Ah, Dublin. Irish folk are always so happy, so upbeat, so charming and friendly. And if you want to have a good time on a city break, Dublin always crops up in conversation. There’s always that one friend, colleague or family member who raves about it. Presumably not everyone is on the Irish Tourism Board’s payroll so, there must be something about the Irish capital, right?
Whether you’re visiting for the food and drink, the history and the culture or just want to bathe in the warmth of the Irish people, Dublin has something for everyone (and a perfect neighbourhood for everyone too). It’s a classic yet unique destination that should be on everyone's list – yes, we are one of those aforementioned people. Here at Plum Guide, we’re experts in <s>everything</s> this kind of thing, and pride ourselves on doing all the hard work. So, below, as usual we’ve got you covered – this time with an essential Dublin itinerary for 2 days in the city.
Day 1: Visit the Guinness Storehouse and get some shopping in
Guinness and a dram of Whiskey
Start your trip off with a hearty Irish breakfast at Lovinspoon. It’s a small cafe with low prices to match but we love the character of the place and the quality of the food is second to none, and sets you up nicely for your next adventure. No Dublin itinerary of 2 days would be complete without the world-famous Guinness Storehouse. In this city, when you turn the tap on, it’s thick, black Guinness that will be flowing out. The drink is synonymous with the Irish and it’s only right that you find out why.
Curve of the River, Plum Guide home in Dublin
On this tour you’re taken through the full history and distillery process, getting to pour and drink your own pint (it’s not as easy as you may think). At the end, enjoy another pint whilst taking in special panoramic views of the city from the rooftop bar. And after a few pints of Guinness it will probably definitely be a good idea to get some fresh air. How about some shopping? Brown Thomas hosts an upmarket selection of stores including Prada, Gucci and Chanel. Meanwhile, we’re particular fans of Avoca. We love their homeware products that have a modern aesthetic and we can highly recommend their original handwoven luxurious scarves, sweaters or blankets made out of local Irish mohair.
Having worked up an appetite exploring, it’s time for dinner. This is a real foodie city and there’s a great variety on offer. We highly recommend Glovers Alley. As their website proudly states, ‘it’s a bit of a seductress, with soft tones, beguiling dishes and a tantalising wine list, it is pretty hard not to fall in love at first bite’. It’s hard to fault them there (and believe us, we did try).
Next, a few evening drinks. Drinking is in the culture and fabric of Ireland (as you'll have already discovered at the Guinness Storehouse). It’s a well-known fact that the Irish are very good at the whole music and partying thing, making it a great place to celebrate a big birthday. Of course, one can’t miss the world-famous Temple Bar neighbourhood. It may be a magnet for tourists but it deserves a place on any Dublin itinerary of 2 days.
Sprawling out over cobbled, pedestrianised lanes, you’ll find all kinds of bars and pubs alive with live folk music. Check in on the ‘Temple Bar Pub’ itself. This world-renowned venue serves just about everything (Guinness and Jameson's Whiskey of course). It’s loud, rowdy and always packed with a great mix of locals and visitors alike. The sign of a good pub if ever there were one. Personally though, we prefer O’Donoghues. Here, you’ll find traditional musicians getting together every night to play fiddles, tin whistles, bodhrans and uilleann pipes as the pints flow. It’s classic Dublin at its best.
Knight of Hanover, Plum Guide home in Dublin
Day 2: Admire Dublin Castle and become a whiskey connoisseur
Ha’Penny Bridge over the river Liffey, Dublin
Feeling a little worse for wear? Head to Metro for breakfast. This Paris-esque café has some great options from ‘breakfast butties’ to pancakes. If the weather’s good you could even sit outside and watch the world go by. If this doesn't quite shake the hangover off though, stroll along the River Liffey and find the famous Ha’Penny Bridge. Note - refrain from attaching engraved padlocks here. Dublin’s Council are in a long-running battle to protect the 200-year old bridge from being weighed down by numerous lumps of metal so please don't be one of those people.
Orla the Gentle, Plum Guide home in Dublin
Next, head up to Dublin Castle where you’ll explore 800 years of Irish history on a self-guided tour. Just around the corner, there is also the beauty of St. Patrick’s Cathedral - Ireland’s largest church and one of its oldest. For the afternoon, more alcohol (it is Dublin). Now, if Guinness wasn’t quite your thing, it’s better to keep that one secret. You may find you prefer the Jameson Distillery on Bow Street where you can take a tour of the factory and explore the full history and process of making this famous Irish Whiskey.
If you want to push the boat out a little further, there’s a whiskey blending class, a cocktail making class, secret whiskey tasting and even a cask draw experience. Don’t blame us if you’re still mildly inebriated several weeks after returning home. For dinner, a Michelin star restaurant (we told you it’s a good city for food). Chapter One serves up an international menu in elegant, understated dining rooms. It’s been a favourite of many for years.
And to round off your trip, another classic Dublin night. Some of our favourite traditional pubs sit just outside the Temple Bar area. The Brazen Head is Dublin’s oldest, dating back to 1198. It’s a lively spot with great heritage and live music every night. Indeed, that’s the sign of a good pub in Dublin. Great live music. The Cobblestone is a ‘rough around the edges’ establishment with traditional Irish music played in the front bar every night. It creates a real atmosphere which we know you’ll love. It’s a thigh-slapping, toe-tapping, ‘yes, I think I’ll have another drink, we don’t need to be at the airport until 9am anyway’ kind of vibe.
Cillian’s Sword, Plum Guide home in Dublin
