If you’re planning a trip to Ireland, in this post I’ll show you what to do in Dublin in 3 days, including a daily itinerary and a map with all the locations marked.
Dublin is a small city that can easily be explored on foot in a couple of days. It’s also not a city with a huge number of tourist attractions, so in a short time you can see all the highlights and explore it at a relaxed pace. That makes it a perfect destination for a short getaway.
Dublin in 3 days🇮🇪 itinerary
Before diving into the details of what to do each day in Dublin, here’s a summary of the main places planned for each day.
I also recommend doing a free walking tour to better understand the city’s history. As always, I did the free walking tour of Dublin from Civitatis and found it super interesting!
Day 1: St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Christ Church, Dublin Castle, Grafton Street, Trinity College, Molly Malone Statue, St. Stephen’s Green, Temple Bar
Day 2: The Spire, Ha’penny Bridge, Temple Bar (area), Love Lane, George’s Street Arcade, Guinness Storehouse + Phoenix Park if you have time 🦌
Day 3: Cliffs of Moher day trip
Where to stay in Dublin
On my trip to Dublin, I stayed at JOIVY in The Liberties neighborhood, near the Guinness factory. It’s a student residence that opens to the public in summer as an aparthotel. It’s a budget-friendly option in a city with very expensive accommodation, but the downside is that it’s only open during summer months. Check JOIVY prices on booking.
If it’s your first time in Dublin, I recommend staying in:
- Temple Bar / City Centre (best location, everything walkable)
- St. Stephen’s Green (central but quieter)
👉 Good option: Motel One Dublin (great value + very central). It’s a modern and nice hotel, located near The Spire, close to shops and restaurants. Check Motel One prices on booking.
What to do in Dublin in 3 days
Day 1 in Dublin
- St. Patrick’s Cathedral & Christ Church
Start your first day in Dublin at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, one of the city’s must-see landmarks and one of Ireland’s most important sites. Besides visiting the interior, the park around it is perfect for relaxing, especially in summer when the weather is nice.
Then walk to Christ Church, also known as the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, one of the oldest cathedrals in the city. Right next to it there’s a bridge connecting it to Synod Hall—an iconic spot in Dublin.
- Dublin Castle & Grafton Street
Just a few meters from Christ Church is Dublin Castle. Originally built in the 13th century on a Viking settlement, what you see today is a mix of architectural styles. This whole area is covered during the free walking tour of Dublin from Civitatis.
From there, walk to Grafton Street, one of the liveliest shopping streets in the city.
- Trinity College
A few minutes away is the iconic Trinity College Dublin. If you can, I recommend going inside to see the library and the famous Book of Kells—it’s worth it. You need to book tickets on the Trinity College website, as they’re not sold on-site.
After leaving the library, walk to the famous Molly Malone statue. This statue is well-known because it references the song “Cockles and Mussels,” about a woman who sold fish and seafood during the day and worked as a prostitute at night.
- St Stephen’s Green
Continue your walk through St. Stephen’s Green, a perfect park to relax, especially in spring or summer. I visited Dublin in August and was lucky to have sunny days to enjoy its parks.
- Temple Bar
End the day at Temple Bar, the most famous pub in Dublin, enjoying a pint of Guinness with live music. It’s very touristy, but it’s also part of the experience. The whole area is full of pubs with live music.
Dy 2 in Dublin
- The Spire & O’Connell Street
Start your second day at The Spire, a modern sculpture shaped like a 120-meter-high needle. This is also where the free walking tour of Dublin begins. The sculpture is located on O’Connell Street, one of the city’s main streets.
- Ha’penny Bridge
Very close by is the famous Ha’penny Bridge, one of the most photographed bridges in Dublin. It’s said to be named after the half-penny toll that used to be charged to cross it.
- Temple Bar area
Walk again through the Temple Bar area, but this time during the day when it’s much quieter and more photogenic. Don’t miss Love Lane, a small alley full of street art.
Continue to George’s Street Arcade, a covered market that’s one of the oldest in Europe.
- Guinness Storehouse
If you like beer, you can’t miss the Guinness Storehouse. It’s one of Dublin’s most popular experiences: you’ll learn about Ireland’s most famous beer and finish with a pint overlooking the city at the Gravity Bar on the top floor. It’s recommended to book your ticket in advance.
- Phoenix Park
Another option, if you have extra time or don’t want to visit the Guinness factory, is Phoenix Park—one of the largest parks in Europe—where you can see deer roaming freely. I visited and loved it! We rented bikes near the park to explore it, which was a great experience.
Day 3 in Dublin: day trip
On your third day, I recommend leaving the city to visit the famous Cliffs of Moher.
They’re about 3 hours from Dublin, so the easiest option is to book a guided tour or rent a car. I booked this tour on GetYourGuide, which also included Galway and the Burren. I loved the experience and highly recommend it. With the code “POSTCARDSFROMIVI5” you get a 5% discount on the tour.
The cliffs are over 200 meters high and the views are simply spectacular. It’s one of those places that really leaves an impression. Make sure to dress warmly because it’s usually very windy, and wear comfortable shoes since there’s quite a bit of walking.
Another possible excursion for this day is the Giant’s Giant’s Causeway, often combined with Belfast.
3 days in Dublin map
On this map you can see the route for each day, along with some recommended restaurants, cafés, and places.
Tips for visiting Dublin in 3 days
- The city is small and can be explored entirely on foot, but if needed you can use buses, taxis, or rent bikes to reach farther areas.
- eSIM card: to stay connected during your trip to Ireland, I recommend buying an eSIM. The company I always use and recommend is Holafly. Since it’s an eSIM, you activate it directly from your phone—no need to swap physical SIM cards. With my code “POSTCARDSFROMIVI” you get 5% off.
- Plan your trip in advance. I especially recommend booking accommodation as early as possible since Dublin is quite expensive and prices tend to increase closer to the travel date.
- Watch out for card fees! To avoid currency exchange fees, I recommend opening an account with N26 or Wise. These are virtual accounts that don’t charge for payments in currencies other than euros.
- Bring an adapter. In Ireland, plugs are different from other European destinations like Spain, so it’s best to bring a universal adapter that you can use on all your trips.
📍 Best areas to stay in Dublin
1. Temple Bar / City Centre (best for first-time visitors)
If it’s your first time in Dublin, this is the most convenient area. You can walk everywhere and be close to pubs, restaurants and attractions.
- Motel One Dublin (modern, great value for money, very central)
- NYX Hotel Dublin (stylish, central and perfect if you want something a bit more design-focused than a standard chain hotel)
2. St. Stephen’s Green / Grafton Street (more calm, still central)
A great area if you want to be central but sleep better at night. It’s a bit more elegant and less noisy than Temple Bar.
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The College Green Dublin Hotel, Autograph Collection (stylish and very well located)
- Marlin Hotel Stephens Green (modern and comfortable)
3. The Liberties (budget + local vibe)
This is where I stayed. It feels more local and less touristy, and you’re close to Guinness Storehouse.It’s a good option if you want to save money and don’t mind walking a bit or using public transport.
- JOIVY: If you’re traveling on a budget, then it is a great alternative.
Other useful guides about Europe:
- Cliffs of Moher day trip from Dublin
- Ireland travel tips for first time visitors
- What to see in Barcelona in 3 days
- Tips for visiting Copenhagen for the first time
- What to see in London in 4 days
- How to spend 2 days in Amsterdam
- What to do in Milan in 3 days
- Tips for planning your first trip to Europe
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