Dublin is a city of storytellers—founded by Vikings, forged by scholars and revolutionaries, and still fueled by conversation. Its name comes from Dubh Linn, the “black pool,” once a tidal pond below Dublin Castle; today, those waters have receded, but the tales haven’t. You’ll find Georgian elegance, boisterous pubs, and a food scene that has leapt confidently into the spotlight.

Across five days, you’ll trace vellum pages in the Old Library, sip stout atop the city, wander windswept cliffs in Howth, and step into monastic valleys older than Europe’s universities. Dublin is compact and walkable, yet its surroundings—Wicklow’s granite peaks and Kilkenny’s medieval lanes—are an easy escape. Expect friendly chat (craic), live music, and menus that mix Irish tradition with modern flair.

Practical notes: pack for quick weather swings and book timed-entry sights (Kilmainham Gaol, Book of Kells) in advance. Tap on/off public transport with a Leap card. Flying within Europe is short and frequent via Omio flights; from outside Europe, check fares on Trip.com or Kiwi.com. Trains and buses within Ireland and the UK are easy to compare on Omio trains and Omio buses.

Dublin

UNESCO City of Literature, home to Wilde, Joyce, and a million anecdotes told over a perfect pint. The historic core fans out from Trinity College to the Liffey’s bridges and the cobbles of Temple Bar. Georgian squares glow at sunset, and in Smithfield and the Liberties you can feel old industries morphing into galleries, roasteries, and kitchens.

Don’t miss: the Book of Kells and Old Library; Dublin Castle and the Chester Beatty; St. Patrick’s and Christ Church Cathedrals; Kilmainham Gaol; Phoenix Park; EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum; and the Guinness Storehouse. For fresh sea air, hop the DART to Howth for a cliff walk and plate of Irish brown crab.

• Where to stay: For five-star heritage by St. Stephen’s Green, see The Merrion Hotel or the storied Shelbourne. Stylish, quiet value near the canal: Clayton Hotel Burlington Road. Budget-friendly design and private rooms: Generator Dublin. Browse more stays on Hotels.com or apartments on VRBO.
• Getting in: Flights from London take ~1 hr (often $40–$120 one-way) via Omio flights. Paris–Dublin is ~1h50. From Belfast, trains to Dublin are ~2h10 and €15–€30 on Omio trains. Coming from outside Europe? Compare fares on Trip.com or Kiwi.com. Dublin Airport coaches to city center run ~30–40 minutes, ~€8–€10; taxis ~€30–€40.

Day 1: Arrive, Orient, and an Elegant Dublin Evening

Afternoon: Land in Dublin and drop bags. Grab a flat white and cardamom granola at Tang (healthy, bright flavors) or a classic tea and sticky bun under stained glass at Bewley’s Grafton Street. Then get your bearings with the flexible Dublin Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour—live commentary, 25+ stops, and entry to the Little Museum included.

Evening: Dinner near Grafton Street. Book Etto (seasonal small plates; famous for featherblade and crispy capers) or riverside The Winding Stair (Irish cheeses, cockles and mussels, and a view across the Ha’penny Bridge). Nightcap at Victorian gem The Long Hall (etched glass, mahogany, stellar pints) or Neary’s beside the Gaiety Theatre.

Day 2: Medieval to Georgian Dublin—Cathedrals, Castles, and the Old Library

Morning: Join a priority-access city deep dive: St Patrick's Cathedral, Book of Kells and Dublin Castle Tour. You’ll move briskly through centuries—from the 9th‑century gospel artistry of the Book of Kells to the vaulted nave of Ireland’s national cathedral and the State Apartments that once housed viceroys.

Afternoon: Lunch at The Pepper Pot Café in Powerscourt Townhouse (pear and bacon sandwich on house-baked bread) or vegetarian landmark Cornucopia (hearty stews, salads, and cakes). Stroll St. Stephen’s Green, then dip into the National Museum of Archaeology for exquisite Tara brooches and bog bodies—free and fascinating.

Evening: Celebrate Irish pours on the top-rated combo: Dublin Jameson Distillery and Guinness Storehouse Guided Tour. It pairs the award-winning Bow St. whiskey experience with the multimedia Guinness journey, typically wrapping with a sky-high pint at Gravity Bar.

Afterward, dine at Michelin-starred Variety Jones (open-fire cooking; communal plates) or cozy seafood at Fish Shop (Benburb St.; hake and chips with natural wine). For a whiskey-led nightcap, try The Palace Bar on Fleet Street.

Day 3: Sea Air and Song—Howth Cliffs, Gaol Stories, and Trad Music

Morning: Take the DART to Howth (30–35 minutes; ~€3–€4). Coffee from Bodega on Harbour Road, then walk the Howth Cliff Loop to the Bailey Lighthouse—heather, gannets, and vast views back to Dublin Bay. If seas are calm, detour down to hidden beaches like Red Rock.

Afternoon: Feast on seafood: Aqua (panoramic dining over the water; crab claws with garlic butter), King Sitric (classic fish and shellfish), or casual Beshoff Bros (golden, vinegary chips). Return to the city for Kilmainham Gaol (book a timed slot) to feel the weight of the 1916 Rising in stone corridors. Nearby coffee at Groundstate (specialty brews, excellent toasties).

Evening: Dinner in the Liberties or Smithfield: Spitalfields (award-winning Irish cooking—crubeens, beef cheek suet pie) or hardwood-fired Mister S (smoked short rib, charred hispi). For live, unamplified traditional music, head to The Cobblestone in Smithfield—fiddles, pipes, and a friendly crowd; go early to snag a seat.

Day 4: Full-Day Excursion—Wicklow Mountains, Glendalough & Medieval Kilkenny

Leave Dublin for Ireland’s “Garden County” on the acclaimed Dublin to Glendalough, Wicklow and Kilkenny Full Day Guided Tour. You’ll wind through sheep-dotted passes to the monastic city of Glendalough (round tower, twin lakes), then continue to Kilkenny for alleyway walks, craft shops, and a castle that anchors Ireland’s medieval mile. Expect a 9–10 hour day with expert commentary and photo stops galore.

Back in Dublin, keep dinner simple: Bunsen (short burger menu done right), modern Italian at Rosa Madre in Temple Bar (raw tuna with Amalfi lemon; lobster tagliatelle), or a neighborhood pint and pie at L. Mulligan Grocer in Stoneybatter.

Day 5: Docklands Stories, Museums, and a Grand Farewell

Morning: Explore the rejuvenated quays. At EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum, interactive galleries trace Irish journeys to the world—expect stories of music, sport, science, and diaspora identity. Coffee at roastery-led 3fe on Grand Canal Street (filter flight or a silky flat white) and a stroll by the “Silicon Docks.”

Afternoon: Lunch at Bread 41 (legendary sourdough, sausage rolls, seasonal veg bakes) or Brother Hubbard (Levantine plates: mezze, harissa chicken, maple-roast squash). Pop into the Little Museum of Dublin (if not already via your hop-on ticket) for a witty, artifact-packed hour; then photograph Merrion Square’s colorful Georgian doors and the Oscar Wilde statue.

Evening: Finish in style. Book Chapter One by Mickael Viljanen (two Michelin stars; Irish ingredients treated with Nordic precision) or the intimate Bastible in Dublin 8 (seasonal tasting menu). For ice cream, try Murphy’s (Dingle sea salt, caramelized brown bread). Raise a final toast at Kehoe’s or Toners—two timeless pubs where snug rooms, chatter, and creamy stout bring the trip full circle.

Optional Add-Ons (Swap into Any Day)

• Guided city ramble: If you prefer a creative, guide-led intro on Day 1 or 2, consider the Dublin Highlights and Hidden Gems Guided Walking Tour—actors and writers lead you through stories behind statues, lanes, and literary haunts.

  

• Ferries and rail: Coming via Wales? Compare train–ferry combos on Omio ferries and Omio trains (Holyhead–Dublin sailings ~3h15).

Booking & Local Tips: Reserve Kilmainham Gaol and top restaurants a week or more in advance, especially Thu–Sat. Most pubs welcome walk-ins; for trad music, arrive before the session starts. Tipping: 10–12% in restaurants for good service; not required at pubs. Many places are cashless—cards widely accepted.

Where to Stay—Quick Picks:

• Classic luxury: The Merrion Hotel (pool, art, quiet courtyards), The Shelbourne (historic grande dame on the Green).
• Smart mid-range: Clayton Hotel Burlington Road (spacious rooms, swift buses into center).
• Design on a budget: Generator Dublin (private rooms available, steps from Smithfield and the LUAS).
• Apartments: Browse city-center flats on VRBO.

Tours Featured in This Itinerary:

• Dublin Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour with Guide and Little Museum Entry

  

• St Patrick's Cathedral, Book of Kells and Dublin Castle Tour

  

• Dublin Jameson Distillery and Guinness Storehouse Guided Tour

  

• Dublin to Glendalough, Wicklow and Kilkenny Full Day Guided Tour

  

Five days in Dublin lets you sample the best of Ireland in miniature: manuscript treasures, revolutionary landmarks, cliff-top breezes, and music that lifts the room. You’ll leave with a camera roll of Georgian doors, a palate tuned to brown bread and butter, and a promise to return for one more story at the bar.