What to see, where to stay and the best time to visit Dublin, Ireland.
Photo: Artem Kulinych / Pexels
Dublin is the capital of Ireland and a coastal city of 592,713 people. Many of the main sights are in or near the centre, from the Book of Kells at Trinity College to Dublin Castle and the Chester Beatty. Temple Bar suits nightlife and short stays. Portobello is quieter, and Dún Laoghaire by the sea suits slower trips. The best months to visit are June and August.
Most museums and cathedrals take 1–2 hours each. The Guinness Storehouse needs 2–3 hours and Phoenix Park half a day. Several full days let you see the main sights without rushing. Stay longer for slow days by the sea.
City centre
Ireland's oldest university displays the Book of Kells, a richly decorated medieval gospel manuscript, next to the Old Library's Long Room. The Long Room is undergoing a long conservation project, so check what is on show before you book. The campus itself is free to walk through.
Kilmainham
A former prison where many leaders of Irish rebellions were held and executed, seen only on a guided tour. It is one of the best places to understand modern Irish history. Tours often sell out, so book ahead.
The Liberties
A multi-floor visitor centre about Guinness beer at the St James's Gate brewery, ending in a rooftop bar with city views. It is Dublin's most visited paid sight and gets very crowded; skip it if you are not interested in beer or branding.
Kildare Street
Holds Ireland's finest prehistoric gold, Viking objects and preserved bog bodies. Entry is free, which makes it good value on a rainy day.
The Liberties
Ireland's largest cathedral, with a long link to the writer Jonathan Swift, who was dean here and is buried inside. The park beside it is a pleasant place to rest.
Old City
Dublin's medieval cathedral, known for its large crypt, one of the oldest structures in the city. It is a short walk from St Patrick's, so many visitors see both on the same morning.
Dame Street
For centuries the seat of British rule in Ireland, now used for state events. You can see the ornate State Apartments and, on guided tours, remains of the Viking-era defences below ground.
Dublin Castle grounds
A free museum of manuscripts, rare books and art from Asia, the Middle East and Europe, collected by one man. It is quieter than the big sights and easy to combine with Dublin Castle.
Docklands
An interactive museum about why millions of people left Ireland and what they did abroad. It suits families and anyone with Irish roots, though visitors who prefer real objects to screens may find it light.
West of city centre
One of the largest enclosed city parks in Europe, with a herd of wild deer, Dublin Zoo and the President's residence. Renting a bike is the easiest way to see it, as distances are long on foot.
Average weather and our month score, from 10 years of climate data.
| Month | High / low | Rain days | Sunshine | Sea temp | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 8°C / 4°C | 13 days (63 mm) | 4.1 h/day | 7°C | 1.6/10 |
| February | 9°C / 4°C | 13 days (66 mm) | 5.4 h/day | 8°C | 2.3/10 |
| March | 10°C / 4°C | 15 days (80 mm) | 7.1 h/day | 8°C | 2.9/10 |
| April | 12°C / 6°C | 12 days (63 mm) | 9.2 h/day | 11°C | 4.4/10 |
| May | 15°C / 9°C | 13 days (65 mm) | 11.0 h/day | 14°C | 5.9/10 |
| Best month: June | 18°C / 11°C | 13 days (73 mm) | 11.4 h/day | 16°C | 7.1/10 |
| July | 19°C / 13°C | 15 days (79 mm) | 10.1 h/day | 17°C | 7.0/10 |
| Best month: August | 19°C / 13°C | 13 days (82 mm) | 9.7 h/day | 17°C | 7.4/10 |
| September | 17°C / 11°C | 13 days (83 mm) | 8.2 h/day | 16°C | 6.9/10 |
| October | 14°C / 9°C | 14 days (88 mm) | 6.2 h/day | 14°C | 4.8/10 |
| November | 11°C / 6°C | 13 days (87 mm) | 4.5 h/day | 11°C | 2.9/10 |
| December | 10°C / 5°C | 15 days (95 mm) | 3.3 h/day | 9°C | 1.6/10 |
Avoid. Highs of 8.3°C, 12.8 rain days and just 4.1 hours of sun a day. It scores 1.6, the joint lowest of the year.
Avoid. Still cold at 9.1°C, with 12.9 rain days and 5.4 hours of sun. It scores 2.3, so only come if the date suits you.
Avoid. Highs reach 10.1°C, but this has 14.5 rain days, among the wettest months by count. It scores 2.9.
OK. Highs of 11.6°C and 12.1 rain days, with sun rising to 9.2 hours. It scores 4.4, so pack layers and a rain jacket.
OK and improving fast. Highs of 14.9°C, 12.7 rain days and 11 hours of sun. It scores 5.9 and is a fair choice.
Good. Highs of 17.6°C and the most sun of the year at 11.4 hours. There are 13.3 rain days. It scores 7.1.
Good. The warmest month at 19.2°C, but also the most rain days at 15.1. It scores 7, so expect some wet days.
Good, and the best score of the year at 7.4. Highs of 18.9°C, 13.2 rain days and a sea at 17.2°C.
Good. Highs of 16.9°C, 12.7 rain days and 8.2 hours of sun. It scores 6.9, close to the summer months.
OK. Highs drop to 14.1°C, with 14 rain days and 88 mm of rain. It scores 4.8, so plan some indoor time.
Avoid. Highs of 10.7°C, 12.7 rain days, 87 mm of rain and only 4.5 hours of sun. It scores 2.9.
Avoid. The wettest month with 95 mm over 15 rain days, and the least sun at 3.3 hours. It scores 1.6.
Climate averages 2015–2024 · Best time to visit Ireland →
The best areas to base yourself and who each one suits.
Good for nightlife, short stays, groups
A small area of narrow, cobbled streets beside the River Liffey, packed with pubs, live music and restaurants. You are central and can walk almost everywhere. It is loud late into the night, especially at weekends, so light sleepers should stay elsewhere.
Good for couples, food lovers, quieter nights
A residential area along the Grand Canal, south of the centre, with cafés, restaurants and good local pubs. It feels more like everyday Dublin but is still walkable to St Stephen's Green. Choice of places to stay is smaller than in the centre, so book early.
Good for repeat visitors, budget-minded, local feel
These north-side neighbourhoods have old red-brick streets, independent cafés and traditional pubs, plus the Luas tram line into the centre. They are close to the Jameson distillery and Phoenix Park. The area is further from the main southside sights, and some streets feel quiet or rough late at night.
Good for families, business travellers, quiet
A leafy, well-off area south-east of the centre with large Georgian and Victorian houses, embassies and the Aviva Stadium. It is calm and safe-feeling, with good bus and DART rail links. The downside is that evenings are quiet and you will need a longer walk or short ride to reach the main sights and nightlife.
Good for sea lovers, slower trips, families
A seaside town south of the city with a long pier, a coastal promenade and easy access to walks along Dublin Bay. The DART train takes you into the city centre. It is not ideal for a short first visit, because you spend time travelling in and out each day and late-night options back are limited.
Typical journey times and fares from the airport and other cities.
| Route | By | Time | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dublin → Westport Iarnród Éireann (Irish Rail) runs trains between Dublin Heuston and Westport. The fastest train listed takes 3h 14m (Rome2Rio), and there are only a few trains a day. The Irish Rail fares page lists fares on this line, but I couldn't see the full Dublin–Westport fare, so prices are left blank. Check irishrail.ie before you travel. | train | 3 h 14 min | – ↗ |
Places within 2½ hours by train, bus, ferry or car.
train · 27 EUR
Iarnród Éireann (Irish Rail) runs direct trains from Dublin Heuston to Cork Kent, about every hour on weekdays and less often on Sundays. The fastest train listed takes 2h 28m, and most take 2h 30m–2h 55m. The €27 starting fare comes from a third-party site, not Irish Rail. I couldn't confirm a top fare. You can book on irishrail.ie up to 90 days ahead, and booking early is usually cheaper than buying at the station.
train · 13.99 EUR
Iarnród Éireann (Irish Rail) runs direct trains from Dublin Heuston to Galway Ceannt, about 11 a day. The fastest train takes 2h 18m (Rome2Rio), and the usual time is about 2h 30m. Online fares start at €13.99 if you book ahead on irishrail.ie, according to a travel blog. Station machine prices are noticeably higher. I couldn't confirm a top fare.
A slow-cooked pot of pork sausages, bacon rashers, potatoes and onions. It is the city's own home-style dish, mostly eaten in colder weather at home, and some traditional pubs serve it.
Lamb or mutton simmered with potatoes, onions and carrots until thick. You will find it on many pub menus across the city, often with a slice of bread on the side.
A cooked plate of sausages, rashers, fried eggs, black and white pudding, tomato and toast. Cafés serve it all morning, and locals often eat it as a weekend brunch.
The dark stout has been brewed at St James's Gate in Dublin for centuries. Locals drink it in pubs, and many say it tastes best poured fresh in the city.
Local langoustines, served grilled, in garlic butter or in a seafood platter. Look for them in seafood restaurants in the city centre and in harbour areas such as Howth.
A dense bread made with buttermilk and baking soda instead of yeast. Pubs and cafés serve it with butter alongside soup or seafood chowder, especially at lunchtime.
August is the best month to visit Dublin, with June a close second. August has the highest score (7.4) and warm-for-Dublin highs of 18.9°C. June scores 7.1 and has the most sun, about 11.4 hours a day. June, July, August and September are all rated good, so any of them works well.
Not for the weather. Both months score 1.6 and are rated avoid. In December, highs reach only 9.5°C, rain falls on 15 days and totals 95 mm, the most of any month. You get about 3.3 hours of sun a day. January is a little drier at 63 mm but colder, with highs of 8.3°C. November, February and March are also rated avoid.
Yes, it rains in every month, so pack a rain jacket whatever the season. Rain days range from 12.1 in April to 15.1 in July. Summer is not dry: July has the most rain days of the year. Rainfall is highest from October to December, between 87 and 95 mm a month.
For most people, no. The sea stays cold all year. It is warmest in August at 17.2°C and coldest in January at 7.2°C. From June to September it is above 15°C, which confident cold-water swimmers may accept, but it is not beach-holiday water.
Most take 1 to 2 hours each. St Patrick's Cathedral and Christ Church Cathedral need about 1 hour. The Book of Kells Experience and Chester Beatty take 1–2 hours, Kilmainham Gaol 1.5–2 hours. The Guinness Storehouse is longer at 2–3 hours. Phoenix Park needs half a day, so plan it on a dry day.
Enter to search · Esc to close