With over 700 pubs, you can’t possible visit Dublin and NOT drink a whiskey or a Guinness beer or an Irish coffee… or all of them! This is what everyone said when I told them that I’ll have to go to Dublin for work.

Well… the problem is that I don’t drink alcohol – at all! Not even cider. Yes, I’m one of those Asians who experience the “Alcohol Flush Reaction”. If only it stopped at “flushing” I definitely wouldn’t mind drinking a glass or two. Unfortunately, the symptoms of my AFL condition also results in heavy headache, horrible nausea and heightened heart rate after just two sips of alcohol. And getting sick in an Irish pub is definitely NOT what I intend to do.

So I decided to ask our fellow travellers and travel bloggers to share their favourite thing to do in capital of the Republic of Ireland, which does not involve drinking alcohol. So here’s my booze-free bucket list for Dublin:

Dublin Castle

By Anisa from Two Traveling Texans

Since I am obsessed with castles, one of my favorite things to do in Dublin is to visit Dublin Castle.  When Ireland was under UK rule, the castle was the base for the Viceroys (deputies of the British Monarch) and the Viceregal Court.  Now that Ireland is an independent country, the castle is used for inaugurations and other important functions.

We took a guided tour of Dublin Castle so we could learn more about its history going all the way back to Medieval times.  During the tour, you get to see the Medieval undercroft, Chapel Royal, and the State Apartments.  The most moving part of the tour was the Connolly Room. It was where James Connolly, who led the Easter Rising, was held captive before he was executed. It was his execution that increased the appetite for Irish independence.

Dublin Castle is located on Dame Street in the city centre, a short walk from the Temple Bar area. I recommend visiting Dublin Castle in the morning to avoid the crowds. Most of the tour is inside (except for walking between the buildings) so you don’t need to worry about the weather. You can visit the castle on either a self-guided (€7) or guided tour (€10). We did the guided tour because you get to see more of the castle and have a live guide so you can ask questions.

Trinity College Library

By Claire from This Travel Lover

My favourite thing to do in Dublin has nothing to do with bars, or beer or booze of any kind. I loved finding some culture in Dublin, at the Trinity College Library. In the library, they have an exhibition about the Book of Kells, a medieval manuscript from the 9th century containing the four gospels of Jesus Christ in intricately decorated pages. The book is beautifully drawn, with colourful pictures and calligraphy combined with Christian iconography and Celtic knots.

The Book of Kells isn’t the only thing in the library worth visiting. From the exhibition, go upstairs to the magnificent Old Library. The Long Room in the Old Library is filled with 200,000 of the library’s oldest books, including many rare and early volume editions. The library is two stories of old oak bookshelves with an arched ceiling and is the most beautiful library I’ve ever seen.

The best time to visit the exhibition and library is either first thing in the morning or last thing in the evening just before closing, so there will be fewer people and you can get great photos of the library. The tickets also have tiered pricing, so coming early or later saves you money too if you buy online. The exhibition is open 7 days a week from 9.30am, and the last tickets are for entry at 4.30pm – but you have to leave by 5pm so if you want to properly explore you may want to go at 4pm at the latest. Adult ticket prices vary from 11 euros per person to 14 euros.

Musical Pub Crawl

By Talek from Travels with Talek

One of the best things to do in Dublin is to go on a musical pub crawl. You gather at a location in an area centrally located to pubs with other music or pub aficionados, and away you go.

A guide will take you to from 2 to 4 pubs, each of which will feature drinks and a musical or dance performance. Each visit lasts about 30 minutes. The performances all display traditional Irish musical culture, be it musicians singing and playing folk songs, a troupe of Irish jig dancers, or even humorous folk ditties. Traditional Irish dance is fascinating to watch. The steps increasing velocity with astonishing speed while the feet seem not to barely touch the ground.

There are several companies around Dublin that offer this service. One I enjoyed was named “Musical Pub Crawl.” You don’t have to drink alcoholic drinks if you don’t want to. Just listen to the folk songs and enjoy a dance spectacular in a traditional Irish pub, all wrapped up in a neat little package. What a great way to spend an evening; entertaining and educational and all for €16!

St Patrick’s Cathedral

By Georgie from Journey with Georgie

I loved visiting the 12th century St Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin. It’s very easy to walk to Saint Patrick’s Cathedral from pretty much anywhere in Dublin. It’s located right in the centre of the city. There are also three bus stops just metres away from the Cathedral, or you could get a taxi/Uber.

The Cathedral is Ireland’s tallest church, however, it is not Ireland’s tallest Cathedral. In fact, it doesn’t even rank in the top ten! Nonetheless, it is still a very impressive building with a beautiful exterior and interior. Part of what makes the Cathedral so interesting is its association with the famous Patron Saint of Ireland, St Patrick. Legend says he was baptised in a well on the church grounds, which can still be seen today.

The Cathedral is over 900 years old, and has survived many disasters including fires and floods. It’s fascinating to think how many people have visited over the centuries, and one of my favourite parts of the Cathedral is the list of organists, which has been kept since the 1500s. How amazing to think that we know the names of those who played the Church organ five hundred years ago!

After visiting the Cathedral, it’s also nice to spend a little while just wandering the adjoining park. It is especially beautiful in spring and summer, and especially mid-week, when the crowds are thinner. The entrance to the Cathedral costs €8.00 for an adult. It is open from 9:30am (9:00am on Saturday) to 5:00pm from Monday to Saturday (until 6:00pm on Saturdays between March and October). On Sundays it is open to visitors from 9:00am to 10:30am and 12:30pm to 2:30pm. Between March and October it is also open between 4:30pm and 6:00pm.

Dublinia Museum

By Cath from Passports and Adventures

One of my favourite things to do in Dublin is to visit Dublinia. This interactive museum goes through the history of Dublin from the time of the Vikings, through the Middle Ages and into modern day Dublin. Located across the road from Christchurch and linked to it by a bridge, this museum gives you a chance to discover the different eras of Dublin through history.

There are three floors. The first is dedicated to the time of the Vikings. There are various displays and also actors on hand to depict the era and answer questions. You can try on Viking clothes, visit a Viking dwelling and learn about their myths and songs.

The second floor is the Middle Ages era. There are interactive displays showing old  medicines and cures, a spice market and medieval games to discover. The third floor is dedicated to History Hunters. There is a small museum displaying Viking and Medieval artefacts and an area for children to “dig” for historical treasure.

Just be aware that some of the displays might not be suitable for very young children as they depict torture. Dublinia is indoors so it can be visited at any time of the week or year. It is suitable for everyone and children from around 4 years of age. And you can easily combine your visit with one to Christchurch Cathedral across the road. It’s a must-see attraction in Dublin.

CHQ Building

By Ann Marie from Eco Conscious Traveller

I just love hanging out at CHQ Building in Dublin, especially for its architecture. Its great location means it looks out over the River Liffey and is pretty central – only a 5 to 10-minute walk to O’Connell Street. The building was constructed early in the 19th century as a warehouse to store cargos of spirits, tobacco and tea. It has been renovated in what has resulted in a truly beautiful building with a funky and modern vibe, open to the public.

It’s a great place to meet with friends for a coffee from either Starbucks or Insomnia – I always go for the Insomnia hot chocolates. TOSS’D Noodles & Salads do such delicious and healthy food too. What’s great about the building though is you can head there and sit in the chairs even if you don’t want to buy anything from any of the cafes. So it’s a good place to kill some time with a friend if you’re trying to escape the rain or waiting for a bus.

They often have interesting and free exhibitions – at the time of writing this there’s a great exhibition of the role of Irish women throughout history in the area of science, literature, politics and more. The CHQ building is also home to EPIC, the Irish Emigration Museum. There’s an entry fee to get in (15euro for adults) but it’s well worth it for anyone interested in Irish history.

Dublin Writer’s Museum

By Jo from Beyond the Lamppost

Ireland is known as the home of some of the world’s best writers, including James Joyce, Jonathan Swift, Oscar Wilde and Samuel Beckett. And Dublin is the heart in which to explore them all. Whether you’re a die-hard fan or just want to dip your toes into the world of Irish literature, a visit to the Dublin Writer’s Museum has something for you.

Housed in a beautiful old building, and containing a library of literary works – as well as information and artefacts from the authors themselves – there is everything you’d expect of a traditional museum. Keep your eye on their events page as well for details of readings, performances and upcoming exhibitions to make the most of your visit.

The museum is open year round (public holidays excepted) and it’s a straight walk up O’Connell Street from the bridge to Parnell Square. Entry costs €7.50 for adults and €4.70 for children.

Local Bookshops

By Carol from Wayfaring Views 

Dublin’s excellent collection of bookstores is an outgrowth of its literary history. Dublin is a UNESCO designated city of literature and it’s full of libraries and literary sites. These well-preserved traditions have fertilized an environment that is conducive to ideas… and there’s no better place to find new ideas than in a bookshop.

Dublin is fortunate to have a very high-quality selection of independent bookshops, even their chainstores are better than usual. You could spend a whole day just checking out the bookshops, which I did while working on this list of the best bookshops in Dublin.

If you don’t have that much time, here are a few shops that are conveniently located to other popular Dublin tourist spots:
In Temple Bar: The Gutter Bookshop. This tidy little shop doesn’t carry everything, but they do carry the best things.
Near Trinity College: Books Upstairs. They have an excellent selection of books from Irish authors and a cute coffee shop upstairs.
On Grafton Street: Dubrey Books. You can escape the busy shopping street into this three-story bookshop, which has a good staff pics table and a café upstairs with tasty cakes.

Kilmainham Gaol

By Dan from Honeymoon Always

Kilmainham Gaol is a former prison in Dublin that is actually the largest unoccupied prison in Europe. Kilmainham Gaol has a rich history. Irish revolutionaries were held and later executed on the grounds. Thousands of others did time here, even committing crimes to go to jail during hard economic times where meals and shelter were guaranteed.

The jail is now a museum where you can tour and learn its history. When we travel, I like to see attractions that shine a different light than most of the attractions provide. The former jail shows a bit of the darker side of Dublin. The most impactful part was reading the letter of young inmates to their parents.

For a guided tour you are required to make a reservation or arrive early to obtain a time slot to return. Visiting during the week is best, but as long as you have a reservation you do not have to worry about huge crowds since groups are limited to 35 people. Entry and a tour cost 8 Euro with family discounts available. Kilmainham Gaol is located on several bus lines or is a short drive from Dublin’s city center.

Comedy Show

By Jessica from Uprooted Traveler

Everyone knows that the Irish are famous for their engaging storytelling. So it should come as no surprise that Dublin is bursting at the seams with stand-up comedy and improv nights all over the city. Not only did these shows have me crying with laughter. They also offered me, an American visitor, a unique glimpse into the life of an Irish citizen, from dating woes to political musings, to how Ireland (and really, the world) views Americans.

And the best part? These shows are often free or extremely inexpensive. For example, the Stag’s Head hosts free comedy every Monday night (they even throw in free ice cream for you!) from  21:00 to 23:00. Or, alternatively, the International Bar has nightly comedy shows ranging from 5 to 10 euros (times vary). While you’re obviously free to grab a drink if you like, there’s no pressure to drink anything alcoholic. Instead, feel free to grab a soda from the bar, kick up your feet, and get ready for a night of that classic Irish storytelling, with, of course, a hearty helping of belly laughs.

National Museum of Natural History

By Sander from Ars Currendi

I found myself in the Natural History Museum in Dublin by accident. I originally planned to visit the Archaeology Museum, but that one turned out to be closed at the time when I was in Dublin. So, after some quick Googling, I found out that the Natural History Museum was open at that time and the reviews looked promising. Normally, I’m not a huge fan of museums, but I decided to give this one a try. And I’m very glad I did.

This museum features multiple floors with all kinds of stuffed animals. And no, I’m not talking about the kind of stuffed animals your kids sleep with. I’m talking about taxidermy. Even if you don’t realise it, watching a life-sized stuffed moose is everything you’ve ever dreamt of. And if that’s not quite enough, you still get to see a bunch of insects and smaller animals.

The Guinness Storehouse

By Alan from More Passport Stamps

The Guinness Storehouse tour is my favourite thing to do in Dublin. Even if you don’t drink alcohol, it is a worthy addition to anyone’s itinerary. Located in the heart of Dublin, the Guinness factory tour sees you guided through its very own storehouse, which is shaped like a pint of Guinness!

The building is so vast that it would take 14.3 million pints of Guinness to fill it. Each of the many floors is filled with information and history on this world famous stout. And for those who do drink alcohol, once you reach the top you even receive a complimentary pint! Getting there is easy, it’s walkable from the city center, or you can jump on the 123 bus to save your legs. I do recommend pre-booking a fast track ticket though as this is a very popular attraction and queues can be long during busy periods. Pre-booked singles start at €16 per person but further discounts are available for groups.

Street Art

By Becca from Always Carry On

If you want a cultural city break that doesn’t break the bank, then consider Dublin – where you can walk all over, for FREE, and see some amazing pieces of street art. A lot of people think that Dublin is only for lairy stag parties and getting drunk, but there’s definitely more to Dublin than just Guinness (though I did drink a lot of the black stuff when I visited the Irish capital in February 2017).

Although it was a bit of a dreary, damp weekend, I managed to snap some colourful pics of street art, which certainly brightened the place up. These included a beautiful piece by Dublin’s own Solus, and a controversial Trump piece by Irish stencil artist ADW. The piece, which only went up the week before I arrived, caused quite a stir in the Irish news. It’s been painted over now – but you never know what you might find when roaming the streets of Ireland’s biggest city.

GAA Match in Croke Park

By Roz from Irish Nomads 

Nothing is more quintessentially Irish than the GAA. Around since 1884, the most popular GAA games are hurling, Gaelic football and camogie – games played with ash sticks, leather balls and a lack of appreciation for the rules. Of course, all of this makes it a spectacle to watch and a must-do for your trip to Ireland.

Croke Park in Dublin is GAA HQ and also the biggest stadium in Ireland and nothing will beat joining 80,000 hardcore Irish fanatics cheering on their county at a championship game on Sundays during the summer months. Make sure to join the droves of people walking from Jones’ Road to O’Connell Street for pints after the match. Without a doubt, the best match of the year to attend is the All-Ireland Final in September. The stadium will be packed, the match will surely involve controversy and the atmosphere in Dublin will be rocking. Check online for game schedules and buy tickets in the local supermarkets or on www.gaa.ie. Croke Park is only a 15-minute walk from the city centre and will be easy to find – just follow all of the GAA jersey-wearing fans.

Celtic Dance Show at the Arlington Hotel

By Carrick from Along For The Trip 

One of our very favorite things about Dublin is the music and dance, and there’s no shortage of either in Ireland’s capital. During a recent trip, we booked tickets to see the Celtic Nights dinner show at the Arlington Hotel and loved every second. This popular show runs seven nights a week at the Arlington Hotel right by the famous O’Connell Bridge in central Dublin. Guests enjoy a 3-course traditional Irish dinner, drinks, and some amazing music and dance.

The performances are excellent, and while the setting isn’t quite as intimate as a pub might be, the performers interact with the audience well and provide a nice history of the music and culture. A highlight is the famous Brush dance as well as lots of spirited Irish “hard shoe” step dancing as you would expect. We felt the dinner was tasty and the €34.95/pp fee was worth it. Families with children are offered a less expensive, kid-friendly menu, but our kids enjoyed the traditional fare. No matter what time of year you visit Dublin, make sure to take in a show for some authentic music and dance. You’ll love it!

Saint Stephens Green

By Eoien from Dollys Quest

Saint Stephens Green is one of the most popular public parks to visit in Dublin throughout the year. The Victorian gardens are steeped in history, beautifully designed and ideally located close to Grafton Street, Irelands no.1 shopping location.

Like myself, most visitors enjoy a break in the park form the usual hustle and bustle of the city, especially during the summer months when the weather is better and draws crowds of people relaxing in the sun. Visitors can discover a few beautiful sculptures and art pieces celebrating Irish culture and history.

Also, another great addition is Saint Stephen Green shopping centre. This is located just opposite the park and is home to a few brand stores, but also quite a few independently owned stores selling everything from clothes to jewellery. It’s an ideal location to escape the weather should it turn bad, which it will most likely do in Dublin at some stage. To reach the park, simply grab a map of the city or ask a local, as Dublin is nicely compact. It’s easy to find and a great way to spend away a few hours of the day.

Irish Whisky Museum

From Victoria from Bridges and Balloons

Everyone knows about the Guinness Museum, but for a more intimate experience, try the Irish Whiskey Museum. Even if you don’t drink alcohol, it’s worth visiting. It’s a quirky little place to where you get taken on a guided tour through the history of Irish whiskey, from how monks first produced it to how its made today. And at the end you get to do a little whiskey tasting if you want to. The guides are really entertaining and it’s a fun way to get better acquainted with the famous drink. They also offer a blending experience where you can blend your own miniature bottle of whiskey.

The one-hour classic tour costs €20 and includes a tasting of three whiskeys. Pay an extra €3 and you can try an aged whiskey too. The tours run every 30 minutes. And the blending experience costs €30, starting daily at 4pm and 6pm. The museum is located in the centre of Dublin, next to the entrance to Trinity College.

Dinner and Storytelling at Brazen Head

By Jim and Inna from Executive Thrillseekers  

The brazen head is everything you’d want it to be when trying to escape all the local tourist traps they’ve set for you in Dublin. Sure at first it appears to be just another one of them. But when you sit down for your meal and a show, you’ll see yourself surrounded by plenty of locals as well. Or course, it is a bar per se, the oldest one in Ireland to be exact, dating back to 1198.

Depending on the night you visit you can find yourself immersed in captivating stories of Irish folklore and magical stories of Ireland’s past, or you can find yourself tuned in to some of the best musicians Ireland has to offer. Open 7 days a week and serving up Irish stews, pints of Guinness, and yes they even offer gluten-free and vegetarian options to make a well-rounded menu for all to enjoy. While lunch may be the cheaper option it’s highly recommended that you don’t miss the chance to see the entertainment for the night here.

The Ben of Howth

By Teresa from Brogan Abroad

Many people don’t think of Dublin as an adventure city, but if you enjoy the outdoors, you are in the right place. Only 30 minutes on the DART from the centre of Dublin, the fishing village of Howth has one of the best walks in the city and maybe the country.

The Ben of Howth is a hilly area in the peninsula of the same name that offers some of the best views of Dublin Bay and the Irish Sea. With a 4,000-year-old history, going for a walk in the Ben of Howth you will encounter all sorts of enchanting Irish delights.

Howth Castle, which has been home to the same family for over 800 years, will be the first major sight you will come across. The castle has recently been sold to a hospitality company, but you can still enjoy the magnificent building on your walk. Within the Deer Park you will find the spectacular Rhododendron Gardens, with specimens that were planted in the nineteenth century. By one of the trails in the woods is Aileen’s Grave, one of the oldest monuments in Ireland said to be the burial place of Aideen, an important figure in Irish mythology, and also a portal to the fairy world. Will you dare enter the portal?

Food Walking Tour

By Cailin from Travel Yourself

When people think of Ireland and food, then usually it’s Guinness, meat and potatoes that come to mind. However Ireland is a country full of so many more culinary delights. Taking a food walking tour around Dublin with Fabulous Food Trails is one of the best ways to sample some of the best Irish food.

The Fabulous Food Trails have friendly knowledgeable guides. They will take you off the tourist track to places you might have never enjoyed on your own. Stop by a local market for fresh oysters, learn where to get the city’s best sausage rolls, enjoy fresh local cheeses, chocolates and more. Not only will you be delightfully full after this tour, but you will now also know a lot of great places to visit and eat at again.

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After reading these tips and ideas, I’m really looking forward to exploring Dublin. Have you ever visited any of these places?

Or which other spots in Dublin would you suggest?

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