How to spend 24 hours in Dublin

Dublin is laden with stunning hotels both in the city and further out by the coastal towns and villages. There’s truly no shortage of options for tourists and locals alike, who want to spend a day touring around Ireland’s capital. We’d recommend you book yourself in to The Merchant House, a 5-star bed and breakfast, with top of the range suites to suit solo and couple travellers. Located in old Temple Bar, this luxury accommodation is an early Georgian style building with the W.B Yeats suite offering some stellar views over Dublin City. The Merchant House breakfast puts the cherry on top, with organic breakfast served in Panem Café & Bakery. For €16, you’re served a set menu which includes avocado toast, fried Parma ham, poached eggs, crispy toast, and some of the best Italian coffee that Dublin can offer. Whether you’ll be having breakfast on arrival or to cure a sore head the next day, The Merchant House and Panem Café is the perfect start to your day in Dublin.

Only a 20-minute stroll up the stunning River Liffey from Panem and you’ll find yourself at Dublin’s most celebrated tourist attraction, the Guinness Storehouse. Sought out by tourists and loved by locals, St James’ Gate is Dublin’s iconic production home of the black stuff. Tour around the factory to understand how Guinness is produced, learn to become an expert taster, and browse some of Guinness’ brilliant advertisements and marketing plans throughout the decades. When your tour is finished, you can make your way up to the highest point in the factory, the Gravity Bar. The décor here is 360 degrees of glass, which provides an all-encompassing view of Dublin City and the surrounding suburbs. Enjoy one of the best pints available with friends, while gazing over the fair city and her stunning features.

There’s no doubt that your tour of St James’ Gate will leave you looking for some afternoon lunch and a chance to put your knowledge of Guinness drinking to the test. Why not avail of some fantastic food and drinks in one of Dublin’s most unique bars, The Church. It’s an historical venue enshrined in Irish folklore. The Church bar was the site for Guinness founder, Arthur Guinness’ wedding and playwright Sean O’Casey was baptised here among other historical figures across Ireland. In 2005, The Church was converted into a bar, where it has since served as one of Dublin’s most celebrated pubs. The venue’s kept some of the décor and furniture that one would find in any Irish catholic church, which creates a truly once in a lifetime experience for customers. The food served at The Church is nothing short of exquisite. Try the buttermilk chicken burger for €17.95, featuring garlic and parmesan aioli and a side of beef and chilli fries.

Take a stroll over the Liffey back to the Southside for an evening stroll around St Stephen’s Green Park. The gorgeous Victorian park was first set up in the 1600s to provide a calm green area to counteract the hustle of Dublin City. To this day, the 27-acre park provides relief for many of Dublin’s office workers and is something of a dream on a sunny day. There are plenty of monuments and statues situated around, so the history of St Stephen’s Green will never be lost on you. It’s also a lovely spot to bring a takeaway coffee from Grafton Street’s timeless Bewley’s Café before a night on Harcourt Street.

Finally, it wouldn’t be a day in Dublin complete without a bit of ‘craic’. Harcourt Street is jam-packed with late bars, student bars and everything in between. However, none are more universally loved and attended than Coppers. Whether you’re a student, a nurse, a tourist or a retiree looking for a laugh, the clubbing institution that is Copper Face Jacks will give you a true taste of an Irish party. Expect cheesy 90s hits, good deals on Guinness and Jager bombs, a lively crowd, and a great laugh before your evening in Dublin comes to an end. If a post-night out kebab is your thing, we’d recommend a visit to the ultimate hangover curing spot that is Zaytoon, which will provide you with a fresh kebab after a dance and ensure the next morning is a little less painful!