Dublin is a city best explored on foot. To maximize your morning, join a walking tour and see the city’s essential sights, from Trinity College and Dublin Castle to Temple Bar. If you prefer not to explore on foot, choose a circuit on a hop-on hop-off bus tour instead.

Take an afternoon half-day tour out to the seaside suburb of Malahide. Tour the medieval-era Malahide Castle, take a leisurely stroll around the manicured gardens, and stop in Howth village before returning to the city and readying yourself for a night on the town.

In Ireland, the pub is a social institution. If your energy levels allow it, head out on a pub crawl tour around bustling Temple Bar. Alternatively, tuck into a traditional Irish dinner while watching a show that incorporates storytelling, dancing, traditional music, and other mainstays of Irish pub culture.

Neighboring County Wicklow gives travelers with limited time the opportunity to see the Irish countryside without spending hours on the road. A half-day excursion might have you trekking the rugged valley of Glendalough, known for its lakes, woodlands, blanket bogs, and peaks.

Back in the city, visit the Irish Whiskey Museum to learn the history of Irish whiskey production before sniffing, swirling, and sipping your way through a guided tasting session. If you prefer beer, book tickets to the Guinness Storehouse instead.

Having already embraced traditional Irish pub culture, now it’s time to experience a more modern, multicultural side of Dublin. A food tour takes you to spots you wouldn’t discover otherwise to taste plates from chefs championing Irish ingredients and international flavors. End your trip with views of the city on a nighttime bus tour.