Ireland, in hindsight › Dublin

Dublin: what 180 visitors wish they'd known

Co. Dublin, east coast, home of Dublin city and Howth

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What things cost (from visitors' trips)

A Centra or Spar chicken fillet roll costs about 5.50 euro (~$6) with cheese for about 50 cent extra; a cheap lunch or dinner (2026)
After a concert she got into the wrong cab; the app then charged a 5 pound cancellation fee, so match plate and driver name first (2026)
Airport city bus is about 2 euro (~$2) but slow with little luggage room; the express coach, about 16 euro (~$17), is more comfortable (2026)
Buy a Leap card from a shop outside the airport terminal; the card costs about 5 euro (~$5) and the deposit is refundable at the airport (2026)
Do not leave items on the AirCoach; the lost-property contact was unreachable and a replacement stroller cost €65 (~$70) (2026)
Shamrock Rovers tickets at Tallaght Stadium cost 20 euro (~$22) plus 1.50 booking fee; the programme was 5 euro (~$5) (2026)
Take the Dublin Airport Express bus (about 10 euro, ~$11) to Wellington Quay and use a visitor Leap card for city buses and trams (2026)
Book Bus Eireann Dublin to Galway online early at about 15 euro (~$16); the train costs roughly double and cheap seats sell out (2025)

Prices change; check before you go.

Tips about Dublin

1Book Kilmainham Gaol the moment tickets release, 28 days ahead; they sell out in minutes13 visitors
- Book Newgrange a month ahead, plus Kilmainham Gaol and the Book of Kells; reserve Etto and Mr. S in Dublin, which turned away walk-ins. · TripAdvisor, 2024
- Kilmainham Gaol tickets release 28 days ahead at midnight Irish time and reportedly sell out in minutes; be online. · Blog, 2024
- Book Kilmainham Gaol the moment tickets release; she had to change dates. The museum café has no air conditioning. · Rick Steves forum, 2026
- Book Kilmainham Gaol early: tickets release 28 days ahead and sell out fast. It was their trip highlight. · Rick Steves forum, 2026
13 visitors here; showing 4 of the 13 who gave detail.
2Buy Book of Kells tickets ahead and take an early slot to beat the crowds10 visitors
Good to know: Since 2024 most of the Long Room's books have been moved out for the Old Library redevelopment; about 20,000 remain in the first bays. Expect partly empty shelves. Trinity's update
- Book Book of Kells ahead and pick the standard ticket for the old library; the digital Experience ticket is underwhelming. · Rick Steves forum, 2026
- Buy Book of Kells and Long Room tickets the night before for a much shorter queue; Kilmainham Gaol had already sold out. · Blog
- Book the Book of Kells Experience ticket, which still includes the Long Library despite ongoing restoration. · TripAdvisor, 2026
- Buy Book of Kells tickets weeks ahead; dates can be changed by emailing them directly. · TripAdvisor, 2023
10 visitors here; showing 4 of the 9 who gave detail.
3Buy a Leap Visitor Card (1, 3 or 7 days) for Dublin buses, Luas and DART8 visitors
- Leap Visitor Card from a shop outside departures came preloaded for 24 hours, no top-up needed; check whether it covers outer zones. · TripAdvisor, 2026
- Buy a Leap card from a shop outside the airport terminal; the card costs about 5 euro (~$5) and the deposit is refundable at the airport. · TripAdvisor, 2026
- Buy Leap cards before travelling; they work on city buses and trains in Dublin and elsewhere, saving fumbling with change. · Blog, 2025
- Buy a Leap card for Dublin and tap on and off the Luas; short hops get a small discount. Book Irish Rail tickets ahead. · Rick Steves forum, 2026
8 visitors here; showing 4 of the 8 who gave detail.
4From Dublin Airport take Dublin Express, Aircoach or the 16 bus rather than a €30–40 (~$32–43) taxi8 visitors
- Take the Dublin Airport Express bus (about 10 euro, ~$11) to Wellington Quay and use a visitor Leap card for city buses and trams. · Blog, 2026
- Airport city bus is about 2 euro (~$2) but slow with little luggage room; the express coach, about 16 euro (~$17), is more comfortable. · TripAdvisor, 2026
- Dublin Express coach back to the airport beat the local bus, which was clean but slow with traffic crawling in places. · TripAdvisor, 2026
- Take the Aircoach from Dublin Airport; the stop is right outside and tickets can be bought at the stand or on board. · TripAdvisor, 2023
8 visitors here; showing 4 of the 8 who gave detail.
5Go to a hurling or Gaelic football match at Croke Park, and buy tickets on gaa.ie ahead7 visitors
- Buy Croke Park tickets before match day; the group ended up buying from a convenience store near the stadium after a scramble. · Blog
- A Christy Ring Cup hurling final ticket covered three finals; you can only attend one per day, so choose your game. · TripAdvisor, 2024
- On St Patrick's Day, avoid the packed city parade and go to a Croke Park GAA game where the crowd is mostly local. · Blog, 2017
- Go to a hurling match at Croke Park to feel the Gaelic Games; locals will happily explain the rules and the odds. · Blog, 2024
7 visitors here; showing 4 of the 6 who gave detail.
6Skip Temple Bar's pricey pubs and drink at the Stag's Head, Long Hall, Grogans or Brazen Head6 visitors
- Avoid Temple Bar pubs as touristy and pricey; head toward St Stephen's Green for The Dame Tavern, or Brazen Head and Cobblestone for live music. · Blog, 2017
- Temple Bar felt crowded and touristy with non-traditional music; go to Brazen Head or The Gravediggers (closed Mondays) instead. · Rick Steves forum, 2026
- The Temple Bar pub is crowded; a bar a few blocks away had live music without the crush. · Blog, 2024
- Visit the Brazen Head for a last night out; touristy but atmospheric, and book a table. · Blog, 2024
6 visitors here; showing 4 of the 6 who gave detail.
7Take a free walking or 1916 Rising tour on day one to get your bearings6 visitors
- Take the Pat Liddy walking tour from O'Connell Street or the literary pub crawl; the Liffey boat tour lasts under an hour. · Rick Steves forum
- Do a tip-based Sandeman's walking tour on day one to get oriented; it covers Dublin Castle and Trinity gardens. · Blog, 2022
- Take the free tip-based walking tour in Dublin and the GPO Museum for modern Irish history. · Rick Steves forum, 2026
- Do the 1916 Rebellion walking tour with Lorcan Collins, starting at the International Bar. · TripAdvisor, 2023
6 visitors here; showing 4 of the 6 who gave detail.
8The Book of Kells is small and crowded. The Long Room library is the real highlight5 visitors
Good to know: Since 2024 most of the Long Room's books have been moved out for the Old Library redevelopment; about 20,000 remain in the first bays. Expect partly empty shelves. Trinity's update
- The Book of Kells is underwhelming (two pages shown); the Trinity Long Room is the real highlight. · Fodor's, 2018
- Visit Trinity College's Long Room; the authors found it striking even without reading the books. · Blog, 2023
- Book of Kells was too crowded to see properly; Kilmainham Gaol was more moving. · TripAdvisor, 2023
- Visit Trinity College Library. · Blog, 2017
5 visitors here; showing the 4 who gave detail.
9Use Dublin's free national museums: Archaeology, Natural History, National Gallery, Chester Beatty5 visitors
- Go to Iveagh Gardens early; the entrance is easy to walk past. National Gallery is free and almost empty. · TripAdvisor, 2022
- Most Dublin museums are free; Hugh Lane Gallery was the favourite. Book Book of Kells online. · TripAdvisor, 2022
- National Archaeology Museum in Dublin is free and has Viking jewellery and bog bodies. · Rick Steves forum, 2023
- Dublin's national museums are free; Dublinia's first floor covers Vikings. · TripAdvisor, 2022
5 visitors here; showing 4 of the 5 who gave detail.
10Book an early Guinness Storehouse slot and save the Gravity Bar for a clear day4 visitors
- Guinness Storehouse 4:30 slot was packed; go earlier. Kilmainham Gaol 1:45 tour guide Adam was praised. · TripAdvisor, 2022
- Go to the Guinness Storehouse top floor on a sunny day; in gloomy weather the view is minimal. · Rick Steves forum
- Arrive early at Guinness Storehouse; buy Kilmainham Gaol tickets before the trip. · TripAdvisor, 2023
- Pre-book Guinness and Jameson timed tickets from home. · TripAdvisor, 2025
11Don't plan to drink in your seat at Croke Park. Alcohol stays on the concourse, so queue early4 visitors
- Beer is sold inside Croke Park but cannot be drunk at your seat; concourse lines swamp at every break, so queue early. · Blog, 2019
- Stadium bar queues beat food and toilet queues; buy drinks early and try the hot whiskey on cold November days. · Blog
4 visitors here; showing 2 of the 4 who gave detail.
12Limit Dublin to one to three days and get out to the countryside4 visitors
- Stay only a night or two in Dublin; it is expensive, with hotels from about 150 euro (~$160), so spend more time in the countryside. · Blog, 2023
- Give Dublin one to three days; day-trip to Howth or Bray. · Blog
4 visitors here; showing 2 of the 4 who gave detail.
13Allow a couple of hours for the GPO Museum and Glasnevin to understand 19163 visitors
- Take the 17-minute Easter Rising film at the GPO Museum; Glasnevin's small museum is worth it mainly for its One Million Dubliners documentary. · Rick Steves forum, 2026
- Allow over an hour for the GPO museum. · TripAdvisor
- Visit Glasnevin Cemetery in Dublin · Reddit, 2025
14Collect and return the rental at Dublin Airport. You're straight onto the motorway with no city driving3 visitors
- 3 visitors said this; none added more detail than the headline.
15Do the Dublin Literary Pub Crawl from The Duke; no advance ticket needed3 visitors
- Dublin Literary Pub Crawl from The Duke at 7:30pm runs about 2.5 hours; no advance ticket was needed. · Fodor's, 2018
3 visitors here; showing the 1 who gave detail.
16Don't drive in Dublin. Collect the car as you leave the city, not the day you land3 visitors
- If spending days in Dublin first, collect the hire car in the city and not at the airport to avoid paying for idle days. · TripAdvisor, 2019
- Pick up the rental at the edge of Dublin, or on leaving, rather than driving in the centre; use transit instead. · Blog, 2025
3 visitors here; showing the 2 who gave detail.
17Dublin felt safe, but watch your bags around Temple Bar and Talbot Street3 visitors
- Lock valuables in room safe; panhandlers around Temple Bar and Talbot Street. · TripAdvisor, 2026
- Watch belongings in Temple Bar and near Guinness Storehouse. · Blog
3 visitors here; showing the 2 who gave detail.
18In Dublin, hear trad at The Cobblestone, O'Donoghue's or Brazen Head, and go early3 visitors
- Brazen Head in Dublin runs a Sunday music session roughly 3pm to 6pm. · TripAdvisor, 2023
- The Cobblestone in Dublin had good live trad music on Easter night. · Fodor's, 2023
3 visitors here; showing the 2 who gave detail.
19Take the DART to Howth for the cliff walk, then fish and chips on the pier3 visitors
- Do the Howth coastal hike by DART from Dublin, about four hours, then fish and chips on the pier watching seals. · Blog, 2025
- Take the DART to Howth (about 30 minutes) and walk the windy but beautiful Cliff Trail. · Rick Steves forum, 2026
- On arrival day take the DART to Howth and eat at Octopussy tapas bar. · Fodor's
20With young kids, start with two Dublin nights and use the city's playgrounds to beat jet lag3 visitors
- Stay near Merrion Square in Dublin with a toddler; the Giant's Garden playground there helps beat jet lag after an overnight flight. · Blog, 2025
- Book two nights in Dublin first so kids recover from jet lag; an early bedtime on night one helps. · Blog, 2022
3 visitors here; showing the 2 who gave detail.
21Base in smaller towns rather than Dublin. Hotels and meals cost far less there2 visitors
- Prices outside Dublin are lower, so base yourself in smaller towns to save on hotels and meals. · Blog, 2025
2 visitors here; showing the 1 who gave detail.
22Skip the Guinness Storehouse for a Jameson distillery tour: better value and less crowded2 visitors
- Jameson Distillery tour felt better than the Guinness Storehouse, which she found overcrowded, commercial and poor value. · Blog, 2017
2 visitors here; showing 1 of the 2 who gave detail.

Ireland-wide tips people mentioned here (13)

1Allow three hours at Dublin Airport going home. US preclearance is slow, but you skip customs on landing8 visitors
- Allow 3 hours for Ryanair bag drop and security out of Dublin; bag drop queue was 30 minutes and security about an hour. · TripAdvisor, 2022
- For a 1:15pm flight home, leave the Dublin hotel around 9am; US Preclearance at Dublin Airport adds time. · Blog, 2022
- US preclearance at Dublin T2 took about 90 minutes including a 30-minute wait; arrive very early. · TripAdvisor, 2022
- Arrive at Dublin Airport three hours before departure to clear US preclearance. · TripAdvisor
8 visitors here; showing 4 of the 7 who gave detail.
2Get fish and chips at a proper chipper: Leo Burdock's or Beshoff's in Dublin, McDonagh's in Galway6 visitors
- Beshoff's on Westmoreland Street, on the right heading from O'Connell Bridge toward Grafton Street, was preferred over Leo Burdock's. · Fodor's
- Leo Burdock's has no seating and its food gets greasy while travelling, so eat it straight away rather than carrying it to a hotel. · Fodor's
- Order cod and chips, a 'one and one'; ask which fish is freshest that day, as plaice, haddock or pollack may be offered. · Blog, 2017
- Leo Burdock has served since 1913; expect a line, but a guide said it moves quickly and the light batter is worth it. · Blog
6 visitors here; showing 4 of the 6 who gave detail.
3Use trains between cities; Dublin to Galway, Cork, Killarney and Belfast are easy6 visitors
- Dublin to Galway or Belfast by train or bus costs about 20 euro (~$22), so no car is needed between cities. · Blog, 2023
- Train beat bus for Galway to Dublin. Dunne's was the favourite supermarket. · TripAdvisor, 2022
6 visitors here; showing the 2 who gave detail.
4Take the DART for easy coastal day trips to Howth, Malahide, Dalkey and Bray5 visitors
- Use DART to Greystones, Dalkey and Sandycove; the Martello Tower has a Joyce-focused volunteer guide. Catch trad at the Cobblestone. · TripAdvisor, 2023
- Use Dublin's rail for day trips to Dun Laoghaire, Bray (Bray Head cliff walk), Greystones, Howth and Malahide. · Fodor's
- Howth is very busy and parking is scarce; arrive early or take the DART. · TripAdvisor, 2023
- Take the DART to Howth, about 20 minutes, as an easy day trip. · Fodor's
5 visitors here; showing 4 of the 5 who gave detail.
5Day-trip from Dublin to Glendalough, Powerscourt or Newgrange. It's easy by tour or public bus3 visitors
- Base in Dublin and make easy day trips to Glendalough, Avoca and Newgrange, with museums and tours as wet-day backup. · Rick Steves forum
- Day trips from Dublin: Glendalough, Powerscourt, Newgrange, Tara. · Fodor's
3 visitors here; showing the 2 who gave detail.
6Do Belfast as a day trip from Dublin by train. It's about two hours each way3 visitors
- Take the early train from Dublin Connolly, about 2.5 hours, to arrive near 10am; a Belfast bus day pass is about 5 pounds. · Blog, 2025
- Take the train from Dublin to Belfast for a weekend; Belfast City Hall and Christmas Market are lit up in November. · Blog, 2023
- Skip the car in Dublin; do Belfast as a train day trip and take the Black Cab tour. · Rick Steves forum
7Break the Dublin–Cork or Kerry drive at Kilkenny, Cashel and Cahir Castle2 visitors
- Break the Kinsale-to-Dublin drive at Rock of Cashel and Kilkenny Castle, lunching at Kyteler's Inn in Kilkenny. · TripAdvisor, 2019
- Rock of Cashel is a layered ruin worth the stop on the Dublin to Kinsale leg. · Rick Steves forum, 2023
8Eat fish and chips by the harbour in Howth, Kinsale (Kitty Ó Sé's) or Dingle (Fishbox, Quinlan's)2 visitors
- Eat fish and chips in Howth harbour; the fish is caught locally, batter stays crisp and mushy peas come on the side. · Blog, 2023
- Have fish and chips at Howth harbour; the fish is local and fresh, served with mushy peas. · Blog, 2022
9Have Murphy's ice cream in Dingle, Galway or Dublin; sea salt is the favourite2 visitors
- Wear comfortable clothes on Dublin food tours; portions are large and stops include Murphy's ice cream with free samples. · Blog
- Murphy's ice cream in Dublin lets you sample flavours; sea salt and boozy flavours stood out. · Blog, 2019
10Kid hits: Dublinia, the Natural History Museum, Fota Wildlife Park and Burren birds of prey2 visitors
- Dublinia suits children, with its Viking experience, and Belfast's private black cab tour pairs well with Titanic Belfast. · other
- An 11-year-old loved Dublin's Natural History Museum (Dead Zoo) and the birds of prey centre in the Burren. · other
11No car? Take a Causeway Coast day tour from Belfast or Dublin2 visitors
- Reach the Giant's Causeway, Dunluce and Dark Hedges from Dublin on a budget day bus tour rather than renting a car. · Blog, 2025
- Giant's Causeway can be a no-car day trip from Dublin if it is a must-see. · TripAdvisor
12Vegetarian? Plan ahead. Rural pubs have little, but Dublin and Galway have good options2 visitors
- Vegetarians: Xian Street Food (veggie spice bag) in Galway, Cornucopia in Dublin; Lidl and Aldi stock vegan sausage rolls. · TripAdvisor, 2022
- Vegetarians can eat well at The Saucy Cow in Temple Bar (oyster mushroom burger) and King Sitric in Howth. · Blog
13Wear sunscreen on exposed walks: people got burned at Howth and Salthill in spring2 visitors
- Book a guided Howth cliff walk directly with the guide (a roughly 3-hour coastal hike); bring sunscreen as the exposed headland burns even in spring. · Blog, 2023
- Bring sunscreen for the Howth cliff walk; she was sunburned in April. · Blog, 2022

Show 199 single-report tips

Driving (8)

Allow an extra hour for Dublin traffic. · Blog
Allow lots of time at rental pick-up; Dublin Hertz took ninety minutes. · Blog
Ask your rental company how the barrier-free M50 toll is billed, otherwise you risk unpaid-toll fines later. · Blog, 2025
Decline tyre and wheel cover on the Hertz rental via Conn's only if comfortable; most other fees were included and a free GPS was supplied. · TripAdvisor, 2023
Don't make Dublin to Kilkenny your first nervous driving day; roads are tight and curvy. · TripAdvisor, 2022
Pay about $300 extra for an automatic for a week; the Dublin Airport Dollar/Hertz desk system was down so a bus ran to the pickup. · TripAdvisor, 2023
Rental pick-ups at Dublin airport cause accidents; stay left. · Blog
The M7 and M9 from Dublin to Kilkenny took about 90 minutes. · Fodor's, 2017

Getting around (42)

A direct Dublin to Galway bus takes about 2.5 hours, giving a base for Connemara, Aran and the Cliffs. · Blog, 2022
After a Marlay Park concert, walk to a less crowded Luas stop rather than the one beside the venue. · Blog, 2024
After a concert she got into the wrong cab; the app then charged a 5 pound cancellation fee, so match plate and driver name first. · TripAdvisor, 2026
Allow around 40 minutes on the airport bus to the rental depot at midday; arriving at 5:30am was quieter than 9:30am. · TripAdvisor, 2026
Ask pub staff in Tinahely to arrange a taxi rather than phoning cold; then taxi to Arklow and bus to Dublin. · Blog, 2024
Book Dublin to Galway buses online for a few euro less; popular routes fill and Limerick connections can mean hours waiting. · Blog, 2026
Book Irish Rail tickets online for a guaranteed seat; your name shows above it. Dublin to Belfast from Galway needs a station change. · TripAdvisor, 2023
Book the Dublin to Galway train the night before; it takes about 2.5 hours and many departures run. · Blog, 2026
Bus Belfast to Dublin Airport and rent there instead; one-way cross-border car hire fees are steep. · Rick Steves forum, 2021
Check the Uber fare estimate before confirming a short Dublin ride; his was far higher than expected and only partly refunded after three days. · TripAdvisor
Check which bus stop serves Croke Park and leave a generous buffer; they arrived with only 10 minutes to spare. · Blog
DART from the city centre reaches Aviva Stadium in about five minutes, but trains home are packed and queued; allow extra time after the whistle. · Blog
Do not leave items on the AirCoach; the lost-property contact was unreachable and a replacement stroller cost €65. · TripAdvisor, 2026
After a 6am landing, a cab to Limerick station then train to Dublin was easy and avoided driving jet-lagged. · Rick Steves forum
Dublin Express is a city bus; allow extra time. · TripAdvisor, 2025
Dublin taxi rank is outside Terminal 2; cabs could be hailed at kerbs or lights, but have your hotel call one for airport runs. · Rick Steves forum, 2026
Dublin taxis are easy to hail but drivers prefer cash; carry some euros. · TripAdvisor, 2024
Dublin's Luas tram runs straight to the train station, an easy way to connect to Cork. · Blog, 2022
Flagging cabs and paying cash beat FreeNow waits in Dublin. · TripAdvisor, 2022
From Cork, a tour bus connects in Killarney with Dublin and Limerick buses, then splits into Ring of Kerry, Cliffs or Dingle tours. · Blog
Galway to Killarney is about four hours by bus with a Limerick change and no direct train; Killarney to Dublin train is 3.5 hours. · Blog, 2026
Google Maps misled us repeatedly in Dublin; use taxis. · TripAdvisor, 2026
Hop-on buses ignore the printed timetable; expect long waits when quiet and full buses when busy, so do not plan a tight schedule around them. · TripAdvisor, 2026
If a ferry cancels, check earlier alternative sailings; she rebooked Irish Ferries' Swift from Holyhead and still reached Dublin. · Blog, 2024
Match-day trains toward Dublin fill with fans along the route; arrive about 2.5 hours before throw-in because pubs near Croke Park are packed by noon. · Blog, 2019
Newgrange needs a car; Kilmainham reachable by bus · Reddit
Pick the car up in Galway on day four and drop it at Dublin Airport; it cost little more than a same-city return. · Blog, 2022
Rent a car for only part of the trip: she picked up in Galway and dropped in Cork, then took the bus to Dublin. · Blog, 2024
Rent the car only for Galway to Kerry and return at Shannon; Dublin and Galway are easy on foot. · Blog, 2026
Ride the Luas from George's Dock to Four Courts to reach Dublinia and Christ Church on foot. · TripAdvisor, 2022
Stena Line ferry from Holyhead to Dublin works with a car. · Blog
TFI Go and TFI Journey Planner apps worked well; Bus Eireann's own planner failed. Dublin Express tickets work within 12 hours. · TripAdvisor, 2022
Take a direct bus from Dublin Airport to Galway, then Galway to Ennis for County Clare tours. · Rick Steves forum
Take the 6:50am bus from Dublin to the Cliffs of Moher, about three hours, then stop at the Burren on the way to Galway. · Blog, 2025
Take the DART to Lansdowne Road for Aviva Stadium; walking from Ballsbridge takes about 15 minutes through heavy crowds. · Blog, 2024
Take the airport bus into Dublin (about 30 minutes) and confirm with the driver it is the right one. · Blog, 2025
Tallaght Stadium is all-seated for about 10,500, with a tram stop close by; a nearby hotel is a ten-minute walk. · Blog, 2026
Tap Leap cards on the Luas platform validator, not on the tram. · TripAdvisor, 2022
Taxi from the rental return to a Dublin city hotel cost €56 (~$60) on a Sunday. · TripAdvisor, 2023
Trains Dublin to Belfast, Dublin to Galway and Cork to Dublin worked well; connections elsewhere meant backtracking and sparse services. · Rick Steves forum, 2024
Trains were all on time; the Belfast to Dublin run takes about two hours. Pre-book buses and private tours since they sell out. · Rick Steves forum, 2025
Wave down buses even at marked stops or they may not stop; short Dublin taxi rides cost about 11 to 20 euro (~$12–22). · Blog, 2025

Food & pubs (35)

A Centra or Spar chicken fillet roll costs about 5.50 euro (~$6) with cheese for about 50 cent extra; a cheap lunch or dinner. · Blog, 2026
At Pickle in Dublin, remember dishes are shared; they over-ordered badly, so ask the staff how many to choose. · Blog, 2024
At The Band on College Green ask for an upper-floor table overlooking the room. · TripAdvisor, 2022
At Xi'An Street Food order the spice bag, and upgrade the dan dan noodles to hand-pulled biang biang noodles. · Blog, 2025
Atmosphere was lively with flares from both sets of fans yet friendly; the official Rockshore lager underwhelmed. · Blog, 2025
Base yourself in Temple Bar for Six Nations weekends: many pubs have live music and mixed Irish and Welsh fans celebrating together. · Blog, 2024
Book Bread 41 in Dublin about a month ahead; sit upstairs at Devitt's for live music from 9pm. · TripAdvisor, 2022
Book Greedy Goose in Malahide ahead; it could not take a walk-in. · TripAdvisor, 2022
Book Kicky's in Dublin ahead; order the mussels as a starter portion in Barna since mains are huge. · Blog, 2026
Butlers Chocolate Cafe on Liffey Street gives a free chocolate with each coffee. · Blog, 2025
Darkey Kelly's had no seats; reserve ahead. · TripAdvisor
Dunnes Stores deli chicken fillet roll with mayo, butter, cheese and stuffing is a cheap lunch; Bread 41 bakery suits early starts. · Blog, 2025
Eat Irish stew at John Kavanagh's (The Gravediggers) near Glasnevin and crab sandwiches at King Sitric in Howth. · Rick Steves forum, 2026
Eat at Library Street near Grafton Street, Dublin, and Kashmir Indian in Galway on hotel-staff recommendation. · TripAdvisor, 2023
Eat at Teach Nan Phaidi at the foot of Dun Aonghasa on Inis Mor; beef stew with mash and Guinness chocolate cake. · Blog, 2024
Eat in cafes rather than only pubs for homemade soup, sandwiches and scones; dinner service runs late in Dublin. · Blog, 2025
Get a spice bag (spiced chicken and chips) from a Chinese takeaway; the author preferred Charlie's in Dublin. · Blog, 2024
Have a 99 soft-serve with a Flake at Teddy's in Dun Laoghaire, overlooking Scotsman's Bay. · Blog, 2024
Howth market langos are huge; share one. · TripAdvisor, 2026
Let Guinness settle before drinking at the Storehouse; the top-floor bar has the panoramic view. · Rick Steves forum, 2023
Lunch at Gallagher's Boxty House near Temple Bar was the highlight of their layover. · Blog, 2025
Madigan's pints of Five Lamps ales are recommended; Coors Light is common on taps in pubs. · TripAdvisor, 2023
O'Neill's on Pearse Street: seafood chowder and the upstairs Michael Collins safe-house room. · TripAdvisor, 2023
Presto Chipper near the stadium serves large, good-value fish and chips and a recommended chicken fillet burger. · Blog, 2024
Queue early for trad sessions at The Cobblestone in Dublin and Tig Coili in Galway; both fill up well before the music starts. · Rick Steves forum, 2026
Queue for Bread 41 near Trinity for cruffins and focaccia; the line moves and was worth it. · Blog, 2024
Quinn's in Drumcondra is a large pub with a patio, good before and after Croke Park games; eat lunch first before drinking. · Blog, 2019
Searson's on Baggot Street has big projectors and a beer garden but takes no reservations; arrive early on match days. · Blog, 2024
Supermac's is Ireland's own burger chain; a quick, cheap burger and fries stop in Galway or Dublin works. · Blog, 2025
The Irish Food Trail walking tour from Dublin Castle was a trip highlight, explaining food history across several tastings. · Blog
The Legal Eagle near Chancery Place is an award-winning pub-restaurant suited to a pre-match meal. · Blog, 2024
The Old Spot near the Bath Pub is seated-only; book early for a TV view of Six Nations matches. · Blog, 2024
Try a spice bag from a Chinese takeaway: chips, chicken and peppers in spice, with curry sauce to dip. · Blog
Try seafood chowder with brown bread in Dublin pubs. · TripAdvisor
Xian Street Food in Dublin makes a spice bag with fried chicken or tofu and curry on the side, a go-to late-night meal. · Blog, 2026

Sightseeing (31)

At Malahide Castle buy grounds-only tickets; the tour was just okay, but the botanic garden and fairy trail were loved. · TripAdvisor, 2022
Base car-free in Waterford: Viking history, a crystal factory tour, and the 29-mile traffic-free Waterford Greenway, two hours from Dublin by train. · Rick Steves forum
Blarney Castle and Dublin Castle disappointed them. · TripAdvisor
Bohemians v Shelbourne at Dalymount Park, home of Irish football, usually kicks off 7:45pm Friday during the spring-to-autumn League of Ireland season. · Blog, 2025
Book Jeannie Johnston famine ship tours ahead; the 11am sold out. EPIC museum is right opposite. · TripAdvisor, 2023
Book Titanic Belfast online in advance; a Dublin to Belfast train day trip is feasible but the city is crowded. · Fodor's, 2024
Book a small-group Howth coastal hike of about 3 hours via the guide's own site; she found it on Airbnb Experiences but booked direct. · Blog, 2022
Break up the Dublin to Galway drive at Sean's Bar in Athlone, which claims to be the oldest bar in the world. · Blog, 2023
Check Christ Church tour times; they missed the last tour by 15 minutes and regretted it. · Blog
Dublin Castle felt underwhelming; St Patrick's Cathedral was the favourite. · TripAdvisor, 2022
EPIC Irish Emigration Museum beat low expectations with twenty galleries, and has places to eat upstairs. · Blog, 2025
Four Knocks passage tomb north of Dublin Airport: collect the interior key from the neighbour down the road; you can also walk the outside. · TripAdvisor, 2025
Guinness Storehouse felt a tourist trap; the guide taught more than the exhibits. Cairn T at Loughcrew was closed. · TripAdvisor, 2022
Guinness Storehouse has many stairs and little seating. · TripAdvisor, 2026
Guinness Storehouse lends wheelchairs and has accessible rooftop seating. · TripAdvisor, 2025
Hurling is first and runs just over an hour; the stands fill more for the football, and drawn games have no overtime. · Blog
Kilmainham Gaol tour was the coldest part of a winter trip, so dress warmly. · Rick Steves forum
No advance booking needed for Dublinia; combo ticket covers Christ Church Cathedral too. · TripAdvisor, 2022
Pay for the Guinness Storehouse Connoisseur experience to skip the door queue and get a small private tasting. · Blog, 2024
Pre-book Newgrange, Book of Kells and Blarney Castle. · Blog, 2024
Ride the whole hop-on hop-off loop on arrival afternoon when quiet; it shows outlying areas you would not otherwise reach. · TripAdvisor, 2026
Skip Howth Castle, which is not open to the public; St Mary's Church next door was better. · TripAdvisor, 2022
Skip the Guinness Storehouse if reviews put you off; they drank Guinness in pubs instead, though the Gravity Bar view is the draw. · Blog
Take a day trip to Powerscourt House and Gardens from Dublin. · Blog, 2025
Take the train to Howth to watch the wild seals, an easy winter outing for a toddler. · other
Taxi to Howth cliffs saved time; driver waited. · TripAdvisor, 2025
Trinity's Long Room had no books on display during restoration, so check before making it your priority. · other, 2025
Use Guinness Storehouse self-guided ticket with free drink. · Blog
Visit EPIC Museum early in a Dublin stay; it ties the history together for everything that follows. · TripAdvisor, 2023
Visit the Guinness Storehouse before or after an Aviva Stadium match to fill the day. · Blog, 2024
Visit the butterfly house at Malahide Castle, but expect heat and humidity. · TripAdvisor, 2023

Where to stay (12)

Ask for a higher floor at Dublin hotels; her street-level room near Temple Bar was noisy. · Blog, 2017
Avoid street-facing Dublin rooms; request a quiet room. · TripAdvisor, 2024
Base in Galway city rather than traffic-heavy Dublin for the west. · Rick Steves forum, 2023
Book accommodation far ahead for St Patrick's weekend; hotels and hostels fill, and agree a meeting point before arrival if wifi is patchy. · Blog, 2017
Dublin accommodation sold out; staying in Howth above the Harbour Bar was cheaper with DART access. · TripAdvisor, 2022
Dublin city-centre hostel dorms hit about 100 euro (~$110) in summer versus about 40 in Galway or Kerry, so book far ahead. · Blog, 2025
Hostel dorms in Galway sleep six, workable but not luxurious; return bus to Dublin takes about 3.5 hours. · Blog, 2025
Spend the last night somewhere memorable near Dublin Airport such as a castle rather than a chain hotel. · Blog, 2022
Stay at Butler Court in Kilkenny (cold breakfast delivered to room); two nights felt too short. Train to Dublin is about 1.5 hours. · Rick Steves forum
Stay at Temple Bar Inn for a central base; her room was ready by noon after a 7:30am arrival. Avoid Buswells: squeaky floors, weak Wi-Fi. · Rick Steves forum, 2026
Stay near the north end of the Ha'penny Bridge; everything central is a few minutes' walk. · Blog, 2025
Staycity aparthotels in central Dublin have kitchens; paying for early check-in helped after an overnight flight. · Rick Steves forum, 2026

Money (9)

Airport ATM was out of order; use city-centre bank ATMs. Airport taxi to the centre cost about 35 euro (~$38). · TripAdvisor, 2023
Book Bus Eireann Dublin to Galway online early at about 15 euro (~$16); the train costs roughly double and cheap seats sell out. · Blog, 2025
Book accommodation with a kitchen and cook a few meals; Dublin restaurant prices are high. · Blog, 2023
Expect high prices overall; EPIC in Dublin is especially good for those with Irish ancestry, and the National Gallery and Museum are close together. · Rick Steves forum, 2026
Heritage Card paid for itself; book the Book of Kells in advance. · TripAdvisor, 2022
Mostly tap-and-pay phone payments worked; keep some cash for tips. Cork is a 3.5-hour bus ride from Dublin. · Rick Steves forum, 2026
Shamrock Rovers tickets at Tallaght Stadium cost 20 euro (~$22) plus 1.50 booking fee; the programme was 5 euro (~$5). · Blog, 2026
Taxis both ways plus airport bag storage made the layover pricier than waiting in the lounge, so factor in that cost. · Blog, 2025
The Dublin toll road cost only 2 euros (~$2), payable by coin or card tap. · Fodor's, 2023

Other (62)

A 48-hour hop-on hop-off bus loop in Dublin (about 90 minutes) is an easy way to get oriented. · Rick Steves forum, 2023
A hurling game lasts a little over an hour and the Gaelic football match after it draws a bigger crowd; a draw is final. · Blog
Answer immigration questions accurately; stating a performance reason got that written in her passport stamp. · Blog, 2022
At the Guinness Storehouse, skip the paid tour entry if short on time; the gift shop route gives access to the floors. · Fodor's, 2022
Aviva Stadium US college football match: pubs near Lansdowne Road were packed with fellow Americans; staff gave food free when cards failed. · TripAdvisor, 2022
Boat trips can be cancelled by wind: their Ireland's Eye crossing from Howth was off, so leave a spare day. · Blog
Book 14 Henrietta Street, Glasnevin and EPIC; missed for lack of time. · TripAdvisor, 2022
Book Guinness Storehouse in advance and stay in Ballsbridge to walk to the stadium; Temple Bar suits nightlife with good transport links. · Blog, 2024
Book Johnnie Fox's pub hooley show and ask for seats near the stage; Greystones' Burnaby's has big salads for lunch. · Rick Steves forum, 2026
Book a guided visit at the Little Museum of Dublin; entry is by guided tour only. · Blog
Book hotels and popular tours early; Guinness Storehouse sells out. · Blog
Both Aviva and Croke Park have narrow turnstile entrances followed immediately by stairs; ask the ticket office about accessible routes before buying. · Blog, 2025
Brazen Head in Dublin is iconic but tables are hard to get. · Blog, 2018
Celtic Nights dinner show was better than expected; book the 8pm seating for front-right seats. · TripAdvisor, 2023
Celtic Nights dinner show was only just ok; musicians sounded alike though dancers were good. · TripAdvisor, 2022
Cheaper rugby seats at Aviva had no accessible spaces and sat far from the pitch; request accessible seating at purchase time. · Blog, 2025
Check attractions before travelling: Rockfleet Castle was under construction and part of Howth Castle grounds were closed for a film shoot. · Blog, 2023
Check kick-off times; League of Ireland games can fall on weeknights, such as a Monday 8pm start, with crowds around 3,700. · Blog, 2026
Choose two bases, Dublin and Galway or Dublin and Killarney, to cut transfers; Killarney to Galway means backtracking via Dublin. · Rick Steves forum
Cobblestone pub is too crowded to see musicians. · TripAdvisor, 2026
Do not book Guinness Storehouse and Jameson tastings the morning after a big pub night; the roughly 60-minute Jameson tasting felt brutal hungover. · Blog, 2023
Don't skip the Guinness Storehouse in Dublin; she regretted missing it. Rick Steves' Trinity-student-led historical walking tour was a highlight. · Rick Steves forum
Dress for wind and rain at a January Croke Park double-header; even sheltered seats were exposed. · Blog
EPIC opens at 9am, an hour earlier than listed online; buy a combo ticket with Jeanie Johnston for a discount. · Rick Steves forum, 2026
Fans of rival counties sit mixed together and the crowd stayed respectful; fast-paced hurling is enjoyable without knowing the rules. · TripAdvisor, 2024
Festival days jam Howth trams and restaurants. · TripAdvisor, 2024
Grafton Street eSIM worked; ignore suspicious billing texts. · TripAdvisor
Hear the noon Peace Prayer at Christ Church Cathedral in Dublin and eat at Mister S. · Rick Steves forum
Hear trad sessions at Taaffes and Tig Coili in Galway around 5:30pm and 9:30pm; Dublin's O'Donoghue's starts around 8:30pm. · Fodor's, 2018
In Dublin in December see the St Stephen's Green light show and the Christmas market at Dublin Castle. · other, 2024
Arriving on St Patrick's Day posed no airport or taxi problem, but avoid Temple Bar that day because it gets very rowdy. · Rick Steves forum
Johnnie Fox's hooley show has food, trad music and dancing, with a shuttle from Dublin. Old Spot and Brazen Head serve good Sunday roasts. · Rick Steves forum, 2026
Learn the scoring first: over the bar is one point, under the bar into the net is three. · Blog, 2015
Liffey Lights was billed for 6pm but began around 7pm, and viewing is flat, so bring something to lift small children. · TripAdvisor, 2019
Marsh's Library is a quieter alternative while Book of Kells is renovated. · Blog, 2024
Music: Cobblestone early session, Kyteler's Kilkenny trio, Dingle Pub nightly, Tigh Choili 6pm session. · TripAdvisor, 2022
Base in Dublin, Killarney and Galway and use day trips; Belfast works as a day trip by train. · Fodor's, 2017
If no games fall in your dates, visit Croke Park stadium and its GAA Museum; check gaa.ie because tickets appear close to match dates. · Rick Steves forum, 2023
Only leave the airport on a layover of 6 to 8 hours or more, since you must clear immigration; they used eight hours. · Blog, 2025
Order a taxi through the hotel desk for Kilmainham Gaol and allow about 2 hours; the GPO Museum afterwards pairs well with it. · Rick Steves forum, 2026
Pour your own pint at Guinness Storehouse, sip during tour. · Blog, 2018
Pour your own pint at Guinness Storehouse. · Blog, 2017
Pub meals in Dublin were fairly priced, with beer like a US brewpub, but hotels were expensive. The Brazen Head is excellent. · Rick Steves forum, 2026
Scarves with both flags are sold by street vendors on the walk to the ground, not inside it. · Blog
Seats under cover still catch wind; dress warm, and go back inside between the hurling and football games for coffee. · Blog
Sons went to a Dublin rugby club game recommended by the Ashling cab driver; a rugby stag party filled Kilkenny's Playwright. · TripAdvisor, 2022
Time the trip for Killarney's St Patrick's Day parade in March; a small-town parade is more relaxed than Dublin's. · Blog, 2023
Spend St Patrick's Day in Galway, then return the car in Dublin where the city is walkable and has transit. · TripAdvisor
Spend first night near Dublin Airport to recover from jet lag. · TripAdvisor, 2024
Start with five Dublin nights to beat jet lag. · TripAdvisor
Take the Dublin hop-on hop-off bus and see Trinity's Book of Kells; shop at Avoca. · Rick Steves forum
The Book of Kells at Trinity was closed over Easter weekend, so book a different day for it. · Fodor's, 2023
The Des Kelly Stand is uncovered while the main and away stands are roofed; pick covered seats if rain threatens. · Blog, 2025
The Merry Ploughboy near Dublin has nightly trad music and dance and was worth the long drive out. · TripAdvisor, 2023
Tour 14 Henrietta Street, a Georgian house that became a tenement until the 1970s, plus EPIC. · Rick Steves forum
Trinity's Old Library is crowded in early January after the Christmas closure, and Guinness Gravity Bar is packed on New Year's Eve. · TripAdvisor, 2019
Try quieter Dublin spots like Phoenix Park; avoid Sundays. · Blog
Try the Little Museum of Dublin's 30-minute guided tour (U2 memorabilia) and the Irish Rock and Roll Museum jam room in Temple Bar. · Rick Steves forum
Upper-tier Aviva seats involve many stairs but give a good view; not every section is covered, so wear rain gear. · Blog
Use The Session website to find trad music listings; The Temple Bar pub is packed even at 2pm on weekdays. · Rick Steves forum, 2026
Use taxis to get to Kilmainham on time; the gaol tour starts exactly on time and takes about 90 minutes. · Rick Steves forum, 2026
Visit late September to early November; B&B prices dropped 20-30% below summer, and Westport and Kinsale B&Bs cost half a Dublin room. · Blog, 2025

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