Things to Do in Dublin Cost Calculator
Open the Menu

33 guides, prices checked 25 October 2026

The best things to do in Dublin

The Guinness Storehouse, the Jameson Distillery, the Cliffs of Moher, Glendalough and the Giant's Causeway. Here is what to book in Dublin, with honest advice on what is worth the money, getting your money back if plans change and the long hours on a day‑trip coach.

See the best things to do
The Ha'penny Bridge in Dublin in evening sun, looking along the deck under one of its iron lamp arches
Short answer

The top things to do in Dublin are the Guinness Storehouse and a Cliffs of Moher day trip. For a shorter day out, a Glendalough and Kilkenny tour takes 9 hours and starts from €45. Dublin Castle is closed to the public until January 2027, so plan around it.

Our top 8

Top 8 things to do in Dublin

The city sights first, then three day trips. Each one comes with the tour or ticket we would book, or how to go on your own.

  1. A pint of dark stout with a creamy head on a table, next to a pile of crisps

    Guinness Storehouse

    Seven floors on how Guinness is made, with a pint or a soft drink in the Gravity Bar at the top. Allow at least 90 minutes.

    Our pick: Guinness Storehouse entry ticket, from €37 per person

  2. The Long Room library at Trinity College Dublin, with its dark wooden arched ceiling and tall bookcases

    Book of Kells and the Old Library

    The old manuscript and the Long Room library at Trinity College. Entry is timed, so book online, and allow about 90 minutes.

    No tour needed: Trinity's own site lists tickets from €25.

  3. The Ha'penny Bridge lit up over the River Liffey at dusk, with the quays glowing behind

    Temple Bar

    Dublin's pub quarter by the river, with live music in the pubs and the Irish Rock 'N' Roll Museum.

    Our pick: Irish Rock 'N' Roll Museum tour, from €22 per person

  4. A row of dark wooden whiskey casks lying on their sides in a warehouse

    Jameson Distillery

    A 45-minute guided tour in Smithfield with a whiskey tasting and a cocktail at the end.

    Our pick: Jameson Distillery tour with tastings, from €31 per person

  5. Sailing boats moored in Howth marina under a grey sky

    Howth

    A harbour village about 25 minutes away on the DART. A 7.8 km cliff path loop starts at the station.

    No tour needed: take the DART from Connolly.

  6. The Cliffs of Moher in a long line above the Atlantic under a cloudy sky

    Cliffs of Moher

    A 13-hour day trip to the west coast, with Cliffs entry included and about 2 hours there.

    Our pick: Cliffs of Moher, Burren and Galway day, from €78 per person

  7. A lake in the Glendalough valley framed by bare trees and yellow gorse, with hills behind

    Glendalough and Wicklow

    The old monastic valley in the Wicklow Mountains. Tours often add Kilkenny for a 9-hour day.

    Our pick: Wicklow, Glendalough and Kilkenny tour, from €45 per person

  8. Six-sided basalt columns stepping up in a block at the Giant's Causeway

    Giant's Causeway

    A 12-hour day north to the stone columns and Belfast. Bring pounds and check if you need a UK ETA.

    Our pick: Giant's Causeway, Dark Hedges and Belfast, from €80 per person

The 8 tours and tickets we would book

Two city tickets, a whiskey tour, three day trips and two indoor picks for a rainy hour. All show free cancellation on GetYourGuide.

Every Dublin guide

Each guide compares the tours and tickets for one sight, activity or day trip, with official prices first.

Guinness, whiskey & sights

City tours, pubs & food

Day trips & planning

Our picks compared

Our picks compared
Tour or ticketFromDurationFree cancellationWho it suitsWhy we picked it
Guinness Storehouse entry ticket 4.6 (27,015)€37
per person		1.5–3 hoursYesA first visit to DublinThe Storehouse's own ticket, rated 4.6 from 27,015 reviews.
Cliffs of Moher, Burren and Galway day 4.7 (28,191)€78
per person		13 hoursNoSeeing the west coast in a dayThe most-reviewed pick on this page, rated 4.7.
Cliffs of Moher, Galway and Burren for less 4.5 (2,448)€69
per person		13 hoursYesA cheaper Cliffs dayThe cheapest Cliffs day here with entry included, from €69.
Jameson Distillery tour with tastings 4.7 (7,936)€31
per person		45 minutesYesWhiskey fansRated 4.7 from 7,936 reviews, and under an hour.
Wicklow, Glendalough and Kilkenny tour 4.7 (9,644)€45
per person		9 hoursYesAn easier day tripA shorter day that still covers two places, from €45.
Giant’s Causeway, Dark Hedges and Belfast 4.8 (10,124)€80
per person		12 hoursYesSeeing Northern Ireland in a dayThe best-rated big day trip here, 4.8 from 10,124 reviews.
Irish Rock ’N’ Roll Museum tour 4.7 (411)€22
per person		75 minutesYesMusic fans and a rainy hourRated 4.7 from 411 reviews, in Temple Bar.
Museum of Illusion ticket 4.5 (145)€18
per person		45–60 minutesYesFamilies and a rainy dayAn easy indoor hour in the centre, from €18.

  • Guinness Storehouse entry ticket

    €37 per person1.5–3 hours 4.6 (27,015)

    Details
    Free cancellation
    Yes
    Who it suits
    A first visit to Dublin
    Why we picked it
    The Storehouse's own ticket, rated 4.6 from 27,015 reviews.

  • Cliffs of Moher, Burren and Galway day

    €78 per person13 hours 4.7 (28,191)

    Details
    Free cancellation
    No
    Who it suits
    Seeing the west coast in a day
    Why we picked it
    The most-reviewed pick on this page, rated 4.7.

  • Cliffs of Moher, Galway and Burren for less

    €69 per person13 hours 4.5 (2,448)

    Details
    Free cancellation
    Yes
    Who it suits
    A cheaper Cliffs day
    Why we picked it
    The cheapest Cliffs day here with entry included, from €69.

  • Jameson Distillery tour with tastings

    €31 per person45 minutes 4.7 (7,936)

    Details
    Free cancellation
    Yes
    Who it suits
    Whiskey fans
    Why we picked it
    Rated 4.7 from 7,936 reviews, and under an hour.

  • Wicklow, Glendalough and Kilkenny tour

    €45 per person9 hours 4.7 (9,644)

    Details
    Free cancellation
    Yes
    Who it suits
    An easier day trip
    Why we picked it
    A shorter day that still covers two places, from €45.

  • Giant’s Causeway, Dark Hedges and Belfast

    €80 per person12 hours 4.8 (10,124)

    Details
    Free cancellation
    Yes
    Who it suits
    Seeing Northern Ireland in a day
    Why we picked it
    The best-rated big day trip here, 4.8 from 10,124 reviews.

  • Irish Rock ’N’ Roll Museum tour

    €22 per person75 minutes 4.7 (411)

    Details
    Free cancellation
    Yes
    Who it suits
    Music fans and a rainy hour
    Why we picked it
    Rated 4.7 from 411 reviews, in Temple Bar.

  • Museum of Illusion ticket

    €18 per person45–60 minutes 4.5 (145)

    Details
    Free cancellation
    Yes
    Who it suits
    Families and a rainy day
    Why we picked it
    An easy indoor hour in the centre, from €18.
  • None of the 8 includes hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point.
  • Prices and ratings as shown on GetYourGuide on 25 October 2026. Prices are “from” prices in euros and can change; the booking page shows the live price.

Things to do in Dublin city centre

The best things to do in Dublin city centre are the Guinness Storehouse, the Book of Kells and St Patrick's Cathedral.

Dublin Castle is closed to the public until January 2027. No exact reopening day has been published, so check its website before you plan around it.

  • Guinness Storehouse: open daily. Allow at least 90 minutes for the self-guided tour.
  • Book of Kells: at Trinity College. Allow about 90 minutes. Trinity's site lists tickets from €25, and entry is timed.
  • St Patrick's Cathedral: €11.50 for an adult. Free guided tours run Monday to Saturday at 10:30 and 14:30.
  • EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum: open daily 10:00 to 18:45, about 8 minutes' walk from O'Connell Street.
  • Little Museum of Dublin: on St Stephen's Green. Entry is by guided tour, so book ahead.

Indoor things to do in Dublin on a rainy day

Dublin has plenty to do indoors: the Guinness Storehouse, EPIC, the Book of Kells and the Little Museum are all under a roof.

For a shorter stop, the Irish Rock 'N' Roll Museum tour takes 75 minutes. The Museum of Illusion takes 45 to 60 minutes.

Kilmainham Gaol is indoors too, but its own site says the building is very cold in winter. Entry is by guided tour only, booked online, and it is not for children under 6.

Fun things to do in Dublin

For fun with a story, try the Irish Rock 'N' Roll Museum, the Museum of Illusion or a Jameson tasting. Each takes under 90 minutes.

The Rock 'N' Roll Museum has Thin Lizzy and U2 exhibitions and a real music venue. The Museum of Illusion is full of rooms built for photos.

The Jameson tour ends with a tasting that compares whiskeys, then a Jameson cocktail.

Dublin tours: day trips and city tours

The big Dublin tours are day trips. The Cliffs of Moher take 13 hours, the Giant's Causeway 12 and Wicklow with Kilkenny 9.

Long days on a coach are the price of seeing the west or the north from Dublin. If 13 hours feels like too much, Wicklow and Glendalough are closer.

The Giant's Causeway is in Northern Ireland. It uses pounds sterling, and you may need a UK ETA, an online travel permit. US visitors need one; Irish and British citizens do not.

In the city, a hop-on hop-off bus or a walking tour shows you the centre in a few hours.

Things to do in Dublin today or this week

For today, use the date picker in the live list below: it shows what still has space. Most Dublin tours on GetYourGuide show free cancellation, 211 of 216 when we checked.

The Guinness Storehouse sells 15-minute time slots. Arrive 5 minutes early. If you miss your slot, you move to the next free one.

Kilmainham Gaol releases extra tickets for the same day from 09:15. Its other tours go on sale 28 days ahead.

Free things to do in Dublin

Some of Dublin's best museums are free to enter. Check each one's own site before you go, as hours change.

  • National Museum of Ireland: the museum's pages say entry to all four of its sites is free. Archaeology, on Kildare Street, opens Tuesday to Saturday 10:00 to 17:00.
  • Chester Beatty: Dublin City Council's culture company lists it as free to enter, with a suggested donation.
  • IMMA, the Irish Museum of Modern Art: its site says entry and most exhibitions are free. It is closed on Mondays.
  • Phoenix Park: open 24 hours a day, all year. Wild fallow deer live there, so look but do not feed them.

Booking tips for Dublin

  1. Book the Guinness Storehouse ahead

    The Storehouse strongly recommends booking a time slot. Its own tickets cannot be refunded, but you can change the date up to 24 hours before.

  2. If your plans change

    All eight picks show free cancellation on GetYourGuide. Each listing gives its deadline, often 24 hours before the start.

  3. Go to the Storehouse mid-week

    The Storehouse says Tuesday to Thursday, 10:00 to 12:00, is a quieter time to visit.

  4. Get a Leap Visitor Card

    You cannot tap a bank card on Dublin buses, the Luas or the DART. A Leap Visitor Card costs €8 for a day.

Things to do in Dublin: questions and answers

What are the best things to do in Dublin, Ireland?
The Guinness Storehouse, the Book of Kells, Temple Bar and the Jameson Distillery are the big city sights. For a day out, the Cliffs of Moher, Glendalough and the Giant's Causeway are the top trips.

What can I do in Dublin at night?
Dublin at night means pubs with live music, pub crawls, ghost bus tours and Irish music and dance shows with dinner. Big Bus also runs a 1-hour night tour with a live guide, from €26.

Is Dublin expensive for tourists?
Here are some real prices. A Guinness Storehouse ticket is from €37 on GetYourGuide; the Storehouse's own site says from €26. A Leap Visitor Card is €8 a day, the airport coach from €9 and a Cliffs of Moher day trip from €69. Our Dublin on a budget guide adds up a whole trip.

Is Dublin Castle open?
No. Dublin Castle is closed to the public until January 2027 while it hosts events for Ireland's EU Council Presidency. No exact reopening day has been published.

Do I need to book the Guinness Storehouse in advance?
Yes, booking ahead is strongly recommended. You book a 15-minute time slot and should arrive 5 minutes early. Online tickets are €2 cheaper than at the door.

Where should I stay in Dublin?
For a first visit, stay in Temple Bar or around Grafton Street. See where to stay in Dublin for hotels rated 8 or higher in six areas.

More things to do in Dublin, live

More things to do in Dublin with live prices and availability, straight from GetYourGuide.

See every Dublin tour with today's prices and open dates on GetYourGuide.

Browse all on GetYourGuide

Browse all of them on GetYourGuide

Sources (16), facts checked on 25 October 2026

Written by the Things to Do in Dublin editorial team.