While Dublin is a bit more underrated than other destinations in Western Europe, like Paris, Madrid, or Milan, I think it’s a fantastic city and you should add it to your bucket list. It has a rich history, plenty of cultural attractions, and lots of traditional pubs where you can stop for a pint of Guinness. In this blog post I will share the best neighborhoods to stay in Dublin during your first visit and some great hotels. 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:
- Flights
- Accommodation for all budgets
- Rental cars
- Europe train tickets
- Europe bus tickets
- Activities, tours, and day trips
- eSIM for international data
Temple Bar
The Temple Bar neighborhood is the perfect location if you want to experience the vibrant Dublin nightlife. The Temple Bar district is home to the famous Temple Bar pub, which dates back to 1840. This neighborhood is full of cobblestone streets, historic buildings, and lively pubs.
If you stay in the Temple Bar area it will only take a short walk to get to Dublin’s top attractions such as St. Patrick’s Cathedral or Ha’penny Bridge.
Temple Bar Hotel Dublin
Temple Bar Hotel Dublin is a great place to stay at because of its great location. You’ll be close to all the pubs. Moreover, the hotel is a 5 minute walk away from Grafton Street and Henry Street, so you can also go shopping.
The hotel has 4 stars and offers comfortable rooms and all the amenities you need while traveling.
NYX Hotel Dublin Christchurch
NYX Hotel Dublin Christchurch is a 4-star hotel located between Temple Bar, Christchurch and Dame Street. It’s a modern hotel decorated with vibrant colors and cool art.
It has a restaurant and bar on site so you can grab some food and drinks if you don’t feel like eating out. The staff is very friendly, so you will have a great stay here.
Smithfield
Smithfield is a more tranquil neighborhood across the river from the Temple Bar area. This is where I stayed when I visited Dublin.
Smithfield is a neighborhood that’s only a short distance from main attractions such as the Jameson distillery or Dublin Castle.
Hampton by Hilton Dublin City Centre
I stayed at Hampton by Hilton Dublin City Centre because I had enough Hilton points to book it with points. The hotel has spacious rooms which even include a sofa besides the bed.
The windows are large and you get nice views of Dublin, especially if you are on the top floor. The staff was great. I arrived there around 10 am and they checked me in because they had a room ready.
The breakfast buffet has all you need. It’s not a very large buffet and the options are not gourmet, but it does the trick if you want to eat something before going out to explore.
I liked the location because it’s less crowded and more quiet. But you can still walk to most attractions.
Ruby Molly Hotel & Bar
Ruby Molly is a quirky hotel in the heart of Dublin. It has a stylish design and a hip atmosphere compared to other more classical hotels. The rooms are soundproof, so you can enjoy a relaxing stay. The hotel is located only a 6 minute walk away from Jameson Distillery.
Trinity College
Trinity College has one of the most impressive libraries in the world. And this is where you’ll also be able to see the Book of Kells, a religious manuscript from the medieval times.
Moreover, it is one of Dublin’s neighborhoods that has a convenient location and you’ll be close to most major attractions.
The Trinity City Hotel
The Trinity City Hotel is a 4-star hotel located right next to Trinity College. It’s a popular choice for both business travelers and tourists visiting Dublin since it’s in a central location.
The hotel is located in a Georgian building, so that adds to the feeling of stepping back in time if you stay there.
Brooks Hotel
Brooks Hotel is a boutique hotel located on Drury Street. The hotel provides a coffee shop, a library, and laundry services. This is on top of the regular amenities such as free in-room WiFi. The hotel is a 2 min walk from Grafton Street and about a 10 min walk to Dublin Castle.
Merrion Square
Merrion Square has beautiful historic buildings that all have those colorful Dublin doors you. Even if you choose not to stay here I highly recommend you take a walk in this neighborhood to admire these doors.
This is also the neighborhood where Oscar Wilde used to live. There is a statue of him in Merrion Square Park.
It’s a great area full of history, art, and cultural places.
The Alex Hotel Dublin
The Alex Hotel Dublin is a 4-star boutique hotel in Merrion Square. It has a fabulous location and it’s within walking distance to many attractions.
The hotel has a restaurant, a cafe, and a gorgeous outdoor terrace. The rooms are spacious and decorated in a modern style.
The Merrion Hotel Dublin
The Merrion Hotel Dublin is an award-winning 5-star hotel. If you’re looking for a luxury stay, this hotel is a great choice. They say they are the most luxurious hotel in Dublin and they are part of The Leading Hotels of the World.
It has an infinity pool, a 2 Michelin star restaurant on-site, a spa and a gym. You have everything you need for a fabulous stay.
O’Connell Street
O’Connell Street is an avenue in the heart of Dublin that’s full of shops, monuments, cafes, and restaurants. If you like to shop and to be in center of the actions then this is a great spot.
Hotel Riu Plaza The Gresham Dublin
Hotel Riu Plaza The Gresham Dublin is a 4-star hotel located right on O’Connell Street. It’s the same hotel brand as the iconic Riu Plaza in Madrid.
The hotel has elegant rooms, a 24 hour gym, and free wifi. It’s located in a historic building and it is close to most attractions.
Wynn’s Hotel Dublin
Wynn’s Hotel Dublin is a 3-star hotel that is close to Temple Bar and Trinity College. This hotel has a rich history. It used to be a boarding house back in 1845. Then the hotel played a vital role leading up to the 1916 Easter Rising and other significant Irish events.
It was then renovated and opened again in 1926. It is one of the best-known hotels in Dublin. If you’re a history buff, you should stay here.
FAQs about Dublin
What day trips can I take from Dublin?
There are a lot of good options for day trips from Dublin. You can’t go wrong with any of them, so feel free to pick your favorite:
Cliffs of Moher, Burren & Galway City Day Tour
Giants Causeway, Dark Hedges, Dunluce & Belfast Tour
Wicklow Mountains, Glendalough & Kilkenny Tour
Game of Thrones Winterfell Locations Tour
Blarney Castle Full-Day Tour from Dublin
What should I eat in Dublin?
Caffeinate with a latte art drink at Beanhive Coffee
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. 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
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.
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 on the pricy side, 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 Airalo. 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. Most tourist attractions are in central Dublin and are within walking distance from each other. 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.
Need inspiration for your next trip? Check out some of my other articles.
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Ioana was born and raised in Romania, lived in NYC for 14 years, and is now back in Romania. She fell in love with traveling when she was little and used to visit her aunt in Vienna. Then in high school she was able to visit Siberia, Turkmenistan, Istanbul, and Tokyo through chemistry competitions. As an adult she started to travel solo once she turned 30 and visited 20+ countries so far. Ioana is a full time travel blogger and content creator with an audience of 75K+ people on Instagram. She loves to share travel recommendations and tips.