41 Things To Do In Dublin In Winter [Fun & Affordable!]
Wondering about all the best things to do in Dublin in winter?
You might be surprised to learn that winter is one of the best times to visit Dublin!
We are Ger and Aisha, and we spend every winter in Dublin!
Ger’s mam lives near Dublin so we have ample experience trying new and affordable activities in Dublin, during the winter.
Dublin city is always vibrant and bursting with Irish charm, but it becomes especially magical in winter.
The festive atmosphere, Christmas markets and hot whiskeys in cozy Irish pubs make Dublin an amazing place to visit in winter.
There are so many places to see and things to do in Dublin in winter and with this list, you just have to pack your bags, get to Ireland and you’re ready to experience the magic of Dublin in winter!
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41 Things To Do In Dublin In Winter
4. Temple Bar
5. EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum
7. The Little Museum Of Dublin
8. Trinity College Library And The Book of Kells
11. Dublin Castle
13. Phoenix Park
14. Ice Skating
17. The Church
18. Delicious Dublin Food Tour
20. Croke Park
23. Grafton Street
24. O’Connell Street And The Spire
25. National Gallery Of Ireland
26. Irish Rock And Roll Museum
28. Dublin Coastal Craft Beer And Seafood Trail
30. Visit A Traditional Irish Restaurant
31. National Leprechaun Museum
32. The Jeanie Johnston: An Irish Famine Story
34. Teeling Whiskey Distillery
35. The National Wax Museum Plus
36. Roe And Co. Distillery Cocktail Workshop Experience
39. Visit A Traditional Irish Pub
40. Listen To Some Traditional Irish Music
41. GPO Museum
41 Things To Do In Dublin In Winter
1. The Guinness Storehouse
One of the most exciting things to do in Dublin is to visit The Guinness Storehouse. It is located at St. James’s Gate Brewery and is one of the most visited tourist attractions in Dublin.
A visit to the Guinness Storehouse takes you through seven floors explaining the brewing process, and the history of Guinness. You can even pour your pint!
The tour ends at the Gravity Bar where you can enjoy a view of the city and a perfectly poured pint of Guinness. You can check the latest prices and availability here.
2. The Jameson Distillery
The Jameson Distillery, located on Bow Street, offers a tour of the old distillery and a whiskey-tasting experience.
Here you will learn about the history and the art of making Irish whiskey.
You can also take part in a comparative whiskey-tasting experience.
3. Irish Whiskey Museum
The Irish Whiskey Museum allows you to try a vast range of Irish Whiskey.
The Museum is independent of all distilleries so you can decide for yourself which whiskey is the best. You can book tickets here.
4. Temple Bar
This is an incredibly popular tourist attraction in the heart of Dublin city.
You will often see this bar full of people but not many of the locals. Many consider the bar to be a tourist trap with overpriced drinks.
I would recommend visiting this area as it is a vibrant, cultural neighbourhood with a great atmosphere but it probably wouldn’t be great for your bank account if you spend the evening drinking there.
You can book tickets here for a tour of the pubs in the neighbourhood.
5. EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum
This museum tells the history of emigration from Ireland.
The tour takes you through stories of Irish people’s reasons for leaving the country and the effects this had on the world.
It also explores the connection that descendants of the emigrants have with the emerald isle. You can check the latest prices and availability here.
6. National Museum of Ireland
The National Museum of Ireland is one of the most impressive museums in Europe.
It contains remnants of Ireland’s past with artefacts from Celtic and Viking Ireland as well as the strangely preserved bodies from the Iron age known as ‘bog bodies’.
Visit the National Museum of Ireland and you will learn all about this.
7. The Little Museum of Dublin
The Little Museum of Dublin may be little but it tells a big story. The Museum is located within a Georgian townhouse overlooking St. Stephens Green.
The Museum is filled with artefacts from Dublin and the tour celebrates the art of Irish storytelling and the history of Dublin. You can book your tickets here.
8. Trinity College Library And The Book of Kells
One of the main reasons people visit the Trinity College Library is to see the world-famous Book of Kells.
The Book of Kells is an illuminated manuscript of the four Gospels of the New Testament, it was written on calfskin and dates back to the ninth century.
It is famous for the intricacy of the illustrations and is considered a work of art. The creators focused on the visual impression of the book rather than the content of the text.
You can also visit The Long Room, an architecturally beautiful library that contains some of Trinity Colleges’ oldest books. You can check out the latest prices and availability here.
9. Kilmainham Gaol
Kilmainham Gaol was a key location during Ireland’s struggle for independence from Britain.
The decommissioned prison now holds an exhibit that takes you through the history of Irelands rebels and revolutionaries.
This exhibit will teach you about the 1916 Rising and the execution of its leaders within Kilmainham Gaol and will provide you with a greater understanding of Ireland’s past.
10. Glasnevin Cemetery
Glasnevin is Irelands National Cemetery, guided tours of the cemetery will take you to the final resting place of some of Ireland’s most famous singers, poets, presidents and a range of other interesting characters.
It is Ireland’s largest burial place and contains beautiful monuments. You can check out the latest prices and availability here.
11. Dublin Castle
Dublin Castle is a key location in the history of Ireland. It was the seat of British rule in Ireland until 1922.
It is now used for many government ceremonies including the inauguration of each new President of Ireland. You can find more information here.
12. St. Stephens Green
St. Stephens Green is a public park located in the centre of Dublin. It is a beautiful contrast to the busy streets of Dublin. You can enjoy nature without even leaving the city centre.
Enjoying the fresh air in St. Stephens Green is one of my favourite things to do in Dublin in January.
13. Phoenix Park
Visiting Phoenix Park is one of the must do things in Dublin. It is a massive walled park located just outside the city centre
The park contains many important attractions such as Dublin Zoo and Áras an Uachtaráin (the home of Ireland’s President).
You can also see the Papal cross, a monument that marks the location where Pope John Paul II said mass to millions of Irish people in 1979.
People are often drawn to the Park to catch a glimpse of the large herd of fallow deer that also call Phoenix Park home.
14. Ice Skating
One of the most exciting things to do in Dublin during the winter is ice skating.
There are a few options for ice skating in Dublin. Dundrum On Ice and Swords On Ice are good options.
However, the largest ice rink in Ireland is located in Blanchardstown so I would recommend this one.
Tickets are €20 for adults and €17 for under 18s. Blanchardstown ice-rink is closed on mondays, open from 15:50-20:30 Tuesday to Friday and 10:00-8:30 Saturday and Sunday. You can book tickets here.
15. Christmas Markets
Dublin in December is a magical place and one of the main reasons for this is the Christmas Markets.
Dublin has several Christmas markets to choose from.
Dublin Castle Christmas Market, Swords Castle Christmas Market and the Howth Castle Christmas Market would be the most popular.
16. National Botanic Garden
Here you can visit the largest, most diverse botanical garden in Ireland.
It hosts some strange and wonderful plants and the tour guides will tell you about the fascinating history and significance of the garden.
17. The Church
The Church is an interesting cafe, late bar and restaurant that was previously an actual church. The main reason to visit this pub is to see the beautiful architecture of the church.
18. Delicious Dublin Food Tour
Of all the fun things in Ireland, a food tour is hard to beat.
This is a top-rated tour that gives you the opportunity to try Irish beverages, deserts and even savoury options. The tour guides are very friendly and knowledgeable.
You can check it out here.
19. River Liffey Cruise
Float along the River Liffey and see Dublin from a different perspective. This is a great way to start your trip and get to know the city. You can find more information here.
20. Croke Park
Visit the heart of Gaelic Football and learn about the history of the GAA (Gaelic Athletic Association) with a tour of the stadium and the GAA museum.
21. Museum Of Modern Art
This is a beautiful place to visit where you can see Irish modern art and explore the gardens and ancient cemetery of the former royal hospital.
22. Georges Street Arcade
This is one of Europe’s oldest shopping centres, originally built in 1881. When you visit it’s like stepping into the past but with all your modern amenities.
23. Grafton Street
Grafton Street is a key location to visit in Dublin city.
It is lined with shops and restaurants and is situated between Trinity College and St. Stephens Green. Taking a stroll down Grafton Street is one of the most enjoyable things to do in Dublin in December.
24. O’Connell Street And The Spire
O’Connell Street is lined with statues and monuments of Irish historical figures. The Spire is also on this street and it is the world’s largest piece of freestanding public art.
25. National Gallery Of Ireland
The National Gallery of Ireland contains amazing artwork from the 13th to the 21st century. The collection includes works from famous artists such as Picasso and Rembrandt.
26. Irish Rock And Roll Museum
On this tour, you can learn about some of Ireland’s most famous musicians such as Thin Lizzy, Sinead O’Connor and U2.
27. Dublin Custom House
This is a famous landmark that stands out when you take a walking tour or boat tour of Dublin.
In the visitor centre, you can learn all about the architect and the role this building had during the 1916 Rising and the Irish War of Independence.
If you’re visiting Dublin in December you will get to see the amazing Christmas decorations on the Custom House.
28. Dublin Coastal Craft Beer And Seafood Trail
On this tour, you will get to try some of Ireland’s greatest craft beers. You will get to taste some amazing Irish seafood and even get a nice view of the Irish Sea. You can book here.
29. Wild Lights At Dublin Zoo
One of the best things to do in Dublin in Christmas is visit the Wild Lights Exhibition.
The exhibition takes place in Dublin Zoo every winter. It showcases large illuminated animals using lanterns and tells a story about nature and biodiversity.
You can check latest prices and availability here.
30. Visit A Traditional Irish Restaurant
Darkey Kelly’s Bar & Restaurant is one of the top-rated places to try some traditional Irish cuisine in Dublin.
31. National Leprechaun Museum
This exhibition is an exploration of the mystery of leprechauns. It explores the representation of leprechauns throughout history in songs, stories, myths and folklore.
32. The Jeanie Johnston: An Irish Famine Story
Hop on board to learn about the thousands of Irish people that fled to North America during the famine.
33. Bord Gáis Energy Theatre
The Bord Gáis Energy Theatre hosts a diverse range of performances from opera to ballet and musicals to concerts. It’s a great way to spend an evening in Dublin.
34. Teeling Whiskey Distillery
This tour gives you the opportunity to learn about whiskey-making in one of the only operational whiskey distilleries in Dublin city. You can check latest prices and availability here.
35. The National Wax Museum Plus
An entertaining experience where you can take pictures with wax models of some of Ireland’s most famous people. You can also create a wax model of your hand.
36. Roe and Co. Distillery Cocktail Workshop Experience
Experience a guided workshop tour, taste some blends and even create your own. After the tour, you can enjoy a drink in the Power House Bar.
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37. St. Patricks Cathedral
This is the largest church in Ireland. It attracts visitors for its beautiful stained glass windows, marble statues and impressive architecture.
38. Christ Church Cathedral
Visit the one thousand-year-old cathedral. It is Dublin’s oldest working building and you can explore the premises independently.
Admission tickets cost €9.50 and the church is open from 10:00-17:00 Monday to Saturday and 12:30-15:00 on Sunday. You can check latest prices and availability here.
39. Visit A Traditional Irish Pub
John Kavanagh – The Gravediggers, is one of the most popular traditional pubs in Dublin. According to many, this pub also serves the best pint of Guinness in Dublin.
40. Listen To Some Traditional Irish Music
The best pub in Dublin for a trad session is the Cobblestone, located in the Smithsfield neighbourhood. The pub hosts trad sessions seven nights a week.
41. GPO Museum
The GPO (General Post Office) was a key location during the 1916 Rising and the Irish Civil War. The museum contains interactive exhibits where you can learn about modern Irish history.
Why Visit Dublin In Winter?
Wondering why you should visit Dublin in the winter? Well, winter is the best time to visit Dublin! A hot whiskey in a cozy Irish pub on a chilly winter night is something everyone should experience.
The streets of Dublin are overcrowded with pedestrians during the Summer. During the winter, you can take in the sights while strolling around the city without the busy crowds.
What Is The Weather Like In Dublin In Winter?
Do you want to know what the weather is like in Dublin in winter? Ireland winter temperatures normally range from 5 to 8 degrees Celsius. The average temperature in Dublin during winter is 5 degrees Celsius.
While you may think you should visit Dublin in the Summer when the weather is better … you could be disappointed with a week of constant rain.
The weather in Ireland is unpredictable so why not come to Dublin in winter and be prepared for the weather.
What To Pack For A Trip To Dublin In Winter?
Wondering what to pack for a trip to Dublin in winter? When embarking on a trip to Dublin in winter, you need to pack a warm winter coat or a rain jacket.
The trick to embracing the elements in Ireland is layering. I would recommend jeans, long-sleeve tops, hoodies and a warm winter coat.
Here is a list of what to pack for a trip to Dublin in winter:
- 2 base layer thermals (I love these!)
- 1 thick fleece jacket or puffer jacket
- Fleece lined leggings
- 1-2 sweater dresses.
- 2 pairs of fleece-lined jeans or pants
- Winter Touchscreen Gloves
- 2-4 wool sweaters
- Super comfy scarf
- Super chic coat here and here
- Bonus– Excellent useful and authentic book on Ireland!
Once you’re wrapped up you will be ready to take on the winter weather in Dublin.
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FAQs On Things To Do In Dublin In Winter
Is it worth going to Ireland in the winter?
It is definitely worth going to Ireland in the winter. Even though it gets cold you can still experience all the famous sights. winter is the best time to visit Ireland. Dublin in the winter provides so much to see and do.
The festive atmosphere and warm Irish hospitality make winter the perfect time to visit.
Is Dublin fun in December?
Dubin is so much fun in December! There are so many magical things to do in and around Dublin in December such as visiting the Christmas markets, Christmas concerts, and many other amazing events.
The festive atmosphere, Christmas markets and cozy pubs are perfect for a fun trip to Dublin in December.
Is 3 days in Dublin enough?
Three days in Dublin is the perfect length of time to enjoy Dublin. Three days in Dublin is enough for one trip but leaves more to see when you return.
In three days you can see some of the main attractions and even include some of the lesser-known attractions outlined in this list.
Is 2 days enough in Dublin?
Two days in Dublin is enough time to see the main attractions. Two days in Dublin can be a great trip but it will have to be planned carefully.
You will have enough time to see the main attractions but might miss out on some of the hidden gems of the city.
41 Fun and Affordable Things To Do In Dublin!
So, what’s stopping you from experiencing the best things to do in Dublin in winter?
You get to enjoy the festive atmosphere and avoid the tourists that flock to the city during the Summer. You also get the chance to mingle with the locals more than you would during the busy season.
To make the most out of your trip to Dublin in winter, keep in mind the best places to visit in Dublin in winter and the tips for embracing the Irish weather outlined above.
There’s no better time to visit Dublin!
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