Is Dublin Worth Visiting In 2025? Things To Do & Reasons To Visit

Wondering whether or not Dublin is worth visiting?

Then you’ve come to the right article, as I’ve written a complete guide to answer this question.

Dublin is the capital city of Ireland and a city famous around the world. It attracts over 10 million visitors each year– but why?

Is Dublin worth visiting?

Having visited Dublin many times myself, being from the island of Ireland, I feel confident to give an answer on whether Dublin is worth visiting or not.

So let’s get into it.

Is Dublin Worth Visiting? YES!

To summarise this post, yes, Dublin is definitely worth visiting! Ireland is such a unique country and Dublin is a great reflection of the island.

There are so many unique things to do, things that you can’t do anywhere else. Not to mention the rich history Dublin has too. There’s something for everyone, Dublin is a city suitable for adults and children alike.

Whether you are planning to visit as a couple, solo traveller or family, Dublin is without a doubt worth visiting if you are in Europe. If you are from further afield, I wouldn’t fly just to visit Dublin on its own, I would make sure to visit multiple places in Europe, to make your trip worth it.

Nonetheless, Dublin is definitely worth spending a few days in to experience the way of the Irish and everything Dublin has to offer.

A picture of Temple Bar in Dublin.

15 Best Things To Do In Dublin

Before deciding whether Dublin is worth visiting for you, you may wish to learn of some of the best things to do there. Here are 15 of the best things to do in Dublin when visiting for the first time.

1) Visit Trinity College: Dublin is home to Trinity College, one of the most famous universities in the world. You can explore the grounds for free!

2) See the Book of Kells: Within Trinity College is the Book of Kells, a 1000-year-old manuscript that is a famous depiction of the New Testament and can be observed within Trinity College.

3) Visit Dublin Castle: Considered a must-see when in Dublin, Dublin Castle is a 13th-century castle which is well-preserved and great to visit.

4) Take a free walking tour: One of the best things to do when visiting a new city is to take a free walking tour, Dublin is no different. I recommend using FreeTour.

5) Walk around St. Stephen’s Green: St. Stephen’s Green is a famous park in Dublin and definitely worth walking around during a trip to the city. It has lots of history too.

A picture of me and a group of friends in St. Stephen's Green, one of the reasons why the answer to "is Dublin worth visiting?" is yes.

6) Take a boat tour along the River Liffey: The River Liffey runs straight through the heart of Dublin, taking a boat tour along the river is a great way to see Dublin from another perspective.

7) Shop ’til you drop on Grafton Street: Grafton Street is the place to shop in Dublin. There are so many shops from Victoria’s Secret to Disney.

8) Tour the Guinness Factory: Guinness is consumed worldwide. Why not explore the factory in which it is made? Ireland is the birthplace of Guinness after all!

9) Walk along the Howth Cliff: Just outside Dublin is the beautiful Howth Cliff Walk which takes around 2 hours but is more than worth it. The views are extraordinary!

10) Visit Dublin Zoo: Attracting over 1 million visitors each year, it’s clear to see why Dublin Zoo is a main attraction in the Irish capital. There are so many great animals, it was at Dublin Zoo that I saw rhinos for the first time.

Some rhinos at Dublin zoo.

11) Enjoy a drink at Temple Bar: Temple Bar is known around the world, it has over 500,000 posts on Instagram– it is very photogenic, but you can also enjoy a drink inside!

12) Visit St. Patrick’s Cathedral: The world-famous St. Patrick’s Cathedral is definitely something you need to see while in Dublin. Their choir is world-class and performs daily.

13) Visit one of the many museums: Dublin is home to many museums. History, Archaeology, and the Arts to name a few. There are over 40 museums in Dublin!

14) Take a tour of Croke Park: If you are a sports fan, you may be familiar with Croke Park. It’s the most famous GAA stadium and also hosts concerts regularly. It’s one of Europe’s largest stadiums and definitely holds an interesting tour!

15) Take a Dublin Easter Rising Tour and visit the GPO: Dublin is a city packed with history. The 1916 Easter Rising being such a significant event in the city makes for a great tour, visiting key spots around Dublin including the infamous General Post Office.

A picture of me and my group outside the GPO with our tour guide who took us on an Easter Rising Walking Tour of Dublin.
When I was in school we took an Easter Rising Tour of Dublin for History class.

What Is Dublin Known For?

Dublin is probably most known for being the capital city of the Republic of Ireland. Although it is also known for its political history. Dublin and the rest of Ireland were a part of the United Kingdom.

Following the Easter Rising mentioned above, the Anglo-Irish War and other significant events in Irish history, the Republic of Ireland was formed. Outside of its political history, Dublin is also known for housing the Book of Kells and of course, Dublin Castle.

A general view of the Irish is that they love a pint of Guinness and Dublin is home to the factory which you can visit. As well as Temple Bar, a world-renowned pub in Dublin. Dublin is an excellent city to explore and it is known for its bustling streets filled with other lively pubs and traditional Irish music.

A few other things which Dublin is famous for consist of being a major centre of education and industry, a hub for technology and research and lastly for the friendly Dubliner people.

A picture of Ann Street in Dublin.

Best Time To Visit Dublin

The time in which it will be more worth it to visit Dublin will be between June and August, the summer months. Ireland is notorious for its bad weather, but in the summer there are lots of warm sunny days.

Exploring Dublin in the sun is so much better than walking the streets in miserable, grey rain.

Everyone also seems to be happier in Summer, there are more festivals and parties, and in general, everyone just has a better time.

So if you can be flexible with your dates on when to visit Dublin, definitely try and visit in the Summer.

A picture of the cliffs of Howth with the sun shining. The Howth Cliff walk is another great thing to do in Dublin and is another reason I say yes to "Is Dublin worth visting?"

Where To Stay In Dublin

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In my opinion, the best hotel to stay at in Dublin is The Grafton Hotel. It is right in the heart of the city, with options to go shopping along Grafton Street, and of course, walk around St. Stephen’s Green.

It is rated 8.6 on Booking and has over 1500 overwhelmingly positive reviews. It’s one of the best options to stay in Dublin, whether you are staying one night for a concert or spending a few nights on a city break.

➡️Book a trip to the Grafton Hotel by clicking here.

How To Get Around Dublin

The best way to get around Dublin is by walking. All of the main attractions are within walking distance of each other. The most you will walk in Dublin’s centre is about 30 minutes at a maximum.

To reach Dublin Zoo or the Cliffs, you may need to use public transport, as they are located outside the city centre. Overall though, the best way is to walk.

Is Dublin Worth Visiting: FAQ

Below are some related questions to “Is Dublin worth visiting?” along with their answers.

How many days do you need to see Dublin?

Dublin is a pretty small city compared to other European capital giants. 2 days is enough time to see everything that Dublin has to offer.

Why is Dublin worth visiting?

Dublin is worth visiting and there are lots of reasons why. There are plenty of things to do like have a drink at Temple Bar or shop on Grafton Street. There’s something for everyone.

Is Dublin or London better to visit?

It depends on what you are interested in as a person. If you like history, you will probably prefer Dublin- it has over 40 museums. If you enjoy sightseeing, London definitely has more tourist attractions to see.

What’s better Belfast or Dublin?

It’s hard to choose between Belfast and Dublin. Both cities have fascinating histories and unique sights to see in the city.

Is Dublin Worth Visiting: Conclusion

And there you have it, a complete guide to whether or not Dublin is worth visiting.

To summarise, if you are wondering “Is Dublin worth visiting?” the answer is yes.

Dublin is such a special city with an abundance of great things to do during a trip. There’s a reason why over 10 million people visit Dublin each year, many of which are listed throughout this post, but you will never truly appreciate Dublin until you visit yourself.

I would recommend Dublin to anyone!