It may be 10 months after my trip to Dublin, Ireland and I am *finally* getting around to writing my final post here about my first-ever and amazing 8 day solo trip to Ireland. Throughout my 8 days in Ireland, I spent it all in the country’s capital city of Dublin which I chose to make my home base. Dublin holds such a happy place in my heart and I am SOOO excited to share with y’all more about my time there!

For more travel abroad inspiration, check out my exploring 50 Countries Expedition page.

Dublin, Ireland Travel Guide

Getting There:

To get to Dublin from Washington, DC, there are luckily a few great direct flight options. The major airport in Dublin is Dublin Airport. To my knowledge, both United Airlines and Aer Lingus (an Irish-owned and run airlines!) offer frequent direct flight options out of Washington, DC’s Dulles International Airport (IAD). My dog Rosie’s dog walker is from Ireland and highly recommended Aer Lingus to me, given her experiences, and I was highly impressed! Personally, I loved being on a smaller plane for a Transatlantic flight via Aer Lingus and getting to enjoy Irish flair to/from Ireland. At the same time, the flights offered on Aer Lingus are reasonably priced and offer several flight connection options to/from Dublin, too. Currently, I am on Aer Lingus’s email list and am constantly getting updates on the Irish airline’s sales which I suggest anyone interested in traveling to Ireland signs up for to get the insider scoop on! Alongside Washington, DC, Aer Lingus offers several frequent direct flight options to/from many major United States cities, such as New York City, Philadelphia, and Atlanta.

One of the unique aspects of the travel experience in and out of Ireland is that Ireland is one of a few if not the only European country that offers the United States customs in all of their airports in Ireland. Upon arrival at all Irish airports upon departure to the United States, all passengers go through airport security and wait in the duty-free shopping section upon being called via a timed entry given flight times to go through United States customs. All passengers flying to the United States will go through airport security and then United States customs and will be given their gate number once they go through United States customs and can then go to their gate and board their flight across the Atlantic. Indeed, doing United States customs before boarding my flight back to the United States was SO nice and such a stress relief! At the same time, this process gave me more time to relax on the flight home and enjoy time being reunited with those that I love.

Where I Stayed:

While in Ireland, I was initially going to stay in Dublin and Galway, but once I landed in Ireland, I made the executive decision to make Dublin my home base for the entire trip. Hence, I spent 8 days in Dublin, Ireland! That all being said, logistically speaking, I switched hotels a couple of nights into my trip as it made the most sense financially for me to do so. 

In addition to the hotels I stayed at, there are several lodging options within Dublin!

 

Castle Hotel – My first two nights, I stayed at the elegant Castle Hotel. It’s conveniently located just off of one of Dublin’s main streets: O’Connell Street. The Castle Hotel is essentially a grand millennial’s paradise! The hotel’s Georgian-inspired flair offers an interiors filled with antiques galore alongside an onsite The Castle Vaults Bar & Restaurant (more on that below!) as well as a high tea in the afternoons which guests must reserve in advance. Complimentary breakfast (both buffet style and traditional Irish breakfast) is offered to guests each morning. If I were to come back to Dublin, I would recommend you make the Castle Hotel your home the entirety of your trip, given its plethora of offerings and sheer grand millennial elegance!

Hotel St. George by Nina – My second hotel where I stayed for the remainder of my trip was Hotel St. George by Nina. The hotel’s lobby has a truly elegant appeal with an onsite breakfast bar at an additional cost to guests. I had a room with a huge window facing O’Connell Street, which made it a great location to be. Compared to The Castle Hotel, while a nice location and a cheaper price, the amenities weren’t as great and due to its major street location it got pretty loud at night making it tough to fall asleep. That all being said, there are benefits and costs to any hotel!

What I Did (in Dublin):

St. Patrick’s Cathedral – Founded in 1191 as a Roman Catholic Cathedral, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, a magnificent cathedral, serves as the national cathedral of the Church of Ireland. The interiors and exterior alongside the surrounding gardens of this almost-1,000 years’ old cathedral are seriously worth visiting! Visitors can attend a show, worship via a Sermon, or book a ticket to experience and tour the cathedral’s interiors.

Trinity College – With notable alumna such as Samuel Beckett, Oscar Wilde, and Willam Rowan Hamilton, Trinity College is a research university founded in Dublin on March 3, 1592. To this very day, Trinity College is an active college and research institution where students still live and learn and study at. The campus grounds are free to walk and attract tourists from all across the world (alongside its student body and staff and faculty!). One of the most notable attractions visitors can pay to see is the Book of Kells Experience (I write about it more in-depth here). It is worth noting that visitors must reserve their prepaid ticket to the Book of Kells Experience in advance as they do not accept walk-in’s.

Stroll Georgian Row – An activity I was REALLY looking forward to while in Dublin was strolling Georgian Row to see *none other than* the iconic colorful doors of Dublin (!!!!). Georgian houses have the Georgian architecture that is prominent all across Dublin. Georgian Row is the longest stretch of Georgian houses that runs from the corner of Merrion Square all the way to Leeson Street Bridge. Let’s just say that Georgian Row is GREAT for photos and for highlighting the many beautiful and unique doors of Dublin!

Christ Church Cathedral – Christ Church Cathedral was founded circa 1030 in Dublin, Ireland and was formally known as The Cathedral of The Holy Trinity. Almost 1,000 years later, Christ Church Cathedral serves as a magnificent part of Ireland’s heritage and offers visitors the opportunity to tour its grounds, worship via a Sermon, or host their own event. Although I didn’t get a chance to tour this time around, I would definitely add Christ Church Cathedral to the top of my list for my next trip to Dublin!

Dublin Castle – Located on Dublin’s Dame Street, Dublin Castle is an Irish government complex, conference center, and nowadays tourist attraction. Dublin Castle opened its doors in 1204 and still stands today in its original glory. The interiors of Dublin Castle’s exhibits offer a tribute to Ireland’s history, including highlighting its female leadership and remains a grand millennial’s paradise through showcasing gorgeous pristine antiques from centuries’ past. Guests can reserve timed entry tickets in advance.

Stroll St. Stephen’s Green – One of Ireland’s most well-known public parks, St. Stephen’s Green has served as the setting for numerous turbulent times within Ireland’s history. Most notably, St. Stephen’s Green is where the 1916 Easter Monday Rising took place when the Irish Citizen Army attempted to overthrow the then-governing powers of Great Britain. Today, St. Stephen’s Green is a gorgeous park to stroll through to admire local flora and fauna and be reminded of how far the nation of Ireland has come over the centuries.

What I Did (Beyond Dublin):

Throughout my time in Dublin, I used Dublin as a home basis to explore other parts of Ireland. Ireland is actually the size of the state of South Carolina in the United States. Hence, traveling from one end of Ireland and back is pretty doable to do within a day trip’s reach. I am so grateful that my 8 days in Dublin, Ireland offered me the opportunity to visit other parts of the Emerald Isle. Moreover, feel free to check out where else I visited beyond Dublin more in-depth below:

• Cork County, Ireland: https://pinkchickadee.com/2024/06/24/a-day-trip-to-cork-county-ireland/
• Cliffs of Moher, Ireland: https://pinkchickadee.com/2024/07/17/a-day-at-cliffs-of-moher-ireland/
• Glendalough, Ireland: https://pinkchickadee.com/2024/09/17/4-hours-in-glendalough-ireland/
• Connemara, Ireland: https://pinkchickadee.com/2025/01/14/12-hours-in-connemara-ireland/
• Coastal Northern Ireland: https://pinkchickadee.com/2024/10/30/coastal-northern-ireland-photo-diary/
• Belfast, Northern Ireland: https://pinkchickadee.com/2024/10/15/a-few-hours-in-belfast-northern-ireland/

I’ve also compiled a list of car-free day trips to take around Ireland from Dublin.

Where I Dined:

The Winding Stair (40 Ormond Quay Lower) – Located above its *very own* downstairs bookshop (more on that below!), The Winding Stair overlooks Dublin’s River Liffey and serves delicious eats. The Winding Stair’s menu and bar is small but curated to perfection and was one of my favorite meals during my time in Dublin. Whether or not you choose to dine here and climb up its windy stairs to do so, I highly suggest checking out The Winding Stair Bookshop. I will also note that The Winding Stair is a bit of a splurge even for lunch when I went, however, my meal was SO GOOD I would make sure I dined there on my next trip to Dublin!

Murray’s Bar (33-34 O’Connell Street Upper) – Probably my FAVORITE pub in all of Dublin! Murray’s was coincidentally located just a block away from each hotel I stayed at making it the perfect hangout spot for a delicious Irish meal. Each time, I would *always* order a Guinness and usually some fish n’ chips aka my favorite traditionally Irish (and English!) meal! Typically, I’d pop up a chair right at the gorgeous bar and listen to some live music and talk with fellow visitors and locals, alike. The interiors of Murray’s are stunning and filled with gorgeously stained glass windows. The best part besides LOVING Murray’s and making it my go-to spot?!?! My Uncle James also unknowingly that I did the same thing made his go-to spot Murray’s when he went to Dublin a few months later!

Temple Bar Pub (47-48 Temple Bar) – Known for its live music and rich history as one of the most popular pubs in Dublin, Temple Bar Pub is one of the most famous pubs in all of the Irish capital. Temple Bar Pub is coincidentally located in Dublin’s Temple Bar neighborhood and is truly the heart and soul of it. Here, I had a good time hanging at the bar, enjoying a Guinness, and taking in the fun historic pub known for a good time.

Flanagans Restaurant (61 O’Connell Street Upper) – Given that Flanagan is a family name, I knew I *had* to dine at Flanagans Restaurant when I passed by it on my first night in Ireland. While definitely popular with tourists, I found this restaurant to be highly organized and efficient, however, I would suggest dining elsewhere for better meal quality and lower cost.

Starbucks – College Green (1 College Green) – As a MAJOR Starbucks lover and at least once a week goer, I had to try out a Starbucks while in the Emerald Isle! I fueled up at the Starbucks on College Green, as I was severely combatting jet lag during my first morning in Dublin via stumbling upon it while strolling. I was IN AWE at the huge variety of options to choose from when it came to baked goods, coffee, sandwiches, and more. Not to mention the fact that the ingredients are all well-made and fresher due to Europe’s stricter food chemical regulations. I highly recommend visiting a Starbucks abroad, as it’s truly a taste of home in case you feel home sick and *of course* for the experience! See all Starbucks locations in Dublin here.

The Castle Vaults Bar & Restaurant (1-4 Gardiner Row) – Located on the lower level of the Castle Hotel, the Castle Vaults Bar & Restaurant is amazing! The restaurant offers live music during dinner hours alongside a delicious menu. I came here for dinner on my second and final night at the Castle Hotel and would totally dine here every night if I ever come back to Dublin and stay at the Castle Hotel (which would be my first hotel choice!). I was able to chat with several fellow travelers from all across the United States, including somebody also from the Washington, DC area! Truly, that meal was a memorable night alongside the amazing salmon I had!!

Yamamori (38 Ormond Quay Lower) – I stumbled upon Yamamori after a long bus ride from Galway after my day trip to Connemara. Personally, I am a HUGE Asian cuisine fan and was missing Asian cuisine while in Europe, so I was excited to have some abroad! Yamamori truly did not disappoint and seriously brought me so much joy to enjoy after a long day away from Dublin!

Dunne and Crescenzi (14-16 Frederick Street South) – Like many of the restaurants previously mentioned, I *again* stumbled across Dunne and Crescenzi after I was strolling through Dublin’s Georgian Row and got a bit … hangry. Let’s just say that this delicious Italian meal with wine was light and truly hit the spot. The staff here were extremely friendly and the restaurant’s interiors were small yet elegant and transported you to a restaurant in what felt like an urban Italian wine shop.

Restaurant Six (6 Cavendish Row, O’Connell Street Upper) – I knew I wanted to dine at Restaurant Six when I saw its lovely menu outside of the nearby hotel to both of mine: Cassidys Hotel. I ordered a gnocchi and it was AMAZING! The vibes were sheer elegance as well as the meal. Truly a delight and one of my favorites on this trip!

The Church Cafe, Late Bar & Restaurant (Jervis Street, North City) – Located in a former church converted to a restaurant, The Church Cafe is known for its delicious eats, drinks, and live music. I ended up coming here for an espresso martini at the bar, since it was super crowded and tough to get a table and let me tell y’all that it was SO WORTH IT! To be able to dine in a former church like I did in Louisville, Kentucky (here) is such a neat experience while at the same time enjoying live traditional Irish music. What a wonderful experience and place to enjoy a martini!!

Where I Shopped:

Avoca (11-13 Suffolk Street) – Dating back to 1723 as a co-operative weaving mill on the banks of Ireland’s Avoca River, Avoca has since become an Irish-based and Irish-made shop selling clothing, home goods, and several weaved items. I came across Avoca while strolling the shops alongside Dublin’s well-known shopping street – Grafton Street – and fell *in love* with the grand millennial merchandise is all of the windows. I *of course* popped into the storefront and fell in love with ALL that I saw. After internally debating, I ultimately came home with a new pair of Irish-made pajamas that I adore!

The Winding Stair (40 Ormond Quay Lower) – The Winding Stair bookstore lives on the lower level of the winding stairs below the restaurant that I dined at and wrote about above while in Dublin. It is one of the oldest surviving independent bookstores in the city and focuses on being a creative outlet for its readers and visitors, alike. The Winding Stair bookstore focuses on Irish writers and literature, which is SO neat to see and learn more about as a visitor.

Wrap-Up:

I still almost feel like crying when I remember the plane landing in Dublin as this city remains the place where I had my first-ever solo trip! Truly, Dublin and all of Ireland is and will always be a special place. The people of Dublin and beyond are some of the kindest, most welcoming people that I have ever met. Ireland is an incredible country and Dublin truly is at the heart of it all boasting much of the nation’s history, culture, and heritage.

Until next time, Dublin!!

XOXO – Katie <3