We began our first adventure on the road by traveling back to where our ancestors came from…Ireland. We started down this road of discovery during August & September of 2026. Below are travel tips and information.
In this post:
Dublin Hotels
Holiday Inn Express - Our centre city hotel was convenient to most sites. Breakfast is included in the room rate. We spent four nights using IHG points. The 4th night is free! When you arrive, ask if you can check in early or leave bags at the hotel so you can make the most of your time. There are many restaurants & several day tours that take off from O’Connell Street Upper. The city is very walkable. However, there are also many trams and local buses that can be picked up easily from O’Connell St. This makes it very easy to explore Dublin.
Ruby Molly by IHG - We stayed one night at the Ruby Molly at the end of our time in Ireland. This location also allows you to access all the transit you need to travel in Dublin.
Dublin Go City Pass
Go City.com We selected the Go City Dublin Explorer Pass. You can select four highlights to visit from their curated list. Check to see if buying items individually or if the Go City Pass will be the best investment of your time and for your budget. If you decide on the pass, you can purchase it in advance and activate it months later. The pass is valid for 12 months from the date of purchase until its first use. Once activated at the first attraction, you then have 30 days to use the remaining attractions. For ease of entry, it is often better to download the Go City app on separate phones and share the specific, individual pass codes with each person to avoid logistical delays. This pass saved us money!
These are the activities we used the Go City Pass for:
Guinness Storehouse - Housed in a former 1902 fermentation plant, the Guiness Storehouse tour shares how this family built an empire & you learn how the famous stout is made. See the 9000 year lease signed in 1759 & visit the Gravity Bar to see the city of Dublin laid out before you as you sample the brew. Book a timed entry seven days prior to travel in the Go City App Reservations
Epic Irish Emigration Museum - This is an interactive, digital museum that tells the story of Irish emigration and the global impact of the Irish people who influenced culture, politics, science, and the arts worldwide. Very proud!
St. Patricks Cathedral is the largest cathedral and one of the most important pilgrimage sites in Ireland. Saint Patrick’s has been at the heart of Dublin and Ireland’s history and culture for over 800 years.
Big Bus Tours Night - When you have had a full day, this narrated hour long bus tour of Dublin at night takes you to corners of the city you might not have visited. To join this tour, meet the 6 PM Big Bus Dublin Night Tour night bus at 14A O'Connell St. Upper, North City Dublin
Other Dublin Sites
Famine-Memorial - This monument is a series of life-sized bronze statues on Custom House Quay that honors the one million people who died and the one million who fled during the Great Irish Famine (1845–1852). Quite a moment…
Ha-penny-bridge - Dublin’s oldest & most famous iron bridge stretching over the River Liffey.
River_Liffey- Stroll along the river that flows right through Dublin
Dublin Tours and Events
Dublin Free Walking Tour This 2.5 hour city tour provided us with an orientation to the city, its culture & turbulent history. The tour starts at the Spire on O’Connell Street. A tip is usually 10-20 EUR pp. We also paid six euros to secure a spot on the tour. Payment is accepted by card by guide for tips.
Trinity Book-of-Kells-Experience - This is a must see while in Dublin in our opinion. The Book of Kells is a 1200 year old illuminated manuscript of the four Latin Gospels created around 800 AD. The artwork is stunning! The library also plays host to the Brian Boru Harp which is the oldest surviving medieval Irish wire-strung celtic harp. It serves as the official model for Ireland's national emblem on coins, government documents, and passports. You should book a specific time slot well in advance. Pro tip: Download the Trinity App which has audio guide & bring your headphones! To begin the tour, go to the Old Library Building, Trinity College, College Green, Dublin 2, Ireland. The tour lasts 90 min.
The Church - Request a table at this renovated church cafe well in advance to see Irish step dancers. Pro-tip: Check out the organ that Handel used when composing the Messiah on the second floor.
Giants Causeway & Belfast Day Tour from Dublin Wild Rover operates an excellent full day tour to Northern Ireland. Our pick up location was 59 Upper O’Connell St. Dublin. You can choose from a Black Cab tour or a visit to the Titanic Museum as a morning stop, then take a trip along the coast to the medieval ruins of Dunluce Castle & the final stop of the day is at the Unesco World Heritage Site of The Giants Causeway with its thousands of basalt columns stretching into the sea. This is a grand day out. The expertise of the guide and sites are well worth your time.
The Stags Head 1 Dame Court Dublin. The pub hosts An Evening of Irish Folklore and Fairies at 5 pm to 6:30 pm. The kitchen closes after 5 pm so come early if you are hungry. We reserved our spot for this intimate, dare I say magical, storytelling session at Irishfolktours.com
Irish Phrases- This is the list of common and useful phrases we assembled and practiced before landing in Ireland. FYI we used very little of it, as few of the people we came in contact with spoke Irish. Please note- We are not language experts!
