Dublin is Ireland’s capital and largest city situated on the Irish Sea in the eastern part of the island. Ireland is commonly known as the “Emerald Isle” for its lush green landscapes dotted by centuries-old castles and rocky-cliffed shores. With 1.2 million people and over a quarter of the country’s population, Dublin is famous for its literary tradition, claiming such giants as Nobel laureates William Butler Yeats, George Bernard Shaw and Samuel Beckett plus Oscar Wilde and Jonathan Swift. On a more pedestrian level, the city is known for its ubiquitous pubs and vibrant nightlife. Here are some of the top attractions that the city has to offer!
Dublin Castle
With its high defensive walls and signature Bedford and Record Towers, the Dublin Castle serves as a key tourism attraction. Now a major Irish government complex, the castle was built during the early 13th century on the site of a Viking settlement and has served as a military fortress, prison, treasury, and court of law. Highlights inside the Dublin Castle include the State Drawing Room, once used as a formal sitting room, the Throne Room, created in 1788 serving as the epicenter of royal ceremony in Ireland, and St. Patrick’s Hall, one of Ireland’s greatest ceremonial rooms.
Guinness Storehouse
Visit the brewery of the legendary “black” beer that is identified with Ireland as much as pubs, shamrocks, lush green rolling hills, and Gaelic songs. Enter the massive seven-story storehouse tower shaped like a pint of Guinness and enjoy an entertaining and interactive multimedia show telling the story of the classic brew as you make your way up the stunning central atrium to the Gravity Bar at the “head” of the beer-like building. Take in the view of the sprawling 65-acre St. James’s Gate Brewery and top off your visit with a pint of the famous beer. Be sure to visit the gift and memorabilia stores for authentic Guinness souvenirs!
St. Patrick’s Cathedral
This cathedral is the largest in Dublin and is one of the city’s most popular tourism attractions. Dating back to 1220, St. Patrick’s Cathedral is the national cathedral of the Church of Ireland and welcomes over half a million visitors annually. The Gothic style structure houses the tomb of Jonathan Swift, famous satirical author and Dean of St. Patrick’s. One of the few buildings left from medieval Dublin, St. Patrick’s Cathedral is a must-see when visiting this Irish city!
Trinity College
Explore the sprawling campus of Ireland’s most prestigious university, dating back to 1592 and officially known as the University of Dublin. Chapels, statues, manicured gardens, and impressive architecture make for a lively and engaging cultural experience. Top attraction is the Book of Kells, a mammoth and lavishly illustrated manuscript of the four Gospels of the New Testament, which attracts over a half million visitors per year.
EPIC – The Irish Emigration Museum
Located in Dublin’s Dockyards, experience the drama of the Irish emigration which saw 10 million people leave the island in search of a better life during the Irish diaspora. 20 interactive galleries tell this story from the times of the early monks to the famines and the present day through interactive technology, including art, music, dance creative use of audio / video. At the World Travel Awards, The Irish Emigration Museum was voted “Europe’s Leading Tourist Attraction” during the years of 2019, 2020, and 2021.
Kilmainham Jail
On the west side of Dublin, you can find Kilmainham Jail, a grey forbidding structure that is one of Ireland’s most notorious landmarks and is the largest unoccupied prison in Europe. Many Irish rebelling against British colonial rule in the early 20th-century were imprisoned and even executed here, especially after the famous 1916 Easter Rising. The prison closed in 1924. View the building’s grim facilities, including now-abandoned jail cells, winding up in the sobering yard where the 1916 executions took place.
City Parks
Visit St. Stephen’s Green, with 22 acres of lush green landscaping, it is Dublin’s most popular park and is surrounded by many buildings in the elegant and understated Georgian-style of architecture popular in late-18th and early-19th century Britain. Similarly, visit the grand Merrion Square, also bordered by fine Georgian buildings, many of which were home to some of Ireland’s most prominent intellectuals, ranging from poets and playwrights to political leaders and even a Nobel laureate.
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