Vibrant and full of character, Dublin offers its visitors plenty to do whatever the weather. If the sun isn’t shining during your city break, check out these great things to do on a rainy day in Dublin, and discover some fantastic options that will keep you indoors.
1. Experience the Guinness Storehouse
To discover the history and science between Ireland’s most famous beer, look no further than the Guinness Storehouse. As Ireland’s number one tourist attraction, the storehouse will teach you all about the ingredients used to make Guinness, how it’s brewed, and the ways in which it is distributed to countries around the world. You’ll also learn plenty about the beverage’s heritage, and will be given tasting lessons too.
Your journey through the story of Guinness will start at the base of the world’s tallest Guinness pint glass. From here, you can take a self-guided tour throughout the storehouse’s seven floors, completing your visit in the Gravity Bar. Here, you can enjoy a free pint and admire 360° panoramic views across Dublin. The self-guided tour takes around 90 minutes, but you can spend as much time exploring the attraction as you like.
2. Explore Trinity College’s Long Room
If you’ve always envied the library in Beauty and the Beast, you’ll be blown away by Trinity College’s Long Room. Boasting around 200,000 books in an unbelievably stunning setting, the Long Room is the perfect place to spend some culture-filled hours during a rainy day in Dublin. Since 1801, the library has been able to claim a free copy of all books published in Britain and Ireland, so it’s easy to see how it’s become so packed full of amazing literature over time.
You can take a self-guided tour of the Long Room with the help of knowledgeable library staff and a number of informative signs. It’s a fascinating place to visit, mostly due to its books but also thanks to its collection of marble busts which was started in 1743. The busts are of famous western philosophers and writers, plus men who have links to Trinity College. The Long Room also hosts exhibitions every now and then, where you can learn even more about specific topics which may interest you.
3. Visit the National Museum of Ireland Archaeology
If you’re looking for free things to do in Dublin, you’ll love the National Museum of Ireland Archaeology. Part of the National Museum of Ireland, which covers four locations, the archaeology museum is home to loads of amazing artefacts which highlight different eras in Ireland’s exciting history. One of the main attractions is the bog bodies exhibition. The calcified bodies were discovered in 2003, and a team of experts has worked to find out their link to Iron Age sovereignty and kingship rituals, making for a very interesting exhibit.
Elsewhere in the museum, you’ll find items from the Clontarf battle fought in 1014. These include everything from weaponry to jewellery, and offer a great insight into this historical event. You can also discover information about Vikings in Ireland, and see objects from the 9th and 10th centuries, plus settlements from the 10th and 12th centuries. In addition to this, learn all about medieval Ireland at the archaeology museum too, and find out about nobles, the Irish church, and agriculture in the country at this time.
4. Discover Dublin Castle
Built in the early 13th century on a Viking settlement, Dublin Castle has played an important part in the city’s history for many years. Now used as a government complex and tourist attraction, the castle offers to perfect escape from the rain during your visit to Dublin. 60 minute guided tours are offered which take in all of the castle’s highlights, including the Vikings excavation site, State Apartments, and the Chapel Royal. To see the Viking excavation site, your knowledgeable guide will take you below the castle where you’ll be able to see the remains of stone covered embankment defenses built centuries ago. The tour will also take you to the striking Chapel Royal, which boasts a Gothic revival style. Here, you can see galleries and stained glass windows depicting Ireland’s viceroy’s various coats of arms.
Dublin Castle’s State Apartments are also not to be missed. Originally the residential and public quarters of the viceroy court, the first thing you’ll see upon entrance is the wonderful sweeping staircase, which creates a fantastic impression. This was the first staircase of its kind to be built in Dublin, and give the apartments a truly regal feel. You might also like to visit the State Apartment galleries which hold frequent exhibitions, most of which will teach you more about the castle’s history. The Throne Room is another highlight, and here you can admire the gold and purple throne which was built for the visit of George IV in 1821.
Now that you’re ready to face a rainy day in Dublin, book your Cairnryan to Larne or Liverpool to Dublin crossing and discover these great attractions for yourself!
