Dublin is a small city that rewards walking. You can go from a 1,200-year-old manuscript to a wild sea swim in the same afternoon, mostly on foot or a short hop on the DART. This is our pick of the best things to do — the essential landmarks and the quieter corners locals still love.
Some of the very best of it is free. We’ve flagged which is which, but always check current opening times before you set out, as hours change with the season.
For getting around, the Transport for Ireland journey planner covers the bus, Luas and DART, and a Leap Card will save you a few euro along the way.
Trinity College & the Book of Kells
The Book of Kells and the breathtaking Long Room library are the city’s must-see, and deservedly so. Go early to beat the crowds, then wander the cobbled squares of Ireland’s oldest university for free.
The Long Room alone is worth the ticket.
College Green, D02 · Tip book a timed slot online in advance
Kilmainham Gaol
The most moving few hours in Dublin. A guided tour of this former prison tells the story of modern Ireland through the people held here. Tickets sell out days ahead, so plan it.
History that lands harder in person than any book.
Inchicore Road, D08 · Tip book weeks in advance · Guided tour
Phoenix Park
One of Europe’s largest enclosed city parks, home to wild fallow deer, the Papal Cross, the President’s house and Dublin Zoo. Rent a bike or just walk — it’s vast and it’s free.
Bring a flask; you can lose a whole day in here.
Phoenix Park, D08 · Free · phoenixpark.ie
National Gallery of Ireland
A world-class collection — Caravaggio, Vermeer, and the finest room of Jack B. Yeats anywhere — and it won’t cost you a cent. The perfect refuge on a wet afternoon.
Free entry to the permanent collection makes it an easy, repeat visit.
Merrion Square West, D02 · Free · nationalgallery.ie
Guinness Storehouse
Yes, it’s the city’s busiest attraction; yes, it’s still worth it. Seven floors on the making of the black stuff, ending with a pint in the Gravity Bar and the best 360° view in Dublin.
Buy tickets online for a discount and skip the queue.
St James’s Gate, D08 · Tip the Gravity Bar pint is included
Chester Beatty
A hidden gem in the grounds of Dublin Castle, and one of the finest small museums in Europe. Sacred texts and art from across the world, beautifully shown — and free. Don’t miss the rooftop garden.
Consistently voted among Ireland’s best museums, and barely crowded.
Dublin Castle, D02 · Free · chesterbeatty.ie
National Museum – Archaeology
Bog bodies, Iron Age gold and the Ardagh Chalice, all under one grand Victorian roof. The archaeology branch is the pick of the National Museum’s sites, and entry is free.
An hour here is the best free history lesson in the city.
Kildare Street, D02 · Free · museum.ie
Glasnevin Cemetery & Museum
Far more compelling than it sounds. The graves of the people who made modern Ireland, brought to life by genuinely brilliant guides, next door to the Botanic Gardens for a two-in-one day out.
Pair the tour with a free wander around the glasshouses of the Botanics.
Finglas Road, D11 · Tip combine with the National Botanic Gardens (free)
Howth Cliff Walk
A half-hour on the DART and you’re on a cliff path with the Irish Sea crashing below. Loop the headland, watch for seals in the harbour, then reward yourself with fish and chips on the pier.
The best free day out within the city limits.
Howth, Co. Dublin · Free · reachable on the DART
St Stephen’s Green & Georgian Dublin
The city’s favourite square of green, ringed by the Georgian Dublin that gives the place its handsome bones. Loop the Green, then wander the doorways of Merrion and Fitzwilliam Squares.
Those famous coloured Georgian doors are all around here.
St Stephen’s Green, D02 · Free
IMMA, Royal Hospital Kilmainham
The Irish Museum of Modern Art, set in a beautiful 17th-century former hospital with grounds made for wandering. Changing contemporary shows, and both the art and the gardens are free.
Art indoors, formal gardens outdoors, no admission charge.
Military Road, D08 · Free · imma.ie
EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum
Repeatedly voted Europe’s leading tourist attraction, and it earns it. A clever, fully interactive museum telling the story of the Irish who left and shaped the world. Great with older kids.
The most modern museum experience in the city.
CHQ, Custom House Quay, D01 · epicchq.com
Dublinia & Christ Church
Viking and medieval Dublin brought to life, with a bridge across to the atmospheric Christ Church Cathedral. Hands-on enough to keep children happy and rich enough to hold the adults.
The best family-friendly history stop in town.
St Michael’s Hill, D08 · Tip combo ticket with the cathedral
Dún Laoghaire Pier & the Forty Foot
A bracing walk out the East Pier, an ice cream at the end, and — for the brave — a swim at the Forty Foot, the sea-bathing spot Dubliners have used for centuries. Wetsuit optional, nerve required.
The definitive south-Dublin coastal afternoon.
Dún Laoghaire, Co. Dublin · Free · on the DART
The Ha’penny Bridge & a Liffey stroll
Cross the city’s most photographed bridge, then follow the boardwalk along the Liffey. Do Temple Bar by day for the galleries and the Saturday food market, before the evening crowds arrive.
The simplest, most Dublin thing on this list — and free.
Bachelors Walk, D01 · Free
Frequently asked questions
What are the best free things to do in Dublin?
Plenty of the city’s best is free: the National Gallery, National Museum, Chester Beatty and IMMA all have free entry, and Phoenix Park, the Howth Cliff Walk and St Stephen’s Green cost nothing at all.
What should I do in Dublin if it rains?
Dublin is well set up for a wet day. Duck into the National Gallery, the Chester Beatty or the National Museum (all free), tour the Guinness Storehouse, or settle into a good pub for the afternoon.
How do I get around Dublin’s attractions?
Most city-centre sights are walkable. For Howth and Dún Laoghaire, take the DART; a Leap Card covers the bus, Luas and DART and works out cheaper than paying per trip.