10 Days in Dublin: The Definitive Guide

10 daysgeneral
10 Days in Dublin: The Definitive Guide Dublin itinerary

Discover Dublin Like a Local: Your Ultimate 10-Day Itinerary

Ah, Dublin , the fair city where history whispers from every cobblestone, Guinness flows like the Liffey, and friendly locals are always up for a yarn. If you're planning 10 days in Dublin, this definitive guide is your ticket to an unforgettable adventure. Tailored for general travellers , whether you're a history buff, foodie, family, or first-timer , this itinerary dives deep into the Emerald Isle's beating heart without rushing off to the countryside. Why? Because Dublin's neighbourhoods, pubs, parks, and hidden gems deserve a full immersion.

Expect a perfect blend of iconic sights like Trinity College's Long Room and the Guinness Storehouse, lesser-known treasures such as the Little Museum of Dublin, and insider experiences like a traditional Irish music session in a cosy trad pub. We've paced it for real life: mornings for sightseeing, afternoons for wandering, evenings for pints and people-watching. Walkable routes from a central base (think Temple Bar or near St Stephen's Green), with Luas tram and DART tips for ease. Budget-friendly hacks, booking advice, and seasonal notes ensure you're sorted.

Why This 10-Day Dublin Itinerary Stands Out

  • Hyper-Detailed Daily Plans: 4-6 timed activities per day with exact addresses, entry fees (€15-€25 avg), and pro tips like skipping queues via Go City Pass (€89 for 3 days).
  • Local Flavour: Sensory delights , the salty tang of fish and chips on Howth pier, the musty magic of ancient manuscripts, live fiddles in Oliver St John Gogarty's.
  • Balanced Pace: Rest days in Phoenix Park, food tours, and free walking tours to avoid burnout. Covers city centre, northside, southside, and coastal Howth.
  • Practical Magic: Where to eat (from €10 market bites to €40 splurges), best apps (Dublin Bus Tracker, Leap Card), weather-proof alternatives, and accessibility notes.

Over 10 days, you'll stroll Grafton Street's buskers, ponder Viking bones at Dublinia, cycle Dublin's green lungs, and toast James Joyce in a literary pub. Families? Phoenix Park's zoo and playgrounds. Couples? Romantic bridges at dusk. Solo? Join a ceilidh. This isn't a rushed checklist , it's a love letter to Dublin, crafted by a local expert to outshine generic guides. Pack comfy shoes, a reusable water bottle (tap water's grand), and an open heart. Sláinte , let's get you exploring!

Word count: 452. Ready to make Dublin your home for 10 magical days?

Day 1: Arrival & Iconic City Centre: Trinity to Temple Bar

Ease into Dublin with a gentle welcome: jet lag-friendly walks through the historic heart, ancient books, and lively pubs. Base yourself centrally for zero hassle.

  • 10:00 AM
    Check into your hotel near Trinity College (e.g., The Fleet Hotel on Fleet Street) and grab a flat white at Bewley's Café on Grafton Street – Dublin's oldest café with stained-glass charm.

    Hotel tip: Book Temple Bar area via Booking.com for €150/night avg. Bewley's coffee €4; historic vibes since 1927. Buy a Leap Card (€5 + credit) at airport for buses/Luas.

  • 11:00 AM
    Trinity College & Book of Kells: Wander the cobbled campus, join a 30-min student-led tour, then marvel at the illuminated 9th-century manuscript and Long Room library.

    €18 adult (book online to skip 30-min queues). Tour at 11:15 sharp. Pro tip: Visit Long Room first , smells like old leather and wisdom. Allow 2 hours.

  • 1:30 PM
    Lunch at The Winding Stair bookstore-café (40 Ormond Quay Lower): Sourdough sandwiches with Irish cheddar or smoked salmon.

    €12-€16. Riverside views over Ha'penny Bridge. Literary nod to Flann O'Brien.

  • 3:00 PM
    Stroll Temple Bar neighbourhood: Pop into the Little Museum of Dublin for quirky donated artefacts and Dublin stories.

    €15 (donation-based tours free). 45 mins. Insider: Ask for the U2 exhibit , local legends.

  • 5:00 PM
    Ha'penny Bridge & River Liffey walk at golden hour, ending with live music at The Temple Bar Pub.

    Free. Pint €6.50. Evening trad session from 6 PM , elbow your way in early.

Day 2: Medieval Marvels: Castles, Cathedrals & Viking Vibes

Dive into 1,000 years of history: Dublin Castle's state apartments, Christ Church's crypts, and Viking digs. Cobblestones and crypts await.

  • 9:30 AM
    Dublin Castle (Dame Street): Self-guided State Apartments tour, then Chapel Royal stained glass.

    €8. Book guided tour (€12) for juicy Regency tales. 1.5 hours. Coffee in castle gardens.

  • 11:30 AM
    Christ Church Cathedral (Christ Church Place): Climb for city views, explore undercroft crypt with mummified cats.

    €10. Audio guide free. Fun fact: Strongbow's tomb , 12th-century Norman.

  • 1:00 PM
    Lunch at Queen of Tarts (Cork Hill): Divine scones, tarts, and tea in a pastel haven.

    €8-€12. Opposite castle , perfect pitstop. Queue forms by noon.

  • 2:30 PM
    Dublinia & St Patrick's Cathedral (Patrick Street): Viking/ medieval museum with interactive ships, then Jonathan Swift's cathedral.

    Dublinia €12; St Pat's €10. Combo ticket smart. Whisper wall fun for kids.

  • 5:00 PM
    St Patrick's Cathedral grounds picnic or Marsh's Library (oldest public library in Ireland).

    Library €8. Rare books chained to shelves , thief-proof!

Day 3: Museums Masterclass: Art, Archaeology & Natural Wonders

Culture overload: World-class free museums on Kildare Street, from bog bodies to Rembrandts. Rainy day heaven.

  • 10:00 AM
    National Museum of Ireland – Archaeology (Kildare Street): Bog bodies, Celtic gold, Tara Brooch.

    Free. €5 suggested donation. 1.5 hours , start with Kingship exhibition.

  • 12:00 PM
    National Museum – Decorative Arts & History (Collins Barracks): Military history, Irish silver, Frida Kahlo dress.

    Free Luas ride (red line). Tip: Check for free talks.

  • 1:30 PM
    Lunch at Brother Hubbard (North Quay): Ottolenghi-style brunch with halloumi and harissa.

    €15. Southside sibling on Capel Street too.

  • 3:00 PM
    National Gallery (Merrion Square West): Vermeers, Jack Yeats, guided highlights tour.

    Free. Winged Victory café for art-nouveau tea.

  • 5:00 PM
    Natural History Museum (Merrion Street): 'Dead Zoo' Victorian taxidermy – Irish elk skeletons.

    Free. Eerie and fun , great for photos.

Day 4: Northside Glory: Guinness, Phoenix Park & River Dodder

Cross the Liffey for industrial heritage, vast green spaces, and Victorian glasshouses. Bike optional.

  • 9:30 AM
    Guinness Storehouse (St James's Gate): Self-guided tour, gravity bar pint with 360° views.

    €22 (book online). Combo with jaunting car ride €35. Smell the roasted barley!

  • 12:30 PM
    Lunch at Porterhouse (Meeting House Lane off Chancery Street): Craft beers, beef and Guinness pie.

    €18. Microbrewery with 12 taps.

  • 2:00 PM
    Phoenix Park: Rent bikes (€5/hr), visit Áras an Uachtaráin (President's House – free tours Sun), Papal Cross.

    Dublin's 707 hectares , wild deer herds. Apps: Dublin Bikes stations.

  • 4:30 PM
    Phoenix Park Visitor Centre & Magazine Fort: History of the park's military past.

    Free. Sunset deer spotting magic.

  • 6:30 PM
    Victorian Glasshouses at National Botanic Gardens (nearby Glasnevin).

    €5. Palm house humidity , tropical escape.

Day 5: Revolutionary Dublin: Kilmainham, IMMA & Liberties

Sobering history of independence, modern art in a hospital, and craft distillery tastings in the creative Liberties district.

  • 9:00 AM
    Kilmainham Gaol (Inchicore Road): Guided tour of 1916 Easter Rising cells – book essential.

    €8. First tour 10:30 AM sharp , sells out weeks ahead. Emotional, powerful.

  • 12:30 PM
    Lunch at The Bernard Shaw (Richmond Street): Street food pods, vegan bao.

    €12. Hip Liberties vibe.

  • 2:00 PM
    Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA, Royal Hospital Kilmainham): Contemporary exhibits in stunning 17th-century grounds.

    Free. Formal gardens, Roald Dahl bench.

  • 4:00 PM
    Teeling Whiskey Distillery (Newmarket): Tour, tasting, cocktail masterclass.

    €25. Small-batch, urban distillery , book ahead.

  • 6:00 PM
    Liberties walking trail: St Audoen's Arch, old weavers' cottages.

    Free self-guided via app.

Day 6: Coastal Escape: Howth Cliff Walk & Seafood Feast

DART to pint-sized fishing village Howth: Dramatic cliffs, seals, and freshest seafood. Dublin's backyard beach day.

  • 9:00 AM
    DART from Connolly Station to Howth (€6 return, 30 mins): Arrive and hike the Howth Cliff Path Loop (easy 6km).

    Leap Card ready. Binoculars for seals. Weather check app.

  • 12:00 PM
    Howth Market (Sundays) or Summit Inn pub lunch: chowder, fish and chips.

    €15-€20. Cliff views.

  • 2:00 PM
    Howth Castle & Ice Cream Parlour: Martello Tower (Joyce fans), then seaweed ice cream.

    Castle gardens free.

  • 4:00 PM
    National Transport Museum or Harbour seal-watching boat (€15).

    Book boat if windy.

  • 6:00 PM
    Return DART at sunset; dinner at The Brazen Head (Dublin's oldest pub, 1198).

    €20 stew. Live music nightly.

Day 7: Green & Gourmet: Markets, Parks & St Stephen's Green

Southside serenity: Bustling markets, Oscar Wilde's park, high-street shopping with artisan eats.

  • 10:00 AM
    St Stephen's Green: Feed ducks, Wilde statue, bandstand concert (Sundays).

    Free. Grab picnic from nearby Fallon & Byrne deli.

  • 11:30 AM
    George's Street Arcade & Dublin Flea Market (Saturdays): Vintage, crafts, street food.

    Free entry. Haggle for souvenirs.

  • 1:00 PM
    Lunch at Hatch & Sons (St Andrew Street): Charcuterie, Irish cheeses.

    €15. Deli theatre.

  • 2:30 PM
    Grafton Street buskers & Powerscourt Centre: Shopping, rooftop café.

    U2 busk spot. Bookshop Avoca.

  • 5:00 PM
    Merrion Square artist studios & Oscar Wilde House museum.

    Free square; house €8.

Day 8: Literary Dublin: Joyce, Yeats & Pub Pilgrimage

Follow Bloomsday trails, poets' haunts, and trad music sessions. Dublin's Nobel laureates come alive.

  • 10:00 AM
    EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum (CHQ Building): Interactive Joyce and diaspora stories.

    €18. 1.5 hours , immersive.

  • 12:00 PM
    James Joyce Centre (North Great George's Street): Ulysses tour.

    €10. Guided walk €25.

  • 1:30 PM
    Lunch at Chapter One (Powerscourt Townhouse): Casual bistro.

    €16.

  • 3:00 PM
    Free Literary Pub Crawl (meet Duke Pub): Actors recite Joyce, Behan.

    €15 (book). 2.5 hours, 6 pubs.

  • 7:00 PM
    Session at The Cobblestone (Smithfield): Authentic trad music.

    Pint €6. No tourists vibe , locals only.

Day 9: Foodie Fiesta: Markets, Classes & Whiskey Pairings

Taste Dublin: From Temple Bar Food Market to cooking classes and fine dining. Culinary deep dive.

  • 9:30 AM
    Temple Bar Food Market (Meeting House Square, Sat): Oysters, brown bread, hot pork.

    €10-€15. Seasonal.

  • 11:30 AM
    Traditional Irish Cooking Class at Ballymaloe Dublin Cookery School affiliate or Airfield Estate.

    €80 (3 hours, book ahead). Soda bread hands-on.

  • 3:00 PM
    Lunch at Etto (Merrion Row): Italian-Irish fusion pasta.

    €25.

  • 5:00 PM
    Whiskey tasting at Irish Whiskey Museum (Grafton Street).

    €25. Non-drinkers: Tea pairing.

  • 7:30 PM
    Dinner at The Wild Duck (Fahy’s Lane): Michelin Bib nose-to-tail.

    €40pp. Book.

Day 10: Reflection & Farewell: Parks, Last Shops & Airport Run

Wind down with green spaces, souvenirs, and optional distillery. Perfect send-off before departure.

  • 9:00 AM
    IMMA grounds yoga or leisurely walk; coffee at Roastery.

    Free. Relax.

  • 11:00 AM
    Shopping: Arnotts department store (Henry Street) for tweed, Celtic jewellery.

    Tax-free for non-EU.

  • 1:00 PM
    Lunch at Pickle (South Great George's Street): Sandwiches, salads.

    €12.

  • 2:30 PM
    Chester Beatty Library (Dublin Castle): Global treasures, rooftop café.

    Free. Jewelled Qurans.

  • 4:30 PM
    Airlink bus to airport (€8, 30 mins from city centre). Safe travels!

    Allow 3 hours pre-flight. Last pint at airport T2.