Attractions:

• St. Patrick’s Cathedral: Ireland’s largest cathedral was founded in 1191 and honors the country’s most well-known saint who helped spread Christianity throughout the country in the fifth century. Today, this cathedral is revered worldwide as a Christian holy site; it is open daily (hours here) and costs €8 to enter.

• Visit The Temple Bar Pub: Did you even visit Ireland if you didn’t drink a Guinness at The Temple Bar? This pub is open daily from 10:30am-2:30am and has live music from 11:30am to closing. I recommend spending at least one night here dancing, drinking, and singing your life away! You may even be featured on their live stream! If this spot isn’t your cup of tea, no worries; stumbling into any nearby pub will surely be a good time!

• Trinity College: A visit to this beautiful campus in the heart of Dublin is obligatory! It is officially recognized as a copyright library meaning that every book published in Ireland must send a copy here free of charge. That’s right; it holds a copy of every book ever published in Ireland! Arguably its most famous artifact is the Book of Kells, a biblical manuscript dating back to the ninth century which contains the four Gospels of the New Testament. 35-minute guided tours are offered most days for €15. Tickets are not available online and must be purchased at the Front Gate.

• Free Walking Tour: As in most European cities, SANDEMANs is here to save the day with a free, tip-based walking tour! The tour picks up every morning at Barnardo Square and is 3 hours long. Be sure to walk across the Ha'penny Bridge!

• Dublin Castle: As one of the most important structures in Ireland, this building is a must-see. It is open daily from 9:45am-5:45pm and costs €8 to enter. Visitors often walk through the connected Dublin Gardens and sit for a cup of tea at The Terrace Café.

• Jameson Distillery Bow Street: Jameson touts itself as being the world’s most famous Irish whiskey brand and there aren’t many people who would argue with them. Going to the facility is a fun experience, especially if you are a whiskey aficionado! Tours are 40 minutes long, cost €20, and include whiskey tasting. Enjoy!

• Phoenix Park: The largest enclosed public park in any European capital city is free to enter and open 24/7. It is well-known for its herd of wild deer but there is also a lot to do and see here. You can go on a Segway tour, walk through the People’s Gardens, visit the Magazine Fort, or hire bikes to explore the 14 kilometres of cycling trails. Bike rentals go for €6 per hour; 3 hour rentals are €10 and full day rentals are €15. You can walk here from the city center in 45 minutes.

• Guinness Storehouse: You already know you can’t leave Ireland without trying a world-famous Guinness. Now, whether you sip one in a pub or in the Guinness Storehouse is up to you! Tours of the facility are 3 hours long and cost €95. If you are interested in the history of the brand and seeing how the beer is made, this will be right up your alley. If not, a random pub will do!

• Molly Malone Statue: The song “Molly Malone” tells the story of a local, Dublin woman who passed away young from a fever. It is unclear if this character is fictional or real, but the song is seen as an unofficial anthem of the city. It is pathetic that I even need to say this, but please do not grope the statue. Historically, people have viewed this as good luck which has caused the statue’s bronze to fade. However, this tradition is sexist and lewd. The statue represents a woman and should be treated with respect. Besides, we aren’t groping male statues, are we?

• Other attractions include: National Leprechaun Museum of Ireland, Christ Church Cathedral, National Gallery of Ireland, and Malahide Castle & Gardens.