Looking for a way to spend the evening that isn’t the pub? Dublin is home to many theatres, both large and small with great shows on all year round. We have a number of lovely theatres close by including the Olympia, the Gaiety, Smock Alley, Vicar Street, and the Gate. Shows are popular and will often sell out in advance so we would recommend checking out what’s on and booking your tickets before you arrive in Dublin. See our top entertainment picks here.
Everyone visits St Stephen’s Green on their trip to Dublin and while it's a lovely park full of history, it can often be quite busy. Just a few minutes’ walk down the road is the Iveagh Gardens, hidden from street view, step inside and you’ll find yourself in a tranquil setting in the middle of the city. With a beautiful rosarium, fountains and a yew maze, walk around and take in all the gardens have to offer. Pick up some tasty nibbles, sit back, relax, and enjoy a picnic in the park (just remember to clean up after yourself!)
The Chester Beatty houses the finest selection of manuscripts, prints, drawings, rare books, and other examples of decorative art from around the world. The museum is located on the stunning grounds of Dublin Castle where visitors can enjoy free public tours, drop-in workshops, and talks throughout the week. The museum even has a Chester Beatty app which is free to download, featuring audio tours of their collection, available in 22 languages. It is an inspiring and relaxing place to visit and take some time to appreciate world culture and artistic heritage.
This hidden treasure is a contemporary, commercial art gallery, tucked up in Anne’s Lane, just off Grafton Street. It’s a small gallery, over two floors which was opened originally in 1988 and has built up international recognition on the art scene. The Kerlin is an impressive, bright space which transforms for leading contemporary Irish and international artists such as Dorothy Cross, Sean Scully, Jaki Irvine and Guggi among others.
