Walking Tour Of Dublin – How To Do Dublin In One Day

We recently visited Ireland and only had one day to explore Dublin. So we wanted to make the most of our time in the city. To make sure we saw as much as possible, we did a lot of research and planned a walking tour that everyone in our group would enjoy.

This was no small challenge considering we ranged in age from 11 to 74 and also had a dog by our side! However, we managed to find the perfect balance of sights, history, green spaces, and places to stop for food and refreshments along the way.

Everyone had a fantastic day, so I thought I’d share our Dublin walking tour, in case you’re looking for an easy and enjoyable way to explore Dublin on foot.

Parking in Dublin

We wanted to park in the center of Dublin so we could make the most of our time in the city without spending a fortune. Parking on the south side of the river can cost around €30 for the day, so we opted to park on the north side of the river, where we only paid €15 for the whole day.

The Jervis Shopping Center car park is just a few minutes’ walk from the river and is a great base for exploring the city. From here you can cross via the Ha’penny Bridge or the Millennium Bridge, enjoying views of Dublin’s iconic Ha’penny Bridge as you head towards the famous Temple Bar area.

Trinity College and the Book of Kells

Our first stop was Trinity College, which is less than a 10-minute walk from Ha’penny Bridge, with a slight detour along the way to see the Molly Malone statue.

Molly Malone is a legendary character from a famous Dublin folk song and is often depicted as a young fishwife who sold cockles and mussels from a wheelbarrow on the streets of Dublin.

After taking your selfie with Molly Malone, head to Trinity College, Ireland’s oldest university, founded in 1592. When you walk in, you feel like you’ve stepped back in time. You can stroll through the beautiful gardens for free, explore the historic courtyards and enjoy the architecture at no cost.

The Book of Kells is located at Trinity College, you have to pay for this experience but it is definitely worth it. This is one of the most famous attractions, offering visitors the chance to see the beautifully illuminated Book of Kells, a manuscript created by Celtic monks around AD 800. The experience combines fascinating exhibits on the history of the book and also gives you access to the stunning Long Room Library, where you are surrounded by shelves of ancient books.

Grafton Street

After some culture, head to Dublin’s main shopping district, which is not only known for its high-end retail stores, but is also the place to go to see buskers from all over the country singing and performing for audiences. We loved wandering around and listening to the different street musicians while some of our group wandered around the shops.

The green of Saint-Étienne

At the end of Grafton Street you come to the entrance to St Stephen’s Green, a beautiful park with many paths for walking, small bridges over ponds and streams and a beautiful fountain in the center of the park. It was the perfect place for the younger members of our group (and the dog) to burn off some energy. While the rest of us sat on a bench, enjoyed the view and rested our legs.

St. Patrick’s Cathedral

After a stop at the park, we headed to St. Patrick’s Cathedral which is only about a 10 minute walk away. It is the largest cathedral in Ireland and one of Dublin’s most important historical monuments. Founded in 1191, it is renowned for its Gothic architecture and magnificent stained glass windows.

As it was already lunchtime, we decided to stop for a bite to eat and found the perfect spot tucked away on Francis Street, right opposite the cathedral. It was called Two Pups and, as the name suggests, it is a small, dog-friendly cafe serving all-day brunches, snacks and light lunches as well as delicious cakes.

Dublin Castle

Our next stop once we were fueled up was Dublin Castle, which has stood in the heart of Dublin for over 800 years and was once the center of British rule in Ireland. Today you can explore the elegant state apartments, the medieval basement and the magnificent gardens of the castle. Unfortunately, dogs are not allowed in the State Apartments or the museum, but you can walk with them in the gardens. If you want to see everything Dublin Castle has to offer, allow 1-2 hours to fully explore it.

Temple Bar

After visiting the castle, we returned to Temple Bar to finish our walking tour and wandered around the busy streets. As the weather was nice, we stopped for a drink outside The Temple Bar, a beautiful pub painted bright red with beautiful hanging baskets (you won’t miss it). It is on the corner of Temple Bar and Temple Lane.

The Temple Bar area is full of lively pubs, traditional Irish bars and restaurants, but if you venture a little further from the river you’ll discover even more options around Drury Street. This area is known as Dublin’s creative district, where trendy cafes, independent boutiques, vintage stores and colorful street art give the area a distinctly modern feel.

We had done some research before our visit and discovered that Drury Buildings was a nice restaurant that had small plates and was also dog friendly. We had a lovely dinner here and there was something for everyone, even the dog was served a bowl of fresh water.

Why we love Dublin

Dublin is a city that instantly appeals to you. It’s beautiful, full of history and, best of all, it’s small enough to explore on foot.

What we liked the most was the kindness of the people, especially towards our four-legged friend. We were also pleasantly surprised to see how dog-friendly the city is, with plenty of green spaces, as well as restaurants and cafes where our dog was welcome.

With its beautiful streets, rich history, friendly people and walkable amenities, Dublin is a city we would love to return to.