Citytrip Dublin

Route

You explore Dublin on foot, from Trinity College and Dublin Castle to the banks of the Liffey and the streets around Temple Bar.

Pace

Four days in one city, with museums and walks during the day and time in the evening for a pub or restaurant.

Highlights

The Book of Kells at Trinity College, St Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin Castle and an evening in Temple Bar.

Accommodation

A hotel in the city centre, so you can reach most places on foot.

Profile

For those who enjoy cities with a long history, good pubs and live music, all within walking distance of each other.

Day 1: Arrival in Dublin

After arriving, you check in and head into the city. You walk along O’Connell Street, the wide main street north of the Liffey, and cross the river via the Ha’penny Bridge. This cast-iron footbridge dates from 1816 and owes its name to the halfpenny toll once charged to cross it. In the evening, you go to Temple Bar, a district of cobbled lanes and pubs where live Irish music is played almost every night.

Day 2: Trinity College and the Book of Kells

Today you visit Trinity College, Ireland’s oldest university, founded in 1592. The campus, right in the city centre, has 18th-century buildings set around large squares. The library holds the Book of Kells, an illuminated manuscript of the four Gospels made by monks around the year 800. In the afternoon, you walk along the Liffey, for example as far as the Custom House.

Day 3: St Patrick’s Cathedral and Dublin Castle

St Patrick’s Cathedral was founded in 1191 and is the largest church in Ireland. Jonathan Swift, author of Gulliver’s Travels, was dean here and is buried in the cathedral. A fifteen-minute walk away is Dublin Castle, the seat of British rule in Ireland until 1922. You can visit the State Apartments, and in the castle gardens you’ll find the Chester Beatty Library, with manuscripts and books from Europe, Asia and the Middle East. In the evening, you dine at The Church, a restaurant in the former St Mary’s Church, where Arthur Guinness was married in 1761.

Day 4: Grafton Street and return home

After breakfast, there is still time for Grafton Street, the pedestrianised shopping street where buskers often play, or for a walk through St Stephen’s Green. After a final lunch, you head to the airport for your flight home.

What should you expect in terms of budget?

For this tour, you can expect a guide price starting from €2,000 for two people. This price includes flights and accommodation on a bed and breakfast basis and depends on your travel dates, hotel choices and any extras such as excursions or extensions.

Frequently asked questions about this Dublin city break

Can I take a day trip from Dublin?

Yes. The fishing village of Howth is half an hour away by train, with a walking path along the cliffs. If you stay an extra day, you can also visit the Wicklow Mountains and the monastic site of Glendalough, about an hour’s drive away.

Is Temple Bar the best place for live music?

Temple Bar has many pubs with live music, but it is also the busiest and most expensive part of the city. If you want to hear traditional Irish music in a quieter setting, you’ll also find pubs with music sessions outside Temple Bar. Feel free to ask us for recommendations.

What is typical food in Dublin?

Classics include Irish stew, a stew of lamb or beef with potatoes, seafood chowder, a creamy fish soup, and soda bread. For breakfast, you’ll often be served a full Irish breakfast, with eggs, bacon, sausages, black pudding and grilled tomato.