Dublin isn’t just a city—it’s an organism. A living, breathing entity that hums with history, rebellion, and an unshakable hunger for the new. It’s the kind of place where you can sit in a pub that’s older than America, then turn the corner and find a mural so fresh the paint hasn’t dried. But Dublin doesn’t give itself to just anyone; you have to dig for its heart. You have to earn it.
If you’re tired of the tourist trails, the same old lists of must-sees, then this is for you. Here’s Dublin, raw and real. The unique things to do in Dublin, where the soul of the city lies waiting.
1. Listen to Dublin Talk in The Cobblestone
Forget the polished stage of Temple Bar. The Cobblestone in Smithfield is where the real magic happens. It’s a “drinking pub with a music problem,” a place where the walls vibrate with fiddles, banjos, and the kind of voices that sound like they’ve been soaked in whiskey and heartbreak.
You don’t just sit and listen here—you feel. You feel the centuries of tradition, the heartbreak of emigration, the unyielding joy of a people who know how to turn suffering into song. Find a corner, grab a pint, and let the music tell you what words can’t.
2. Hunt Ghosts in Glasnevin Cemetery
Death isn’t just an ending in Dublin—it’s part of the conversation. Nowhere is that more evident than in Glasnevin Cemetery, where the city’s history lies buried beneath your feet. Wander the graves of Ireland’s revolutionaries, poets, and dreamers, from Michael Collins to Brendan Behan.
For the full experience, join a cemetery tour. The guides don’t just rattle off dates—they bring the dead to life. Stories of love, betrayal, sacrifice, and defiance will haunt you long after you leave.
3. Dive into Literary Chaos at Sweny’s Pharmacy
Step into Sweny’s Pharmacy, and you’re stepping into the pages of James Joyce’s Ulysses. This isn’t a museum; it’s a portal. Shelves are crammed with dusty books, bottles, and that strange, unmistakable smell of nostalgia.
Join a reading session, buy a bar of lemon soap like Leopold Bloom did, and let yourself get swallowed whole by Dublin’s literary madness. Sweny’s isn’t just for Joyce fanatics—it’s for anyone who believes in the power of stories to change the world.
4. The Gravedigger’s Pub: Pints and Phantoms
Forget the neon-lit bars. The Gravedigger’s Pub (officially John Kavanagh’s) sits quietly near Glasnevin, serving pints and stories for over 180 years. This is where gravediggers used to sneak a pint after burying Dublin’s dead.
The Guinness here? Perfection. The atmosphere? Ghostly. Stay long enough, and you might just hear a whisper from the past—or maybe that’s the whiskey talking.
5. Discover the Street Art of Dublin 8
Dublin 8 is where the city sheds its polished image and shows its teeth. It’s gritty, raw, and full of life. Walk through The Liberties, and you’ll find alleyways that double as galleries. Murals that shout about rebellion, immigration, love, and loss.
The Maser art pieces, the tributes to Dublin’s women, the rebellious slogans—they’re not just decoration. They’re a conversation, a reminder that Dublin has always been a city that speaks its mind.
6. The Science Gallery: Where Art and Ideas Collide
Tucked inside Trinity College, the Science Gallery is a place where art, science, and curiosity meet in a strange, beautiful explosion. The exhibits here don’t just inform—they challenge. They’ll make you question what you know about the world, and maybe even yourself.
Where else can you explore artificial intelligence, human anatomy, and the future of food in the same afternoon? It’s uniquely Dublin—unpredictable, provocative, and always a little bit weird.
7. Dip into Dublin Bay with a Sea Swim
A sea swim in Dublin isn’t just a dip—it’s an initiation. Whether it’s the iconic Forty Foot in Sandycove or the quieter Vico Baths, plunging into the freezing Irish Sea feels like a baptism. It’s cold, brutal, and utterly invigorating.
Locals swear it’s the cure for everything—hangovers, heartbreak, existential dread. And as you emerge, shivering but alive, you’ll swear it too.
8. Discover the Ha’penny Flea Market
Dublin’s not just about polished storefronts and trendy cafes. The Ha’penny Flea Market, nestled inside The Grand Social, is where the city’s creatives, hustlers, and treasure hunters gather. Vintage clothes, handmade jewelry, vinyl records, and the kind of knick-knacks you didn’t know you needed until you saw them.
It’s a little chaotic, a little magical, and completely Dublin.
9. Explore the Ruins of Hellfire Club
If you’re up for something eerie, head to the Hellfire Club on Montpelier Hill. This burned-out hunting lodge has a reputation for dark rituals, ghostly apparitions, and a history steeped in scandal.
The hike up offers stunning views of Dublin, but it’s the building itself that will stick with you. The energy is palpable, the air thick with whispers of the past. Go at dusk, if you dare.
10. Embrace the Chaos of Moore Street
Moore Street isn’t pretty. It’s not polished. But it’s alive. This market street is the heartbeat of working-class Dublin, where you’ll hear traders shout their prices in accents thick with character.
Pick up fresh produce, chat with the stall owners, and soak up the chaos. This is the Dublin of grit, of hustle, of authenticity. The Dublin that refuses to die.
Dublin: The City That Never Stops Giving
Dublin isn’t just a place—it’s a feeling. A contradiction. A city that’s as rough as it is beautiful, as ancient as it is modern. To truly know Dublin, you can’t just visit its landmarks—you have to walk its streets, feel its pulse, and let it seep into your soul.
So, skip the guidebooks. Lose yourself in the alleys, the pubs, the moments. And let Dublin show you what it’s made of. You’ll leave with more than memories—you’ll leave with a piece of the city stitched into your heart.
Sláinte.
About the Author
