Dublin: 10 Essential Travel Tips for a Seamless Stay

Dublin is a city that blends rich history, vibrant culture, and modern charm, making it an essential stop for any traveler. As someone who has explored every cobblestone street and hidden gem, I’ve gathered the most practical Dublin travel tips to help you make the most of your trip.

Whether you're planning a weekend getaway or an extended stay, knowing the best time to visit Dublin, how to get around, and where to find authentic Irish experiences will save you time and money.

First, expect unpredictable Irish weather—sunshine one moment, a sudden rain shower the next—so layered clothing and a waterproof jacket are must-haves. Dublin’s compact size makes it walkable, but Leap Cards offer unlimited access to buses, trams, and trains for budget-friendly transport. Want to avoid tourist traps? Skip Temple Bar’s overpriced pints and opt for a local pub in Smithfield or Stoneybatter, where you’ll get a true taste of Irish hospitality.

For history lovers, Dublin Castle, Trinity College’s Book of Kells, and Kilmainham Gaol are must-sees. Foodies should explore Howth’s seafood scene or indulge in the city’s growing artisan coffee culture. And don’t forget—tipping isn’t expected, but round-buying in pubs is a social norm.

From saving money on attractions to finding the best Irish whiskey, this guide will ensure you experience Dublin like a local. Keep reading for my expert insider travel tips.

Tips for traveling to Dublin

Once you have your tickets to fly to the city, doubts start to arise non-stop , it is something normal in every trip, both for adventures lasting several months and for weekend getaways like this one. Is one day enough to see the most important sites? Is it worth taking a tour to the Cliffs of Moher from Dublin? Is the city really as expensive as it seems? Calm down, my friend, we are going to see step by step everything that worries you. Are we going on a trip to the Emerald Isle? Let's go!

1. Requirements to enter Dublin

First things first: will I need a passport or even a visa to enter Dublin? After Brexit, these kinds of questions are quite normal, but you can breathe easy. Dublin is the capital of the Republic of Ireland , a country that is part of the European Union , so if you are Spanish or European, you will only need your ID to travel to Dublin.

But be careful, the Republic of Ireland is not part of the Schengen Zone and this affects travellers with nationalities from outside Europe. If this is your case, we recommend that you take a look at the Irish immigration website and check what the entry requirements are depending on your nationality.

2. Best time to travel to Dublin

We wouldn't be fooling anyone if we said that Dublin has its charm in any season. In spring the city begins to wake up from the cold winter months, people go out into the streets in a lively manner and the temperatures start to be pleasant.

In summer Dublin looks more beautiful than ever, thanks to the street artists who liven up the streets and the endless hours of daylight and sunny days (although remember that on that side of the world, a raincoat is never a bad idea). In autumn the city dresses up in its orange suit and personally we think it is one of the best times to visit it. And in winter , with the magic of Christmas, Dublin has an even more charming and magical touch.

But if we had to choose a specific season, we would choose late spring , when temperatures start to be very pleasant and people are in a better mood. Summer is also a great time, but it corresponds to the high season so prices are probably even higher. If you wait a little until autumn, you will surely enjoy a very lively Dublin with the arrival of students. In winter the days are short and cold (although you would have the perfect excuse to warm up: go to a traditional pub hehe).

Here is a graph with the average temperatures and rainfall in Dublin where you can see, at a glance, the weather conditions in each month of the year:

Dublin Climate Dublin Temperatures Dublin, Ireland Weather Averages

3. Where to find accommodation in Dublin

Finding cheap and decent accommodation may be one of the biggest concerns when planning this trip, as this city has a reputation for being expensive, and unfortunately it is. We found a very good deal in the area of The Point (North Dock) , at the Premier Inn hotel and, although it was a bit far from the centre, it seemed to offer better value for money compared to other hotels in the historic centre.

It is also well connected to several bus lines and there is a red tram stop just one street away from the hotel, so in 15 minutes (€1.70-€2.20) we were in the centre. We found it advisable as long as it is not vital for you to stay in the heart of Dublin.

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Premier Inn Dublin

4. Top places to visit in Dublin

The first thing we recommend is to reserve your place on one of the many free tours you can enjoy in the city. Our favorites are:

Free tour of Dublin
Free tour of Ireland's independence
Free tour of mysteries and legends
Free night tour of Dublin's pubs

As for must-see places , it is always difficult to rank the best places to visit, but here is our top 8 in Dublin :

Trinity College : the historic university of Dublin, one of the most important and oldest in Europe, whose library houses the Book of Kells , a beautiful illustrated manuscript from the 9th century.
Guinness Storehouse : This iconic building has been home to Guinness beer for over 100 years. On the tour (guided or self-guided) you'll learn more about the history of this iconic brewery, the brewing process and of course, enjoy a pint at the Gravity Bar with panoramic views of the city. It's important to book your ticket in advance on the official website .
St. Patrick's Cathedral : This is the largest cathedral in the country, built in Gothic style and dedicated to the city's patron saint. But it is not the only one in the city, just a few metres away is also the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, the oldest and, note that both are currently Protestant.
Dublin Castle : Although you can see more impressive and better preserved castles throughout the country, there is no doubt that this one in Dublin has a lot of history and is worth a visit.
Temple Bar : Dublin's liveliest neighbourhood, with cobbled streets full of life, pubs and street artists.
National Gallery of Ireland : If you like art, don't miss this museum that houses works by Van Gogh, Turner and Monet, among others, and it's free!
Game of Thrones Tour : Are you a geeky fan of one of the most successful series in history? You already know that Ireland has been the setting for many locations. Take advantage of your time in Dublin to join a tour to the Game of Thrones Studios. It's not every day that you can take a selfie with a dragon's head!
River Liffey and Ha'Penny Bridge : Cross the Ha'Penny Bridge and if the views from there are not enough, take a boat ride around Dublin to see the city from another perspective.

✓ Tourist pass

Some of Dublin's main attractions , such as the Guinness Storehouse, the EPIC emigration museum, the Cathedrals, the Game of Thrones Tour, etc., require a fee . If you plan to enjoy all of them, it is highly recommended that you get a tourist pass that includes them, and thus save some money .

The most comprehensive pass we see is the Go City Dublin , which has two options: by day (All Inclusive) or by number of attractions (Explorer Pass). Get a 5% discount with the code 'MOCHILEANDO'.

⭐ In this post we tell you which are the 25 best things to see and do in Dublin .

tips for traveling to dublin

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5. How many days does it take to visit Dublin?

We spent 3 days in the city , but we believe that with just one very intense day you can organize an interesting route visiting many of the key places. However, two days seems to us the perfect time to enjoy the city more calmly and, of course, if you want to make a getaway, add one or two extra days. What we don't see is staying a week, because the joke will cost you a fortune!

6. Best Day Trips from Dublin

And speaking of getaways, these are 3 excursions from Dublin that we find super interesting to visit emblematic places in the country and you don't plan on renting a car and going on a road trip:

Cliffs of Moher
Galway + boat tour of the Cliffs of Moher
Giant's Causeway and Belfast
Wicklow Mountains and Glendalough

cliffs of moher

7. Where to eat in Dublin

Dublin is not a low-cost city in almost any sense, but to eat reasonably well you won't have to compromise a kidney or re-mortgage your house. In fact, at midday you will find quite a few places with offers such as " lunch specials" , a great option to try some typical Irish dish at reasonable prices. The "early bird" offer has also become fashionable at certain unusual hours (normally before dinner, around 6:00 p.m.).

Eating in pubs is becoming more and more common, both among tourists and locals. The dark and dingy bars of a time have now become small gourmet corners (not all of them, hehe), with comforting, home-cooked food , which you will almost necessarily have to accompany with an Irish craft beer or a Guinness.

As for the budget, calculate 12€-18€ per dish and 6€-8€ per pint , although it can be cheaper if you go for fast food, fish & chips or find interesting offers and of course it can also be more expensive.

⭐ Here we recommend 8 restaurants where you can eat well and cheaply in Dublin .

8. How to get to Dublin from the airport

Currently, Dublin only has one international airport (DUB), which, along with London Stansted and Milan Bergamo, is the base of operations for the well-known (and not without controversy) low-cost airline Ryanair. It is located about 7 km north of Dublin and to get to the city centre there are 2 options : by bus with different companies and by taxi or private transfer .

Bus : the most important company and the one we used is Dublin Express , which stops at both terminals and makes trips to the centre with several stops in between, for €8 each way. There is also Aircoach with similar fares, but we believe they are less frequent. We bought the Dublin Express ticket online, although it can be bought at the stands at the exit of each terminal.
Taxi or private transfer : more convenient and faster, but also much more expensive (estimate 30-40€). There is no fixed fare per trip, as in other cities, but instead it works with a taximeter ( info on taxi fares in Ireland ). You can use apps like Uber or FreeNow , but in reality it will be a taxi driver who picks you up, so it doesn't make much difference. Another, even more convenient alternative is to request a private transfer service in advance .

9. How to get around Dublin

Dublin's historic centre is perfect for exploring on foot. However, if your accommodation is located on the outskirts or you want to visit places further from the centre, such as the Guinness Storehouse or the National Botanic Gardens of Ireland, you should know that Dublin's public transport system is efficient and easy to use .

There are basically three transportation options:

Buses: There is an extensive network of buses operated by Dublin Bus that reach virtually every corner of the city.
Tram (LUAS): The LUAS tram system offers two main lines: the Green Line and the Red Line. The Green Line connects the south and west of Dublin to the city centre, while the Red Line runs from the west to the east of the city. Tickets are purchased from a ticket machine at all stations.
Hop-on hop-off bus : not the cheapest option, but certainly the most convenient. If you are short on time, you may want to book your Dublin hop-on hop-off bus ticket in advance - there are both 24- and 48-hour tickets available, which allow unlimited use during this time.

Consider purchasing a Leap Card, which will allow you to travel by bus, tram (LUAS) and light rail (DART) more conveniently than buying individual tickets and at a reduced price.

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How to get around Dublin

10. More tips for traveling to Dublin

Still have questions? Here are some other recommendations:

The weather in Dublin can be unpredictable , with sudden changes from sun to rain in a matter of minutes. Be sure to bring a compact umbrella or a light raincoat , as well as layers of clothing that you can easily add or remove depending on the weather conditions.
In Ireland, both in the Republic and in Northern Ireland, there is no roaming , so if you travel from Spain you can use your plan without any problems to connect to the Internet. Remember to activate "data roaming".
What you won't be able to use are chargers and electronic devices without an adapter, since the plug in Ireland is type G , the same as in the United Kingdom (with three square pins). You can buy them in any electronics store, but if you don't want to waste time, you can always buy an adapter on Amazon before you travel.
When visiting an Irish pub, remember that it is customary to tip the bartender and it is not appropriate to talk loudly during a live music performance.
If you want to visit Dublin during St. Patrick's Day celebrations , book your accommodation well in advance: it is probably the most popular festival in Ireland and the city is packed.
It is essential to know more about the history of Ireland in order to understand the recent conflicts with the northern part and the character of its people.
Do you like to read? Then you have a date with James Joyce's Dubliners . It is a collection of short stories that offers an evocative view of life in Dublin at the beginning of the 20th century.
And if you have more time to spend on this wonderful island, be sure to read our 10-day itinerary around Ireland (coming soon) . We hope you like it!
Recommendations for travelling to Ireland from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs .

Here are our recommendations for you to have an incredible stay in the capital of Ireland. Do you still have any questions? Here we are! Do you know any more tips for travelling to Dublin and not screwing up?

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