If youâre headed off to explore the Emerald Isle, thereâs a very good chance that your plane is going to touch down in Irelandâs capital city–and thereâs no better way to kick off a trip to Ireland than by spending 2 days in Dublin.
While Dublin may not boast the romantic beauty of Paris or the grandiosity of Rome, it is a compelling–and in places, gorgeous–city that is packed with interesting things to do.
No, you shouldnât plan a trip to Ireland and base yourself for weeks in Dublin, but spending a couple of days in Dublin before you take off for green pastures and dramatic coastlines is an excellent idea.
Trying to put together a 2 day Dublin itinerary and not sure where to start?
Hereâs what to do with a couple of days in Dublin!
Table of Contents
- How We Structured This 2 Day Dublin Itinerary
-
The Complete 2 Day Dublin Itinerary
- Day 1 in Dublin: Trinity College, Dublin Castle, Temple Bar + Beyond
-
Day 2 in Dublin: Guinness, St. Stephenâs + More
- Kick off your day in Dublin with a full Irish breakfast.
- Digest with a walk through St. Stephenâs Green.
- Duck inside the Stephenâs Green Shopping Centre.
- Stroll to St. Patrickâs Cathedral.
- Head to the Guinness Storehouse for the ultimate Dublin experience.
- Wrap up your 2 days in Dublin with dinner at an Irish pub.
- Where to Stay For 2 Days in Dublin
- Is 2 Days in Dublin Enough?
- How to Get Around When Visiting Dublin
- The Best Time to Visit Dublin, Ireland
- Read More About Visiting Ireland

How We Structured This 2 Day Dublin Itinerary
This Dublin itinerary is designed for a (potentially jetlagged) traveler touching down in the capital city before leaving to explore more of the Emerald Isle, which is how we’ve always experienced the city!
For that reason, it’s intended to give a nice overview of the best things to do in Dublin while also maintaining a lowkey pace that wonât exhaust you before you get to Irelandâs biggest natural treasures.
However, if youâre taking a short city break or planning to spend a weekend in Dublin, this guide to spending 2 days in Dublin can work for you too.
If you’re a speedy sightseer taking a short trip to Dublin, though, you could also condense, say, 65% of this Dublin itinerary into one day and spend your second day in Ireland on a day trip outside the capital city, which would be our recommendation (here are the best day trips from Dublin).
Want to see as much as possible with only one day in Dublin and then hit the road? This popular Dublin in a day tour will show you the best of the city in very limited time, leaving you a full day to dedicate to somewhere else in Ireland.

The Complete 2 Day Dublin Itinerary
Day 1 in Dublin: Trinity College, Dublin Castle, Temple Bar + Beyond
Start your sightseeing at the General Post Office.
Dublinâs General Post Office (or GPO) may seem like a strange place to kick off your 2 days in Dublin–but with impressive Georgian architecture, a prominent location on OâConnell Street, a beautiful interior, and a compelling history that involves playing a role in Irelandâs 1916 Easter Rising, itâs actually the perfect place to start.
The GPO is still a working post office, so during business hours youâre welcome to take a peek inside.
If you want to learn more about the buildingâs 1916 history, though, we recommend visiting its Witness History exhibit (and if you want to learn even more about the 1916 Rebellion, a walking tour like this is a great way to start your trip to Dublin).
While youâre in the area, be sure to check out the nearby James Joyce statue as well!

Cross the HaâPenny Bridge.
Built in the early 19th century, the HaâPenny Bridge earned its nickname (itâs technically called the Liffey Bridge) for a very simple reason: for the first 100 years of its existence, a haâpenny–or half pence–toll was charged to cross it.
Today, crossing the bridge is one of the many fun things to do in Dublin, and is a great way to grab some views of the River Liffey.
Before crossing, book lovers like us may want to check out The Winding Stair, a delightfully cozy bookshop we enjoyed visiting on our latest trip to Dublin.

Head to Trinity College.
Located in the center of the city and dating to the 16th century, Trinity College is Irelandâs most prominent university.
Itâs also a beautiful place to visit in Dublin and a popular tourist destination!
Head over to campus and admire its beauty while making your way to what is arguably one of the prettiest and best-known libraries in the world: the Long Room.

Step inside the Long Room and check out the Book of Kells.
The Long Room at Trinity College holds around 200,000 volumes, is around 65 meters long, and dates to the 18th century… but honestly, all of those facts fade away very quickly when youâre confronted with the beauty of the room itself (at least for bibliophiles).
Truthfully, the Long Room was on my list of must-see literary locations for years before I got a chance to step inside, and while the crowds (because there are definitely crowds!) ensure that it feels more like a tourist attraction than a peaceful library, it is an incredible place, and well worth experiencing during your 2 days in Dublin.
Access to the Long Room also includes a chance to see the Book of Kells, a 9th-century illustrated copy of the Gospel that written in Latin and is incredibly beautiful and well-preserved.
2025 visitors will be lucky to experience the Long Room and Book of Kells before the area is closed for restoration at the end of the year (though for 2026 visitors and beyond, be sure to check the official website before writing off the experience–the restoration project has already been postponed once).

Say hi to Molly Malone.
The legend of Molly Malone is a short, sad one.
Molly Malone was said to be a fishmonger (possibly from the 17th century), who sold cockles and mussels in a wheelbarrow⌠and then died of a fever.
In some versions of the legend, she was also a prostitute.
Molly Maloneâs legend and the song commemorating it are connected to Dublin, and on your walk from Trinity College to Dublin Castle, youâll come across a statue dedicated to her.

Pay a visit to Dublin Castle.
As compared to what youâll find in Irelandâs small towns and countryside, itâs fair to say that Dublin Castle doesnât look all that much like, well, a castle.
Not in the traditional sense, anyway!
However, Dublin Castle has been an important government site in Ireland for most of its existence (the castle dates to the 13th century), including the present, and it is worth visiting.
If youâre in a hurry or simply jetlagged, you may want to merely check out the exterior–but if youâre interested in learning some Irish history, itâs best to head inside on a guided tour, which will take you behind-the-scenes to parts of the castle you canât otherwise access.
Once you finish up in the castle itself, consider stopping by the nearby Castle Gardens or the beautiful Chester Beatty Library that is located right next door!

Check out the Christ Church Cathedral.
There are few cities with two cathedrals… but Dublin is one of them.
While St. Patrickâs Cathedral is perhaps the more recognizable of the two, Christ Church Cathedral is equally compelling and actually predates St. Patrickâs Cathedral by more than 100 years.
The crypt is one of the most interesting parts of the cathedral, in part because of the mummified cat and rat that are on display there, famous for being mentioned by James Joyce in Finnegans Wake.
You can also find Irelandâs first copy of the Magna Carta here!

Head over to the Temple Bar district.
The Temple Bar district is undoubtedly touristy, not to mention expensive (even by Dublinâs pricey standards), but itâs also quite beautiful, and can be a fun way to introduce yourself to the city!
Even if youâd rather stray further off the beaten path to eat and drink on your first night in Dublin, we still recommend at least walking through the Temple Bar district and admiring its cobblestone streets and decked-out, colorful buildings.
If you are looking for something to eat in the area, nearby Leo Burdockâs is famous for serving up tasty, traditional, and affordable fish and chips.

Day 2 in Dublin: Guinness, St. Stephenâs + More
Kick off your day in Dublin with a full Irish breakfast.
Thereâs nothing quite like the delight of a full Irish breakfast (full as in complete, but also full as in, âyouâll be so incredibly full after eating one that you wonât be able to eat for hoursâ).
Boasting a fried egg, sausage, Irish bacon/rashers, beans, black and white pudding, mushrooms, grilled tomato, and occasionally potatoes, eating at least one full Irish breakfast is a must-have experience during your 2 days in Dublin.
For this Dublin itinerary, we can absolutely recommend the delicious breakfast at Beanhive Coffee, which is just a stoneâs throw from your first sightseeing stops of the day.

Digest with a walk through St. Stephenâs Green.
Thereâs no better place to walk off your heavy breakfast than lovely and peaceful St. Stephenâs Green!
This quiet and leafy public park dates back hundreds of years (though its current layout was developed in the 19th century).
It’s a beautiful place for a morning walk in Dublin’s city center!

Duck inside the Stephenâs Green Shopping Centre.
You donât need to spend much of your 2 days in Dublin inside a shopping center, but this one is worth a quick look!
Located at the top of popular Grafton Street is right next door to St. Stephenâs Green Park, it has a stunning interior–just look at that light.

Stroll to St. Patrickâs Cathedral.
Founded in 1191, St. Patrickâs is arguably the best-known church in Dublin–and itâs certainly one of the most impressive!
As the National Cathedral of the Church of Ireland, St. Patrickâs Cathedral is insanely beautiful inside and out and is open to visitors.
Come to admire the Gothic architecture, to check out the Door of Reconciliation, or, for literary fans, to see where author Jonathan Swift is buried.
Thereâs also an incredible peaceful park right next door, so if youâd like to rest your feet a bit (or watch cute dogs–definitely a big selling point for us), feel free to settle on a bench for a few minutes.

Head to the Guinness Storehouse for the ultimate Dublin experience.
Dublin and Guinness go hand-in-hand, and a visit to the Guinness Storehouse is the perfect way to enjoy the famous brew!
Learn some of the history of the iconic brand, learn how to pull your own Guinness, go for a taste test, and take a walk through the brewing process (in theory, that is–the beer is no longer brewed on the premises).
You can also check out some cool vintage Guinness advertising campaigns (one of my favorite parts of visiting), and top it all off by soaking in some of the best views of Dublin with a cold one in hand.

As someone who takes a casual-at-best interest in beer, the views are another one of the highlights for me!
You can see all across Dublin and right over to the Wicklow Mountains from the lounge at the top of the Guinness Storehouse.
Your Guinness Storehouse ticket includes a drink, with Guinness, of course, being the most popular choice, but soft drinks available for under-18s and the non-drinkers among us.
Fair warning, though: the Guinness Storehouse gets packed.
Be prepared to share the space with plenty of other visitors!
Book tickets to visit the Guinness Storehouse (pint of beer included) today!

Wrap up your 2 days in Dublin with dinner at an Irish pub.
Visiting an Irish pub for an evening of tasty food and (hopefully) some live music definitely deserves to be part of your 2 day Dublin itinerary!
There are plenty of pubs to choose from in Dublin, so whether youâre looking for a touristy good time at Temple Bar, a quiet, offbeat experience, or something in between, youâll find one suited to your taste.
If you like chasing history, consider a stop at The Brazen Head, which purports to be Dublinâs oldest pub (established 1198) and boasts live music every night!

Where to Stay For 2 Days in Dublin
Budget
Abbey Court Hostel — Located right across the street from the River Liffey and less than a 5-minute walk to the Ha’Penny Bridge, Temple Bar, and more, you can’t ask for a better place to stay on a budget in Dublin than Abbey Court Hostel.
We stayed here during our first trip to Dublin, and while the accommodation and included breakfast were nothing to write home about–it’s a hostel, after all–we had no complaints and were thrilled with the location.
Check rates & book your stay at Abbey Court Hostel!

Mid-range
Hotel St. George — We stayed at Hotel St. George on our most recent trip to Dublin, and were completely happy with the experience!
The location allowed us to comfortably walk to most of Dublin’s major sites, the room was clean and quiet, the lobby beautiful, and the customer service excellent. We would be happy to stay here again!
Check rates & book your stay at Hotel. St George!

Luxury
The Wilder — If you’re looking for a luxury experience in Dublin that lends itself to a bit of peace and quiet, the Wilder is the place for you.
Boasting impeccable reviews and an excellent location near St. Stephen’s Green, The Wilder is within easy reach of all of Dublin’s top sights, while also being far removed from the noise, hustle, and bustle of places like the Temple Bar District.
Check rates & book your stay at The Wilder!

Is 2 Days in Dublin Enough?
While Dublin is a fun city, and spending a couple of days in Dublin definitely enhances a trip to Ireland, we recommend being cautious of allotting too many of your precious days in the Emerald Isle to the city.
Outside of the large cities (large being a relative term, of course) is where Ireland truly shines as a travel destination.
Two days in Dublin is the perfect amount to get a taste of the city if youâre spending roughly 10 days to 2 weeks in Ireland.
With only a week or so on the island, weâd recommend spending only one day in Dublin. With three weeks or more, you could consider dedicating more time to the city.
If you do have more than 2 days in Dublin, consider paying a visit to the Kilmainham Gaol, visiting the mummies at St. Michan, or touring one of the many fascinating museums in Dublin, from meaningful spots like the Irish Emigration Museum and Irish Famine Museum. to more lighthearted options like the Leprechaun Museum.
Whiskey lovers could also add a visit to the Jameson Distillery to their trip!

How to Get Around When Visiting Dublin
If you book a centrally located hotel in Dublin, youâll find most of the destinations on this 2 day Dublin itinerary fairly accessible by foot.
On our most recent visit to the city, we only used alternate transportation to get to and from the airport and to get back to our hotel after visiting the Guinness Storehouse.
However, if you would like to use Dublinâs public transportation system, youâll find plenty of public buses available (exact change only, or you can purchase a transportation pass), as well as some trams.
Taxis and Uber are also both available in the city.

The Best Time to Visit Dublin, Ireland
Thereâs no doubt that if youâre hoping to see the sunshine or avoid bundling up summer is the best time to visit Ireland, and that includes Dublin as well.
However, this 2 days in Dublin itinerary works for any time of the year, so donât shy away from the city if your opportunity to visit falls outside of June, July, and August–just be prepared for the distinct possibility of less-than-ideal weather, and to dress accordingly!
If you are interested in spending a weekend in Dublin during the St. Patrickâs Day festivities, expect high prices, plenty of tourists looking to have a rowdy time… and whether that sounds fantastic or terrible to you is absolutely a matter of preference.
If you want to go, though, be sure to book your hotel way in advance.
Interested in celebrating Christmas on the Emerald Isle? You’ll find Christmas markets in Dublin (and other Irish cities), and while they can’t compete with those in, say, Germany, they definitely add a festive cheer to the season!

Read More About Visiting Ireland
If you found this guide to spending 2 days in Dublin helpful, we’d love to continue to be part of your travel planning here on Our Escape Clause!
You can browse all of our blog posts about Ireland here, or read these guides:
- 11 Delightful Things to Do in Doolin, Ireland
- Slea Head Drive: The Ultimate Guide to Dingle Peninsula’s Epic Road Trip
- How Much Does a Trip to Ireland Cost? (On Any Budget)
- 9 Fun Things to Do on Inisheer, Ireland’s Smallest Aran Island
- How to Plan Your Magical Ireland Honeymoon

Best Dublin/Ireland blog I’ve come across! Thank you for helping us plan our trip!
So happy to hear, that Ariel! Hope you guys have an amazing trip to Dublin!
Any thoughts on EPIC? We are debating if this museum is worth the visit as we only have 2 days in Dublin.
We haven’t been yet personally, but we’ve heard good things about it! It’s supposed to be very well done.
Would always recommend tourists go to Kilmainham prison to learn the history of Dublin
My daughter and I went. The guide was amazing we really enjoyed the tour!
I highly recommend the National Gallery. A large portion is free and the exhibits are fantastic.
Have you driven through City Center at all? We went ahead and booked a car at the airport for convenience sake and now im wondering if learning to drive on the left side of the road in a busy city center is smart! We’re staying at a hotel in Temple Bar district.
Hi Kurtis!
Yes, once or twice. It’s not our favorite thing to do in Ireland, LOL.
The Temple Bar district is very dense, and I’d recommend picking up your rental car as you get ready to leave Dublin if at all possible!
If not, make sure you have a good GPS and be very careful navigating to a parking garage.
What a great post! Some of the Dublin spots I want to make sure I get to, but laid out in such a concise way with some great tips and recommendations! Going next yr. thank you!
Thanks so much! That’s exactly our goal. đ
This was really great thank you!
You’re welcome!
This is exactly what we needed. A blog like this with great and important details⌠the best Ireland travel blog⌠We loved because of the step by step- it gives you a sense of a planned full dayâŚ
Thanks, Sammy! Enjoy Dublin.
We used your itinerary last September – very useful – it was great to have all your info and we knew exactly what we could accomplish in our two days. Easy, walkable city. We added Dublin at the end of a European trip and did not rent a car. We used public transportation to and from the airport – easy to book and pay on-line with the company we used. Once we were in Dublin, it was all walking and we loved every minute.
That’s fantastic to hear, thank you Connie! Really appreciate you taking the time to share. đ