Dublin, a dirty old town but an absolute cracker of a place for a city break. It's a city I've visited a few times now and each time I've left hungover and poor. But whilst it's true that Dublin is a very expensive city there are also lots of great things to do that won't cost a penny. So I've rounded up my favourite free things to do in Dublin city!
Dublin Airport
Walking Tour - Shocker! A free walking tour made it on my my list! Now I don't want to say I'm an expect (I deffo am) but free walking tours are kinda my thing and I when in Dublin you best believe I'm jumped on one. There are several tour operators offering free walking tours in Dublin but they should all pretty much cover the same sights; O'Connell Street, Temple Bar, Dublin Castle Etc. You can pay €20+ for a bus tour (which will travel at 0 miles an hour by the way) or your can get off your arse and see the heart of Dublin for a fraction of the price!
The GPO - That big beautiful building full of bullet holes on O'Connell street? That would be the General Post Office and the main scene of the 1916 uprising. It's still a working post office today which means it's absolutely free to enter. Whilst it is all very pretty inside it's the outside that really does leave an impression on you. The exterior is laced with very visible bullet holes from the famous uprising which took place over 100 years ago. You can physically feel the history here.
If you do fancy a paid tour here I would recommend the Rebels Rising tour, though it will set you back €16 for an adult ticket.
If you do fancy a paid tour here I would recommend the Rebels Rising tour, though it will set you back €16 for an adult ticket.
Love Lane - Spotted on the Dublin free walking tour
National Museum of Ireland - After more history? Take yourself down to the National Museum of Ireland. It's less than 10 minutes from the centre of Dublin by bus and well worth the trip. I have to point out that I've actually only been to one exhibition here but for a very good reason. Currently there is a fantastic exhibition on the 1916 uprising in the museum which features an original Irish Republic proclamation poster. There are very few of these left now so I would recommend you see one while you can.
Arbour Hill Military Cemetery - If the upsring exhibition leaves you wanting more then I would recommend taking a short walk up the hill to Arbour Hill Cemetery. It's roughly 5 minutes away from the National Museum of Ireland and fairly easy to spot once you've left the museum grounds. Here you will find the final resting place of several of the 1916 uprising leaders. 16 rebels were executed as a result of the Easter Rising and 14 of them were laid to rest here in Arbour Hill Cemetery.
Grave's of 14 of the Easter Rising rebels - Arbour Hill Cemetery
Glasnevin Cemetery - Glasnevin is Dublin's Largest cemetery and it's absolutely jam packed with some of the most well known Irish people. From Daniel O'Connell (The liberator of Ireland and who O'Connell Street is named after) to Luke Kelly (founding member of the Dubliners) you will find all manner of famous Irish folk here. Whilst I would recommend the paid general history tour, you are free to rome the grave stones as you like.
Molly Malone - Good old Molly Malone, flogging Cockles and Muscles (and erm other services depending on who you ask) in Dublin's fair city ever since anyone can remember. But whilst she was likely not a real person, it wouldn't be a trip to Dublin without visiting her famous statue. It's also supposed to be good luck to rub her left breast. Or was it her right breast? Better give both tit's a tickle just to be sure!
Original Irish Republic poster - Museum of Ireland
Temple Bar - A beer here will set you back a good €7, heartbreaking I know. Now I will admit that a night around the Temple Bar area is fantastic and well worth the eye watering amount of money it will cost to drink here, however, there are better (and much cheaper) pubs in Dublin city. So down your drinks here if you want, or be a typical tourist and snap away at the very pretty, very famous temple bar pub for free, I won't judge you.
Chester Beatty Library - A library? ON HOLIDAY? Hear me out! Now I'm not expecting you to spend your valuable holiday time walking the aisles of a busy Dublin Library, I do however think this building is worth 10-20 minutes of your time if you're in the area. The Chester Beatty Library is located just beside Dublin Castle in the centre of the city and, you guessed it, completely free to enter. So nip inside, head straight to the lifts, take yourself off to the top floor and walk out onto the roof terrace. From here you will see the rooftops of Dublin and get a cracking view of the Dublin Castle gardens.
View from the top of the Chester Beatty Library
So those are my favourite completely free things to do in Dublin! I'm sure there are plenty of other free, or extremely cheap things to do in Dublin (see Kilmainham Gaol at just €8 a ticket) but these are just the few I personally enjoyed and would recommend.
Have you been to Dublin? I'd love to hear your recommendations!
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