Ireland – Day 1 – Travels with Carolyne

Dublin – Day 1 of a 9-Day Trip in Ireland

I decided to go on a solo trip to Ireland during a summer and it was an amazing experience. I had travelled on my own for work before, but this was the first time that I was spending a whole vacation on my own! I lucked out on the weather as it was sunny and warm for most of the trip. Day 1 consisted of almost a full day in Dublin.

Day 1
Dublin

I arrived in Dublin early in the morning and took the Dublin Express bus from the airport to the city. The cost of a one-way trip was 10euros/person (8euros/person if you book online ahead of time).

First stop was to the Abbey Court Hostel to drop off my bags. It was too early to check into my room however.

I explored the streets near the hostel and crossed the River Liffey using the Ha’penny Bridge. The River Liffey is a 132km long river that flows through the city centre of Dublin.

Afterwards, I decided to grab a snack from Hanley’s Cornish Pasty. I ordered the lamb and mint pasty. It was good, but I felt like it had a bit too much pastry for my liking. The shop is open late (some days to 4am) so it is likely a popular spot for a night out.

I continued to the Dublin Castle while snacking on my pasty. The Dublin Castle has history dating back to 1204. Throughout the years, it has been renovated and additions added. Today, it serves as a museum with artwork and rooms to explore.

Next, I walked to the Christ Church Cathedral. On the way, I passed a large circular garden with a great view of the Record Tower (the only surviving tower at the Dublin Castle from the 1200s).

The Christ Church Cathedral is a Roman Catholic Church, first built in the 11th century. A lot of churches in Ireland are still in use today and they also have graves dating back multiple centuries. This Cathedral is no different and also has a crypt, which is home to various artifacts.

Across from the Cathedral is Dublinia, a museum that tells Ireland’s Viking history. I did not visit and instead walked to St. Patrick’s Cathedral. The Cathedral was closed at the time for mass, so I just snapped some photos of the architecture. The Cathedral is also situated at the middle of a park and would be a great spot for a picnic.

I walked to the Teeling Whiskey Distillery, but decided not to go in as I am not a huge whiskey fan. It was about time to check-in at the hostel, so I stopped at the hostel before continuing to the next destination.

I had a tour booked at the Trinity College for the Library and Book of Kells. Good thing too as they were completely sold out of tickets that day. My tour was not until 4pm however, so I visited the National Museum of Ireland (Natural History) and the National Gallery of Ireland. Both of these museum have free entry.

Along the way to the Trinity College, I passed the Molly Malone Statue. Molly Malone is a fictional character who sold fish and died young due to a fever. There is an Irish song called “Cockles and Mussels” based on her.

The Trinity College is the oldest university in Ireland. The tour I booked was self guided and starts with a museum about the Book of Kells, followed by the Book itself, and then the Library. The museum section was uncomfortably hot due to the number of visitors and poor air circulation, but the room with the Book of Kells was temperature control. The Book of Kells was written in the 9th century and contains the four Gospels in the New Testament Bible. No photos of the book are allowed. The library is beautiful and lined with very old books. Some of the books had been removed for cleaning during my visit. It is also an iconic stock photo that I often see on my laptop. So cool to say that I’ve actually been there now!

After the tour, it was about time for dinner (plus I was jet lagged and tired). I headed to the Temple Bar area for burgers at Bunsen. The Temple Bar area is full of pubs and restaurant. The most famous pub in that area is of course, the Temple Bar Pub, which is what the area is named after. This pub is famous for its Irish music and food. The building itself is quite nice as well with its iconic red exterior and greenery.

Bunsen has a small menu with only four options for burgers – one meat patty, two meat patties, then both options with cheese. Topping options are pickle, onion, lettuce, tomato, ketchup, mustard, and mayo. They have three options for fries – hand cut, shoestring, or sweet potato – as well as a limited drink menu. I ordered the cheeseburger and a Peroni beer (an Italian beer).

I then headed back to the hostel for the night. Although it was only around 7pm, I was exhausted.

Complete Day 1 Itinerary

*Travel times may vary. Check Google Maps for most accurate travel details.

9:00am: Breakfast at Hanley’s Cornish Pasty.

10:00am: Visit the Dublin Castle (8 minute walk from Abbey Court Hostel).

11:00am: Lunch near the Dublin Castle.

12:00pm: Visit the Christ Church Cathedral and Dublinia (4 minute walk from the Dublin Castle).

1:00pm: Visit the St. Patrick’s Cathedral (7 minute walk from the Christ Church Cathedral).

2:00pm: Have a whiskey at the Teeling Whiskey Distillery (8 minute walk from St. Patrick’s Cathedral).

3:00pm: Visit the Book of Kells and Trinity College Library (24 minute walk from the Teeling Whiskey Distillery). Make Reservations!

4:00pm: Visit the National Gallery and the National Museum of Ireland (Natural History) (13 minute walk from the Trinity College).

6:00pm: Have dinner at Bunsen (19 minute walk from the National Museum of Ireland). Explore the Temple Bar area and have a drink at one of the many pubs.