Dublin, Ireland

Dublin is a city that tells you exactly what it is on the first walk down Grafton Street — literary, musical, pub-haunted, warm, and slightly chaotic. It is small enough to feel like a town but cosmopolitan enough to feel like a capital. The welcome is genuine, the Guinness is perfect, and the combination of Georgian architecture, Viking heritage, and a vibrant modern culture makes it one of Europe's most likeable cities. You will not come for the most stunning sights in Europe; you will come for an atmosphere that keeps people coming back for decades.

Dublin is also a city that knows how to make a first-time visitor feel at home. The literary heritage is everywhere — plaques on every door, statues in every square, the volume of writing that has emerged from this one city staggering (four Nobel laureates, more Pulitzer winners for fiction than any city outside New York, the home of James Joyce, Samuel Beckett, W.B. Yeats, Oscar Wilde, Jonathan Swift, Bram Stoker, and a great many living writers). The pub culture is the engine room of social life, and the trad session — live traditional music, often unplanned, often free — is the most authentic nightlife experience in Europe.

This guide is for travellers who want to experience Dublin as a city to live in for a few days, not as a checklist of monuments. It covers where to stay (from the great Georgian hotels of Merrion Square to the design hotels of the Docklands), where to eat (from the rules of formal Irish dining to the modern food halls of Fade Street), what to see (the iconic sights and the less obvious ones), and how to structure a 2-3 day visit that does not feel like a forced march.

Best Places to Stay

Dublin's accommodation is famously expensive at the top end and surprisingly affordable at the budget end. The most central neighbourhoods — the Georgian core around Merrion Square and St. Stephen's Green, the Temple Bar and Trinity College area, Ballsbridge and the Grand Canal — are the most expensive. The northside (Drumcondra, Glasnevin), the docklands (Point Village, Grand Canal Dock), and the edges of the Liberties are cheaper and well connected. Where you stay will shape your Dublin: a Merrion Square base means walking past the National Gallery on the way to dinner, while a Docklands base means a different city entirely — one of tech offices, modern restaurants, and the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre.

Merrion Square and the Georgian Core: The most prestigious central address, on the southside, with the best of Dublin's grand Georgian hotels. The Merrion Hotel (Upper Merrion Street) is the city's most celebrated luxury hotel, occupying four restored Georgian townhouses opposite Government Buildings, with a 2-acre private garden, an art collection that includes works by many of the leading Irish painters, and a spa in the original 18th-century cellar. The Westbury (Grafton Street) is the discreet luxury choice in the heart of the shopping district, with a famous afternoon tea in the marble-decorated Gallery. The Marker Hotel (Grand Canal Square) is the contemporary Docklands choice, a sleek design hotel with a rooftop bar and views over the Grand Canal and the city. The Fitzwilliam Hotel (St. Stephen's Green North) is a small but very well-run luxury option steps from Grafton Street and the Green, with a Michelin-listed restaurant, Glovers Alley, on the ground floor. The Shelbourne Hotel (St. Stephen's Green North) is the city's most storied grand hotel, opened in 1824, where the Irish Constitution was drafted in 1922 — full Georgian grandeur, Afternoon Tea in the Lord Mayor's Lounge, and the No. 27 Bar and The Saddle Room restaurant.

Ballsbridge, Grand Canal, and the Southside: A pleasant residential area south of the canal, with some of the city's best restaurants and the RDS, Aviva Stadium, and the US Embassy. The InterContinental Dublin (Simmonscourt Road) is a 19th-century former residential property in four acres of gardens, a luxurious option with a large spa and a fine-dining restaurant, Seasons. The Clayton Hotel Burlington Road (Burlington Road) is a reliable modern four-star with a good location for the RDS, Aviva Stadium, and the southside business district. The Herbert Park Hotel (Ballsbridge) is a comfortable four-star in a quiet residential area near the RDS. The Mespil Hotel (Mespil Road) is a smaller, friendly three-star option with good value for the area.

Temple Bar, Trinity College, and the Cultural Quarter: The cobblestone and gallery heart of the city, dominated by the pubs of the Temple Bar district, the National Photographic Archive, and the Project Arts Centre. The Westin Dublin (College Green) is the most central luxury hotel, in a converted 19th-century bank building opposite Trinity College, with a vaulted lobby bar in the old banking hall and a beautifully restored interior. The Clarence Hotel (Essex Street) is a rock-and-roll boutique hotel in the heart of Temple Bar, owned for many years by Bono and The Edge of U2. The Morgan Hotel (Fleet Street) is a design hotel at the edge of Temple Bar, with a rooftop terrace and a busy ground-floor bar. Radisson Blu Royal Hotel, Dublin (Golden Lane) is a reliable modern option in a quiet spot just off Grafton Street. The Generator Hostel Dublin (Smithfield) is a clean, well-designed budget hostel in a converted factory building near the Jameson Distillery.

Docklands, Grand Canal Dock, and the East Side: The modern face of Dublin, with the tech offices of Google, Facebook, and many others, the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre, the 3Arena, and the new suburbs of Grand Canal Dock. The Marker Hotel (as above) is the Docklands' flagship design hotel. The Gibson Hotel (Point Village) is a contemporary design hotel in the Point Village development, with views over the docks and easy access to the 3Arena. The Spencer Hotel (IFSC) is a clean modern option on the northside of the Liffey in the International Financial Services Centre.

Northside, Drumcondra, and Phibsborough: A more authentic local Dublin, north of the Liffey, with the Croke Park stadium, the Botanic Gardens, and a growing food and pub scene. The Croke Park Hotel (Jones's Road) is a modern four-star opposite the stadium, with good transport links. The Bonnington Hotel (Swords Road) is a friendly three-star with a leisure centre. The Skylon Hotel (Upper Drumcondra Road) is a clean three-star with good value for northside Dublin.

Best Places to Eat

Dublin's food scene has undergone a revolution in the last 15 years. Once known mainly for hearty meat-and-potatoes pub food, the city now has a vibrant modern food culture that combines the best of Irish produce (Atlantic seafood, grass-fed beef, organic vegetables, farmhouse cheeses) with techniques from across Europe and Asia. The restaurant scene is strongest in the southside, the food hall scene has exploded in the last 5 years, and the pub food is still some of the best in Europe for value.

Fine Dining: Chapter One (18-19 Parnell Square North) is the current flagship of Dublin's fine dining, a Michelin-starred restaurant in the basement of the Dublin Writers Museum, with a tasting menu that draws on the best of Irish produce. The Library at the Westbury (Grafton Street) is the formal fine-dining option of The Westbury Hotel, with a high-end modern European menu. Glovers Alley (St. Stephen's Green North) is the Michelin-recommended restaurant of The Fitzwilliam Hotel, a fine-dining room with excellent fish and meat. L'Ecrivain (Baggot Street) is one of Dublin's longest-established fine-dining restaurants, with a Michelin star, a French-accented modern menu, and a beautiful dining room in the basement of a Georgian townhouse. Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud (at The Merrion Hotel) is the city's only two-Michelin-starred restaurant, the long-standing flagship of high-end French-Irish cooking, in one of the most elegant dining rooms in Ireland.

Modern Irish and Bistros: The Woollen Mills (42-47 Lower Ormond Quay) is a brilliant all-day restaurant on the northside of the Liffey, with a menu that ranges from excellent breakfasts to upscale Irish-tinged small plates. The Old Dublin (33-34 South William Street) is a comfortable modern Irish restaurant in a side street off Grafton Street, good for a long lunch. Etto (18 Merrion Row) is a small modern bistro with a frequently changing menu and an excellent wine list. Forest Avenue (8 Sussex Terrace) is a contemporary neighbourhood restaurant in a residential area, with a tasting menu and an excellent reputation. The Washerwoman (60 High Street) is a great Liberties neighbourhood bistro with a Mediterranean-tinged menu and reasonable prices. Pygmalion (Powerscourt Centre) is a stylish modern restaurant with an open kitchen and an excellent value pre-theatre menu.

Pubs with Food: Dublin's pubs serve some of the best casual food in Europe. The Stag's Head (1 Dame Court) is a classic Victorian pub with a great food menu — try the beef and Guinness pie. Grogan's Castle Lounge (15 William Street South) is a famous Dublin bohemian pub, with a simple but excellent toastie-and-casserole menu, famously no music, and a sign forbidding "credit card, mobile phones, and bad language." Mulligan's (8 Poolbeg Street) is one of Dublin's most famous literary pubs, with a good food menu and the bonus of being next door to the Palace Bar. The Palace Bar (21 Fleet Street) is a beautifully preserved Victorian pub famous for its pint of Guinness and its literary heritage, with a good food menu upstairs. Toner's (63 Lower Baggot Street) is a 19th-century pub with a serious literary heritage (Brendan Behan drank here) and an excellent traditional Irish food menu. The Brazen Head (20 Lower Bridge Street) is Ireland's oldest pub (1198), with a large food menu, traditional music, and a courtyard.

Cheap Eats and Street Food: Leo Burdock's (2 Werburgh Street) is Dublin's most famous fish and chips, in business since 1913, with a few small branches around the city. Chatham Cheese (4 Chatham Court) is a tiny toasted-sandwich specialist on Chatham Street, perfect for a quick lunch. Temple Bar Food Market (Temple Bar Square, Saturdays) is a great weekend street-food market. The Winding Stair (40 Lower Ormond Quay) is a wonderful old bookshop turned restaurant, with a great value set lunch and a stunning view of the Liffey. Brother Hubbard (153 Capel Street) is a northside café famous for its Middle-Eastern-influenced brunch and lunch menu, with a sister restaurant, Brother Hubbard South (46 Harrington Street). Klaw (The Creative Quarter) is a seafood café with a daily-changing menu of the freshest catch.

Best Sites to Visit

Dublin is a city of small, walkable sights rather than grand set-pieces. Most of the major attractions are clustered in a 2-3 km area around the city centre, easily covered on foot in a long day. The most rewarding approach is to combine the iconic sights with at least a couple of the more atmospheric places — the bookshops, the pubs, the markets, the Georgian squares — that make Dublin feel like Dublin.

Trinity College and the Book of Kells: One of the world's most beautiful university campuses, founded in 1592 on the grounds of the former Augustinian priory of All Hallows. The Old Library houses the Book of Kells, an illuminated manuscript of the four Gospels created by Celtic monks around 800AD, considered one of the world's most beautiful books. The Long Room of the Old Library — 65 metres long, lined with 200,000 of the library's oldest volumes — is one of the most photographed libraries in the world. The Science Gallery and the Douglas Hyde Gallery of modern art are also on campus. Allow 1.5–2 hours for the campus plus the Book of Kells exhibition.

Dublin Castle: Centuries of history stacked on top of each other on the southside of the Liffey. The current complex is mostly 18th-century Georgian, built on the site of the 13th-century Norman castle that was the seat of English (and later British) power in Ireland for 700 years. The State Apartments are open to the public, the Chester Beatty Library (one of the world's great collections of manuscripts, books, and religious art) is in the castle grounds, and the medieval undercroft is one of the oldest parts of the city. Allow 1.5–2 hours.

St. Patrick's Cathedral: Ireland's largest church, founded in 1191 on the site of St. Patrick's well, and one of the few medieval buildings in Dublin still in daily use. Jonathan Swift (author of Gulliver's Travels and dean of the cathedral from 1713 to 1745) is buried here, and his epitaph — "Ubi saeva indignatio cor ulterius non lacerat" ("Where fierce indignation can no longer tear his heart") — is one of the most famous in English literature. The choir is one of the oldest in Ireland, the medieval chapter house is well-preserved, and the cathedral is in a particularly attractive area of the Liberties, near the Guinness Storehouse.

Christ Church Cathedral: The other medieval cathedral of Dublin, founded in 1030 by the Viking king Sitric Silkenbeard, making it the oldest building in Dublin still in use. The medieval crypt is the largest in Britain or Ireland, the 12th-century stonework is exceptional, and the connection to Strongbow (the Norman warlord) gives it a particularly vivid medieval atmosphere. The cathedral is a 5-minute walk from St. Patrick's and the Guinness Storehouse.

The Guinness Storehouse: One of Ireland's most popular tourist attractions, a self-guided tour through the brewing process of Guinness in a converted 1904 fermentation plant at St. James's Gate, the home of Guinness since 1759. The tour ends at the Gravity Bar, a circular glass-walled bar on the top floor with 360-degree views over Dublin and a complimentary pint of Guinness. The exhibits are well-designed and informative, and the Gravity Bar alone is worth the visit (€25+ for the tour, but the bar is free if you order a pint). Allow 2 hours.

The Book of Kells at Trinity: As above — one of the world's great treasures and a must-see.

The National Museum of Ireland — Archaeology: On Kildare Street, the home of the most important collection of Celtic and pre-Celtic artefacts in the world, including the Ardagh Chalice, the Tara Brooch, the Derrynaflan Chalice, and many of the bodies preserved in the Irish bogs. Free entry. Allow 1.5–2 hours.

The National Gallery of Ireland: On Merrion Square, a free gallery with the best collection of Irish and European paintings in the country, including works by Jack B. Yeats, William Orpen, Roderic O'Conor, Vermeer (Love Letter), Goya, Caravaggio (The Taking of Christ), and a beautiful modern wing opened in 2017. Free entry. Allow 1.5–2 hours.

The Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA): In the 18th-century Royal Hospital Kilmainham, a short walk from the Guinness Storehouse. The collection focuses on modern and contemporary art, the grounds are beautiful, and the building itself is one of the finest 18th-century buildings in Ireland. Free entry. Allow 1.5–2 hours.

Kilmainham Gaol: One of the most important historical sites in modern Irish history, the prison where the leaders of the 1916 Easter Rising were executed by firing squad. The restored gaol is a moving and informative museum, with original cells, the Stonebreakers' Yard where the executions took place, and an excellent guided tour. Book in advance — the tours are very popular. Allow 2 hours.

Phoenix Park: One of the largest enclosed urban parks in Europe, 707 hectares (1,750 acres) in the heart of Dublin, originally laid out as a royal deer park in 1662. The park contains Dublin Zoo (one of the oldest in the world, founded 1831), the official residence of the President of Ireland (Áras an Uachtaráin), the Wellington Monument, the Magazine Fort, the People's Flower Gardens, and many miles of cycling and walking paths. Hire a bike and explore.

Teeling Distillery: Dublin's only working whiskey distillery in the original historic area, opened in 2015 in a restored 18th-century mill in the Liberties, with an excellent tour and tasting. Allow 1.5 hours.

The Ha'penny Bridge: Dublin's most photographed bridge, an elegant white cast-iron pedestrian bridge over the Liffey, opened in 1816 and named after the halfpenny toll that was once charged to cross. Walk across it for photographs and access to the Temple Bar side.

Grafton Street: Dublin's main shopping street, a pedestrianised thoroughfare from St. Stephen's Green to Trinity College, lined with department stores, boutiques, bookshops, and street performers. Walk it slowly, watch a busker, and stop for coffee.

Merrion Square: The most beautiful Georgian square in Dublin, surrounded by 18th-century terraced houses, with a central park containing a statue of Oscar Wilde on a boulder. Many of the houses are now offices, but the park is a perfect place to sit and read on a sunny afternoon.

Temple Bar: The neighbourhood, not just the pub — Dublin's cultural quarter, a maze of cobblestone streets, galleries, theatres, vintage shops, and restaurants between the Liffey and the civic offices. The pubs are touristy and overpriced, but the atmosphere is real, and the streets are worth wandering.

The Cobblestone: A traditional pub in the working-class northside neighbourhood of Smithfield, famous for its nightly traditional music sessions — the place to hear the best trad session in the city, free to attend, and a genuine piece of old Dublin.

Sample 3-Day Itinerary

Day 1: Historic Dublin

• Morning: Trinity College and the Book of Kells (allow 1.5 hours), then walk down Grafton Street to St. Stephen's Green.
• Late morning: National Museum of Ireland — Archaeology (free, 1.5 hours).
• Lunch: The Woollen Mills on the northside of the Liffey (or, for a more central option, The Old Dublin on South William Street).
• Afternoon: Dublin Castle (1.5 hours), then walk to Christ Church Cathedral (1 hour).
• Late afternoon: Walk through Temple Bar to the Ha'penny Bridge for sunset over the Liffey.
• Evening: Dinner at Chapter One, Glovers Alley, or Forest Avenue; then a pint and a trad session at The Cobblestone in Smithfield.

Day 2: Museums, Parks, and the Southside

• Morning: Kilmainham Gaol (book the first tour, 9:30am, 2 hours).
• Late morning: The Guinness Storehouse (book a slot for noon, 2 hours).
• Lunch: At the Storehouse's 1837 Bar & Brasserie, or walk 10 minutes to The Old Dublin or Brazen Head in the Liberties.
• Afternoon: Phoenix Park — hire a bike near the Parkgate Street entrance, cycle to the Wellington Monument, the Zoo, and the President's Residence.
• Late afternoon: IMMA (Irish Museum of Modern Art) in the former Royal Hospital Kilmainham, 10 minutes' walk from the Park.
• Evening: Dinner at The Washerwoman (Liberties) or L'Ecrivain (Baggot Street); a nightcap at Toner's or The Palace Bar.

Day 3: Literary and Local Dublin

• Morning: The National Gallery of Ireland on Merrion Square (free, 2 hours), then walk the Georgian streets of the southside — Fitzwilliam Square, Merrion Square, Baggot Street.
• Lunch: Etto (Merrion Row) for a contemporary lunch.
• Afternoon: Teeling Distillery in the Liberties (tour and tasting, 1.5 hours), then walk through the cobblestone streets of the Liberties to the Iveagh Gardens (one of Dublin's hidden parks).
• Late afternoon: A session in a traditional pub — The Cobblestone in Smithfield, The Long Hall on South Great George's Street, or The Stag's Head in Dame Court.
• Evening: Dinner at The Winding Stair (Lower Ormond Quay) for the view, or Brother Hubbard (Capel Street) for a northside neighbourhood experience.

Upcoming Events 2026

• St Patrick's Festival (12–17 March 2026): Dublin's biggest week, with the famous St Patrick's Day Parade (17 March), a packed programme of music, theatre, and family events, and the entire city centre turned green.
• Forbidden Fruit (6–8 June 2026): An annual three-day indie, electronic, and alternative music festival held on the grounds of the Royal Hospital Kilmainham (the IMMA site). One of the best mid-sized festivals in Europe.
• Longitude (4–6 July 2026): A three-day urban music festival in Marlay Park, south Dublin, with a strong international lineup.
• Dublin Horse Show (5–9 August 2026): The RDS, Ballsbridge. Ireland's premier equestrian event, with showjumping, national hunt, and the famous Dublin Horse Show Balls.
• Bram Stoker Festival (24–27 October 2026): A long weekend of horror, gothic, and vampire-themed events around Dublin Castle and the city centre, celebrating the Dublin-born author of Dracula.
• Dublin Theatre Festival (24 September – 11 October 2026): One of the oldest theatre festivals in Europe, with a strong international programme and many Dublin premieres.
• New Year's Festival Dublin (31 December 2026 – 1 January 2027): A three-day street festival in the city centre culminating in midnight fireworks over the Liffey.

Getting There and Around

By air: Dublin Airport (DUB) is 10 km north of the city centre, with direct flights from most European capitals and many intercontinental routes. Dublin Bus Airlink routes 747 and 757 connect the airport to the city centre in 30–45 minutes (€7 one-way, €12 return). Airlink Express is faster and more comfortable (€8 one-way). Taxis to the city centre are €20–30 and take 25–40 minutes depending on traffic.

By ferry: Dublin Port, 5 km east of the city centre, has ferries from Holyhead (Wales, 1h 50m on Stena or Irish Ferries) and from Liverpool (Irish Ferries, 7–8 hours overnight). The Dublin Express bus connects the port to the city centre.

By train: Heuston Station serves the west and south (Cork, Galway, Limerick, Killarney, Waterford). Connolly Station serves the north and east (Belfast, Sligo, Rosslare). Both are within walking distance of the city centre.

By bus: Busáras (Central Bus Station) is behind Connolly Station, with services to every part of Ireland run by Bus Éireann and many private operators.

Getting around Dublin: Dublin is very walkable in the city centre — most of the major sights are within a 20-minute walk of each other. The Luas (tram) has two lines (red and green) that cover most of the city centre and connect to the southside and the Docklands. Dublin Bus covers the rest of the city. Dublin Bikes is a public bike-share scheme with stations all over the centre (€3.50/day or €25/year). Taxis and Uber are widely available. The DART (electric rail) runs along the coast from Howth in the north to Bray in the south, with a stop at Connolly and Pearse stations.

Travel Tips and Practical Info

Best time to visit: April–May for spring weather, long days, and the run-up to summer without the crowds. June is reliably good. July and August are warmest but the busiest and most expensive. September is often the best month — warm, fewer tourists, the theatre and film festivals. October has beautiful autumn colour in the parks. Winter is the cheapest and quietest, with the bonus of the Christmas markets and a real sense of the local city.

Currency: Euro (€). Dublin is expensive by Irish standards — budget €80–120 per day for a mid-range traveller, more for fine dining and good hotels. Most places accept credit cards; carry some cash for small pubs, market stalls, and the odd old-fashioned shop.

Language: English. Irish (Gaeilge) is the national language and is on every road sign, but most Dubliners speak English as their first language. You will hear Irish on RTÉ (the national broadcaster) and from a few dedicated speakers, but you do not need it to get around.

Free things to do: St. Stephen's Green, Phoenix Park, the National Gallery, the National Museum, IMMA, all beaches along Dublin Bay, Grafton Street buskers, walking tours (tip-based), Dublin Castle exterior, Trinity College grounds (Book of Kells is paid).

Tipping: 10% in restaurants is normal, often added as a service charge in better places. Round up in taxis. Tipping bar staff is not expected.

Pubs: Pubs are open until midnight Sunday to Thursday and 2:30am Friday and Saturday. The "trad session" in many pubs — live traditional music — is free to attend, paid for by drink purchases. The Cobblestone, The Long Hall, O'Donoghue's on Merrion Row, and The Palace Bar are the most reliable for a session.

Safety: Dublin is generally safe. Use the same common-sense precautions you would in any major European city. The northside inner city has some rough areas after dark; the main tourist areas, the southside, Ballsbridge, and the Docklands are safe at all hours.

Driving: Not recommended for visiting the city centre. Dublin's historic core is one-way, narrow, and has restricted traffic zones. Use public transport. If you are driving in Ireland more widely, remember that the Republic of Ireland drives on the left.

Where to Next?

• Wicklow Mountains (1h south by bus): The "Garden of Ireland," with the Glendalough monastic settlement, the Powerscourt Waterfall (one of the highest in Europe), the Sally Gap, and the Sugarloaf mountain — a half-day or full-day trip.
• Howth (25 min north by DART): A coastal fishing village on the peninsula at the north of Dublin Bay, with a famous cliff walk (about 2 hours), excellent seafood restaurants, and a small harbour with a weekend market.
• Belfast (2h by train): Northern Ireland's capital, with the Titanic Quarter, the political murals of the Falls Road, the St George's Market, and a much-improved food and drink scene — a worthwhile overnight.
• Cork (2.5h by train): Ireland's second city, with a great food scene, the English Market, the Crawford Art Gallery, and Cobh (the last port of call of the Titanic) within easy reach.
• Galway (2.5h by train): The most Irish-feeling city, with the Claddagh, the Spanish Arch, a thriving traditional music scene, and day trips to the Aran Islands and the Connemara.
• The Causeway Coast (3.5h by bus or car): Northern Ireland's most dramatic coastline, with the Giant's Causeway, the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge, the Dark Hedges (Game of Thrones), and the Bushmills Distillery.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many days do I need for Dublin? Three full days is the minimum to cover the central sights and the southside museums. Five days allows for day trips to Howth, the Wicklow Mountains, and a literary pub crawl. A week lets you add Belfast or the Causeway Coast.

What is the best area to stay in Dublin? For first-time visitors, the best balance of central location, walkability, and value is the area around St. Stephen's Green, Merrion Row, and the southside Georgian core. For the grandest experience, stay in The Merrion, The Shelbourne, or The Westbury. For a more local Dublin, stay in Ballsbridge or the Docklands (The Marker, The Gibson).

Is Dublin expensive? Compared to other European cities, Dublin is among the more expensive, especially for hotels at the top end. Pub food and casual dining are more reasonable than the reputation suggests, and the free museums and parks make Dublin a good city for budget-conscious travellers. Plan on €80–120 per day for a mid-range traveller.

Is Dublin safe at night? The central tourist areas, the southside, Ballsbridge, and the Docklands are safe at night. The same common-sense precautions as any major city apply. Avoid walking alone late at night in some parts of the northside inner city (around Sheriff Street, parts of Summerhill), and take a taxi if you are uncertain.

Do I need a visa for Ireland? EU, EEA, and Swiss citizens can enter Ireland for tourism without a visa, using a valid passport. UK citizens can enter freely (Common Travel Area). Visitors from the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and most other countries can enter for up to 90 days without a visa. Ireland is NOT part of the Schengen Area; a Schengen visa is not valid for entry to Ireland.

Is the tap water safe? Yes, Dublin's tap water is excellent. The high-quality water from the Wicklow Mountains is the same water used to brew Guinness, and is one of the best city tap waters in Europe.