It was The Dubliners’ 1977 cover of Molly Malone which popularized the Irish capital’s nickname: The Fair City. Only the true Irish folk music fans would think of the 1876 original, first recorded as Cockles and Mussels some 2,600 miles away in Boston, Massachusetts.

And that’s Dublin to a tee. To many, Dublin is a party city. Home to the iconic Temple Bar, the birthplace of Guinness, a place where folksongs echo through the streets late into the night, a party city, Dublin certainly is. But it’s more than that. Dig a little deeper, and you’ll find a multifaceted melting pot brimming with culture.

Where the River Liffey meets the Irish Sea, Ireland’s largest city hides layer upon layer of history. Add in world class shopping, fascinating museums and a unique culinary scene, there’s a reason Dublin is one of Europe’s most visited capitals.

Small enough to be walkable, big enough to keep you occupied for days on end, now’s the time to add Dublin to your 2026 travel bucket list. Despite its compact size, one of the first things you’ll notice in Dublin is just how much neighboring areas differ. That’s why we’ve put together this handy guide to help you choose the best area to stay in Dublin.

The Best Areas to Stay in Dublin

1. O’Connell Street

Every city has “that” street. London has Oxford Street, New York offers Broadway, Dublin gives us O’Connell Street, or Sraid Ui Chonaill in Irish Gaelic. Whether you choose this area to stay in Dublin or not, you will cross paths with it at least once during your Irish city break.

Named in honor of Irish nationalist Daniel O’Connell, the street has played an important role in the city’s history. The Easter Rising of 1916 was centered on the General Post Office, sitting midway along O’Connell Street. One of the mainstays of fighting during the Irish Civil War, even more recent civil unrest has focussed on the street.

Lined with restaurants and department stores, towered over by the iconic Dublin Spire, O’Connell Street is a must whatever brings you to Dublin. As one of the main hubs of the city’s tourism industry, choosing O’Connell Street as the area to stay in Dublin comes with plenty of benefits.

Aside from hosting the fascinating General Post Office Museum, O’Connell Street is the starting point for several city tours. Open top bus tours, food tours, bar crawls and folklore-inspired walking tours all commence here.

The Best Hotels around O’Connell Street

There are few downsides to visiting Dublin, but one worth bearing in mind is that this isn’t a cheap city. This is particularly true of hotel prices. O’Connell Street, being possibly the most sought after area to stay in Dublin, isn’t the place to be looking for bargains. That said, it is home to some excellent hotels.

Wynn’s Hotel, at the southern end of O’Connell Street Lower is one of our favorite places to stay in the Irish capital. Its unbeatable location aside, the rooms are spacious and warmly decorated and breakfast is always included.

A little further north, the Academy Plaza Hotel is one of the best value hotels in the area. And whilst we don’t often recommend chain properties, Riu Plaza’s The Gresham is a Dublin institution. The setting for the James Joyce novel The Dead, The Gresham was subjected to heavy fighting during the Civil War when it was occupied by Republican forces.

2. St Stephen’s Green

My all time favorite area to stay in Dublin, St Stephen’s Green offers a central location with elegance and finesse without the hustle and bustle. Within walking distance of O’Connell Street and Temple Bar, Grafton Street runs off the Green’s north-western corner.

In between strolling through the leafy parkland admiring statues of WB Yeats and Constance Markievicz, the UK’s first female MP, you have to pay a visit to O’Donoghues. If ever there was a stereotypical Irish pub, this is it.

For a slightly more upscale dinner, St Stephen’s Green is also home to one of Ireland’s top Michelin-starred restaurants. Glovers Alley, the creation of Irish chef Andy McFadden, dishes up an elegant take on Irish classic.

If you choose St Stephen’s Green as your area to stay in Dublin, a tour of Trinity College is a must. During your visit, be sure to check out the Book of Kells and Trinity’s spectacular library. The Little Museum of Dublin, on the northern side of St Stephen’s, is also well worth a stop.

The Best Hotels on St Stephen’s Green

A night here is almost irresponsibly expensive, but it would be wrong not to start with a mention of The Shelbourne. Dublin’s answer to The Ritz or The Plaza, The Shelbourne stands guard over St Stephen’s Green with that understated elegance only the very best hotels can achieve. If you have $1,200 a night to spare, please let me know what it’s like inside.

For a somewhat more realistic price tag, The Green is a St Stephen’s Green favorite. Classically designed with modern touches including a state-of-the-art gym, the on-site restaurant is a highlight even if you’re not staying here. Stauntons on the Green is perfect if you prefer smaller, more personal hotels, whilst The Fitzwilliam offers comfortable, modern rooms right next to the tram stop.

3. Temple Bar

If marmite were a place, Temple Bar would be it. On one hand, a slightly tacky tourist trap packed with inauthentic pubs plying overpriced Guinness to unsuspecting visitors, on the other the time-served stalwart of Dublin’s nightlife scene. I want to write off Temple Bar, I want to tell you that this isn’t the best area to stay in Dublin. But I can do neither.

Travel Tip: Although there is a pub called The Temple Bar in Temple Bar, the bar takes its name from the area rather than the other way round. A quick pint and a photo at The Temple Bar are a must, especially if this is your first time, but Temple Bar has far better, more authentic places to while away the night.

Apart from being, hands down, the best area to stay in Dublin if you want to indulge in the city’s world-famous nightlife, Temple Bar has one of the best locations in the city. There are very few, if any, of the main sights which aren’t in walking distance.

When it comes to dining, if you’re looking for classic Irish eateries, you’ve come to the right place. Gallaghers Boxty House, The Quays and Merchant’s Arch are Temple Bar’s culinary highlights. Come nightfall, laugh away the evening at In Stitches Comedy, delve into Ireland’s Rock and Roll scene or join a shindig with Irish cult classics.

The Best Hotels in Temple Bar

Thanks to its iconic nightlife, Temple Bar is the most popular area to stay in Dublin with younger travelers and backpackers. This means it’s one of the most affordable neighborhoods in the city. If you really want to save on accommodation, Barnacles Hostel is one of the cheapest places to spend a night in Dublin.

For something a little more comfortable, Wellington Temple Bar is our top recommendation. Right on the banks of the Liffey, some rooms come with balconies and river views. A little further from the river, Temple Bar Townhouse is ideal if you want to be in the middle of Temple Bar’s action.

4. Smithfield

To the west of O’Connell Street on the north bank of the River Liffey, Smithfield is another of my favorite areas to stay in Dublin. A little further from the main tourist sights, but still within walking distance, Smithfield is ideal if you’re looking for a quieter base whilst staying in the city center.

Phoenix Park is just a stone’s throw away and the Guinness Storehouse is just across the river. Both the Pearse Lyons and Jameson distilleries are on the doorstep and, best of all, my go-to Dublin restaurant, Nancy Hands, is a 10-minute walk away.

The Best Hotels in Smithfield

The Hendrick Smithfield is unequivocally the best place to stay here. Extraordinarily good value, by Dublin standards at least, the rooms are modern and well decorated and the trendy bar is ideal for a nightcap or pre-dinner cocktails.

For those on a tight budget, Dublin’s outpost of the Generator Hostel is located in Smithfield. At the other end of the scale, just along the river, recently renovated Ashling Hotel Dublin provides beautifully designed rooms with an excellent on-site brasserie.

5. Point Village

At the very eastern end of the city, where the Liffey opens up in to the Irish Sea, Point Village is Dublin’s most up and coming neighborhood. It’s quiet, if you ignore the traffic heading to the port, and a pleasant riverside walk will see you on O’Connell Street in no time.

EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum is the must-do attraction in Point Village. Leave time for a tour of the Jeanie Johnston, a “famine ship” which carried emigrants to the New World.

When it comes to dining, new restaurants are popping up at an expeditious rate. Ruby’s Pizza and Grill is ideal for a relaxing evening, but if you’re looking for something a little special, you won’t want to miss Ryleigh’s Rooftop Steakhouse in The Mayson.

The Best Hotels in Point Village

As Dublin’s most up and coming district, hotel options are limited but ever growing. A couple of fantastic properties make Point Village the best area to stay in Dublin for hotel quality alone. The Mayson is the pick of the crop with a chic design, an outdoor pool and two exceptional restaurants. Nearby The Gibson is Point Village’s other favorite; the bar offers stunning views.

Which is the Best Area to Stay in Dublin for First Timers?

All of the areas we’ve covered are great choices when you’re looking for places to stay in Dublin. That said, there are two particularly strong contenders for the best area to stay in Dublin for first timers.

If you thrive on culture, and your ideal first time visit to Dublin will be spent browsing museums and soaking up the history, there’s no doubt that O’Connell Street is the best area to stay in Dublin. For those who are coming to Dublin to experience the craic, sample classic Irish food and indulge in some retail therapy, the best area to stay in Dublin is almost certainly Temple Bar.