Things to Do in Dublin Cost Calculator
Open the Menu

Where to stay in Dublin

The best places to stay in Dublin

Temple Bar, Grafton Street and St Stephen's Green, O'Connell Street, Smithfield, Ballsbridge and Howth by the sea. Here is where to stay in Dublin, with honest advice on what a hotel night really costs, which area suits a first visit, and parking if you bring a car.

By the Things to Do in Dublin editorial team Hotels checked 25 October 2026

Compare the 6 areas
Dublin Docklands at blue hour, with lit buildings reflected in the still water of the river
Short answer

For a first visit, stay in Temple Bar or around Grafton Street, in the middle of Dublin. Our picks there are 100 to 200 metres from Dublin Castle, Trinity College or Grafton Street. Smithfield and the north side are on the Luas and a short way out. Ballsbridge and Howth suit a quieter stay or a car.

Dublin areas at a glance

AreaBest forNearest sightsGetting around
Temple Bar A first visit and nights out Dublin Castle (closed until January 2027), Christ Church Cathedral, Trinity College Walk to most sights; the airport coach stops here
Grafton Street & St Stephen's Green A first visit, shopping and a quieter night Grafton Street, St Stephen's Green, Trinity College Walk to the centre; Temple Bar is 5 minutes on foot
O'Connell Street & the north inner city Day trips, Croke Park and the theatre O'Connell Street, the Gate Theatre, Croke Park Day-trip coaches meet at Parnell Square and O'Connell Street
Smithfield & Stoneybatter Whiskey fans and a lower price The Jameson Distillery, Dublin Castle (700 metres, closed until January 2027) The Luas Red Line stops at Smithfield
Ballsbridge A quiet stay, a car or a match at the Aviva Stadium The Aviva Stadium, the Grand Canal, St Stephen's Green (Mespil Hotel) Walk or take a bus into the centre
Howth Sea views, cliff walks and a car Howth harbour, the East Pier, Burrow Beach The DART to Connolly takes about 25 minutes

Area 1 of 6

Temple Bar: in the middle of everything

Temple Bar is the best area for a first visit if you want to walk everywhere. It sits by the river, between Trinity College and Christ Church Cathedral.

The airport coach from Dublin Express stops at Temple Bar, so arrival day is easy.

Temple Bar hotels

Our four picks are all hotels rated 8.5 or higher on Booking.com. The NYX is 100 metres from Dublin Castle, which is closed to visitors until January 2027. The Morgan and the Temple Bar Inn are on Fleet Street, near Trinity College.

Keep in mind
It is the pub quarter, so ask for a quiet room if you sleep early.

Nearby guides: Temple Bar: tours, pubs and what to know · Dublin Castle tours

The Ha'penny Bridge over the River Liffey in evening light, with the quay buildings reflected in the water

Our picks in Temple Bar

More hotels in Temple Bar on Booking.com →

Booking.com's page for the Temple Bar district, with hotels and other places to stay around the pubs and the river.

Area 2 of 6

Grafton Street and St Stephen's Green: central and calmer

Grafton Street suits a first visit if you want the centre without the pub noise. It runs from Trinity College to St Stephen's Green.

Our picks include a townhouse in a Georgian building overlooking St Stephen's Green and a family-run guesthouse in the Georgian Quarter.

Keep in mind
Kilronan House is on Adelaide Road, a little further out than the others.

Nearby guides: Hop-on hop-off bus tours in Dublin

The stone Fusiliers' Arch at the entrance to St Stephen's Green in Dublin, with people walking past

Our picks in Grafton Street & St Stephen's Green

More hotels in Grafton Street & St Stephen's Green on Booking.com →

Booking.com's page for the St Stephen's Green district, with hotels and other places to stay around Grafton Street.

Area 3 of 6

O'Connell Street and the north side: near the tour coaches

O'Connell Street suits you if you plan day trips. Most day-trip coaches meet at Parnell Square or O'Connell Street, so you can walk to the start.

Our picks are near Parnell Square, at the top of O'Connell Street. Hotel 7 is 700 metres from Croke Park.

Keep in mind
You cross the river to reach Trinity College and Grafton Street.

Nearby guides: Day trips from Dublin · Hop-on hop-off bus tours in Dublin

The tall steel Spire on O'Connell Street in Dublin against a blue sky with white clouds

Our picks in O'Connell Street & the north inner city

More hotels in O'Connell Street & the north inner city on Booking.com →

Booking.com's page for the Parnell Square district at the top of O'Connell Street, with hotels and other places to stay on the north side.

Area 4 of 6

Smithfield and Stoneybatter: on the Luas, a short way out

Smithfield suits whiskey fans and anyone who wants a lower-priced hotel close to the centre. It is on the north bank of the river, west of Temple Bar.

The Maldron is a 2-minute walk from the Jameson Distillery and the Smithfield Luas stop. The Hampton by Hilton is a 3-star hotel 700 metres from Dublin Castle.

Keep in mind
You walk or take the Luas to the main sights.

Nearby guides: Guinness Storehouse tickets and tours

The River Liffey in Dublin in afternoon sun, with a row of quay buildings along the far bank

Our picks in Smithfield & Stoneybatter

More hotels in Smithfield & Stoneybatter on Booking.com →

Booking.com has no district page for Smithfield or Stoneybatter, so this is its page for hotels near the Jameson Distillery in Smithfield.

Area 5 of 6

Ballsbridge: quiet, with parking

Ballsbridge is a quiet suburb south of the centre. It suits you if you bring a car or want a calmer night.

Two of our picks list free parking: Ariel House and Broc House Suites. The Mespil Hotel is a few minutes on foot from St Stephen's Green.

Keep in mind
It is outside the centre: Roxford Lodge is 2.4 km away.
A red door and a yellow door side by side under fanlights in a Dublin red-brick terrace

Our picks in Ballsbridge

More hotels in Ballsbridge on Booking.com →

Booking.com's page for the Ballsbridge district, with hotels and other places to stay in the quiet south-side suburb.

Area 6 of 6

Howth: by the sea, a DART ride out

Howth is a harbour village by the sea, about 25 minutes from Connolly on the DART. It suits a quiet stay with sea views.

Places to stay are few. Our top pick is a guesthouse above a seafood restaurant on the East Pier. The other three are self-catering homes with few reviews so far: 74, 46 and 45.

Keep in mind
Few places to stay, and three of our four picks have under 75 reviews.

Nearby guides: Getting around Dublin

The lighthouse at the end of the pier in Howth harbour in warm evening light

Our picks in Howth

More hotels in Howth on Booking.com →

Booking.com's page for Howth, with the hotels and other places to stay in the village. There are only a few, and no large hotel in Howth itself is rated 8.0 or higher.

Hotels in Dublin city centre

The city-centre hotels are in Temple Bar, around Grafton Street and on O'Connell Street. All three areas are a walk from Trinity College and the river.

Temple Bar is the liveliest, Grafton Street the calmest and the north side the closest to the day-trip coaches.

Hotel prices and cheap hotels in Dublin

Dublin hotels are not cheap, so compare prices early. In the 2026 Dublin Travel Cost Study, a 4-star hotel night in Dublin cost a median €144 per room for two adults, and a quarter of nights cost €111 or less (Google Hotels prices read on 25 October 2026 for stays from November 2026 to August 2027).

For a lower price, look at Smithfield and the north side. Our cheapest kind of pick is the 3-star Hampton by Hilton in Smithfield. On Booking.com, sort by price to see the live rates.

Hotels with parking in Dublin

If you bring a car, stay in Ballsbridge or Howth. Ariel House lists free parking, and Broc House Suites lists free private parking.

In Howth, the village apartment and the cottage both list free parking. None of our city-centre picks mentions parking in our notes, so ask the hotel.

After you book: your first day

Once your hotel is set, a Dublin free walking tour is an easy first morning. It shows you the centre and where things are.

Where to stay in Dublin: questions and answers

Where should I stay in Dublin on a first visit?
Stay in Temple Bar or around Grafton Street. Both are in the middle of Dublin, and our picks there are 100 to 200 metres from Dublin Castle, Trinity College or Grafton Street.

Where can I stay in Dublin on a budget?
Look at Smithfield and the north side. Our picks there include the 3-star Hampton by Hilton. Sort by price on Booking.com to see the live rates.

Where should I stay for two nights in Dublin?
For two nights, stay central so you can walk everywhere. Temple Bar and Grafton Street put you a few minutes from Trinity College and the river.

How much does a hotel night in Dublin cost?
It depends on the hotel and the date. The 2026 Dublin Travel Cost Study figure for a 4-star night is in the hotel prices section above. Booking.com shows the live price for each hotel.

Hotels checked on Booking.com on 25 October 2026: each link opened in the browser and showed the hotel, rated 8.0 or higher there. The scores shown are from that day; we list no prices because they change daily. Booking.com shows the live ones.

Sources (8), facts checked on 25 October 2026

Written by the Things to Do in Dublin editorial team.