Dublin is a pretty capital city with a very lively vibe and warm people around. I visited Ireland for work and got a day in Dublin - and I am thankful I did.
Before I start narrating my day in Dublin, here are a few tips:
1) The weather is unpredictable, and it is always a good idea to carry an umbrella while stepping out
2) If you have 1-2 days in hand, you can always go for the hop-on hop-off bus passes, it will definitely be easier to go around all the major tourist attractions while enjoying a fun ride through the city
3) Apart from the regular sight-seeing tours, you can also choose to go for a traditional music Irish pub crawl
4) Hotel stay can be expensive in Dublin. There are plenty of options on Airbnb which may be more affordable
5) A modern tram system (LUAS), a train system (DART) and city buses serve the city centre. There is no underground system. Buses are the most convenient mode of transport. You can also find call Taxis and Ubers to take you to the airport.
6) Dublin is a great city for walking around: Wear comfortable shoes. Ladies, avoid stilettos. The cobblestone streets don't work well for heels, especially in the rain!
I was in Dublin in June for a work trip, I had booked myself in a pretty good hotel (Fitzwilliam) right on the Grafton street - which is a hip and busy upmarket shopping hub owing to the number of high-end stores and shopping complexes. Dublin, as a city, is clean and almost every street is a treat to the eyes.
Few of the must see places:
a) Temple bar area: It is the most touristy and happening place in Dublin. This place is full of eating joints, pubs, coffee shops, street performers, music and hence, abuzz with tourists.
b) Liffey river and O'connell bridge: This river flows almost through the middle of Dublin and divides the city into North and South. Most of the tourist attractions are to the south of the city. A walk along the river Liffey right before the sunset is recommended. There are many bridges that connect the two banks of the river, O'Connell being the most famous.
c) Guinness Store House: This is probably the most important attraction for an outsider who loves his beer (or not!). This seven storeyed structure has an engaging tour of the brewery depicting how the beer is made from scratch. There is a tasting room and a roof top bar. The tour is fun and gives you several opportunities to learn and enjoy the art of brewing a beer. You can learn how to pull your own pint properly (yes, it must be done right for it to taste as it should!) and enjoy the panoramic views of the city from the glass-fronted gravity bar. The entry is for 20 pounds (if you buy online) and you can easily spend a couple of hours here. The ground floor has a huge souvenir store where you can definitely find one or more souvenirs to take back home. Guinness is about a 30-minute walk from the city centre
d) Trinity College: This is the first university ever built in Ireland, with an old library that houses the world-famous Book of Kells, a 9th century religious text. The visit to see the Book of Kells is self-guided, however guided tours of the grounds of the university are available. Many of the guides are students, so this is a good way to get the inside story in a fun and informative way
e) St. Stephen's Green: A Beautiful, romantic green park located right in the middle of the city (next to Grafton street). The park has many beautiful features, from bandstands and colourful plant beds to numerous higgledy-piggledy paths and plenty of green spaces for relaxing in the sun. The beautiful white swans are happy to greet you if you happen to offer them bread.
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