9 Great Things to do in Dublin in a Day: History, Photo-Ops, and Theatre

Explore a one day Dublin City itinerary focused history, photography, and theatre. Seek out Instagrammable Dublin. Explore the historic architecture on Northumberland Road in Ballsbridge. Understand the history of the 1916 Rising at Mount Street Bridge. Spend an evening at the Theatre Upstairs or Samuel Beckett Theatre.

About This Dublin City Itinerary

One Day in Dublin City Itinerary Rating: Leisurely
This Dublin itinerary is recommended for people with the following interests: history, culture, photography, non-touristy experiences

Dublin History, Photo-ops, and Theatre Itinerary in Brief

1. Have breakfast at Java Republic
2. Photograph the iconic Pepper Canister church in the heart of Georgian Dublin
3. Stroll Merrion Square Park and seek out Oscar Wilde
4. Eat a healthy lunch at Sprout
5. Explore the historic architecture of Northumberland Road
6. Stop and pay your respects at Mount Street Bridge to those who died fighting for Irish independence.
7. Visit a classic Irish pub: Grab a pint of Guinness at the Ginger Man
8. Dinner at Fowl Play or Musahi
9. Spend an evening at the Samuel Beckett Theatre on the Trinity College Dublin campus

Explore other one day Dublin City itineraries here:

Dublin History, Photo-ops, and Theatre Detailed Itinerary

Start your day out in Dublin with breakfast in Dublin City Centre at Java Republic, a great option for coffee or tea in a historic building on Molesworth Place, an elegant Georgian street.

After breakfast seek out and photograph the iconic Pepper Canister church in the heart of Georgian Dublin as it catches the morning light. 

Escape from the hustle of Dublin city life with a walk through Merrion Square Park. Seek out the statue of one of Ireland's most famous and colorful writers: Oscar Wilde. 

It's rumored that Oscar Wilde was once asked if he had anything to declare on going through customs in the U.S. He supposedly said "I have nothing to declare...except my genius". 

He may not have been modest, but based on his collective body of work, he's quite justified in his comment. The jaunty statue is comprised of three different colored blocks of stone from three different continents.

Stop at nearby Sprout for a healthy lunch. Grab a salad or a wrap to fuel your afternoon of exploration.

After lunch, admire the historic architecture of Northumberland Road. The impressive houses along Northumberland Road in Dublin's Ballsbridge neighborhood were constructed over six decades in the 19th century.

The Irish Georgian Society offers sporadic tours of the area. The buildings evolve with their period of construction and range from red-brick terrace homes to semi-detached homes with elaborate brick patterning. This neighborhood is considered a shining example of Victorian domestic architecture.

Stop and pay your respects at Mount Street Bridge (where Northumberland Road intersects with the Grand Canal). There is a memorial to those who died here fighting for Irish independence in 1916.

Stop at a classic Irish pub for a pint. The Ginger Man is popular with the after work crowd thirsty for a pint of Guinness especially when the weather is nice. 

For dinner, head down the street to Musahi for sushi, ramen, or a Bento box. 

After dinner, head over to the Samuel Beckett Theatre on the Trinity College Dublin campus. You'll find a variety of student and professional performances. 

We've seen a number of plays at the Samuel Beckett Theatre including the Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde, a show exploring the life of Dublin's own Bram Stoker, and a variety of fringe events.

Map of This Dublin City Itinerary: Dublin History, Photo-ops, and Theatre

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.

Did you enjoy this post about one day in Dublin city with a focus on history, photography and theatre? Sharing is caring...

Dublin Day Out Post Archive: History, Photo-Ops, and Theatre

The following items were included in the original post but the information is now out of date. I'm including the text here as a historical record of my travels.

***

Located on Lower Baggot Street, Lolly and Cooks features great coffee plus savory scones and rolls. 

Of course, Lolly and Cooks is most well-known for their cupcakes. Try a toffee cupcake with caramel square on top. Eat your cupcake looking out upon Dublin's commuters headed to work. 

If you prefer craft beer, head to The Square Ball for drinks and board games.

If inertia has set-in and you just want to stay put, grab a no-fuss barbeque chicken dinner at Fowl Play which is co-located in the Square Ball.