10 Best Things to Do in Dublin, Ireland

You haven't truly experienced Dublin until you visit its oldest brewery. The Guinness Storehouse is the most-visited attraction in Ireland, and it now sees about 1.5 million visitors per year. Enjoy a pint of Guinness straight from the source at the top-floor Gravity Bar for 360-degree views of Dublin, or learn to expertly pour your own. Admission starts around $16 and includes a pint, but the brewery is family-friendly, too: Anyone under 18 is welcome with an adult and will get a soft drink in lieu of a beer.

For a unique beer experience head to Guinness's newly public experimental brewing space, Open Gate Brewery. The little-known pub has been around for centuries, but is newly open to the public. Visiting Open Gate lets you taste beers that might never leave St. James' Gate, and you could to be among the first to try the beers that do. Be sure to reserve a spot well in advance: Open Gate is only open Thursday and Friday evenings, and books up fast for good reason. Reservations are just $7 each and include a tasting flight.

Private beer tastings are also up for grabs inside the Storehouse if you book a spot at the Guinness Connoisseur Experience. You'll get a personal, sit-down tasting in an exclusive bar for about $50.

Dublin's storied history is easy to find around town. The Little Museum of Dublin will give you an overview of the city's modern era in just a half-hour tour. Public museums like the National Archaeological Museum are free and home to centuries-old artifacts like Celtic hunting tools and jewelry.

Visiting the Old Library and Book of Kells at Trinity College is among the best things to do in Dublin because it offers a unique look into Ireland's past: See the historic college's famously massive library, which holds the 15th century harp that inspired the Irish national emblem, plus the famed Book of Kells' Gospel manuscript illustrations that date back to the third century. They're all located under one roof and included in the admission price of $10 to $30 USD.

Experiencing live Irish music is easily one of the best things to do in Dublin. While you're likely to stumble upon folk-music and acoustic sets in many a pub, some spots are better than others for a pint and a quality singalong. Head to historic Whelan's, an intimate bar and music venue known for hosting legends like Nick Cave, Ed Sheeran, and Kate Nash, and as a filming location for the movie P.S. I Love You.

Another live-music institution closer to the city center, Porterhouse Brewing Co. in the Temple Bar area, is three floors of bars serving up its own brand of dark beers. A floating stage perched adjacent to the second floor hosts local acts most nights. Porterhouse is popular among tourists but is also considered one of the best things to do in Dublin by many locals.

Ireland's answer to Alcatraz, Kilmainham Gaol, is a historic prison turned museum that held some of Ireland's most renowned rebels of the 18th and 19th centuries, but also average citizens convicted of petty crimes.

Decommissioned by the Irish Free State in 1924, Kilmainham Gaol dates back before the Irish rebellion of 1798 and helped shape modern-day Ireland. Visiting it is like walking back in time, and the landmark is open year-round except for a few holidays. Be sure to stop by the cell that belonged to Grace Gifford Plunkett—imprisoned for drawing political cartoons—and see the drawings she left on the room's walls through the cell's peephole.

St. Stephen's Green was a private Victorian-era garden for the city's wealthy until the great-grandson of brewer Arthur Guinness bought the space and, in 1880, turned it into the largest public square in the world (at the time). Guinness isn't just a beer in Dublin, it's a major part of the city's workforce and history—and it offered some of the highest wages and best medical benefits in Dublin before the state provided health coverage.

The historic homes and sites around St. Stephen's are some of the most popular things to do in Dublin, and the park is a perfect place to kick back or picnic on a sunny day. Take in the flower beds and bridges, and visit the statue of Arthur Guinness's great-grandson, Lord Ardilaun, who now presides over the gardens and pools near the center of the park.

In Dublin, experiencing the local culture definitely means experiencing the best pubs. The city's history lies just as much in its museums as it does in bar stools and restaurant tables, like those at W.B. Yeats and James Joyce's favorite drinking spots. For bibliophiles, a literary pub crawl is one of the best things to do in Dublin. It will take you not only through history, but to some of the city's best watering holes, too. Sip a beer in the same spot as famed Irish authors and poets, and hear tales of former regulars like Oscar Wilde and Samuel Beckett.

Dublin isn't just a meat-and-potatoes town, though there's plenty of pub food to be had. Visit the Guinness Storehouse's 1837 Bar and Brasserie (pictured) for Guinness-paired foods and special beer-braised meat and stews. Delight in farm-to-table local ingredients with colorful plates at the Little Kitchen. Sling back oysters and other cold raw bar delicacies at the Merrion Hotel's The Cellar Restaurant.  Or, simply enjoy a full Irish breakfast at the nearest local pub.

To imbibe beyond beer in Dublin, get to know the local whiskeys. The Jameson Distillery dates back to 1780, when the first of four John Jamesons set out to distill Ireland's best whiskey. It's just a short walk from the Guinness Storehouse, and it attracts quite a few tourists more than the Teeling Distillery, also located in Central Dublin and a favorite among visitors and locals alike.

A trip to either is sure to put you in touch with an educational experience about whiskey distilling, and of course a tasting. If you can't decide on one whiskey, pay a visit to the Irish Whiskey Museum. Dublin is a whiskey-lover's biggest paradise south of Scotland.

Whether in a bar or at the local stadiums, Ireland is home to raucous rugby, soccer, hurling, and Gaelic football fans. Croke Park and Aviva Stadium seat thousands for matches year-round, and the city will host the 2017 Rugby Women's World Cup in August 2017. See your favorite team in action or root along with the locals, who will happily tell you everything you need to know about hurling—the national sport.

One of the best things to do in Dublin is to get out of the city for a bit. Train options from Euston Station make it easy to head to the countryside for castles, or to the coastline for a change of scenery.

Purchase a spot on a day tour: Coach buses carry visitors to the mesmerizing Cliffs of Moher daily. They're located on the other side of the country, but the easy bus route through cozy, artsy Galway is worth the $40 price and day-long itinerary. Tours typically include a local guide and stops at all the best castles and ancient Celtic grave sites along the way.