Flying somewhere soon with Dublin as your layover? Find out some of the best spots to visit in Dublin during your nine hour layover. You can certainly make the most out of your time in Dublin with a nine hour layover, anything over 6 hours is the ideal amount of time to indulge in some of Dublin’s best museums, restaurants and tourist sites.
Getting from Dublin Airport to the city centre
First off, let’s start with the logistics. Dublin Airport is approximately a 25 minute drive from the city centre. In order to maximise and enjoy the most of your time in Dublin we recommend splurging on a taxi so you’ll have time to visit as many spots as you can. A taxi can cost anything between €30 to €40 depending on the time of day and traffic. Otherwise, you can take the Dublin Bus or the Aircoach. Route 700 leaves from outside both Terminal 1 and 2 every 15 minutes around the clock with a return fare costing around €12, and we recommend you book the return before you arrive. The Aircoach drops at O’Connell Street, O’Connell Bridge and Kildare Street, all within ten minutes of everything below.
Where to leave your bags
Before you leave the airport, drop your bags at left luggage. Both terminals have a staffed bag storage desk and you’ll pay somewhere around €10 for a few hours or €15 for the full day, depending on the size of the bag. Check the opening hours on Dublin Airport before you rely on it, as the desks don’t run 24 hours.
Trinity College and the Book of Kells
First, beat the crowds and come visit Dublin’s oldest and most picturesque university, Trinity College Dublin, home of the Book of Kells. Just a five minute walk from O’Connell Street. The campus is free to wander and the perfect opportunity to get all your photos.
Some interesting facts worth knowing about Trinity:
The curse: Students believe that walking under the Campanile, the bell tower in the middle of Front Square, means failing your exams.
The bell: Most versions say the curse only strikes if the bell rings while you’re underneath. Even so, few students risk it.
The exception: Graduation day, once all exams are safely passed.
Another one worth knowing: for the women in your party, it’s worth taking a photo next to the statue beside the bell. That’s George Salmon, who was Provost until 1904. Salmon said that women would enter and study in Trinity over his dead body. He died in January 1904 and that same month, the first female student began her studies in the university.
Finally, do the Book of Kells tour. It needs timed tickets which can be booked online, around €25, and takes about 90 minutes to complete.
Irish coffee and live music at The Temple Bar Pub
The Temple Bar Pub is located at 47 to 48 Temple Bar, five minutes from Trinity. Doors open at 10:30am, so if you come early it’s worth ordering and tasting a traditional Irish coffee with fresh cream and whiskey.
If it’s a whiskey you’re after instead, you can head to The Whiskey Reserve around the corner, there you will find the largest collection in Ireland.
Live traditional Irish music runs from open through to close, and between 11am to 4pm is the best time to get a seat and enjoy the musicians play. After 5pm it gets busy, which you don’t want before a flight. Get yourself in early as we don’t take bookings. Order yourself a tasty pint of Guinness, given time to settle. The kitchen opens at 10:30am if you’re hungry.
Don’t forget to take your photos out front of the bar or browse our gift shop. And while you’re near, go take a photo on the Ha’penny Bridge, the white cast iron footbridge over the Liffey that’s been there since 1816. It got the name from the halfpenny toll you once had to pay to cross it.
The Brazen Head and the Guinness Storehouse
After visiting the iconic Temple Bar, follow along the banks of the River Liffey walkway for 15 minutes until you hit one of Ireland’s oldest pubs, The Brazen Head, which claims to date back to 1198. Worth trying a Guinness or even a half pint before heading on for another ten minutes until you reach the Guinness Storehouse at St James’s Gate.
A seven floor, self guided tour, finishing with a pint included in your ticket up at the Gravity Bar with panoramic views of Dublin city. A must see on your stop off to Dublin. Tickets from about €26, allow two hours.
Honest advice: pick either the Book of Kells or the Storehouse. Doing both means watching the clock through the second one.
Where to eat near Temple Bar
A few names worth mentioning if you’re looking to grab some food on the go or have a sit down bite to eat. Brother Hubbard or Tang for cafe style food. Sprout, one of Dublin’s most popular salad spots. The must try spot is Xi’an Street Food for a spice bag, which is chips, shredded chicken, and peppers with an assortment of spices thrown in a bag. Ireland’s finest invention.
Best coffee in Dublin city centre
For coffee, Try Cloud Nine, directly across from The Temple Bar Pub. Shoe Lane is handy off the bus, Kaph is the local pick, Copper and Straw does a great flat white, and the Beehive will put Dublin (or anything you want) in your latte art.
More to see: Molly Malone, St Stephen’s Green and St Patrick’s Cathedral
Take a photo next to the Molly Malone statue on Suffolk Street, go have a walk through St Stephen’s Green park gardens, St Patrick’s Cathedral or the Jameson Distillery on Bow Street. If you have an evening flight, be sure to walk along the River Liffey as the sun sets before heading back to the airport.
Tipping in Ireland
Remember Ireland has a tipping culture when you’re dining or just generally being served, not necessarily for a coffee.
How early to get back to Dublin Airport
Finally, be sure to give yourself at least three hours before your flight heading back to Dublin Airport if you’re flying long-haul, or two hours if you’re flying within Europe. If you’re US-bound, that third hour is Preclearance. Easy to lose track of time in a session.
