No visitor could ever be bored by Dublin; with historic buildings like Dublin Castle, city parks including St. Stephens Green and Phoenix Park, and attractions such as the Guinness Storehouse, there is always plenty of fun things to do in Dublin. Many of the places listed are within walking distance of each other, and (nearly) all are either free or under €15, meaning you can easily visit many tourist attractions in Dublin without spending too much! |
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1. Kilmainham Gaol
Kilmainham Gaol is the number one rated attraction on Tripadvisor for a reason, it is simply the place to go to learn about Irish history. The leaders of the Irish 1916 Easter Rising against the British were executed here while several other Irish nationalist leaders were also held here over the years. As a county gaol, Kilmainham also held thousands of ordinary men, women and children. Student tickets cost only €3 if booked online, or €4 if bought at the entrance, however pre-booking of tickets is advised as the gaol can only be accessed with a guide. If you’re a complete beginner in regards to Irish history, having someone guide you around will definitely enhance the experience however. The Gaol is also easily accessible by public transport, meaning there’s no reason not to visit! |
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2. The Book of Kells, Trinity College.
The Book of Kells is a 9th century copy of the four Gospels of the life of Jesus Christ. It is beautifully decorated and frequently described as Ireland's greatest cultural treasure. It is held in ‘The Long Room’, a 65m long room filled with over 200,000 books, a sight to see in itself! The Long room also holds one of the last remaining copies of the 1916 Proclamation read by Patrick Pearse at the start of the Easter Rising, another must for history fans. Tickets are actually cheaper to buy at the door (€9 versus €12 online) but you run the risk of having to queue to get in if you choose to buy at the door. Nevertheless, Trinity College campus is beautiful way to spend an afternoon. |
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3. Dublin Zoo and Phoenix Park
This park is the largest urban enclosed park in Europe, bigger than all the parks in London put together and twice the size of Central Park in New York. It is a wonderful place to see animals, people-watch and just relax. A herd of Fallow Deer has lived in the Park since the 1660's and the Park is also a sanctuary for many other animals. The Park is also home to the President of Ireland, who lives in Áras an Uachtaráin, as well as Dublin’s zoo. The park is easily accessible by public transport and of course free! Dublin Zoo costs only €13.20 for students, and holds over 400 animals from nearly 100 different species. The Zoo has spent a lot of money in the last few years improving the quality of life for the animals, including new enclosures for the orangutans, sea lions, and Asian big cats, amongst others. It’s a nice way to round off a perfect day at the Phoenix Park! |
4. Croke Park
Croke Park is a great place to visit if you’re interested in learning more about Ireland’s national sports, such as Hurling and Gaelic Football. With a capacity of 82300 people, it is also Europe’s third largest sports stadium. League season starts around April, with plenty of tickets usually available for these games. There is also the option of a 90-minute tour around the stadium, including a visit to the GAA museum. During the tour, you learn about the history of the stadium, and the importance it has held for Irish sporting and cultural life for over 100 years. Tickets for the stadium tour are €10 for students. Definitely a must for sports fans! |
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5. Dublin Castle
A castle has stood on this spot since the 12th century, where until 1922 it was the seat of British rule in Ireland. Since 1922, it has become a governmental complex for the Irish government. The castle contains 2 museums, 2 cafés, 2 gardens, Government Buildings, and the State Apartments which are the most important state rooms in the country. Entrance to the State apartments costs €5.50 for students, but the rest of the castle complex is free to enter. The best thing to visit in the castle is the Chester Beatty Library, which houses artistic collections of cultures and religions of the world. There is also the Revenue Museum, which offers insights into the long history of tax collection in Ireland. |
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6. Temple Bar
No visit to Dublin is complete without a visit to the city’s cultural quarter. During the day you can visit places such as the Irish Photography Centre or the Irish Film Institute. Both aim to educate visitors about Irish influences on the world of photography or film respectively. The Irish Photography Centre is free to enter, while prices for students at the Irish Film Institute start at €6.50 per film.At night, the area becomes a major centre for nightlife, with numerous bars and pubs playing live music. The area is also a short walk to other nightlife hubs of Dublin, such as Camden Street or Harcourt Street. While it is one of the more expensive places to eat and drink in Dublin, a walk through the area is free, and recommended! |
7. The Little Museum of Dublin
This museum opened in 2011 celebrating their 5th birthday on Culture Night of this year, and is already award winning. It’s a small museum that tells the story of Dublin over the last 100 years, through exhibitions such as " Irish Pop Culture 1950-1980” and “U2: Made in Dublin”. There are 5,000 items on display! Entrance is by tour only, and most tours sell out so pre-booking is advised. Tickets are €6 for students, and the museum is easily accessible by public transport. It is also opposite Stephens Green park, meaning it is in the heart of the city and can therefore easily be combined with a visit to the park for a nice relaxing day! |
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8. Guinness Storehouse
Dublin’s best rated attraction was left to last, simply because for a student, it’s quite expensive! Student tickets start at €18, however for a limited time adult tickets start at €14 if booked online. Despite the price, the attraction is definitely worth experiencing. The Guinness Storehouse is an impressive building: consisting of seven fun filled floors, and the core of the building is shaped like a giant pint glass. Along each floor you get to see how Guinness is made, and you can even choose to learn how to pour the perfect pint for free. The top floor also holds a sky roof bar with a perfect 360° view over Dublin. Absolutely worth a visit! |