You can easily start with the Trinity College, in southeast Dublin, featuring the fabulous Old Library, a renowned library not only in Ireland, which houses priceless illuminated manuscripts such as the Durrow Gospels, dating back to the mid-7th century AD.
In the spectacular Long Room, 64 meters long, there are about 200,000 ancient texts, marble busts, and the oldest surviving Gaelic harp in Ireland. A real gem is also the Book of Kells, an illuminated manuscript with elaborate decorations, probably created by the monks of Iona, a small Scottish island, who took refuge in Kells in 806 AD to escape a Viking raid. Considered among the most beautiful manuscripts in the world, it contains the four Gospels in Latin and was moved to Trinity College in the 1600s.
Also in this part of Dublin are the National Gallery, opened in 1864, which holds over two thousand masterpieces by Irish, English, Italian, French, and Flemish masters from all periods. And the National Museum, with a remarkable collection of artifacts (e.g., the Ardagh Chalice, 800 AD), spanning from the Stone Age to the present day.
Moving clockwise, you reach southwest Dublin, home to the St. Patrick’s Cathedral, the largest church in Ireland, of early medieval origin (traditionally built near a sacred well where the saint baptized converts around 450 AD). The interior features a splendid choir with banners and stalls bearing the emblems of the Knights of St. Patrick. The cathedral also houses the largest and most powerful organ in Ireland, as well as monuments commemorating the writer Jonathan Swift and distinguished Anglo-Irish families.
Still in this southwest area, you’ll find the Dublin Castle, a mighty Anglo-Norman castle (13th century) that symbolized English rule for six centuries, and Christ Church Cathedral, now the Protestant cathedral, built by Anglo-Norman conquerors between 1172 and 1220, positioned high above the Liffey river. Its current look results from restorations carried out in the late 19th century. In the northern part of the city, we find O’Connell Street (a sort of Dublin equivalent to Corso Buenos Aires), the liveliest and most important street in Dublin, marked by a fascinating mix of architectural styles and monuments honoring famous Irish people. Also, the Custom House, a former customs building, today houses government offices, its grand Georgian façade reflected in the Liffey.
But Dublin is not just churches, streets, and buildings—it’s also about fun: the best venues are close to each other, creating a true escape tour. The Temple Bar district alone offers endless entertainment options, with great mid-range priced restaurants, traditional pubs alongside trendy and alternative bars; there are small theaters and the Irish Film Centre. Dancing and nightclubs allow you to enjoy everything from country music to disco dance.
In Temple Bar, a summer staple is street theatre performances. But Dublin’s nightlife doesn’t end here; lovers of serious theatre and drama can turn to the Abbey Theatre north of the Liffey or the Gate Theatre, in the same area, where foreign artists’ works are also performed.
Symphony music lovers can follow the prestigious seasons of the National Symphony Orchestra, performing at the National Concert Hall. Meanwhile, for die-hard pub enthusiasts, must-visit stops include McDaid’s in the southeast, which, despite being frequented by crowds, has retained its original bohemian atmosphere, and the Stag’s Head in the southwest, a splendid Victorian pub with a very long mahogany bar, mirrors, and original stained glass windows.
