Visiting Dublin on a budget can sound like a challenge for many, but we guarantee it is totally doable! As a big metropolis, the Irish capital offers a wide range of dining, entertainment, and leisure options at all price points, you just need to know where to look for them. To prove it, we prepared two different itineraries with options on how to spend a whole day in Dublin on a €30 budget. Check it out:
A day exploring Dublin’s City Center on a €30 euro budget
Start your day with a free breakfast at your hostel, this will save you some money and give you more energy to explore the city. However, if you want to grab something on the go, try the combo of Donut and Coffe for only €6 at The Rolling Donut, a Dubliner’s favorite. It is very important to choose wisely where your accommodation will be located, it will save you some precious cash otherwise used for public transport. When staying in the City Center area, it is easy (and cheaper!) to just walk around and check all the free museums and galleries, as well as the more tourist areas.
After breakfast you can visit Dublin Castle, The Chester Beatty Library, The National Gallery, Stephen’s Green, and the Temple Bar without having to touch your wallet - all these attractions have no entrance fee. When you start to feel hungry, there are a few places to try for lunch, but to make sure you will stay within your budget range we suggest you try: the cheese hot dog at Pocha for €8, Lebanese falafel sandwich from Umi Falafel for €7, Soup and Toast from Oxmantown for €5, or a full Irish Breakfast at Anne’s Bakery for €7.
If you feel like it’s time for a drink, avoid the more tourist pubs such as The Temple Bar, they will always charge you more for a pint. Instead, go to the ones where locals are: Devitts, Grogan’s Castle Lounge, Hogans, The Long Hall, and The Hairy Lemon. A pint will cost you between €6.50-€7.50, and many pubs have live music as well. To finish up the night, DiFontaine's Pizzeria on Parliament St has New York-style slices for €5,50.
Dun Laoghaire with a €30 budget
If you want to enjoy a day close to the sea exploring one of Dublin’s cutest neighborhoods without spending much, the best place to go is Dun Laoghaire. Located on the south coast of the city, this charming town is a must-go when visiting the Irish capital, and you can do so without exploding your budget. To get there you will need to hop on a Dart Train for about 25 minutes, tickets cost €2,50 for each leg, so you'll have to shell out €5 from your budget.
For coffee and treats in Dun Laoghaire go to Shoe Lane, they have a shop close to the train station and you can get an 8oz coffee and pastry for less than €8. After warming up with a hot beverage, is time to go check out the amazing views. Head to the pier and to the famous Forty Foot, a spot for swimming visited by Dubliners all year round. If you are brave enough, bring some swim clothes and go for a dip in the Irish Sea, it’s a lifetime experience.
Another amazing place to visit is the Public Library, DLR Lexicon, on Queen's Rd. It has no entrance fee, a lot of space to walk around, and a beautiful view of the Dun Laoghaire’s pier from above. For a late lunch / early dinner, try one of the most traditional things in Ireland: Fish and Chips from an Irish chipper.
The best place to go for it in Dun Laoghaire is the Miami Cafe, with combo meals for €14, including the dish and a beer. Centra and Spar are delis that can be found all around Dublin, they also have really good deals on food. There’s no going wrong with a Chicken Fillet Roll for €4, or a Vegetarian wrap for €3.
After exploring as much as you’d like of this charming town, it’s time to try one of the most famous ice cream shops in Dublin and a favorite among the locals. Teddy’s Icecream has been open since 1950 and has options starting at €2,50 - with all toppings you wish. It’s located close to the Dart Station, so you can enjoy it on your way back to Dublin.
We hope you will enjoy these tips on how to explore Dublin on a budget.
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