Suggestions for things to do in Dublin

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I'm going to Dublin next week with a friend - Friend is going for work and I'm tagging along. This means that I will have a whole daytime to fill by amusing myself before meeting friend for dinner in the evening.

I haven't been to Dublin for over 30 years - and that was on a school trip! I don't like Guinness so don't really want to visit their museum (have been many years ago as it was the teachers' choice for our trip).

I'm looking for ideas for places to visit in the city centre including any good places to have a light lunch (I don't do 'chain' eateries so good independents appreciated) and recommendations for shopping or sightseeing. Also any recommendations for galleries/museums as will have a day to fill with my friend the following day before travelling home.
Thanks

The National Gallery is in the city Centre near Trinity College you could visit both. It really depends what you are into. There is a lovely literary walking tour or just a regular walking tour. The city Centre is so compact it is easy to get around.

Glasnevin cemetery is fantastic if you're into that sort of thing. Only a couple of miles outside the city centre. You could walk it in about 40 minutes, but there are regular local buses.

I'd recommend the following:-

The Book of Kells at Trinity College www.tcd.ie/visitors/book-of-kells/

The National Museum of Ireland (Archaeology) (free admission) www.museum.ie/Archaeology

The National Gallery of Ireland (free admission to permanent collection although you may have to pay extra for temporary exhibitions) www.nationalgallery.ie/

The Little Museum of Dublin www.littlemuseum.ie/

All of these attractions are very close together in the city centre. If you're prepared to venture a little further afield, I'd recommend the Kilmainham Gaol Museum. It's 3.5 km from the city centre. kilmainhamgaolmuseum.ie/ It's a little tricky to get to by public transport but I think most of the Hop On Hop Off buses stop there.

The Kilkenny Shop on Nassau Street is fabulous for shopping and they have lots of lovely gifts for Christmas atm. Most of their stock is by Irish designers so some of it is very expensive but you'll find cheaper items also. www.kilkennyshop.com/ The gift shop at Trinity College is also quite good.

I'd recommend a pint at The Brazen Head - Dublin's oldest pub. It's about a 15 - 20 minute walk from O'Connell Street, not far from Christchurch Cathedral. www.brazenhead.com/

Hope you enjoy your trip.

A boat trip on the river is fun.

If the weather is nice you could go for a walk around Phoenix Park.

The Winding Stair is a good place to eat.

I am not a fan of Dublin, I have a lot of family there so visit often but I find it very expensive and the tourist attractions are not my cup of tea (particularly the Guinness Storehouse - so very dull).

I do like Phoenix Park Zoo, it’s expensive but compact and friendly and the animals seem very cared for. Cinemas are often cheaper in Dublin than London if it’s a cold day and there’s something you’d like to see.

For restaurants you are spoilt for choice. The food in Dublin is just amazing. If you like a burger visit Counter (it’s part of a chain but don’t let that stop you). The service is appalling but the burgers are totally worth it. The Lemon crepe cafe in Dawson Street is also nice. It’s a pit stop for Trinity students from across the road so it’s not fancy but it’s good value and absolutely delicious.

Thank you all for your suggestions - some very interesting suggestions there that haven't previously come up on searches that I've done! Will see which ones my friend wants to do before deciding which to do by myself!
Will probably give the zoo a miss as we live close to a large zoo plus I've just visited a safari park. I also did Phoenix park zoo as part of my school trip years ago - although I hope it has changed over the years.

That shop looks lovely taytocrisps but wouldn't be able to buy anything more than a pendant due to Ryanair's ridiculous new luggage rules as only bringing a tiny cabin bag! I see they ship to the mainland though so wll definitely have a browse.

There's a six metre tall sculpture of a WW1 soldier in Stephen's Green for the next few weeks only. It sounds like it's well worth seeing and you'll be in that area.
www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-46092561
Powerscourt Townhouse centre is an upmarket shopping area with independent cafes. It's a lovely place. Again, it's in the south city centre. Personally, I wouldn't recommend the north city centre.

Davy byrnes for lunch, it's next to marks and Spencer on grafton st.

Or get the train to Dalkey and have lunch in the magpie, finnegans or the corner note cafe.

Please don’t say mainland

Or Avoca at the bottom of grafton st for shopping and v nice lunch.

Or fallon and Byrne for the same. All 5 mins from grafton st.

The downstairs wine bar at Fallon and Byrne for lunch, or Olesya wine bar directly opposite.

I lived in Dublin for a few years until recently moving back to NI.

100% agree re Guinness Storehouse- easily the most overrated tourist attraction in Dublin. I never understood why it was so popular!

Are you bringing any children with you? There’s a museum called Dublinia beside Christchurch Cathedral in the city centre which is about when the city was a Viking settlement. Would really recommend it, a very fun afternoon.

Avoid the pubs in Temple Bar as the drinks can be ridiculously expensive. There is a burger place round there called Bunsen which is very reasonably priced and has fantastic food- best burger in Dublin!

There’s a walking tour following the 1916 Rebellion which operates every day, is an excellent way to spend a few hours with a really knowledgeable guide. I’ve done it twice and loved it. It’s called 1916 Rising

Oh also- there’s a new museum opened on Henrietta Street (north city centre) which recreates a Dublin tenement and shows what life was like during the late 19th century.

We haven’t done it yet, but it looks fantastic.

You do know that dublin is not part 9f britian its been an indepentant country for the last 100 years dont you? Do you go to germany and say i'll see if they ship to the mainland?????

Sorry. Im actally sure you didnt mean to offend. But this low level ignorance/"racism" is very very annoying

For a bit of stodge but so lovely , try the Boxty restaurant in TempleBar. We go there before we go to the rugby , the food always warms you up as will the banter. Avoca is lovely and Browns is nice. I like Dublin but I prefer Cork better.

You could book a guided tour of Dublin Castle.

It's like being in New Zealand and calling Australia the mainland.

OP whatever you do do NOT say the mainland. That's seriously offensive.

I'll hold my hands up to 'ignorance' but I am definitely NOT racist.

Yet you dont actually appolgise for the unintentional offence.

And no one has accused you of being racist i actally said im sure you didnt mean to offend, but its the whole attitude, not just yours, of ireland and the uk are the same place. I was talking of the general oh dublin /ireland are part of the uk. Tje attitude is racist

‘Mainland’.

Astounding lack of education.