How to spend 24 hours in Dublin
Welcome to MyLocalDublin, where we share the best things to see and do in Ireland’s vibrant capital city. If you only have 24 hours to spend in Dublin, we’ve got the perfect itinerary for you. Follow our guide to make the most of your time in the city as recommended by Tourism Ireland.
Morning
Start your day at the EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum, located in the CHQ Building on Custom House Quay. Spend an hour exploring the interactive exhibits and learning about the history and culture of Ireland. The museum won Europe’s Leading Tourist Attraction at the World Travel Awards in 2019, so it’s a must-visit! As you enter the exhibition, you will receive a stamped passport and follow a path through 20 themed galleries. Discover why Irishness is celebrated around the world and immerse yourself in the stories of remarkable tales of sacrifice, endurance, adventure and discovery. The museum is open daily from 10am, and the last entry is at 5pm, with the museum closing at 6:45pm.
After your visit, take the tram to Heuston Station and head to Phoenix Park. Here you can rent a bike from Phoenix Park Bikes and cycle around the park, which is the largest enclosed public park in any capital city in Europe. The park is home to the Irish President and is one of only two parks in the world to receive a prestigious Gold Award in the Inaugural International Large Urban Parks Awards organised by World Urban Parks. Your guide will point out historical houses and monuments of interest and you might even spot some of the 500 wild fallow deer who graze there! Don’t forget to listen out for the roar of lions or howl of monkeys at Dublin Zoo.
For lunch head to The Phoenix Café, located in the park.
Afternoon
After lunch visit the Irish Museum of Modern Art located in the historical site of the Royal Hospital Kilmainham. The contemporary art gallery is nestled in 48 acres of land in the heart of Dublin 8 with accompanying formal gardens and a large meadowland. Visit a wide range of exhibitions featuring the work of leading Irish and International artists and enjoy gallery-based tours and workshops, studio-based programmes in the artists’ residency studio block, talks, seminars and artist-led events. Entrance to the museum and grounds is free with a small charge for special exhibitions. Check the website for what’s on now.
Next, visit the Pearse Lyons Distillery, one of Dublin’s newest whiskey distilleries. Take a journey through 800 years of history at St. James’s Church, which has been transformed into a boutique whiskey distillery. Afterward, walk via Francis Street – Dublin’s Antique Quarter – to St. Patrick’s Cathedral. This magnificent cathedral houses Jonathan Swift’s remains (he wrote Gulliver’s Travels) and is the only remaining cathedral in Ireland with a daily sung service. A small entrance fee is charged for tourists and all money raised goes back to paying for the upkeep of the building. Use the Discovery Space to learn some of the wonderful stories this building has to offer through touch screen technologies; take time to do a brass rubbing or build a model of the Cathedral. Allow 35-40 minutes for your visit.
For dinner head to Coppinger Row located on Dublin’s liveliest laneway. Sit back and enjoy the atmosphere with exciting, fresh food, superb wines and fantastic service!
Your day in Dublin doesn’t have to end after dinner. Explore more of the city’s nightlife and culture before calling it a night. We hope this itinerary helps you make the most of your 24 hours in Dublin!
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