Lots to see, lots to do

In the summer peak season, Dublin's top attractions can get packed so show up early to beat the crowds.

The Guinness Storehouse is Ireland's top visitor attraction, closely followed by Dublin Zoo, while The National Gallery of Ireland continues its dominance of the free attractions in the capital. Dublin has a great selection of visitor attractions to suit all tourists and within this section, we've compiled a list of the top visited attractions and the best things to do in Dublin.

Image: Tourist attractions in Dublin, Guinness Storehouse

Guinness Storehouse

Located in the heart of the St. James's Gate Brewery, the Guinness Storehouse is Ireland's most popular tourist attraction. It's the home of the Black Stuff, the heart of Dublin and an unforgettable start to your Irish adventure. The journey begins at the bottom of the world's largest pint glass and continues up through seven floors filled with interactive experiences - Further information

Dublin Zoo

Dublin Zoo is much more than a fun-filled, stimulating day out for all the family... it’s a place to learn about wild animals, especially those which are endangered. The Zoo is a registered charity – your visit will help maintain Dublin Zoo to a high standard, improve the Zoo and contribute to conservation programmes. Located in the Phoenix Park in the heart of Dublin city, Dublin Zoo is Ireland’s most popular family attraction, and welcomed over one million visitors last year. As one of the world’s oldest, yet popular zoos, the 28 hectare park in the heart of Dublin is home to some 400 animals in safe environment where education and conservation combine for an exciting and unforgettable experience! - Visit website

National Aquatic Centre

In 2016 over 980,000 people used the facilities of the Centre. It is Ireland’s 4th most popular fee paying attraction. It is home to Irelands biggest and most popular Water Park, AquaZone, which is one of the biggest and most exciting attractions for families, groups and individuals in the country. It also houses Ireland’s biggest individual Swimming Lessons programme (over 2,500 participants weekly), and has over 4,500 Members in its award winning Gym, ToneZone - Visit website

Trinity College - Book of Kells

Trinity College is one of the seven ancient universities of Britain and Ireland, as well as Ireland's oldest university and is located on College Green, opposite the former Irish Houses of Parliament. The Book of Kells is by far the Library's most famous book and is located in the Old Library, along with the Book of Durrow, the Book of Howth and other ancient texts - Further information

The National Gallery of Ireland

The National Gallery of Ireland is located in the heart of Dublin, and holds the national collection of European and Irish fine art. Admission is free - Visit website

National Botanic Gardens

Located just 3 km from Dublin city centre, the National Botanic Gardens are an oasis of calm and beauty, and entry is free. A premier scientific institution, the gardens also contain the National Herbarium and several historic wrought iron glasshouses - Visit website

St. Patrick's Cathedral

Since Saint Patrick baptised Christian converts nearby over 1500 years ago, this holy site has been a place of spiritual encounter for countless generations - Visit website

The Irish Museum of Modern Art

The Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA) aims in all its activities to create for the public an enjoyable and engaging experience of contemporary art. It achieves this through a dynamic and changing programme of exhibitions and education programmes. IMMA is the home of the national collection of modern and contemporary art and takes responsibility for the care and maintenance of this national resource - Visit website

National Museum of Ireland

The National Museum of Ireland has four locations. Three sites are in Dublin and one is in Mayo. Each Museum site specialises in a particular area of culture and science. In Dublin, you will find: Archaeology, located in Kildare Street, Dublin, Decorative Arts & History, located at Collins Barracks, Dublin and Natural History, located at Merrion Square, Dublin - Visit website

Farmleigh House

Farmleigh, an estate of 78 acres situated to the north-west of Dublin's Phoenix Park, was purchased from the Guinness family by the Irish Government in 1999 for €29.2m. The house has been carefully refurbished by the Office of Public Works as the premier accommodation for visiting dignitaries and guests of the nation, for high level Government meetings, and for public enjoyment - Visit website

The Little Museum of Dublin

Described as “Dublin’s best museum experience” by The Irish Times, they are the number one museum in Ireland on TripAdvisor. A brilliant new addition to the cultural map of Ireland, their guided tours reveal the history of a city that has undergone remarkable changes in the last 100 years, from the visit of Queen Victoria to the global success of U2 - Visit website

Christ Church Cathedral

Step off Dublin’s busy streets and into a timeless place of prayer. Visitors from all over Ireland and the world are welcome to experience Dublin’s very own medieval cathedral, to explore its history and to enjoy quiet moments of reflection in this beautiful place - Visit website

Dublin Castle

Since its foundation in 1204 Dublin Castle has been at the heart of the history and evolution of the city. Today, spanning an area of over 44,000 square meters (11 acres), the site contains 2 museums, 2 cafés, an international conference centre, 2 gardens, Government Buildings and the State Apartments which are the most important state rooms in the country. The grounds of the site are free to explore, as is the Chester Beatty Library and the Revenue Museum. Access to the State Apartments is by guided tour only and tickets may be purchased from the Apartments in the Upper Castle Yard - Visit website

Old Jameson Distillery

The Old Jameson Distillery is closed until March 2017 for re-development and will return just in time for Saint Patrick’s Day! - Visit website

The National Library of Ireland

The mission of the National Library of Ireland is 'To collect, preserve, promote and make accessible the documentary and intellectual record of the life of Ireland and to contribute to the provision of access to the larger universe of recorded knowledge'. The library is a reference library and, as such, does not lend. It has a large quantity of Irish and Irish-related material which can be consulted without charge; this includes books, maps, manuscripts, music, newspapers, periodicals and photographs. Included in their collections is material issued by private as well as government publishers - Visit website

Chester Beatty Library

With free admission and described by the Lonely Planet as not just the best museum in Dublin, but one of the best in Europe, the Chester Beatty Library is a must-see on any Dublin visitor's itinerary. As the only museum in Ireland to win 'European Museum of the Year' and rated consistently in the top 5 of TripAdvisor’s list of ‘Top things to do in Dublin', the library's rich collections from countries across Asia, the Middle East, North Africa and Europe open a window on the artistic treasures of the great cultures and religions of the world - Visit website

Kilmainham Gaol

Kilmainham Gaol opened in 1796 as the new County Gaol for Dublin. It closed its doors in 1924. Today the building symbolises the tradition of militant and constitutional nationalism from the rebellion of 1798 to the Irish Civil War of 1922-23. Leaders of the rebellions of 1798, 1803, 1848,1867 and 1916 were detained and in some cases executed here. Many members of the Irish Republican movement during the Anglo-Irish War (1919-21) were also detained in Kilmainham Gaol, guarded by British troops - Visit website

House Number 29

Number Twenty Nine, ESB’s Georgian House Museum, closed to the public on Saturday 10th December 2016. ESB is redeveloping the Head Office complex with works anticipated to commence in the first half of 2017. It is planned to re-open Number Twenty Nine for the 2020 season when the construction works of the new adjoining complex is substantially complete - Visit website

The Science Gallery

In 2008, a car park in a forgotten corner of Dublin was transformed into a living experiment that would bridge art and science, unleashing their combined creative potential. Through a cutting-edge programme that ignites creativity and discovery where science and art collide, Science Gallery Dublin encourages young people to learn through their interests. Since opening in 2008, over 2.5 million visitors to the gallery have experienced more than 38 unique exhibitions — ranging from living art experiments to materials science and from the future of the human race to the future of play. Science Gallery Dublin develops an ever-changing programme of exhibitions and events fuelled by the expertise of scientists, researchers, students, artists, designers, inventors, creative thinkers and entrepreneurs - Visit website

Dublin Writers Museum

The Dublin Writers Museum was opened in November 1991 at No 18, Parnell Square, Dublin, Ireland. The museum occupies an original 18th-century house, which accommodates the museum rooms, library, gallery and administration area. The annexe behind it has a coffee shop and bookshop on the ground floor and exhibition and lecture rooms on the floors above. The Irish Writers' Centre, next door in No 19, contains the meeting rooms and offices of the Irish Writers’ Union, the Society of Irish Playwrights, the Irish Children's Book Trust and the Irish Translators' & Interpreters' Association. The basement beneath both houses is occupied by the Chapter One restaurant.

GPO Witness History

GPO Witness History is a brand new permanent visitor attraction in the iconic GPO building on O’Connell Street, Dublin. This highly immersive and engaging exhibition puts you right inside the GPO during Easter Week in 1916. History will come to life as you experience events from both sides of the conflict and through the eyes of bystanders caught in the crossfire through electronic touch screens, video, audio visual booths, sound and authentic artefacts – many previously unseen. You’ll be immersed in the action as you compose newspaper reports, examine the original copy of the Proclamation and send Morse code to declare the Irish Republic by radio. After the exhibition, you can relax and reflect in the café and retail store overlooking the courtyard. The courtyard is also home to a commissioned sculpture called ‘They are of us all’, commemorating the forty children who died during the Easter Rising - Visit website