Dublin is the capital and largest city of Ireland. It is the perfect starting place for a tour of Ireland. We recommend staying a few days in Dublin before you start exploring the rest of Ireland. Dublin is a mixture of historical and contemporary buildings with lots of things to see and do. In this blog, we will review the highlights, even if you have only one day in Dublin.
Food Tour
We love going on food tours as it an ideal way to learn about the city and experience the local foods. During our Dublin walking food tour, we ate Irish gouda, soup, sausage roll, oysters, chocolate, and had our first taste of Irish whiskey. The tour centered around Grafton Street, which is the main shopping street from Trinity College to St. Stephen Green. There are many street entertainers to watch along the street.
Landmarks
Next, we recommend going on a half day city tour to see some of the other sights like:
- Trinity College and the Books of Kells – Trinity College is Ireland’s oldest and most famous college. It houses the largest collection of books and manuscripts including the 8th century hand-illuminated Book of Kells. The Book of Kells is considered one of the greatest masterpieces of early Christian art.
- St. Patrick’s Cathedral – It is the largest church in Ireland and is named after Ireland’s patron saint.
- National Gallery of Ireland – This museum houses the national collection of sculpture, prints, and drawings. It is focused on Irish and European artists from every period from the 14th century.
- The National Museum – This museum features the largest (two million-plus) collection of archaeological objects found in Ireland from 700 BC to the late medieval period.
- Kilmainham Gaol – This is a former prison and housed many people involved in the fight for Irish independence including Robert Emmet and Charles Steward Parnell.
- Dublin Castle – It was the seat of the British government until 1922 when Ireland became its own country.
- Christ Church Cathedral – This church is Dublin’s oldest building.
- Royal Hospital Kilmainham – The hospital is a late 17th-century Classic building and is now home to Irish and international visual art.
- Phoenix Park – This park is Europe’s largest enclosed city park. It includes Dublin Zoo, Aras an Uachtarain (the Irish President’s official residence), Farmleigh House, and the Wellington Monument.
Guinness Storehouse
Finally, no trip to Dublin would be complete without visiting the Guinness Storehouse. Here you will learn all about Guinness and how to drink it correctly. Also, don’t forget to get your complimentary pint of Guinness at the Gravity Bar, while enjoying 360-degree skyline views of Dublin.
Would you like to visit Dublin? We’re here to help. Our preferred tour vendors provide the best possible experiences in Ireland. Please contact us to start planning!