Want to visit Dublin on the cheap?
Then follow this Top 10 free tours, museums and activities to do in Dublin that we’ve created for you to enjoy without breaking the bank.
Free sightseeing in Dublin
Table des matières
Check out rare books at the Chester-Beatty Library
An unexpected and beautiful place. The Chester-Beatty Library, with its remarkable collections of Oriental, Islamic and Western art and books, is quite simply one of the finest museums in Ireland.
This collection was donated to the Irish state by Chester Beatty, an American mining magnate.
The permanent exhibitions “Arts of the Book” and “Sacred Traditions” showcase the Library’s treasures, including Chinese jade books and biblical papyri in state-of-the-art galleries; other temporary exhibitions change regularly.
Don’t miss the tranquil rooftop garden, with its Japanese style where nothing is overlooked.
Discover the top museums to visit for free in Dublin
Looking for a free museum in Dublin? We’ve rounded up our favorite museums that you can visit without spending a dime!
Enjoy the works of Francis Bacon in a world-class art gallery
Magnificent pieces by Manet, Monet, Renoir and Degas welcome art lovers to Dublin City Gallery The Hugh Lane in Charlemont House, a splendid Georgian building high above Parnell Square.
Don’t miss the Sean Scully Gallery, with its striking paintings by the famous Irish painter; and the Stained Glass Room, which highlights the work of Harry Clarke.
The highlight of the museum is undoubtedly the reconstructed studio of Irish-born artist Francis Bacon, a window into the chaos in which the painter lived and worked.
The modern wing features eccentric art installations such as “reflection chairs” and road maps painted in black ink.
Visit the Natural History Museum in Dublin for free
Dublin’s famous “Dead Zoo” – the city’s official natural history museum – has been preserved in its original configuration and is now a testament to what a classic Victorian museum was.
Inside, you’ll find hundreds of stuffed animals, large and small, preserved insects and spiders – in short, all the species you’d see in the wild. Some will find this museum fascinating, others will be horrified.
The most impressive piece in the museum is undoubtedly the huge whale skeleton on the first floor.
However, avoid going to see the animals on display if you have a phobia for anything related to taxidermy.
The kids will love this place and so will you if you like unusual museums.
Visit the National Museum of Ireland – Decorative Arts & History for free
This decorative arts museum is housed in imposing buildings overlooking the River Liffey in Collins Barracks, the largest of Dublin’s three campuses. I
they house spectacular collections of jewelry, furniture, ceramics and other decorative arts from Ireland and abroad, grouped around a large, rather stark courtyard.
The collections of Irish silver and the “Reconstructed Rooms” exhibit, where objects are displayed in rooms arranged and furnished as they were at the time, are truly impressive.
Don’t miss the permanent exhibition “Curators’ Choice” in which some of the museum’s most valuable objects are displayed – such as the sublime Fonthill Vase – and put to good use.
Ór: Ireland’s Gold at the National Museum of Ireland – Archaeology & History
The National Museum is for many visitors the most memorable and exciting museum in the Irish capital. Even before you enter the museum you will be in awe of the beauty of the building itself.
As soon as you walk through the door, you’ll see the collection of prehistoric gold artifacts and jewelry found in Ireland during archaeological digs – incredible necklaces, bracelets and torques – displayed in soft lighting.
Other permanent exhibition spaces include The Treasury, with iconic objects such as the Cong Cross, the Ardagh Chalice, and the oh-so-delicate Broighter Gold Ship, found in a field in County Derry in 1895.
If you want to get a good idea of the most fabulous objects made in times immemorial of mankind, this is really the museum where you must go.
Caravaggio! -National Gallery of Ireland
The National Gallery is the most popular art museum in Ireland and has been since it was founded in 1864.
Here you can see the country’s national collection of European and Irish art.
Among the museum’s must-sees are Caravaggio’s “The Arrest of Christ,” which was discovered hanging on a wall in a Dublin home that had no idea of its value; the Jack B. Yeats collection; and the sublime collection of Turner watercolors, which are on display every January.
The gallery recently reopened after several years of restoration work, and is now grander than ever.
It’s also perfectly suited for children, with events and drawing workshops held regularly in the light-filled atrium at the center of the museum.
Enjoy the beauty of nature at the National Botanic Gardens
Dublin’s beautiful botanical gardens, located on the banks of the Tolka River north of the city, date back to 1795 and are open to the public free of charge.
Here you can stroll along riverside walks and view natural habitats ranging from deciduous forests to tropical jungle (and spectacular) in the gardens’ greenhouses.
The vegetable gardens have been recently expanded and now offer fun and educational activities (for youngsters and parents alike).
Also explore the rose gardens by the river, accessed by a walkway – a charming and fragrant place to spend a sunny afternoon. The brand new Visitor Centre includes exhibit areas and cafes.
In Kilmainham and the West
Discover cutting-edge art at the Irish Museum of Modern Art
The Royal Hospital – the main building dating from the 17th century with its superb proportions – is reason enough to visit this museum which opened in 1991 to house the country’s national collection of contemporary art.
Guided tours of the collection are offered – a great way to get a detailed look at this extraordinary historical place.
Take some time to admire the beautiful grounds, with their views of Phoenix Park, and to explore the stunning formal gardens. Mark the occasion with a cup of coffee and you’ll have had a wonderful day.
Let yourself be tamed at Phoenix Park
Located west of the city center, Phoenix Park is one of the largest in Europe: huge expanses of grass, numerous ponds, woodlands and deer herds on a slope north of the River Liffey.
The visitor reception in the heart of the park will help you find your way around – and don’t miss the lovely tea room next to the People’s Garden, an area with a lake and walks near the main Parkgate Street entrance. If the weather is cooperating, feel free to bring your bike and explore the park. Phoenix Park Bikes is located just inside the Parkgate Street entrance – we recommend making a reservation before you come.
Dublin by the coast
Watch kite surfers and birds on North Bull Island
North Bull Island is located northeast of the mouth of the River Liffey and is particularly popular with locals and visitors.
This sand island has only formed over the past 200 years since engineering work in the harbor caused huge sandbars to be moved and formed.
Today, the island is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and a special place for birds to live, especially during the winter migrations.
You can walk on the Bull Wall breakwater or on the Dollymount Strand beach to watch the kite surfers take off with the birds.
Walk the cliffs to see the seals in Howth
The picturesque village of Howth, with its steep streets and pretty fishing harbor still in use, makes for a great day trip.
Howth is easily accessible from Dublin city center. The piers around the harbor are perfect for ice cream in the summer.
Although Howth Castle is privately owned, its gardens are open to the public and are especially beautiful in May when the azaleas and rhododendrons are in bloom.
There are also beautiful walks along the cliffs from the village; remember to bring good walking shoes to make the most of the day on the trails.
The Howth train station is a few minutes walk from the harbor and the village center.
Swimming at Dún Laoghaire Harbour
The great granite walls of Dún Laoghaire Harbour have attracted walkers and visitors since the harbour – a Victorian engineering marvel – was completed in 1859. You can walk around it in about 40 minutes.
It’s a beautiful walk in any weather – and a perfect outing for kids.
Then walk along the sea to Sandycove, with its tiny beach, Martello Tower and famous Forty Foot swimming spot.
The place is well known and therefore sometimes a bit crowded on summer afternoons, but the rest of the time it’s a quiet place to enjoy the ocean.
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