In February 2025, I booked a spontaneous long weekend trip to Ireland, stopping in Dublin, Belfast, and Giant’s Causeway. I didn’t expect to love Dublin as much as I did. The city has a friendly, charming vibe, walkable streets, and great food, and I’m excited to return to Ireland in the future to see more of this amazing country.
I spent just one day in Dublin, and was able to see the city’s top attractions, enjoy some amazing meals, and soak up the culture, without feeling rushed.
This is how I spent my day in Dublin, including my itinerary and what I thought of each stop.
Getting Around Dublin
I flew into Dublin Airport (DUB). From the airport, the most convenient and affordable option for getting into the city is the Dublin Express bus. It runs frequently, is clean and on time, and gets you to most of the major stops in Dublin. The ride only takes about 20 minutes and costs about 8€ (or 10€ on board), much less than an Uber or taxi.
Once in the city, I walked everywhere. Most of the attractions I visited were no more than a 20 minute walk from each other, and the streets are easy to navigate.
The public transportation system also looked pretty convenient for getting to further attractions. To use public transportation, you can go to a convenience store to purchase and fill a LEAP card, which can be used on trams, buses, etc.
One Day in Dublin: My Itinerary
1. Breakfast at Bread 41
I started my day with breakfast at Bread 41, a local favorite known for its creative pastries. The line is very long on weekends but moves reasonably fast.
I highly recommend their potato danish and “custardo” (like an egg tart). I also enjoyed their cruffin (rotating seasonal flavors) and morning bun, though the cruffin was a bit messy and the morning bun was a bit sweet.
2. Coffee at Cloud Picker Cafe
Just a short walk away, I stopped by Cloud Picker Coffee Roasters for a great cold brew. It’s a specialty coffee shop that offers a variety of beans and brews from around the world and plays great music – This was a perfect place to relax before sightseeing.
3. National Gallery of Ireland
After getting my morning coffee, I headed to the National Gallery, to see Irish and other European masterpieces, along with rotating art exhibits. Entry is free (a rarity in Europe), and I recommend spending a couple of hours here to take in the art, culture, and history, and read the detailed explanations.
4. National Museum of Archaeology
Just steps away from the National Gallery, the National Museum of Archaeology showcases Irish treasures from the Stone Age and explores Ireland’s fascinating history with gold and Viking settlements. Also a completely free museum.
5. Lunch at Taste of Hong Kong
I crossed the river for lunch at Taste of Hong Kong. Their char siu was one of my favorite meals in Ireland. From here, you can spend some time exploring the north side after lunch, or cross the river again to explore downtown Dublin.
6. Wander Downtown Dublin
One of my favorite things I did in Dublin was walking around, and browsing the local shops.
Downtown Dublin is full of interesting and charming local bookstores like Hodges & Figgis and Books Upstairs, design shops like Industry & Co, Irish Design Shop, and Designist, and even a historic city market full of eccentric and vintage trinkets (George’s Street Arcade).
7. Walk Around Historic Monuments
I didn’t have a lot of daylight left, so I spent some time wandering around (but not entering) a few of Dublin’s historic monuments.
First, I stopped by St. Patrick’s Cathedral and Marsh’s Library – I poked my head inside both but didn’t want to pay the admission fee, and have seen a lot of old churches and libraries in other European cities. I also really enjoyed walking around St. Patrick’s Park, where I could people watch and dog watch, and enjoy the greenery.
Next, I stopped by the Dublin Castle Complex to see and admire the architecture. The complex houses the Chester Beatty Museum, a great spot to see global art.
Lastly, I walked to St. Stephen’s Green to take a walk around the park. It’s very peaceful and another great spot for people watching.
Where to Stay in Dublin
I stayed in the Trinity City Hotel, located minutes away from Trinity College. It’s walkable to most attractions and right across the street from a Dublin Express bus stop. The neighborhood felt very safe.
The hotel has a 24-hour front desk, and they even offered me free early check-in. The rooms are clean, large, comfortable, and well-equipped, and they also provide complimentary water during every room cleaning.
The only downsides were occasional sirens from the nearby fire station, and the lack of microwave and mini fridge in the room.
Final Thoughts
I had a great time during my spontaneous trip to Dublin, and thought a day was a great amount of time to experience the city. Overall, I’d highly recommend visiting Ireland and can’t wait to go back someday.
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