It’s actually been a very long time since I’ve traveled alone. Most of the time I default to my sister being my travel buddy, but this time around I was taking a business trip to London and decided to fly to the neighboring Dublin and explore the city solo.

My flight arrived a little later than expected and by the time I was all settled into my airbnb it was too late for any museum visits. I decided to just go out for dinner at Brazen Head, the oldest bar in Dublin. It was a rainy evening in Dublin but I took a walk to the Temple Bar area and across the River Liffey.

The next morning I was blessed with nice weather! After sleeping 10 hours and fully getting over my jetlag, I headed over to Trinity College and noticed the student run tours and Book of Kells exhibit doesn’t open till noon. With some time to spare I went to the Little Museum instead.

Rated the best museum experience in Dublin, the Little Museum definitely lives up to its title. The guided tour of the museum was very informative and I had a wonderful tour guide who talked about Irish history and JFK’s visit to Ireland.

Included in the tour is a walking tour of St. Stephen’s Green right across from the museum.

After the museum visit and the walking tour, I popped into the cafe right below the museum for lunch (you get a 10% off with a ticket from the museum!)

After lunch I took the hop on hop off bus and headed back to Trinity College and Old Library. The guided tour led by current students was about to start and I made it right on time. It was great having a student take you through their school and the school buildings, including the dorms famous Irish writers and prominent figures once lived. To this day the school’s graduation is entirely in Latin!

Trinity College is also the home of the Book of Kells, one of the oldest religious text still preserved. The exhibit was very interesting, going through how the book was made and the colors that were used.

After the exhibit is the Old Library, a long hallway that looked like it could be in a Harry Potter movie.

I got back on the hop on hop off bus and toured the other half of the city before stopping by a local print sore called Jam Art Factory and got myself a print. Dinner was at a restaurant recommended by my airbnb host called Green Hen, and of course I had to stop for Murphy’s ice cream to finish off the meal. Irish brown bread and Irish coffee was my pick!

My last full day in Dublin was spent visiting all the museums that closes too early for me to fit into the first 2 days. I stopped by the famed Ha’Penny Bridge in the morning. it’s called Ha’Penny Bridget because it used to cost half a penny to cross the bridge.

Also took a stroll in the quiet Temple Bar, which is a completely different scene in the morning than at night.

In order to fit in as many museums I can, I decided to go to the Guinness Storehouse in the morning. The place is multi-story built to shape like a Guinness glass, and it goes through the history of the brand, how the beer is made, and even the family history and their advertising. By the way, Arthur Guinness had 21 children!!! You get to learn to pour your own pint, and enjoy the view up at the Gravity Bar.

After the museum got back on the hop on hop off bus, did a bus tour of Phoenix Park and the mini White House, home of the Irish President.

I headed to lunch, and then to the spire to check it out in person. Also conveniently there is a post office (it’s the original post office building!) for me to get my stamp for my postcard.

I was able to stop by a cute Irish design store, a furniture and coffee shop as well as the local art street before heading to the Irish Whiskey museum for a tour of some Irish Whiskey! I discovered that I like single pot stills, and that whiskeys are a lot cheaper in Germany or if you buying at duty free traveling outside of the EU.

My last day in Dublin I stopped by a super cute and spacious community coffee shop called The Fumbally. It was a Tuesday morning so there were few patrons, and I enjoyed my coffee before heading to the airport for London for my work trip! Definitely looking forward to coming back and visiting the country side!

Dublin. January 2019