4 Must-See Dublin Neighborhoods and How to Visit

Explore all that Dublin has to offer in these top neighborhoods.

Aug 21, 2019

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By Margot Bigg

Hi, I'm Margot!

Margot Bigg is a journalist who has lived in the UK, the US, France, and India. She’s the author of Moon Living Abroad in India and Moon Taj Mahal, Delhi & Jaipur and a co-author of Fodor's Essential India and Fodor's Pacific Northwest. Her stories have appeared in Rolling Stone India, National Geographic Traveler, Sunset, and VICE.

Dublin combines a thriving pub scene with historic landmarks such as Trinity College and Dublin Castle. The city, while far from small, is also compact enough to navigate on foot, even if you opt to stay outside of the center. Here are a few neighborhoods to check out on your next trip to Ireland’s capital city.

Temple Bar

The perfect base for a first-time trip.

If you've come to party, Temple Bar is your best bet. This lively area is known for its abundance of pubs and restaurants, and serves as a convenient base for exploring the city; it’s a short distance from the main sights and offers accommodation options to suit all budgets.

St. Stephen's Green Area

Convenient for sightseeing.

St. Stephen's Green is a landscaped public park close to Grafton Street, one of the city’s main shopping areas. The area around the park is home to an abundance of upmarket hotels and is a good place to stay if you plan to explore by foot—Trinity College, Dublin Castle, and many of the city's museums and cultural venues are all within walking distance.

Trinity College is a must when visiting Dublin for the first time. Photo: Marc Lechanteur / Shutterstock

Central Northside

Great for budget travelers.

The area just north of the River Liffey is a great place to stay for budget-conscious travelers. The Parnell Square area in particular has a ton of hotels that are a better value than what you'd find closer to the main sights, but are still only around a 15-minute walk from Temple Bar.

Portobello

The place to be for culture lovers.

If you're looking for a quiet place to stay while in Dublin, consider Portobello, just south of St. Patrick's Cathedral. Portobello was once the heart of the city's Jewish community and is home to the Irish Jewish Museum. The neighborhood sits just north of the Cathal Brugha Barracks, which houses a museum and military archives run by the Irish Army.