The Ultimate Dublin 2 Day Itinerary for 2025

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Despite appearing on a 2nd century map of Europe, for centuries historians believed that Dublin was first properly settled by the Vikings. A relatively recent archaeological find in Temple Bar threw that theory out the window. Dublin was occupied by the Anglo-Saxons some centuries earlier.

That’s Dublin in a nutshell. Layers upon layers of history – no doubt more waiting to be discovered – have made Ireland’s capital the captivating, multi-faceted cultural hub it is today. Standing guard over the River Liffey as it meets the Irish Sea, Dublin may be small, but it sure is mighty.

With heaps of Irish charm and culture aplenty, Dublin is one of those cities in which you could never run out of things to see. From its 13th century castle to the Guinness brewery, the endless beauty of Phoenix Park and the charisma of O’Connell Street, our Dublin 2 day itinerary is jam packed.

When to visit Dublin

A quick internet search will tell you to visit Dublin during the summer (June through August). There’s no denying that these months bring the best weather. Plus, there’s always a festival or event going on and the streets feel electric. But – and it’s a big but – Dublin receives over six million international visitors every year. That’s 4.27 tourists for every resident. The vast majority of them, visit in summer.

To enjoy the city at its best, we suggest you plan your Dublin 2 day itinerary for the shoulder seasons. Visiting during late spring and early autumn has two great advantages: less people and lower hotel prices. And with Irish weather- that’s to say, changeable and unpredictable irrespective of the season- it’ll likely be just as good, or bad, as the height of summer.

Getting to Dublin

By air

Ireland’s busiest international gateway, Dublin Airport (DUB), is 10 kilometers from the city center. It’s well served from across Europe, particularly as home base of low-cost giant Ryanair, but most notable are its connections to North America.

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection have a preclearance facility at Dublin Airport, meaning passengers returning to the United States complete border formalities in Ireland and land as domestic passengers.

Getting from the airport into the city to kick start your Dublin 2 day itinerary is quick and easy. A number of bus companies run frequent express coaches to the Busaras, Dublin’s central bus station. To save you, like me, spending several years wondering why it was named after a dinosaur, aras is the Irish word for building. Hence, Busaras means bus building. Taxis and rideshare apps, including Uber, are also available.

By land

If you’re combining this Dublin 2 day itinerary with a visit to the United Kingdom, crossing the Irish Sea by ferry is a relaxing, cost-effective alternative to flying. Irish Ferries and Stena Line operate several daily passenger services between the UK and Dublin.

The fastest crossings, on Irish Ferries’ high-speed catamaran Dublin Swift, take just 2 hours from Holyhead in Wales. More leisurely cruise ferries operate from Cherbourg, France. Additionally, the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company operate seasonal services to Douglas.

As the national capital, Dublin is well connected to the rest of Ireland. Intercity buses tend to be the best way to get between cities. Whilst there is a fairly extensive rail network, trains are infrequent and slow, especially when compared to the UK.

Where to stay on a Dublin 2 Day Itinerary

With just 2 days in Dublin, you’ll want to pick a central hotel. Even in the off season, hotels in Dublin can come with eyewatering price tags, so book as early as possible and avoid holidays and major events is if you can.

Our top recommendation is to stay south of the Liffey, in the area between Temple Bar, Merrion Square and St Stephen’s Green. The Trinity City Hotel is one of the best value hotels in Dublin. A short walk from Trinity College, the rooms are beautifully decorated and the cozy bar adds a hint of old-world charm.

To stay in the heart of the action, The Clarence in Temple Bar is Dublin’s original rock and roll hotel. With décor matching it’s rockstar persona, the riverfront location is unbeatable. A trendy, budget option is REZz Temple Bar, which offers small but modern rooms, a lively bar and laundry facilities. For a touch of luxury, check out the Townhouse on the Green. The elegant chandelier in the lobby sets the tone perfectly.

The Ultimate Dublin 2 Day Itinerary

Day 1

Morning: Northside Dublin

Breakfast

In a famous scene in James Joyce’s Ulysses, Leopold Bloom eats a bowl of Coddle for breakfast. If you want to kick off your Dublin 2 day itinerary in true Dublin style, this is the breakfast you need. Start your day at Gallagher’s Boxty House in Temple Bar for a bowl of this filling Irish delicacy.

From Temple Bar, cross Ha’penny Bridge to the north bank of the River Liffey. As was common in many cities, the river is more than just a geographical landmark, but the border between two very different societies. In keeping with the theme, Dublin’s Northside was traditionally more affluent than it’s neighbor south of the Liffey.

O’Connell Street

Following the riverbank to the east, you’ll soon reach the foot of Dublin’s most famous street. Guarded by a statue of its namesake Daniel O’Connell, an advocate of non-violent nationalism during the Irish independence movement, O’Connell Street runs north from the river to Parnell Square.

One of the more recent, and most iconic, monuments of O’Connell Street is the Dublin Spire. Erected between 2002 and 2003 as part of the millennium celebrations, the spire stands on the site of Nelson’s Pillar which was destroyed in an IRA attack in 1966.

To learn a little more about Dublin’s turbulent, relatively recent past during this Dublin 2 day itinerary, head next to the GPO Museum. Housed in the former General Post Office, used as the Irish Republican headquarters during the 1916 Easter Rising, the museum is dedicated to bloody events it witnessed.

Round off your morning in the Northside pausing for thought in Parnell Square’s Garden of Remembrance. Like O’Connell, Charles Stewart Parnell was a prominent figure in the republican movement.

Only in Dublin

We have one final stop to make before our Dublin 2 day itinerary takes you back across the Liffey. The National Leprechaun Museum commands a visit for novel value alone. As much as leprechauns have become a quasi national symbol of Ireland, and the butt of many a joke, they play a significant role in Irish folklore.

First appearing in 8th century saga Adventure of Fergus son of Leti, the leprechaun has changed with the times. In their original form, they were formidable creatures known to abduct humans. Nowadays, of course, they’re better known as prankster shoe cobblers.

Afternoon: Peace & Solitude

After a busy, but rewarding morning of sightseeing, the first afternoon of our Dublin 2 day itinerary is a walk in the park, quite literally. Phoenix Park covers a staggering 1750 acres. Within it, Ireland’s top zoo, the presidential residence, monuments, landscaped gardens and herds of wild deer.

Travel tip: This Hop On, Hop Off bus tour has several stops in Phoenix Park. This is extremely useful given the park’s size.

Start with a visit to the Papal Cross. Intended to be a backdrop to Pope John Paul II’s outdoor mass, held here on 29th September 1979, it has since become one of the city’s best known landmarks. Standing at 35 meters tall, over a million people congregated in front of it for the service. Today, you’ll most likely find it surrounded by a herd of deer.

Continuing your walk through the park, make a photo stop at Aras an Uachtarain, home to the Irish president, before passing Deerfield, the residence of the U.S. Ambassador. Amble through the People’s Gardens, admiring the statue dedicated to Sean Heuston, another key figure in the Easter Rising, before reaching Ashdown Castle. Now serving as a visitor center, the castle is the oldest building in Phoenix Park, having been built in the 1430s.

An Evening in Temple Bar

Spending the first evening of you Dublin 2 day itinerary in Temple Bar may seem a bit of a cliché. There’s no denying that it’s touristy, but not ticking it off on your first visit to the Irish capital would be akin to visiting London and skipping Buckingham Palace or Big Ben.

Start your evening with a traditional Irish meal at The Quays. Their ethos is all about unpretentious Irish pub grub. Go for a classic Shepherd’s Pie, Guinness Stew or fish and chips, or sample some of Ireland’s finest lamb or seafood.

Naturally, what follows has to be a pint at The Temple Bar. Be forewarned, the prices are steep – staggeringly so – but, when in Dublin. So famous is this pub that many people mistakenly believe that The Temple Bar is Temple Bar. In fact, Temple Bar is the area after which the pub was named.

Obligatory Guinness downed, hop between pubs for a night of craic, Dublin style. If you need some inspiration, enlist the services of a local guide to seek out Dublin’s most authentic Irish bars.

Day Two

Morning: Southside Dublin

Whilst Northside Dublin may have been home to the city’s movers and shakers of years past, the Southside is home to it’s most prominent landmarks and attractions. With so much ground to cover during your Dublin 2 day itinerary, it’s well worth hopping back aboard the open top tour bus to get back across the river for an orientation. If you purchased tickets for your visit to Phoenix Park yesterday, you’ll be able to reuse them today.

Travel tip: For a hassle free morning, consider joining a tour to take in Trinity College, Dublin Castle and Christ Church.

Next up, make a stop at what is probably the most famous Dublin landmark off all. Trinity College, established in 1592, is the only constituent college of the University of Dublin. Most visitors flock here to see one thing and one thing only: the Book of Kells. This 9th century Latin text, containing the four Gospels of the New Testament, is an absolute must on this Dublin 2 day itinerary, but don’t forego the chance to explore the beauty of Trinity whilst you’re there.

Leaving Trinity, take a stroll through Merrion Square, once home to Daniel O’Connell, Oscar Wilde and the poet W.B. Yeats. Continue south towards St Stephen’s Green, making a stop at another of Dublin’s quirkier museums. The Little Museum of Dublin, renowned for it’s 29-minute guided tour, showcases life in the city throughout the 20th century.

Having ambled through St Stephen’s Green, passing the statue of Constance Markievicz, a suffragette who became the first female MP in Westminster, take a moment to unwind in Iveagh Gardens. The gardens were designed by Ninian Niven in 1865. Having been restored in recent years, they are one of the most serene spots in the city center.

Afternoon: A Pint or a Dram

Heading back towards the Liffey, pause for lunch at Dublin institution, the The Duke. Another culinary highlight of this Dublin 2 day itinerary, The Duke has been dishing up classic Irish fayre since the Victorian era. Their lunch menu is simple, yet delicious. The seafood chowder wins my vote every time.

For the final afternoon of your Dublin 2 day itinerary, you decide whether to cross the Liffey or stay south of the river. No trip to Dublin would be complete without witnessing the making of one of Ireland’s most famous exports. The question is: Guinness or whiskey?

Guinness Storehouse

The most prominent building on the south bank of the Liffey, a short walk from Heuston Station, is St James’s Gate. The home of Guinness since the 18th century, over 10 million pints of this classic Irish stout are sold everyday. Even though it’s now exported to over 100 countries, 60% of Guinness is sold right here in Ireland.

The Guinness Storehouse is the place to go to discover the history of Ireland’s most celebrated beer. You’ll get to see the production process from start to finish and, best of all, enjoy a free pint at the end of the tour.

Old Jameson Distillery

Jameson’s may be a slightly newer addition to the Irish beverage scene than Guinness (by which I mean they came along 21 years later, in 1780), but their whiskey is just as iconic. To learn more about it’s history and the production process, head to the Old Jameson Distillery on Bow Street in Dublin’s Northside. Naturally, every tour concludes with a tasting.

If you’ve combined this Dublin 2 Day itinerary with a visit to the UK, the first thing you’ll notice at Jameson’s is likely the spelling of whiskey. The difference is purely a regional spelling. Whereas whiskies produced in the UK, most notably Scotch, are spelt whisky, Irish whiskies take the North American spelling, whiskey.

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