What to do in Dublin on my own for an afternoon

[Weepingwillows12]

I have to work in Dublin for a day soon. I will need to fly out on the bank holiday Monday to do meetings on Tuesday but work doesn't care what time I fly. Was trying to decide whether to go in the morning and do some sightseeing but not sure what to do given it will be me on my own.

I am not a big drinker so temple bar or Guinness factory don't really appeal. I don't much like shopping. My ideal trips are usually built around nature or history or museums or just reading a book somewhere pretty. Basically I am a bit boring 🤣.

Any tips? Is it safe at night for a female solo traveller taking normal sensible precautions?

It will probably be raining or at least drizzling

so I’d bring a book and sit in a cafe

visited Dublin for a long weekend in August a few years back, and couldn’t stand it!

I would go to Collins barracks if this was me, but that’s mostly due to an interest in Irish history

It's deeply weird that you seem to think the obvious things to do in a capital city alone for an afternoon both involve drinking. Or that it would be 'boring' to go to a museum.

I had a free afternoon in Dublin a few weeks ago. I went to the RHA exhibition (which may be over) and then to the Mainie Jellett and Evie Hone exhibition at the National Gallery. In your shoes I would go to the NG and the Hugh Lane gallery.

Go to Saint Stephens Green and read a book there it is beautiful

There is a bus where you can have afternoon tea on and they give you a tour of Dublin and its History.

Epic Museum is meant to be good.

Book of Kells experience?

If you like nature and get good weather, you could take the local DART train up to Howth, do the coastal walk round the cliffs, have a nice dinner at the harbour, and get the train back into town.

Dublin Castle is a good visit for history and artwork too, and it’s just a lovely city to walk around (on the southern side of the river anyway, the north seems a lot grittier).

Sorry should have said that those 2 things were the things recommended to me by family.

Well then your two family members are deeply odd (or have drinking issues)

Book of Kells and Trinity College Dublin
Kilmainham Gaol
walking Tour
the museum about emigration on the Liffey
A walk out towards Howth
Tea in Bewleys

I'd do a walking tour. I did one on the 1916 uprising which was really interesting, but there are others.

Definitely go to the National Gallery. Most of it is free, although you might like to pay to see specific exhibitions (such as the Hone/Jellett one mentioned above - I've been and it's fab!). If it's a nice day, just wander around the streets and parks - Stephen's Green and Merrion Square are both gorgeous and centrally situated. If you like reading, there are some lovely bookshops in fab old buildings (the Winding Stair, Hodges Figgis, etc)

I went to Dublin during a dry period and whilst I found interesting things to do, I didn't love the city the way that drinkers seem to.

Another vote for Howth.

You could check Atlas Obscura for loads of smaller things to do and have a walk around based on them.

The Museum of Literature is close to St Stephen's Green. It has a really lovely cafe and you can go out the back of it into Iveagh Gardens.

Lighten up FFS. Dublin pubs are very literary dontcha know? St.Stephens Green is lovely. Or the Dart to Howth. Or Dalkey. Enjoy 😍

Still laughing at the two posters on here who find it ‘deeply weird’ that anyone would associate Dublin with alcohol-related attractions. Dry as a bone that place!

I think Kilmainham Gaol is really interesting.

My son raves about the time we went to the viking museum and the dead zoo but they are less interesting for adults.

I'm a huge fan of the National Museum of Ireland, specifically Kildare St and the permanent Gold and Treasury exhibitions. It's right in the centre of town.
https://www.museum.ie/en-IE/Museums/Archaeology

So I'd do this and the Book of Kells at Trinity [includes the Long Room]. The National Gallery is another 5 mins walk if your afternoon started early you could possibly squeeze in one more.

Then I'd go for dinner here. Same area, lots of business customers but great food and very friendly service.
https://www.dunneandcrescenzi.com

I haven’t been but how about Dublinia? It’s a Viking and Medieval museum, it wasn’t there when I was last in Dublin which is quite a few years now, but I’m thinking of going there when I inherit some money from my lovely uncle who died last year.

I’ll go anywhere if there’s Vikings involved!

I'd visit the National Library of Ireland in Kildare Street, they have some really interesting exhibitions there, all beautifully presented, check their website as they also give talks & lectures and you might find a convenient one.
Merrion Square nearby is lovely for a stroll around if the weather is good, look out for the statue of dear Oscar, he lived in the house on the corner.

If you're a James Joyce fan you could perhaps do a part of the walk around Dublin City centre from Ulysses (including the Library).

I'd go to the Shelbourne Hotel for tea and cake, as it's a famous Dublin institution! The Café en Seine is also very nice if you need a rest, also the cafe in the Kilkenny Centre is good for snacks. You'll have a super time, it's a wonderful city!

Thank you all for the recommendations. I have loads to check out.

Going to Dublin for a day out is one of the things I really like about being middle-aged. When I had kids with me it was alway very expensive and they'd be tired from walking. But for an adult who enjoys walking it's a lovely city to visit.
I did stay overnight on my own recently because I was going to an event. I asked at the hotel if it was safe to walk through Temple Bar at night and they recommended getting a taxi. I've always felt safe during the day though.

Another vote for Kilmainham Gaol. It books up fast though. Be prepared to learn a lot about the actions of the British that we typically don’t get taught!
Book of Kells is fab.
Alternatively I would do the open top bus tour - great way to see the city including Phoenix Park.

The jail tour is good, Glasnevin Cemetery fascinating, walking tours, bus tours, Bewleys, last time we were down we were there all day we bought tickets for the hop on hop off tour bus we got off at Phoenix Park spent a good time there,bent to the zoo and got back on the bus to O'Connell Street.

We love Dublin even though we don't drink. DS is now old enough for the Ghost and Murder tours so hope to do them very soon.