Dublin is a city full of life and brimming with things to do and see, whatever your interests.
1. Delve into Dublin Theatre Festival
Autumn in Dublin is festival season with a packed calendar of events led by the world-class Dublin Theatre Festival (29 September – 16 October). Taking place in 20 venues across the city, the festival showcases the best of Irish theatre alongside exceptional international works. This year it will include 17 world premieres.
2. Visit Guinness Storehouse
If you’re a fan of the black stuff, a trip to the Guinness Storehouse is essential. Not only will you get a perfectly poured pint of Guinness, you’ll also uncover the history of the brew and its brand across seven floors finishing at the Gravity Bar which affords spectacular 360o views over Dublin.
3. Take a tour of Trinity College
Home of The Book of Kells, a beautifully illuminated Gospel manuscript and one of Ireland’s greatest cultural treasures, Trinity College is not to be missed. Its barrel-vaulted Long Room library is one of the most photographed places in Dublin. The university also features strongly in the TV adaptations of Sally Rooney’s novels Normal People and Conversations with Friends.
4. Explore the Epic Museum
Epic, The Irish Emigration Museum, is one of Dublin’s top attractions and was voted Europe’s Leading Tourist Attraction for three years running. It’s a fascinating, fully digital museum that explores the history of Irish emigration and the far-reaching influence of Irish people on the world.
5. Relish some retail
No city break is complete without a little retail therapy and Dublin has plenty to offer the shopper. From upmarket stores like Brown Thomas on Grafton Street to the city’s many bustling markets, such as George’s Street Arcade, there is lots to enjoy.
6. Have some Halloween fun
Dublin is the place to be at Halloween for fans of Dracula. Celebrating the famous vampire and the Dubliner who created him, the Bram Stoker Festival presents a weekend of ghoulish delights and this year marks the 125th anniversary of the novel’s publication.
7. Head out to Dublin Bay
Easily reachable from the city centre, Dublin Bay is the perfect place for an autumn walk. Head for the cliff walk in Howth for stunning views of the bay or wander through the picturesque village of Dalkey and up to Killiney Hill.
8. Hang out in Temple Bar
The cobbled streets of Temple Bar are well known for their music-filled pubs and talented buskers. But there’s plenty more to explore. Call into the Icon Factory – an artist’s co-operative – sample some foodie delights at the Temple Bar Food Market and step into the past with a drink in the nineteenth-century Palace Bar.
9. Embrace the City of Literature
Dublin is a UNESCO City of Literature and is full of top-class literary experiences. Visit the James Joyce Centre to learn about one of Ireland’s greatest writers, and the Museum of Literature Ireland (MoLI) which traces the country’s literary heritage from early storytelling traditions to modern-day writers. For a lighter literary experience sign up for the highly entertaining Dublin Literary Pub Crawl.
10. See the National Museum of Ireland
There are actually four distinct arms to the National Museum of Ireland – Archaeology, Decorative Arts and History, Natural History, and Country Life – the first three of which are in Dublin. All present fascinating exhibitions which showcase Ireland’s rich history and culture.
