During the end of December and through the first week of January I traveled to Ireland to meet up with my sister Jenna who is living in England and my friend Elisabeth from Norway. We started off in Dublin on New Year's Eve and then traveled to different cities in Ireland...Dublin was our first and last stop.

Though I wouldn't consider myself a Dublin expert, I do have a few suggestions of what to do and where to eat based on my time there.

Things to do:

Visit The Book of Kells & Trinity College Old Library

This was at the top of my to-do list in Dublin. It cost around 10 euros to get in and there is a small exhibit about the Book of Kells and other ancient works. There is a small room at the end of the exhibit where pages from the Book of Kells are on display. After you can walk into the old library of Trinity College. The library was stunning, but I expected a little more from the experience. Overall it was still worth it!

Eat & Drink at the Temple Bar

This one isn't under the eating section mostly because it's one of the most well-known tourist attractions in Dublin. I wouldn't say it has the best food in Dublin, but the atmosphere alone is worth the visit. This is where Jenna, Elisabeth and I spent New Year's Eve.

Take a tour of the Guinness Storehouse

We didn't personally make it here.. but I've heard amazing things. This is at the top of most visitors to-do list! A great rainy weather option too.

Visit the National Museum of Ireland

The National Museum of Ireland has different parts located around Dublin. We only made it to the Archaeology building, but it's a good option, especially if the weather is bad. The inside of the building is beautiful and the exhibits were really interesting.... plus it's free!

Go shopping on Grafton Street

This street looked extra special while the holiday decorations were still up, but it's a great street anytime of the year. If you want to shop in Dublin you'll find everything you need around the Grafton Street area.

Find live music

There are tons of pubs around Dublin, and consequently tons of live music. Ask a local for their top suggestion.

Try an Irish Coffee

Here is a list of some of the best places with Irish coffee in Dublin.. Elisabeth and I tried ours at the Norseman.

Take a day trip to Howth

This was suggested to Elisabeth and I by our hosts not only in Dublin but also in Cork. It's super easy to catch a DART train from Dublin to Howth and it's only a 20-minute ride. This is near the top of my list of favorite things we did while in Ireland. (I'll do a separate post about our time spent there!)

Where to eat:

Brother Hubbard (or/and Sister Sadie)

This cute and cozy cafe is probably my top pick from Dublin! They serve amazing fresh food, great coffee, and delicious baked goods. Elisabeth ordered the pancakes, which came with fresh cream and berries. I ordered the pork and beans with an egg on top... both were amazing!

Bach 16

This little restaurant is conveniently located on the River Liffey and is extremely easy to get to! They serve tapas style dishes for dinner as well as pizza! We ordered both.

Aperitivo

This is perfect for a quiet relaxed lunch or dinner. The place itself is quite small but extremely cozy. The staff were super friendly and most importantly the pizza was deeeeliciousss...really really good. They also have coffee and a selection of homemade desserts that looked amazing.

Crackbird

This place is certainly not typical Irish food, instead it feels slightly modern with an interesting menu. Elisabeth and I split a bucket of their soy garlic chicken, which was amazing. I'm almost positive they gave us an entire chicken. We also split a side of the sweet potato noodles ... also really good!