perspective of the Ireland’s Eye – an uninhabited island steeped in mysterious lore. A far cry from any old boat trip, Shane blasts music by Irish musicians such as Sinéad O’Connor between sharing local history and mythology linked to the invasion of the Vikings, introducing the local seal colony and pointing out wild sea birds, including gannets, guillemots, cormorants, kittiwakes and seagulls. If you’re lucky, you might even spot a puffin.
