Founded back in 1220, Saint Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin is the National Cathedral of the Church of Ireland. It's also the tallest church in Ireland, boasting a 43-metre spire and some pretty impressive Gothic architecture. A well on the grounds of the cathedral is said to have been used by St. Patrick himself to baptize Ireland's pagan population into Christianity.
The grounds are also the burial site of the Anglo-Irish writer of Gulliver's Travels, Jonathan Swift. Today, the cathedral is one of Dublin's must-see landmarks for visitors to the Fair City.
EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum is situated in the lively Custom House Quarter building in Dublin's port district. The museum brings Ireland's fascinating history to life with immersive and interactive exhibits, video galleries, motion sensor quizzes, remastered archival material from 100 years ago, and more.
EPIC is dedicated to the far-reaching influence of Irish emigration, and the impact of the 10 million Irish men and women who left Ireland for foreign shores.
Built around 1028, Christ Church is Dublin’s premier cathedral. Remarkably, this medieval structure is the nominal seat of both the Anglican (Church of Ireland) and Roman Catholic archbishops of Dublin. It's also one of two medieval cathedrals in the same city.
The GPO Museum is located inside the General Post Office on Dublin's O’Connell Street.
This grand building, designed by Francis Johnston in 1814, is easy to reach by Dublin Bus, as well as via Bus Éireann and other national bus companies. It's also a three-minute walk from the Abbey Street stop on the Luas Red Line.
One million Irish people fled Ireland during the famine. 2,500 took a gruelling voyage on the Jeanie Johnston. Take a journey back in time, get an insight into life on board a Famine ship and hear the stories of the people who made the arduous voyage.
Dublin Castle has been at the center of Irish life since King John of England ordered its erection in 1204. Standing over much earlier structures including a Viking fortress and, possibly, a Gaelic ringfort, it forms the social and political heart of historic Dublin.
Visiting Dublin Castle, you’ll get to see the majestic State Apartments, the Viking ruins underneath, and the ancient Black Pool where the river Liffey meets its underground tributary the River Poddle.
The seat of British administration in Ireland for 700 years, this glorious collection of buildings recounts the history of Dublin like no other.
The nectar of life is all around you at one of Dublin's top attractions - the Irish Whiskey Museum. Here's where to come for a full lowdown on whiskey's history and to see some very cool whiskey memorabilia from the 1800s. The Irish Whiskey Museum is located right in the heart of Dublin, by Trinity College.
The building in which today's Roe & Co Distillery is housed was once the power station of the Guinness Brewery. The original Roe Distillery is located next to it, and the only remnant of it is St. Patrick's Tower (an old windmill). After shutting down in 1926, the distillery was reopened in 2019 as the Roe & Co Distillery, and is the latest addition to Dublin's whiskey industry.
The National Wax Museum Plus is right in the middle of Dublin, just a two minute walk from Trinity College, and close to other highlights like Dublin Castle and Temple Bar. Here's where stars of the present - like Liam Neeson and U2 - rub waxy shoulders with greats of the past - including Samuel Beckett and James Joyce. There are other fun features as well, including a green screen video studio, a chamber of horrors, and the Kid's World area.
If you like a little tipple on a day trip, here's a destination for the Dublin list. The Teeling Whiskey Distillery, right in the heart of the city centre is the perfect place for anyone interested in Dublin's association – or, more accurately, obsession – with Irish whiskey. The Bang Bang Bar has great views over the city, and the on-site café has delicious food to help soak up all that booze.
From U2 to Enya and beyond, Ireland has made its mark on the music industry. At The Irish Rock 'n' Roll Museum Experience you'll get to load up on the history of the music scene in an iconic building in the center of the city. Who knows who you might find recording, or hanging out in the rehearsal rooms at this fully functional studio? It's only 5 minutes from Trinity College Dublin and easily accessible via public transport to Dublin’s famous Temple Bar. Rock on!