Compare Dublin city breaks

City of culture

A trip to Dublin is all about enjoying the simple things in life: eating well, drinking plenty and soaking up the atmosphere of a cultured city with links to everyone from James Joyce, George Bernard Shaw and U2 to Maeve Binchy, Oscar Wilde and WB Yeats.

Whether you're visiting for a weekend break or you're using your short holiday in Dublin as the jumping-off point for a longer break in Ireland, you won't be short of entertainment.

Suited to all tastes

How you spend your time on a short break in Dublin is up to you. You can wander the prim, cobbled grounds of Trinity College before wallowing in the Georgian architecture of Merrion Square and St Stephen's Green.

You can shop at local fashion boutiques, unwind at a plush Dublin hotel spa and dine out at the latest Michelin-starred restaurant: there are no fewer than 12 of them, all reliant on Ireland's high-quality produce.

Alternatively, do as the locals do and simply browse the cheap Dublin markets, shop for deals, graze on street food and sink into the pubs and bars of the backstreets.

Young at heart

Dublin was hit hard by the economic crisis, but take a trip to Dublin in 2020 and you'll find it busily facing the future.

From its home-grown chefs and ever-evolving art scene to its free live music and sporting prowess, Ireland's capital city now balances graceful, old-world looks with a defiantly youthful energy. We'll drink to that.

Trinity College and the Book of Kells

The list of Trinity College alumni through the ages is impressive, featuring everyone from Oscar Wilde and Samuel Beckett to actor Dominic West and former president Mary McAleese.

Founded in 1592, it remains an evocative place to visit. The highlight for many is the magnificent Book of Kells, an illustrated bible thought to have been written around 800AD. A ticket to see the manuscript also grants you access to the university's soaring Old Library.

Kilmainham Gaol

More than nine decades have passed since this former prison actually held any prisoners, but since it was founded in the late 1700s, it has incarcerated some of Ireland's most famous military and political leaders.

All of which means that a visit today gives a fascinating - and at times disturbing - insight into the country's often turbulent past, including the many uprisings against British rule.

The Little Museum of Dublin

Far more comprehensive and entertaining than its (nonetheless accurate) name would suggest, this museum occupies an 18th-century Georgian townhouse on St Stephen's Green.

Admission is by guided tour only - they start on the hour, every hour - and places tend to be snapped up during peak tourist months, so book ahead. The museum gives a lively overview of Dublin's colourful evolution over the last century. Once you're done, St Stephen's Green is well worth a stroll in its own right.

Croke Park

The spiritual home of Irish sport is this 82,300-capacity stadium in the north of the city, which also doubles as the HQ of the GAA (Gaelic Athletic Association).

Join a behind the scenes tour, take a skyline walk along the stadium roof, or, better still, bag a ticket for a big match. Hurling and Gaelic football are fast-paced, high in entertainment value and draw huge crowds.

Events for your diary

The ideal date for your diary? It has to be St Patrick’s Day on March 17. If you’re looking for a hog-whimpering-ly good knees-up, it’s the most obvious time for a Dublin break as the city comes alive with a huge parade and a hefty helping of communal merry-making.

It also gives you the perfect excuse (as if one were needed) to sup a pint at the city’s famed Hole in the Wall inn. The boozer enjoys the accolade of having the longest bar in the country and, just like the festival, it never seems to end.