Learn about a one day Dublin City itinerary focused on non-touristy places in Ballsbridge. Move on to Dublin City Centre and explore museums like The National Gallery of Ireland and the Dead Zoo and then check out Dublin's Georgian parks like Stephen's Green and Merrion Square.
Are you planning a visit to Dublin? Are you thinking about where you should stay on your trip?
During the tourist season, hotels in Dublin City Centre can be quite expensive. Why not look a little further afield.
Ballsbridge is home to a variety of hotels like the Schoolhouse, Grand Canal Hotel, The Dylan, and the Intercontinental. You'll find a place to stay for every budget in Ballsbridge.
Of course, you may be wondering if it's possible to walk from Ballsbridge to Dublin City Centre. You can get from Ballsbridge Village to Grafton Street in about 30-35 minutes on foot.
In this post we'll explore things to do in Ballsbridge and what to see along the way as you walk from Ballsbridge to Dublin City Centre.
About This Dublin City Itinerary
One Day in Dublin City Itinerary Rating: IntermediateThis Dublin itinerary is recommended for people with the following interests: nature, art, history
Ballsbridge to Dublin City Centre Itinerary in Brief
- Breakfast/Coffee Choices in Ballsbridge
- Angelina's Deli
- 3fe
- Photograph the Pepper Canister Church
- Stroll around Merrion Square in the heart of Georgian Dublin and seek out Oscar Wilde
- Admire Ireland's Government Buildings
- Explore Ireland's National Museums
- National Gallery of Ireland
- The Dead Zoo (Museum of Natural History)
- National Museum of Ireland - Archaeology
- National Library of Ireland
- Pop into the National Library of Ireland
- Lunch Choices
- Kilkenny
- Metro Cafe
- Bewley's
- Walk Stephen's Green
- Discover Iveagh Gardens
- Pub Stop
- Hairy Lemon
- The Duke
- Treat yourself to an upscale Dublin dinner
- Peploe's
- Marco Pierre White
- Evening Activities
- See a performance at the National Concert Hall
- Catch a show at The Gaiety Theatre
- Imbibe a carefully crafted cocktail at Peruke and Periwig
Ballsbridge to Dublin City Centre Detailed Itinerary
Start the day close to Dublin's Ballsbridge neighborhood. Choose to have breakfast and a coffee at either Angelina's Deli just off of Baggot St. or iconic 3fe.
Angelina's is more of a grab and go place where you can pick up something savory or sweet to takeaway with your coffee. 3fe is good if you'd like to sit down and enjoy a single-origin pour over with some porridge or a croissant.
From here, walk Dublin's Grand Canal to St. Stephen's Church which looks stunning in the morning light and is a great little-known Dublin photo-op. St. Stephen's is commonly known as the Pepper Canister because its elegant tower resembles a pepper grinder.
Walk down picturesque Mount Street Upper past a row of Georgian buildings now filled with offices each marked by a wrought-iron railing and some of the most colorful doors of Dublin.
Walk through Merrion Square Park which is filled with well-coiffed flower beds. Look for a sculpture called The Joker which was erected in memory of Dermot Morgan, the Irish actor who played Father Ted in the irreverent hit TV comedy.
You'll also find an iconic statue of Oscar Wilde lounging jauntily in the corner of Merrion Square Park. The statue is carved from a single piece of marble and is quite impressive.
Merrion Square is also one of my favorite parks for bird watching and for photography. On Sunday, the Merrion Square Open Art Gallery takes over and paintings from local artists hang from the fence surrounding the park.
On Thursdays you'll find a lunchtime food market in Merrion Square offering all sorts of tasty cuisine from around the world.
You'll notice one major difference between Ireland's Government Buildings and those in the U.S. In Ireland, you can walk right up to the gate and peer in with barely a security guard in sight.
In fact, once on a walk several years ago, I walked right by former Taoiseach Enda Kenny on the street next to Merrion Square.
The National Gallery of Ireland and The Museum of Natural History are adjacent to the Government Buildings and both are free and open to the public. The National Gallery of Ireland sits in a gorgeous white brick building and features some lovely works by Irish artists grouped by era.
The National Gallery of Ireland and The Museum of Natural History are adjacent to the Government Buildings and both are free and open to the public. The National Gallery of Ireland sits in a gorgeous white brick building and features some lovely works by Irish artists grouped by era.
There is a particularly stunning exhibit of paintings by J.B. Yeats (W.B. Yeats' brother). That was a seriously talented family!
The Museum of Natural History (Dublin's infamous 'Dead Zoo') features two stories filled with taxidermy on display in Victorian-era wooden cases.
Insects that Darwin amassed on the voyage of The Beagle are part of the museum's collection but they are rarely on display. In my opinion, the 'Dead Zoo' is a must-see for visitors to Dublin.
Walk around the block to Kildare Street where you'll see Leinster House, home of the Irish National Parliament (The Oireachtas). On one side of Leinster House, you'll find the National Museum of Ireland - Archeology.
Walk around the block to Kildare Street where you'll see Leinster House, home of the Irish National Parliament (The Oireachtas). On one side of Leinster House, you'll find the National Museum of Ireland - Archeology.
Getting a glimpse inside this historic building is reason enough to visit the museum. Stay and discover Bronze Age, Viking-era and Medieval artifacts.
On the other side of Leinster House, stop into the National Library of Ireland which features a grand picturesque reading room with a soaring dome and exhibitions drawn from their extensive collections.
Both the National Museum of Ireland - Archeology and the National Museum of Ireland are free to visit. Ireland's national museums are some of the best free things to do in Dublin if you are traveling here on a budget.
For lunch, wander further into Dublin City Centre. Consider eating at Kilkenny, Metro Cafe, or Bewley's. Kilkenny serves up food cafeteria-style. Enjoy quiche with a selection of side salads.
On Sundays, you can catch Jazz or Bluegrass music played live from late morning through late afternoon. Kilkenny Cafe is located on the upper floor of Kilkenny shop.
After lunch, you can have a browse for Irish-made crafts of high quality to bring home. Metro Cafe is best on a nice day when you can sit outside and enjoy soup, a sandwich and even a glass of wine.
Bewley's Cafe was recently renovated and sits in a historic building on Grafton Street. Bewley's is your top choice if you have a sweet tooth.
Stephen's Green is Dublin's iconic city park. After lunch, go for a stroll through the park admiring the flower beds and watching resident birds splash about in the pond. Stephen's Green is where all of Dublin goes to get some sun on a fine day.
SIDEWALK SAFARI SPOTLIGHT: Interested in getting a glimpse inside some of the buildings around the edge of St. Stephen's Green? Did you know that Dublin holds an annual Open House. We used the opportunity to tour the interior of Iveagh House which is home to Ireland's Department of Foreign Affairs. |
If Stephen's Green is too crowded for your liking, make your way to Iveagh Gardens. Tucked away behind the facades of Harcourt Street, Iveagh Gardens is a quiet respite from the hustle and bustle of Dublin City Centre and boasts some elegant statues and water features. Taste of Dublin is hosted in Iveagh Gardens each Summer in mid-June.
Time for a pint! The Duke is great for a quiet pint of Guinness and The Hairy Lemon is a busier spot with lots of items of flair on the wood paneled walls. You can't go wrong with any of these choices for a pre-dinner drink or two.
For dinner, Marco Pierre White is a good bet if you are interested in a well-prepared steak with French-inspired sides in a stylish setting. Another upscale option is Peploe's right on St. Stephen's Green where you'll find famous figures like Bill Clinton and Nelson Mandela pictured on the walls.
Dishes include things like a goats cheese 'crotin' and handcut gnocchi with shrimp and chorizo, marrow crusted pork chop and a rump of Irish beef. For dessert, you might order a rhubarb crumble or an exquisite flourless chocolate fondant.
For the evening, catch a refined musical performance at the National Concert Hall, a play at the Gaiety, or just go and grab a cocktail prepared with tremendous attention to detail by a hipster bartender at Peruke and Periwig.
Map of This Dublin City Itinerary: Ballsbridge to City Centre
Click on the map below to open up an interactive map of the points of interest highlighted on this one day Dublin itinerary.
Guide to Sidewalk Safari Dublin City Itineraries
- Leisurely: No need to get up super-early to start this itinerary which is always good if you experienced a little too much of Dublin's famous craic the night before. Take your time exploring the sights on these itineraries or take detours that you discover on your own in the process of following my suggestions.
- Intermediate: You should be able to comfortably fit in the activities recommended even if you don't get an early start. There is a fair amount of walking involved in these itineraries to get from place to place.
- Ambitious: Lots to see plus a lot of walking. Make sure to get an early start or you won't make it to everything on the list.
The perfect formula for a day out in Dublin City includes: breakfast/coffee, morning activities, lunch, afternoon activities, a pub stop, dinner, and evening fun.
- Leisurely: No need to get up super-early to start this itinerary which is always good if you experienced a little too much of Dublin's famous craic the night before. Take your time exploring the sights on these itineraries or take detours that you discover on your own in the process of following my suggestions.
- Intermediate: You should be able to comfortably fit in the activities recommended even if you don't get an early start. There is a fair amount of walking involved in these itineraries to get from place to place.
- Ambitious: Lots to see plus a lot of walking. Make sure to get an early start or you won't make it to everything on the list.
The perfect formula for a day out in Dublin City includes: breakfast/coffee, morning activities, lunch, afternoon activities, a pub stop, dinner, and evening fun.
Did you enjoy this post about one day in Dublin city with a focus on Ballsbridge plus Dublin City Centre attractions? Sharing is caring...
.jpg)
