Welcome to Dublin, the vibrant heart of the Emerald Isle! Nestled on Ireland’s eastern coast, this charismatic city combines rich history, warm hospitality, and a thriving cultural scene, all set against a backdrop of verdant landscapes and the tranquil River Liffey. Join us as we embark on an exciting adventure through Dublin, where every cobblestone street tells a story, and every pub echoes with the tunes of traditional music.
In this travel blog, we’ll uncover some of the magic of Dublin while also taking you to the amazing Blarney Castle and the majestic Cliffs of Moher. Ireland’s history is etched in every stone, from the ancient monastic sites that dot the landscape to the medieval castles that stand as silent sentinels. Nature takes center stage in Ireland, with landscapes that seem plucked from the pages of a fairy tale. From the dramatic Cliffs of Moher to the serene beauty of the Ring of Kerry, Ireland’s scenic wonders will leave you breathless.
As we journey together through Ireland, this travel itinerary will be your guide, offering insights into the best places to visit over the course of 2 days. So pack your bags, don your walking shoes, and prepare to be swept away by the magic of Dublin and Ireland!
When I am researching activities and things to see in a new city, I wish I found more itineraries that ranked the list of activities they recommend. Everyone’s time is different in a new city and it’s important to be able to prioritize activities that are a MUST versus activities that are nice, but could possibly be skipped. I like to schedule my days and build an itinerary with one MUST item, one TRY TO DO item, and one SKIP item a day in case something happens or we are too tired, we can always hit the MUST item and SKIP the item that’s not as important.
★★★ MUST SEE
★★ TRY TO DO
★ SKIP (BUT WORTH IF YOU HAVE TIME)
★★★ Cliffs of Moher
★★★ Blarney Castle
★★ Cork
★★ Walk Around Dublin
★ Dunguaire Castle
Use these jumps to navigate to a specific day or just keep scrolling to read the full itinerary!
When: August 2019
Who: My Best Friend and I (just 2 adults) ~ we did more of a budget trip as we just had graduated college and hadn’t started full time work yet
Where we stayed: Arbour Hill
Day 1 Information ~
Airbnb ~ where we booked our accommodation
Arrive in Dublin: We arrived in Dublin around mid-day. We headed straight to our Airbnb to check in from the airport. Our Airbnb was about a 7 mile drive and we took an Uber.
Check into Airbnb: We stayed in a suburb of Dublin in an Airbnb. It was definitely a budget option, but we got our own bedroom and bathroom. Our host was super pleasant. It cost us ~$100 a night. It was hard to find a budget Airbnb. The area we stayed is called Arbour Hill and it’s near Phoenix Park.
★★Walk Around Dublin: We ventured into downtown area to walk around. We took the public transportation (a bus) into downtown and it only took ~20 mins. We walked by Dublin Castle (didn’t go in), Guinness Storehouse, and shopped for some souvenirs.
Dinner: We went to a restaurant downtown named Elephant and Castle and had some tasty burgers. Afterwards we got drinks at Temple Bar.
Day 2 Information ~
Full Day Blarney Castle Tour Paddywagon Tours ~ reserve your day ahead of time online
★★★Blarney Castle: We did a full day Blarney Castle Tour from Dublin through Paddywagon Tours. It was ~80 euros per person and we reserved our tickets ahead of time online. Our tour included transportation to Blarney Castle, lunch, tickets to Blarney Castle, and more. We stopped in ★★Cork to have lunch and got some time to explore. Blarney Castle is a historic castle renowned for its rich history, stunning architecture, and the Blarney Stone. According to legend, kissing the stone endows a person with the gift of eloquence and persuasive speech. To kiss the stone, visitors must lean backwards over a parapet from the castle’s battlements. It was quite the experience! We left around 8AM and returned around 8PM. I definitely recommend this tour!.
Day 3 Information ~
Full Day Cliffs of Moher Tour Paddywagon Tour ~ reserve your day ahead of time online
★★★Cliffs of Moher: We did another full day tour to the Cliffs of Moher this time through Paddywagon Tours. It was ~75 euros per person and we reserved our tickets ahead of time online. We did have one stop at ★Dunguaire Castle on the way to the cliffs. Our tour included transportation, lunch, and tickets to the Cliffs of Moher. This tour was my favorite of the two we did. The height of these majestic cliffs stretch for miles along the west coast and the beauty is unmatched. We did multiple different walking trails, but be prepared as it’s VERY windy so bring a wind jacket and don’t get too close to the edge of the cliff. The tour started at 8AM, but we got back early. Cliffs of Moher are a MUSE SEE
It was time for us to go home, sadly. Though I wish we could have explored North Ireland, Scotland, or the UK.
We flew to Iceland to catch our roundtrip flight back home (Reykjavik to Dallas). The airline was American Airlines and it was around ~$400 roundtrip! It was such a good deal!
Dublin experiences a temperate maritime climate influenced by the Atlantic Ocean. The weather in Dublin is characterized by mild temperatures and relatively high levels of precipitation throughout the year. Here’s an overview of the weather:
Spring: Highs will be around 55℉
Spring: Lows will be around 45℉
Summer: Highs will be around 68℉
Summer: Lows will be around 63℉
Autumn: Highs will be around 64℉
Autumn: Lows will be around 57℉
Winter: Highs will be around 50℉
Winter: Lows will be around 46℉
Dublin offers a wide range of accommodations to suit various preferences and budgets. The city has a diverse selection of neighborhoods, each with its own character and attractions. Here are some popular areas to consider:
Dublin offers and efficient and well-developed public transportation system that includes buses, trams, trains, etc. Here is an overview:
