Summer in Dublin: Vibrant City Life & Culture
Dublin comes alive in the spring and summer time, its cobbled streets buzzing with energy, cozy cafes spilling onto sunlit patios along the riverside, and the city's vibrant festival culture on full display. Beyond famous landmarks like Trinity College, St. Stephen’s Green, and St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin is filled with hidden gems waiting to be discovered down every alleyway.
In the Summer of 2023, I was fortunate enough to spend the whole Summer studying Creative Writing at Trinity College in the heart of Dublin and get taste of local life (and so many servings of fish & chips). This fabulous experience and the Irish friends I made along the way have given me a unique insight into this thriving city and country that I’m so excited to share with you in this article!
Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a seasoned traveler, this spring or summer is the perfect time to explore the multifaceted sides of the Irish capital. From secret gardens to off-the-radar restaurants, I’ll give you all the insider info you need to uncover Dublin's best-kept secrets while enjoying the lively spirit of the city.
View from the O’Connell Bridge at the Heart of Dublin overlooking the River Liffey
Getting Around Dublin: Trains, Buses, and Walkability
Like many other European capitals such as Paris or London, Dublin is a city bisected by a major river. The River Liffey is surrounded on both banks by Dublin’s centers of commerce, dinning, and nightlife. On the southern Bank, the Temple Bar district, which shares its name with perhaps the most famous pub on a global scale, is packed with pubs, traditional Irish architecture, and restaurants of all kinds.
This is perfect for a night out on the town, but on the northern bank you can also find Trinity College and St Patrick’s Cathedral, which hearken back to the complex history of Ireland. On the northern bank, you’ll see the more modern development of Dublin with an expansive outdoor shopping center, open markets, and Dublin’s thriving art scene including theaters, concert halls, and art galleries.
To navigate this expansive city, I highly recommend purchasing a Leap Card, which will allow you to ride the Luas, Dublin’s sophisticated and modern tram system. With two main lines—Green Line and Red Line—the Luas makes it a breeze to travel across the city affordably. The Leap Card also can be used to take one of the Dublin Busses, which can bring you even more directly to your destination or further out into the suburbs.
During my first week in Dublin, I bought a Hop-On-Hop-Off bus pass for a day to get a sense of the entire city. I recommend you take this same bus tour early in your trip because it will give you an incredible sense of the city and its landmarks. It’s also a great way to create your own “must-see list” for your vacation!
At its core, Dublin is an extremely walkable city with a thriving public transit system, so you’ll never have to worry about paying a high price for a taxi or Uber. I personally walked every morning and evening from the student housing provided for international students across the River Liffey to Trinity’s campus on the north bank, and I can safely say there’s no better way to experience Dublin than by simply walking around and soaking in the vibrancy of the city.
Savor Dublin: A Culinary Jaunt Through Pubs, Bites, and Brews
Within the city of Dublin, there is quite literally a pub or cafe on every corner where the mouth-watering scents of freshly fried fish in the evening and decadent espresso in the morning waft into the cobblestone streets. While in Ireland, I did my best to take note of each of my favorite spots in the city, and now I get to share them with you to inform your vacation!
As I mentioned in the introduction, I am a huge fan of fish and chips, and I overindulged (if that’s even possible) while in Dublin. I created a tier-list to rank all seven of the fish and chips dishes I tried, and indisputably the best fish and chips I had in the city can be found at Madigan’s, a traditional Irish pub on Earl St. It was perfectly fried fresh fish in a light batter served with thick and crunchy chips and a side of pureed mint peas. More than anything though, all seven of the fish and chips dishes that I had in Dublin were better than any I have ever eaten in the US or Britain.
When I wasn’t on my quest to find the best fish and chips in Dublin, I sampled other traditional Irish dishes such as Bangers and Mash (sausage and mashed potatoes), excellent Sheppard’s Pie, and Irish stew. Two great places to find excellent Irish food in Dublin are The Celt, a lively pub with musicians, Guinness on tap, and a traditional vibe, and The Woollen Mills Eating House, a modern take on a classic Irish menu with excellent cocktails and an adorable outdoor patio looking out on the River Liffey.
As for cafes, you really can’t go wrong in Dublin! I personally love One Society, a cafe offering a traditional Irish breakfast of sausage, eggs, potatoes, beans, pudding, toast with marmalade, and vegetables. Their coffee is impeccable and they offer a wide array of unique favors alongside the classics. Another great spot to grab a pastry and sit for a while is Grove Road, located right beside one of the many canals. Here you can watch the swans swim across the water surrounded by willow trees while you sip your cappuccino and dive into that next chapter!
Dublin’s food scene isn’t only defined by Irish food, there are a host of restaurants serving up high quality international flavors alongside the pubs! Master Noodle, located on the southern bank of the River Liffey, serves mind-blowing freshly pulled noodles in their classic Chinese dishes. Andrew has joked many times about flying back to Dublin specifically to visit Master Noodle, so it’s safe to say this restaurant is a must-visit on your vacation!
The Spirit of Dublin: Explore the Teeling Whiskey Distillery
Located in the heart of the historic Liberties, against the backdrop of a city steeped in whiskey history, the Teeling Whiskey Distillery opened its doors in 2015 as the first new distillery in Dublin for over 125 years. Other historic Whiskey distilleries such as Jameson were driven out of Dublin for several reasons including land-price increases within the city and the US Prohibition era, which saw a catastrophic drop in demand for Irish Whiskey.
Building on their families history in the Whiskey industry since 1782, the founders of Teeling wanted to bring the art back into the city of Dublin. Because of its convenient location within the city, their distillery makes for an amazing visit to taste traditional Irish whiskey. You can visit for a tour and tasting to see their operation and try various samples both on their own and mixed into incredible cocktails.
Since opening, the Teeling Distillery has won over 20 awards, including “Best Visit in Ireland” at the 2019 CIE Awards and “Sustainable Distillery of the Year” at the 2022 Icons of Whisky Awards. Needless to say, it’s a must-try, unique tasting steeped in Irish history and a tradition of Spirit Distillation that is ingrained in Dublin’s culture!
Andrew, Nate, and I enjoyed our visit so much and would highly recommend you visit as well for the entertainment, cultural significance, and delicious whiskey when you’re in Dublin! We brought several bottles home to our friends and family, and Andrew’s Grandpa, a self-trained whiskey connoisseur, drinks it to this day.
Bloomsday in Dublin: Celebrating James Joyce’s Legacy
Ireland has long been home to groundbreaking artists, partly because of its varied and tumultuous history. Writers such as Oscar Wilde, Samuel Beckett, and W.B. Yeats are renowned across the globe for their contributions to the world of literature, but likely the most celebrated author born into the tradition of Irish literature is James Joyce. To celebrate his most famous work, Ulysses, Dublin has dedicated a holiday known as Bloomsday on June 16th every year.
Ulysses by James Joyce follows the lives of three central characters—Leopold Bloom, Stephen Dedalus, and Molly Bloom—over the course of a single day, June 16, 1904, in Dublin. The novel explores themes of identity, self-discovery, and the complexity of everyday life through stream-of-consciousness narration and literary references. Often regarded as one of the greatest works of modernist literature, Ulysses is a detailed and symbolic retelling of Homer’s Odyssey set in a contemporary Irish context.
On Bloomsday, people often dress in period clothing from the early 1900s, mimicking the outfits of characters from the novel all around the city. The day includes various cultural events such as readings of passages from Ulysses, theatrical performances, walking tours of key locations featured in the book (like Davy Byrne’s pub and Sandymount Strand), and public lectures or discussions about Joyce’s life and work.
Oh, and I can’t forget about the raucous spirit of celebration in every pub, beer garden, and city street. With live Irish music, drink deals/drinking competitions, and huge public dances, it’s safe to say that the celebratory spirit of the Irish people is not only reserved for St. Patrick's day! Above all, it’s a lively celebration of Dublin’s literary heritage, with an emphasis on the timeless relevance of Joyce’s exploration of ordinary life, identity, and the human experience; themes that are quite relevant to Irish culture and life today!
Live Irish Band playing at Vat House in the Temple Bar District (Pictured Above)
Dublin After Dark: Nightlife, Entertainment, and the Theatre
The city of Dublin is always bustling with activity, but once the sun goes down the city truly comes alive! From the pubs and beer gardens with live music and dancing to the numerous nightclubs with elaborate circus acts and rowdy dance floors, there is always a party to join in this city! If the party life isn’t for you, then there are plenty of concerts and theatrical performances to keep you entertained every night.
For the nightclub vibe, we loved every second of our time at The Academy, a huge entertainment space in the heart of Dublin on the southern bank. This venue is truly massive, with three separate venues and vibes in the same building. They host famous musicians, dancers, and comedians on the regular, but they always reserve one of their spaces for dancing. With lasers, fog, and excellent DJs, this local favorite night club is not one you’ll want to miss! It is popular with students at Trinity and always the center of young nightlife in the city.
Another great nightclub venue is The George, a historic LGBT club with a vibrant dance, concert, and drag scene. The George has long stood as an escape within the heart of the city where anyone can come to let their hair down and soak in the music with a cocktail in hand and feel welcomed by everyone around you. This club is perhaps less “intimidating” than The Academy for those who aren’t quite looking for a rave atmosphere, but who still want to shake it on the dance floor!
The Temple Bar district is a great place to find live Irish music and an outdoor space to enjoy a Guinness or two (or three) and have a snack of curry chips (fries). These spaces are always entertaining, and all you have to do is walk down the street and follow the sound of the fiddles!
As for the Theater, Dublin has two incredible venues to choose from. The Gate Theatre and The Abby Theatre each has been around for centuries in Dublin and host acclaimed performances of all kinds!
At the Abby Theatre, I personally saw Translations, a classic Irish play by Brian Friel about the forced adoption of English and destruction of the Irish language by British colonists. This show was put on by a Ukrainian Theatre troop and performed almost entirely in Ukrainian with subtitles, adding a modern layer of complication to the colonialist theme. It was truly a life-changing experience!
I was also able to see the opening night performance of Girl on an Alter by Marina Carr, an extremely talented modern Irish playwright who’s written several famous plays. She just so happened to be seated right beside me during the production and I was lucky enough to discuss her retelling of the Greek Myth of Iphigenia with her during intermission!
While the Abby Theatre is known for classic Irish works, the Gate Theatre often hosts global shows, musicals, and concerts. I was able to see Fun Home, a ground-breaking American musical based on the graphic novel of the same name by Alison Bechdel. The Irish cast was fantastic, and the Gate Theatre is such a pristine and historic venue! I highly suggest you visit the Gate and Abby Theatres while in Ireland, even if you have to skip the pubs for one night!
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Dublin offers something for every traveler. Whether you're wandering through its historic landmarks, enjoying a pint in a lively pub, or exploring the vibrant cultural festivals, the city’s infectious spirit invites you to be part of something truly special!
With a rich literary legacy, groundbreaking modern art, and a tradition of celebration that spans across generations, Dublin promises an experience that will captivate your heart and stay with you long after you’ve left. Come for the stories, stay for the adventure—Dublin is waiting.
