Things to Do in Dublin for the Solo Traveller
There’s a certain freedom that comes with exploring a new city on your own. No debating where to go next. No waiting for everyone else to finish breakfast. Just you, Dublin and whatever catches your interest.
And Dublin is particularly good for it.
The city centre is compact enough to explore on foot, while the coast, neighbourhoods and some of Dublin’s best-known attractions are all within easy reach. So, whether this is your first solo trip to Dublin or you’re adding a few days to a longer adventure, you can make the city entirely your own.
Here’s our guide to some of the best things to do in Dublin as a solo traveller.
Explore the Home of Guinness at Your Own Pace
When you’re travelling solo, being able to take things at your own speed is one of the perks.
At the Guinness Storehouse, explore seven floors dedicated to the story, craft and culture of Guinness, stopping for longer wherever your curiosity takes you.
If you want to go deeper, add an experience such as the Connoisseur Experience, where a Guinness expert guides a small group through a tasting of four Guinness beers. It’s a chance to discover more about the flavours, stories and craft behind each one – and the intimate group setting makes it an easy place to meet fellow visitors along the way.
Then save some time for the Gravity Bar.
Find yourself a spot by the window, take in the 360-degree views across Dublin City and watch the streets you’ve been exploring unfold below you.
Some views are even better when you have them to yourself.
Discover the Book of Kells
Take a wander through the cobbled squares of Trinity College Dublin before stepping inside one of the city’s great cultural landmarks.
The Book of Kells Experience begins in the Old Library, where you can see the ninth-century manuscript before entering the Long Room. The experience then continues in the nearby Pavilion with an immersive digital journey through the Library’s collections.
The Long Room itself is undergoing a major redevelopment, with most of its historic books temporarily removed, but the space remains open to visitors.
Travelling on your own means there’s no need to hurry. Take your time with the details, linger over the exhibitions and let one of Ireland’s best-known cultural treasures speak for itself.
See Dublin on Foot
One of the best ways to get to know Dublin is simply to walk it.
Join a guided walking tour and you’ll quickly start to understand how the city fits together, from Georgian squares and medieval streets to landmarks, hidden corners and the stories behind them.
A good guide will give you more than dates and names. Expect Dublin characters, local history, a few stories you probably won’t find in a guidebook and, with any luck, a decent joke or two.
For a solo traveller, it’s also an easy way to get your bearings early in your trip – and perhaps pick up a few ideas for where to go next.
Head for the Coast
Dublin may be a capital city, but the sea is never far away.
To see a different and beautiful side of Dublin hop aboard the DART and you can swap the city streets for the coast in less than an hour. Head north towards Howth, or south towards Dún Laoghaire and Killiney, and you’ll find walks, harbour views and plenty of fresh Irish Sea air.
If you feel like stretching your legs, take on one of the coastal walks. If a swim sounds more appealing, you’ll find plenty of places where Dubliners take the plunge year-round.
Or do very little at all.
Find somewhere with a view, settle in and enjoy having nowhere else you need to be.
That’s one of the better parts of travelling alone.
Find a Traditional Irish Music Session
You don’t need company to enjoy a good Dublin pub session.
Traditional Irish music can be found across the city throughout the week, and it’s one of those experiences that works particularly well when you’re travelling solo. Find a seat, order a drink and let the music do the rest.
Temple Bar has plenty of live music, but if you want to venture beyond the busiest visitor areas, explore neighbourhoods such as the Liberties or Smithfield.
The Cobblestone in Smithfield is particularly well known for traditional Irish music, with sessions running throughout the week.
You may arrive on your own. Whether you stay that way is another matter.
Eat Properly While You’re Here
Solo travel is no reason to settle for a sandwich on the move.
Pull up a chair and make time for some proper Dublin food. Think stew, brown bread, bacon and cabbage, or a hearty pie on a day when the weather calls for it.
And if you want something distinctly Dublin, look out for coddle.
Traditionally made with sausages, rashers, potatoes and onions slowly cooked together, it’s the kind of straightforward, comforting dish that has long been associated with Dublin kitchens.
You’ll still find versions around the city today. The Hairy Lemon, for example, currently serves Dublin coddle with pork sausages, bacon, root vegetables and brown bread.
No sharing plates required.
Make Dublin Your Own
That might be the best thing about travelling solo in Dublin: there’s no single way to do it.
Spend an hour in a museum or half the afternoon in one. Walk until something catches your eye. Take the train to the sea because the weather suddenly clears. Find a pub session, order dinner for one or watch the sun drop over Dublin City from the Gravity Bar.
No compromises. No committee decisions.
Just Dublin, your way.