The best Irish souvenirs to bring home from your trip

I recently visited Dublin and I loved it so much. While Ireland is a small country and Dublin is a bit more underrated than other destinations in Western Europe, like Paris, Madrid, or Milan, I think Dublin is a fantastic city for all travelers, and especially solo travelers. It has a rich history, nice people, and plenty of attractions to explore. In this article I’ll share with you what are the best Irish souvenirs you can take home to share with family and friends. This post contains affiliate links. When you make a purchase I may get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Find out more here.

Are you looking for help with planning your trip? Check out these helpful resources:

Everyone has a different take on souvenirs. Some people collect fridge magnets, some people like to buy food items, while others think souvenirs are a waste of luggage space and money since memories are the best souvenirs. I personally fall into the second category. I like to bring home some sweets or food I can only find in the country I’m visiting.

However, in this article I’ll cover all traditional Irish gifts so you can pick the souvenirs that match your travel style.

Table of Contents

Make your own silver ring

If you’re visiting Dublin this is a must do activity: Sterling Silver Ring Forging Workshop. You will make your own silver ring and you get to keep it as a souvenir. So cool!

me holding a silver ring I made at the silver ring forging workshop in dublin, one of the best Irish souvenirs

How the ring forging workshop works

They teach the workshop in a jewelry store. It has a cozy, informal and friendly vibe as you’ll be part of a small group (mine had only 3 other people). You will first meet your group in the jewelry store. While you wait for everyone to gather you can take a look at the amazing pieces of jewelry they make, and you can get a 10% discount if you want to buy something.

Once everyone arrives you will head towards the jewelry workshop. If there are more than 3-4 people, they will split you into 2 groups. One group stays at the workshop in the basement of the jewelry store. The other group will go a few doors down to a workshop in the back of an ice cream place.

Then you take your seats, and the teacher starts explaining what you will do. The teachers are usually young jewelers in training, which I think is super cool. You never know what famous jeweler they will become, and you can say you took a workshop with them before they got famous.

My teacher was great. She was friendly and patient with us. While we were working on our rings we were also chatting with the other participants. In my group there was a couple from the Los Angeles area and a local girl from Dublin. It was great to connect with other people.

During the workshop you won’t have to do the welding and acid dipping of the rings yourself. The teacher does it for everyone, so there’s zero risk of accidents. You’ll be able to make an awesome ring even though you’re not talented at crafts (like me). It’s one of my favorite souvenirs. It’s a beautiful gift that you can keep for yourself or share with someone special.

Traditional Aran sweaters

There are a lot of sheep in Ireland. Some sources even claim that there are more sheep than people in the country. So Ireland produces a lot of high-quality wool items. One of them is Irish sweaters. The Aran Islands are home to the famous Aran sweaters. They are sweaters made from wool yarn and have cable patterns on them.

Back in the day all sweaters used to be hand-made, but today most of them are machine knitted. They come in all colors, but the traditional Aran wool sweater has an off-white color. The sweaters are cozy and can be great gifts.

Bottle of Irish Whiskey

Jameson is one of the top Irish brands. Even someone who is not a big drinker, like me, still heard about Jameson whiskey. The brand is well-known internationally and they have expanded tremendously to keep up with worldwide demand.

While the Dublin distillery is no longer operational, they offer a guided tour of the old distillery. It’s basically a cool, interactive Irish whiskey museum. What better way to learn about Jameson whiskey production and do a tasting than this tour? The tour was a lot of fun and I highly recommend it.

You can buy a bottle of whiskey to bring it home as a souvenir after you finish the tour. Your family and friends will definitely appreciate it (if they drink).

Irish cheddar

I am a big foodie and I think food items make for excellent souvenirs. Ireland is known for their amazing dairy and cheese. They make some of the best products in the world. So bringing home some Irish cheese would make every family member happy since it’s so delicious and they can have a little taste of Ireland.

Guinness souvenirs

a glass of guinness at the guinness storehouse in dublin

If there’s only one activity to include on your Dublin itinerary it’s to visit the Guinness Storehouse. It’s an immersive experience where you learn everything about how they make Guinness, you do a beer tasting, and you get a free pint of Guinness at their rooftop bar, which has some of the best views of Dublin. If you want to see your selfie on a pint of beer, then opt for the Stoutie ticket. Stout + selfie = Stoutie. This experience costs an additional 8 euros.

The experience spans multiple floors and every single part of it is super instagrammable. The Guinness Storehouse is also a good place to buy some Ireland souvenirs related to Guinness.

Green shamrock

The green shamrock is one of the symbols of Ireland. A shamrock is a type of clover. It has three leaves, it is not a four-leaf clover. The name shamrock comes from the Irish word seamróg which means young clover.

It has a long history in the Irish culture as it is believed that Saint Patrick used it as a symbol of the Holy Trinity back in the 16th century. The shamrock then evolved from a symbol associated with religion to a national symbol that was found on medals, coins, and nowadays on the tails of all Aer Lingus planes.

You can check out some souvenir shops to find some unique gifts that feature the shamrock.

Irish tea

Ireland, just like the United Kingdom, is a country that loves tea. The Irish breakfast tea is a combination of various black teas. The most notable Irish tea brands are Barry’s, Bewley’s, and Lyons. If you and your family like to drink a cup of tea in the morning or afternoon than Irish tea can make for a terrific souvenir.

A book written by an Irish author

James Joyce and Oscar Wilde are two of the most famous Irish authors. Buying a book written by them would be the perfect gift for book lovers. If you are a book lover yourself, make sure to check out the statue of Oscar Wilde in Dublin. It was unveiled in 1997 and you can find it at 1 Merrion Square, very close to his childhood home.

FAQ about traveling to Dublin

Where to stay in Dublin

Dublin is a relatively small European capital city, and you can find most attractions on both sides of River Liffey in the city center. Some popular neighborhoods are Wood Quay, Temple Bar, Smithfield. You can find plenty of hotels for all budgets in Dublin.

Budget hotels

Dublin offers budget friendly 2- and 3-star hotel options located in the city center. The price range is between $40-85 per night. Some popular options include Jacobs Inn Dublin, easyHotel Dublin City Centre and Drury Court Hotel.

Mid-budget hotels

I stayed at Hampton by Hilton Dublin City Centre. The location was great, and the room was small and cozy. It was perfect for me, but if you like larger rooms you should pick a different hotel.

me sitting down on a bed in a hotel in dublin

Some other mid-budget hotels are: The Grafton Hotel, Conrad Dublin, and Arthaus Hotel.

Luxury hotels

If you are looking for high-end facilities and top service, Dublin has many five-star hotels to choose from. Popular options include The Westbury, The Merrion Hotel, and The Shelbourne – Autograph Collection.

Hostels

Unfortunately, I am not the right person to recommend you any hostels. I am in my 30s and I value comfort, so I will always choose to stay at a hotel vs a hostel. I can see how a hostel is a great option for younger people, but I’m at a different stage in life, so I prefer hotels.

Airbnb

I also tend to pick hotels over Airbnbs because I feel like it’s less of a risk and it’s a more reliable option. One time when I visited Miami with my friends we booked an Airbnb that looked great in pictures but looked really bad in reality. We ended up going to a hotel instead. After that experience I tend to avoid Airbnbs altogether.

What should I eat in Dublin?

Caffeinate with a latte art drink at Beanhive Coffee

latte art in dublin, the start of the 4 day dublin itinerary

Having a cup of coffee is the best way to start the day. Especially when you’re jetlagged. I love coffee! I’m a cappuccino and cortado person. I love drinking coffee when I’m traveling. I find it so fascinating how different cultures have different coffee habits.

I’m also a sucker for latte art. So naturally, my first stop in Dublin was at Beanhive Coffee. I ordered a cappuccino, and I asked them to surprise me with a cute design. And boy, did they deliver! Look how adorable that cat is. And it’s a nerdy cat with glasses and curly hair, just like yours truly. This was the perfect start to my Dublin adventure.

They also serve the traditional Irish breakfast, sandwiches of your choice on a ciabatta or wrap, and other egg dishes. Prices are around 10-15 euros.

The café is small, so there might be a short wait if you plan to sit there. They have both indoor and outdoor seating.

Spice bag

Since we had two people that were locals at the silver ring forging workshop I asked them for food recommendations in town. Both of them told me to try a spice bag. I had no idea what that was. It turns out it’s an Irish Chinese dish you can find in all Chinese restaurants in Dublin and it’s one of the local favorites. It’s basically fried chicken and potatoes tossed in a mix of spices. Hence the name of spice bag. It sounded intriguing, so I tried it one day for dinner. It was actually really good.

Lunch at Guinness Storehouse

view from a restaurant at the guinness storehouse in dublin

If you visit the Guinness Storehouse you can eat lunch there. They have multiple restaurants on the fifth floor, so you can pick one based on what you’re in the mood for.

I recommend the 1837 Bar & Brasserie. They serve staples of traditional Irish cuisine like beef & Guinness stew, along with other popular classics like cheeseburgers. The view from the restaurant is spectacular. If you don’t believe me, check the picture above.

You can book a table in advance, or you can just walk in. They are open daily from 1pm.

Dinner at Trocadero

After a full day of sightseeing, Trocadero is the perfect place for dinner. It’s a modern European restaurant that uses fresh Irish ingredients for all dishes.

inside of trocadero restaurant in dublin

The restaurant is spacious, and you can be seated in one of their five rooms. The ambience is cozy as they use just dim lights in the entire restaurant.

The décor is quite unique. The seating consists of red couches and velvet chairs, there are pictures of famous people who ate at the restaurant on the walls, and each table has a little night lamp.

The food is delicious. I highly recommend the chicken liver pate as starter, the confit duck leg as main course, and the brioche bread and butter pudding as dessert.

The restaurant is a little bit expensive, the total for the meal being around 60 euros. But it’s worth the splurge. I still think about that meal.

How to get cell phone data when visiting from abroad?

The cheapest and most convenient way to get data while visiting from abroad is to buy an eSIM. An eSIM is a digital SIM that lets you activate a data plan from a provider without having to use a physical SIM card. They are super easy to use.

I use Nomad eSIM (use code IOAN43TM for 25% off your first purchase). You can go to their website, select the country you’re traveling to, select how many GB of data you want, and how many days you want the eSIM to be active for. After you pay you will receive a confirmation email with instructions on how to activate the eSIM.

You can activate it on your phone and the process takes under 1 minute. Once the eSIM is activated you don’t have to do anything else. When you’re at your destination you will automatically get data.

Is Dublin safe for a solo female traveler?

Yes, overall, I felt safe in Dublin as a solo female traveler. There was a riot on the first night I visited, which was a bit scary. It was violent as they set on fire a bus, a tram, and a police car as a form of protest. 34 people were arrested. Thankfully I wasn’t in the area when it happened, and I was very careful the following days. Things like this happen everywhere in the world, so it doesn’t mean that Dublin is unsafe. Locals told me this was the first time something like this happened.

What is the best time to solo travel to Dublin?

I visited in late November and I loved it because there weren’t many tourists. However, it was colder than what I would have liked, and it also rained a few times. I think the spring or early fall could be great times to visit so you can have better weather.

I tend to avoid Europe summer travel because it gets so hot and there are so many tourists everywhere that it takes away from the experience for me. I’d rather wait a few months and go in the fall so I can properly enjoy the destinations I’m visiting.

How can I get around Dublin?

Dublin is a very walkable city. They also have a lot of buses and the Luas tram system, so you can get anywhere easily.

How can I get to the city center from Dublin airport?

Bus

This is the option I went with. The bus is called Dublin Express and a round trip costs 10 euros. They have multiple stops along River Liffey in the Dublin city center area.

They ask you to pick a time when you book the ticket online, but you can use the ticket 12 hours before or after the booked departure time.

You can take the bus from any stop and get off at any stop.

If you don’t have time to book the ticket online ahead of your trip, you can also buy a ticket at their booth at the airport. There are signs at the airport that will point you to their bus stop.

Taxi / uber

If you don’t want to take public transportation you can take a car. You can order an Uber through the app. It costs about 25-30 euros to get to the city center from the airport. Alternatively you can also schedule a private transfer.

Do I need cash?

I didn’t use cash when I visited, I paid for everything with a credit card. But it’s always recommended to carry some cash with you so you can tip tour guides or buy souvenirs or something else from small mom-and-pop shops who don’t accept credit cards.

Pro tip: always get cash from an ATM in the airport instead of going to an exchange place. Your bank will always have better exchange rates when taking out cash in a foreign currency from an ATM.

How many days do I need in Dublin?

I think 4 days in Dublin is enough time to see the major tourist attractions and to take a day trip somewhere close to Dublin. If you plan on exploring more of Ireland, then you should aim for a week or 10 days.

Do I have to tip in Dublin?

Tipping is not mandatory, but it is highly encouraged. I usually leave 1-2 euros as tip when I eat out. They highly appreciate it when you do this.

Do you recommend Dublin as a solo destination?

Yes, I highly recommend Dublin as a destination for solo female travelers. I think it could be a great destination for a first-time solo trip. It’s a safe city and they speak English, so it could be a great option when you’re first starting out solo traveling.