1. Visit the oldest pub in Dublin, the Brazen Head and the iconic Temple Bar.

The Brazen Head is dubbed the oldest pub in Ireland (established 1198) but The Brazen Head is actually the oldest pub in Dublin, according to our tour guide. The oldest pub in Ireland is listed in Guinness World Book of Records.

The food is amazing, the atmosphere is warm and welcoming. You probably shouldn’t leave Dublin without giving this pub a go.

The Temple Bar, established in 1840 is an iconic part of Dublin and is an experience rather than a destination.

The pints go up by a Euro in the Temple Bar area at night so beware.

TIP: for an authentic Dublin experience, try pubs and bars on the other side of the river or away from the Temple Bar area.

Thought we didn’t stay for too long (it was extremely crowded), we strolled through crowds who were singing “Galway Girl” by Ed Sheeran and had an amazing time just indulging in the buzzing nighttime atmosphere.

2. Learn about Whiskey

Hands down, the Jameson Distillery is SO much fun and my absolute favorite tour. You get an entertaining lesson of whiskey: how it’s made, how Jameson differs from other whiskey, and you get to taste 3 whiskeys and get a glass of whiskey in the bar at the end.

3. Learn about Guinness at the Guinness Storehouse

Guinness: You cannot LEAVE without trying this beer. I mean, Ireland is all about their Guinness and rightly so. It’s a part of their history and culture. You can’t leave without learning about it whether in a bar with locals or at the storehouse. As far as tours go, this is fully self-guided and quite long unless you book one of the speciality tours.

Be prepared because it takes time to make it up the several floors up but the journey up is a lot of fun and there are tons of photo ops and interactive activities along the way.

One tip: you get use your voucher to grab a beer at the top of the storehouse. BUT a few floors before the top, there is class on learning how to pour a Guinness Draught. You have to use your beer voucher to take the class but you get to keep your glass and take your beer via lift to the top floor anyway.

It is TOTALLY worth it.

4. Seek the history of Dublin.

Dublin Castle was a historic experience with a fantastic tour guide and a wealth of information. I would recommend a quick tour to brush up on your history of Ireland and the major historic events that took place in Dublin.

5. Try some local specialties.

Local foods are the best foods and Irish food is outstanding. I’m talking hearty, homey, and so absolutely fulfilling.

Foods to try in Dublin and Ireland in general:

• Soda Bread
• Guinness & Beef Stew
• Fish and Chips (can we talk about their amazing chips?)
• Irish Stew
• Coddle
• Beef and Cabbage
• Irish Coffee
• Bread Pudding

6. Take a Day Tour from Dublin

Want to see the real Ireland? You need to leave the city. Look. If you base your opinions about the United States based on NYC or Los Angeles, you will miss so much.

Ireland has beautiful sites to offer and tours that are absolutely worth every penny.

We went to the Cliffs of Moher and Galway with Dublin Tour Company and though our visit to Galway was way too short (I fell in love with the city), it was enough to give you a taste of Ireland.

Galway, a medieval city, is absolutely beautiful, historic, and so charming sitting over the water. It is the city where the Claddagh Ring was designed. Simply put, it’s amazing.

I’d LOVE to hear all about your Dublin adventures, what you’ve done, or what you want to do in Dublin. Dublin is an amazing city and Ireland is an amazing country. I will be returning so I’d love to hear your thoughts!