Things To Do in Dublin

Wandering Dublin—just walking down its Georgian streets with a map only in case you get really lost—is one of the great pleasures of a visit here. The city center, where the vast majority of the sights are located, is small enough to traverse on foot. One minute, you’re walking along a quiet leafy street and suddenly the Irish Parliament appears before you. A few minutes later, it’s gorgeous Merrion Square. Then, you’re facing the granite buildings of Trinity College—and on and on. So pack a sturdy pair of shoes, have your umbrella at the ready, and head out to discover how rewarding this wonderful old town can be.

Should You Buy a Dublin Pass?

If you’re planning a lot of sightseeing in Dublin, the tourism board would like you to consider purchasing its Dublin Pass, which offers free admission to most of the city’s major sights, as well as free travel from the airport on the AirCoach shuttle, and discounts at a number of shops, bars, and restaurants.

Unfortunately, the pass is a bit pricey, given that so many of Dublin’s sights are free. So, our advice is this: If you’re going heavy on the sightseeing, buy the pass, but plan carefully how best to use it. For example, consider buying a pass good for 1 or 2 days, and then see all of the city’s most expensive sights (the Guinness Storehouse, Kilmainham Gaol, tour buses and so forth) on those days. On the other days of your trip, you can devote your time to the museums, parks, and galleries that charge no entrance fee. But do add up the admission costs of all your planned sights first, to make sure the pass is right for you.

An adult pass costs €52 for 1 day, €73 for 2 days, €83 for 3 days, and €104 for 5 days. A child’s pass costs €31 for 1 day, €41 for 2 days, €52 for 3 days, and €62 for 5 days.

You can purchase a pass at any Dublin Tourism office, or online at www.dublinpass.ie. There are sometimes discounts available if you buy one in advance.