1. Bray
Bray, Bray, Bray! What a beautiful little seaside town. In Bray, you’ll find many places to go and stunning sights to see. Hop on a train from Dublin to Bray in the morning and get breakfast at the cute little cafe in an alley, called Caffé Letterario GattaNera. The coffee and paninis are fantastic! After breakfast, take a walk along the boardwalk by the beach. You’ll see a carnival with many different rides, the beautiful ocean, friendly people, and stunning mountains. If you’re lucky, you may see a festival along the boardwalk of some sort if it’s a sunny day outside. Bray really is a quaint option to choose from the many day trips from Dublin you can take.
After you’ve gotten your bearings around the town, hop on the 185 bus or a taxi and go explore the stunning Powerscourt Estate and Gardens in the little town of Enniskerry. Once you’ve gotten to see the site, take a bus or taxi back to Bray, maybe get a gelato or ice cream, hop on the train from Bray to Dublin, and you’ll be home!
PRO TIP: When you go on the train from Dublin to Bray, make sure to get a window seat on the left side of the train. You’ll see beautiful ocean views for most of the ride!
2. Howth
The beautiful town of Howth is absolutely worth visiting as one of your day trips from Dublin. This seaside town is one of the more well-known ones in Ireland, and for understandable reasons. If you want to see stunning scenic views, put your athletic or hiking shoes on and take a hike along the cliffs and hills. Specifically, go on the Howth Cliff Walk, where you will witness breathtaking vistas.
After a long hike, get lunch in the town and then walk over to one of the local lighthouses. If you are not interested in hiking, Howth would still be a great place to visit, as there is the lovely walkable downtown where you will find cute shops, places to dine, and historic museums to visit.
3. Cliffs of Moher
If you are stationed in Dublin and are not in a position where you can spend the night in other Irish towns, do not fret! The island of Ireland is small enough to where you can visit any place within a day. The Cliffs of Moher, located on the east coast, are one of the biggest tourist sites in Ireland and you have likely seen pictures of them. I am here to tell you that pictures of this site do not do it justice one bit. If you want to feel free, at peace, in awe and speechless, hop on a bus from Dublin to the Cliffs — you will not regret it. You can take a Wild Rover Tour bus any day of the week that will not only bring you from Dublin to the Cliffs of Moher, but will also stop in Galway where you can explore the amazing little town for a few hours.
SIDE NOTE: If you do have the time to spend a few nights outside of Dublin, I would highly recommend spending a night or a weekend in Galway. It is a beautiful town filled with countless street performers, cute shops, and an amazing nightlife. I think it’s ideal for one of your day trips from Dublin.
4. Dublin
Even though the entire country of Ireland holds many treasures, there are special experiences to be had in the city of Dublin itself, too. Dublin is unique because, although it contains everything a typical large city would have, it feels more like a town. Some of the beautiful and fun places to visit in Dublin include the Dublin Castle, Trinity College Library and Book of Kells, Temple Bar area, Dublin Jail, Guinness Storehouse, and Grafton Street (where you will find many street performers and fun shops). Dublin is a lively and exciting city to explore. Whether you are in Dublin for a day or a month, you will not get bored of spending time there.
This post was contributed by Rachel Katz, who is spending her summer studying abroad with AIFS in Maynooth, Ireland.
