2 days in Dublin: best things to see and must-have itinerary

How to spend 2 days in Dublin: a Dublin Itinerary. best things to see in Dublin, where to eat, how to plan your day at best.

Dublin is a lovely destination for a city break and a place I always recommend when people ask for quick getaway ideas in Europe.

A small capital city, I often think of Dublin as the best of both worlds: a dynamic city with a lot to offer yet a compact enough size which means it is not overwhelming not daunting to explore.

This is my favorite way to see Dublin in 2 days.

This post contains affiliate links. Should you make a purchase through them, we might make a small commission, at no extra cost to you.

Visiting Dublin in two days: need to know

Can you see Dublin in 2 days?

Two days are a good amount of time to see Dublin and get a taste of what the city has to offer.

In 2 days only, you will not be able to go very deep into the character of the city, however, you will be able to see the city’s main sights and have a feeling that you have ‘seen Dublin’

What to do in Dublin in two days?

In this article, I share my detailed itinerary to make the most of 2 days in Dublin.

At a glance, with 2 days in Dublin fair city you can expect to see some of the city’s must see sites, visit the Guinness storehouse for an iconic pint of Guinness, experience one of the city’s famous pubs and, if you want, tap into the cool Dublin’s food scene and nightlife.

What is the best area to stay in Dublin for a short break?

If your budget allows it, I highly recommend you pick accommodation in the city center, ideally in the area around Trinity College / Merrion Square.

This is a perfect location for sightseeing and puts you walking distance from almost all the attractions on this itinerary.

2 days in Dublin itinerary

Start your day with a filling breakfast

There is no better way to start a day in a new city than indulging in a nice breakfast and Dublin is generous of options.

Dublin hotels usually offer a selection of cereals, croissants, toast, cold cuts and cooked dishes but you can also have great and cheaper breakfast options around town.

You can go for coffee and croissants, in which case I recommend ‘Le Petit Parisienne’ on Wicklow street – which ok, is not Irish but lovely and right in the center of town.

If you fancy pancaked or a full breakfast menu with egg, choices yogurt and granola, I recommend you try Balfes in the Westbury Hotel, just off Grafton Street, in town.

If you prefer, you can also go old style with a full-on Irish breakfast with is a super tasty, albeit a heavily fried extravaganza of sausages, bacon, eggs, beans and more.

Good places for this are Bewleys on Grafton street, which is also an iconic cafe in Dublin for its historical value and Hatch and Sons, which is more modern and artistic in style (several locations)

Visit Trinity College and the Book of Kells

After breakfast, I recommend you make your way to Trinity College and the Book of Kells, one of the most important attractions in Dublin and a must-see.

Trinity College is the oldest university in Ireland and it is interesting for visitors from many points of view.

The campus itself is lovely and worth seeing for its architecture and studenty buzz. Its ancient library is a marvel of architecture and has a copy of each book ever published in Ireland, an absolute marvel of a place!

Last but not least, Trinity College hosts the exhibition of the books of Kells, which is a medieval manuscript with unbelievably beautiful miniature writing, dating back to the 9th century.

You can read here >>> all about Trinity College and the Book of Kells + how to visit

Trinity College Campus is open and free to visit, while the Book of Kells and the library are ticketed attractions; the same ticket allows you into both (they are on different floors in the same building.)

You can get skip the line tickets here

Have coffee near Grafton Street

After Trinity College, you may feel like a coffee break and this is a great opportunity to take a stroll in the Grafton Street area and find a place you fancy.

This is the main street in Dublin Center South, it is closed to traffic and has a plethora of coffee, restaurants and shops options to suit absolutely every taste.

Some options are on Grafton Street itself, but you can find more character in the smaller streets around it: Wicklow Street and George’s market arcade are great for coffee and people watching.

This is also an area of vintage shops and record shops and can be fun for snooping around or shop.

Have lunch at Temple Bar

Temple Bar is a street in Dublin city center famous for nightlife, however, I find it much more pleasant during the day, when you can see how pretty the street actually is and when you can notice some of its non-drinking attractions.

As well as many nice restaurants it is worth taking a walk here to see the IFI (Irish film institute, with some interesting moves and a nice cafe), the Irish Music Wall of Fame, which is a tribute to Irish artists and bands, and the nearby Ha’Penny Bridge, a Dublin icon.

Places I like for lunch here are the Poort House (Spanish), the Queen of Tarts (Tarts, sandwiches etc), Milano (Italian, good for families with kids too) but really, the choice is almost endless.

Visit Dublin Castle

For the last cultural visit of the day I recommend you visit Dublin Castle, a short walk from Temple Bar.

Depending on your interests, you can visit the castle inside, you can just take a walk along its (small) grounds or visit the Chester Beatty, which is a wonderful free museum hosted in the grounds of the castle and wit an incredible collection of treasures from North Africa, Middle East and Asia.

Have dinner with music at the Brazen Head

A day in Dublin wouldn’t be complete without a night in a pub listening to traditional music and a good place to do that but also get a meal is The Brazen Head, the oldest pub in Dublin (it dates back to 1198!).

If you prefer a more modern setting instead, you can take your pick among the infinite places in Dublin city center.

Some I like are Rosa Madre (Italian, Temple Bar), the Poort House (Spanish, South William Street), Opium (Asian, Camden street area, nice but a little loud, feels a little like a club), the exchequer (Irish, European, Wicklow street area)

Dublin day two itinerary

Start with a visit to St Patrick’s Cathedral

On day two I recommend you start with a visit to St Patrick’s Cathedral, the National Cathedral for the Church of Ireland and one of the most beautiful in the country.

The church is worth seeing for its impressive naves and architecture but also for the important personalities buried here including  Jonathan Swift, author of Gulliver’s Travels, who was Dean of Saint Patrick’s Cathedral in the 1700s and now rests here.

Visit haunted Marsh’s Library

Just around the corner from the main entrance to St Patrick’s cathedral, you find the Marsh’s library, one of my favorite attractions in the whole of Dublin!

The library is compact yet stunning, with rooms and rooms covered in books, and it is said to be inhabited by the Ghost of Archbishop Narcissus Marsh, who died in 1713 and is buried just outside of the library!

Have a lunch near Dame Street

St Patrick’s Cathedral is close to the same area you explored the day before and I recommend you go back to the Dame Street / Temple Bar area for lunch.

This will give you a good selection of places to choose from but also put you in the right place to catch a bus to your next destination, the Guinness Storehouse!

Visit the Guinness Storehouse

Guinness is, for many, the first thing that comes to mind when you say ‘Dublin’ and indeed, it is an iconic drink and one you have to taste at least once in Dublin, even if you had it before (It is just better here!).

The best way to enjoy a pint of Guinness and also learn about it is by taking a tour of the impressive Guinness Storehouse, an absolutely wonderful architectural space and one of the best Dublin attractions of all.

The tour shows and explains the making of Guinness and finishes with something special: a complimentary drink at the Gravity Bar, the panoramic bar at the top of the Storehouse with 360 degrees views over Dublin.

Non-drinkers are welcome too: you can choose between Guinness and nonalcoholic beverages as part of the visit.

The Storehouse gets busy: make sure you grab your tickets well in advance here.

Have dinner in town

For the last night in town, I recommend you head back to the city center and have dinner first, then head to a pub for a last drink.

My favorite area is between Dame Street, Grafton Street and Camden street. As mentioned above some you may want to try are Rosa Madre (Italian, Temple Bar), the Poort House (Spanish, South William Street), Opium (Asian, Camden street area, nice but a little loud, feels a little like a club), the Exchequer (Irish, European, Wicklow street area)

If, after dinner, you feel like a local Irish pub experience, this area is also generous of options.

Nice places for a real pub night are the Long Hall and Grogan’s but Dublin City Center is full of pubs and bars so you won’t have a problem finding one to your taste!

I hope you enjoyed this itinerary to se Dublin in 2 days and gave you some good ideas. Safe Ireland travel planning!