How To Spend A Long Layover in Dublin, Ireland

Recently, I was flying home from Naples, Italy, and found a flight through AerLingus with a long layover in Dublin. Twist my arm, I said as I essentially threw my money at the screen. I had never been to Ireland, nor did I really have the strongest desire to go, so a long layover was a great way to tick the box and say I went. In total, I had around 12 hours of time in Dublin. Here’s everything I did, as well as some things I wish I had additional time for.

Ride the Dublin Airport Express

There’s really no point in taking a taxi from the airport into the city center, because the Dublin Airport Express runs frequently and is much cheaper than a private car. Roundtrip, the ticket should be around 14 euro (in 2023, that is just about $14). It takes about 30 minutes to arrive to the city center; just know which stop you need to get off and pay close attention, because they go by kind of quickly. You can purchase tickets ahead of time online or right at the airport.

Grab A Traditional Irish Breakfast

If you’re in Ireland in the morning, you must get a traditional Irish breakfast. A typical Irish breakfast includes a whole mix of things, usually over-easy eggs, bacon, sausage, baked beans, mushrooms, grilled tomatoes, soda bread or toast, and black pudding. Black pudding is a type of sausage, typically found in the United Kingdom, made with coagulated blood, pork, and some type of grain. Don’t knock it ’til you try it; it’s pretty darn good. If your layover allows you to spend a night in Ireland, I highly recommend finding a hotel with breakfast included, which you can search for easily on Booking.com.

Head To Dublin Castle

Dublin Castle was the number one thing I wanted to do in Ireland, and timewise, I was cutting it close. I landed only two hours prior to it closing, so I took the Dublin Airport Express, dropped my bags off, and RAN to Dublin Castle, making it just in time. It’s well worth seeing, but it’s certainly not a giant dramatic castle the way I imagined it was. I still loved my time in Dublin Castle, and really enjoyed exploring the museum inside. To save even extra time, book your ticket in advance.

Go To Temple Bar Neighborhood

Temple Bar is not just a bar, but in fact, an entire neighborhood. This was very confusing to me, and I did not learn this fun fact until I was actually in Dublin. It is quite colorful with a lot of rainbow and Irish flags hanging everywhere. There are plenty of shops, eateries, pubs, cafes, and more. Take your time strolling along, and walking over the infamous Ha’penny Bridge.

To check out Temple Bar neighborhood and many other hotspots AND hidden gems throughout the city, this walking tour isn’t a bad idea.

Drink Guinness and Jameson at Temple Bar

Known to be the oldest Irish pub in the world, Temple Bar has the infamous red-painted exterior like those of Irish pubs found around the globe. It is SUCH a fun and vibrant feel inside, and there’s often live Irish music. It is a bit pricey, so grab a drink (or two) before moving onward, unless you start making friends at the bar, which is very easy to do here.

Visit Saint Patrick’s Cathedral

In true Irish fashion, what better place to visit than St. Patrick’s Cathedral? It’s apparently a bit more elaborate and over-the-top than Dublin Castle, and is best explored by booking a tour. I sadly did not have time to go, so if you go, please comment and let me know how it is!

Take a Guinness Brewery Tour

Love it or hate it, no visit to Ireland is complete without at least one pint of Guinness. It’s said that Guinness simply just tastes better in Ireland, so why not go right to the source and take a Guinness Brewery tour? Purchase an entry ticket ahead of time to ensure lesser waiting time.

Eat Traditional Irish Food

Ireland is not particularly known for its out-of-this-world cuisine, but hey, when in Rome. Grab a traditional Irish meal, whether it’s bangers and mash, beef stew, corned beef and cabbage, soda bread, and even fish dishes like fish and chips or smoked salmon. Irish food is hearty, meat-heavy, and quite filling, so make sure to fuel up before the next leg of your flight.

Take A Walking Tour

If you’re really strapped on time and don’t feel like navigating the entire city on your own, take a two-hour walking tour, hitting all of the major sights of Dublin, many of which are mentioned right here in this post. Since the airport is so close to the city center, this tour is especially perfect for those who have a layover under 10 hours.

If Time Allows; Head to Cliffs of Moher

Cliffs of Moher are a bit of a drive from Dublin, but if you have time, you should prioritize seeing them. Dublin is overall yet another capital city, and while it’s certainly worth seeing, the Cliffs of Moher are a unique and stunning sight to see specifically in Ireland. The best way to see them is to either rent a car or book this day tour from Dublin.

Extra: Hotels To Stay At For An Overnight Layover

Budget hotels: Jacobs Inn; Harcourt Hotel

Mid-range hotels: The Alex, The Grafton Hotel

Five-star hotels: The Merrion Hotel; The Shelbourne (great for Marriott points!)

DISCLAIMER: I might make a small commission from some of the links throughout this article, but the price is the same for you. This helps keep my business running so I can continue to provide free travel tips!