Free things to do in Dublin

Also known as Baile Átha Cliath in Irish, the charming city of Dublin is the perfect destination for a quick weekend city getaway. With a compact city centre, it’s easy to take a pleasant stroll to all major attractions, restaurants and shops. Unfortunately, Dublin isn’t one of the cheapest destinations in Europe. But if you’re looking for a way to enjoy this picturesque city without spending a penny, we’ve put together a list of 10 local attractions you can visit for free! We've also written about places to stay and eat in Dublin here.

Sandeman’s New Dublin Tour

Take a three-hour walk through the city to discover the charming streets of Dublin with energetic tour guides ready to share with you the intriguing history found around every corner. Tips are optional and tours leave every day from Dame Street at 11am.

Pat Liddy’s iWalks

If you prefer a quieter and more personal walk through the city, download Pat Liddy’s audio walking tour and discover the most interesting Dublin facts with this renowned historian.

St. Stephen’s Green

If you’re looking for a break from the busy streets of Dublin, head to the heart of the city and enjoy a quiet and peaceful afternoon amid the beautifully landscaped gardens of St. Stephen’s Green. Lie in the grass on a sunny day, enjoy a delicious picnic or take a refreshing stroll by the pond.

Trinity College Dublin

You’ll have to pay to visit the famous library and see the Book of Kells but the cobbled grounds of Trinity College are equally enchanting and free to explore. Spend a pleasant morning strolling through campus and discover Ireland’s oldest university.

National Gallery

Discover an exquisite collection of over 2,500 paintings covering all major European Schools of art and several other fine prints, watercolours, and sculptures. Artists represented at this impressive gallery include strong Irish artists and major names such as Picasso, Van Gogh and Monet. Best of all, entrance is free every day of the week.

National Museums

The city of Dublin houses three national museums - all of which offer free entrance! At the National Museum of Archaeology, discover an impressive collection of Celtic and medieval treasures. The National Museum of Natural History is dedicated to all sorts of animals both from Ireland and abroad. Finally, the historic memorabilia at the National Museum of Decorative Arts and History will help you understand a bit of the history of daily life in Ireland.

South Wall Walk

If you happen to be visiting Dublin on a pleasant sunny day (it’s really not that rare), a great idea to spend a pleasant evening is to take a stroll along the South Wall to the Dublin Bay. If you time it right, you’ll get the added bonus of enjoying an unbeatable sunset.

Dublinbikes

Dublinbikes provides almost 500 bikes in 40 locations throughout the city. Although you’ll have to pay if you choose to rent one bike for the full day, if you use it only for 30 minutes you won’t be charged anything. If you need a bike for longer but don’t want to spend more just pay attention to the time and when your 30 minutes are about to end head to a station and switch bikes!

The Science Gallery

Dublin’s unique Science Gallery is the first of its kind at it combines science and art all in the same place. Its rotating exhibitions, experiments and events aim to stimulate the curious mind in a completely new way.

Glasnevin Cemetery Tour

Glasnevin Cemetery is Ireland’s most important cemetery and it’s where several of its main historic figures have been buried. Free tours explaining the stories of these big names in Irish history are provided daily at 11:30am, 12:30pm and 2:30pm.