A couple of weeks ago, two of my closest friends from high school, Olivia and Yoyo, came to visit me from the UK for Easter break. Based on some of the things we did during their trip, I’ve decided to make a short list of wholesome activities that you can do with your fellow visiting friends in Dublin as well!

(The reason I use the word “wholesome” is that we actually went out drinking on their first night and we didn’t really find it to be the most enjoyable experience ever because we couldn’t hear each other and everyone around us was too frisky for our taste lol.)

Take a stroll at St. Stephen’s Green

I think this is a pretty basic one. No one visits Dublin and doesn’t even take a peek into St. Stephen’s Green, which is a rather sizeable park in the city center where one can find busts and statues of notable Irish figures as well as fountains. It’s perfect for walking around or sitting on park benches to chill with friends! Let’s forget the fact that we were actually just walking through the park on our way to someplace else.

Price: FREE! Not much of a shocker but it’s nice to be reminded. 😉

Drop by the National Museum of Ireland – Archaeology

Our visit to the National Museum of Ireland was unplanned yet was a pleasant surprise! We were particularly intrigued by their Kingship & Sacrifice exhibit where we were able to examine shockingly well-preserved human remains that were deposited in bogs. History and archaeology enthusiasts are in for a treat but even plebs like myself are sure to appreciate it as well.

Price: FREE! They do take donations though so be sure to show your support!

Take pictures at Temple Bar

The Temple Bar area is a well-known Dublin attraction where you can find a good number of restaurants and galleries and is the place to be for some debauchery (if you’re after something less wholesome). Just like St. Stephen’s Green, you’d want to stop by just because. The Temple Bar Pub is located, quite obviously, in Temple Bar so while you’re there, do as the Irish do and grab a pint!

Price: FREE, if you’re just outside taking pictures like we were.

Take by-the-bridge photos

The bridge in this photo is Ha’penny Bridge, which, in my opinion, is not the most photogenic bridge in Dublin (lol why is this even featured?). For more insta-worthy pictures, I recommend walking over to Samuel Beckett Bridge, the one shaped like a harp. Note: It is especially pretty at night with all the lights!

Price: FREE!

Visit Trinity College to see their yellow orb thing

Trinity College is also in the heart of Dublin and is another stop for tourists. In addition to the “Sfera con Sfera” sculpture pictured above next to a smiley Yoyo, you will also find their famed Campanile, a majestic bell tower which I’ve featured in a previous article. Other attractions within the college include the Long Room library and The Book of Kells exhibition which aren’t on free admission, unfortunately, but is well worth a visit for those interested in Ireland’s religious history.

Get your Book of Kells tickets here.

Price: FREE for just walking around campus. Starting at €10 for the Long Room and The Book of Kells.

Do the 29-minute tour at the Little Museum of Dublin

The Little Museum of Dublin currently boasts fabulous reviews on Trip Advisor and labels itself as a “permanent people’s museum of Dublin,” meaning they take donated original items from people who have interesting objects relevant mostly to Dublin’s modern history. Our tour guide, pictured above, was absolutely sharp and hilarious; I found myself smiling from ear to ear for most of the tour. Despite the lack of strict structure to the tour, it was very entertaining and informative so make it a point to stop by!

In addition to the 29-minute tour, you also get access to other exhibits in the museum such as their U2 exhibit (sh’yeah, the Irish are really proud of these guys) and The Alfie Byrne Collection, which is dedicated to one of Dublin’s most-loved Lord Mayors in history. They also have a feminist exhibit called “WHAT’S SHE DOING HERE?” My friends and I had a pretty heated debate in this room because of the “Gentlemen! Are You a Sexist?” chart on the wall; so if you want to have that with your friends, then definitely visit this room lol.

Get your tickets to The Little Museum here.

Price: €10 admission to all exhibits, including the 29-minute guided tour.

Explore Irish folklore at the National Leprechaun Museum

This little museum situated in Jervis Street is dedicated to a famous Irish folklore character – the leprechaun! During the approximately 45-minute tour, we learned about the history of leprechauns and other fairies (yes, apparently they’re fairies) and how they aren’t quite like the cutesy, whimsical creatures we know them to be. Most of the tour involves storytelling and random facts about leprechauns. Another part of it is spending some time in a small room with giant furniture to make participants feel like they are leprechaun-sized.

Get your tickets to the National Leprechaun Museum here!

Price: €14 for students, €16 for adults

Grab breakfast at Café Sofia

I was introduced to Café Sofia by high school friends during my first week in Dublin and since then, I’ve been coming back pretty often. Café Sofia serves all-day breakfast starting at €5.50 among other dishes like pasta, sandwiches, and dessert. My personal favorite is their “Student Breakfast” priced at €6.00 and is comprised of toast, a fried egg, potato fries, sausages, beans, and tea or coffee! Their reasonable prices are perfect for student travelers!

Price: Breakfast meals starting at €5.50.

Escape the rain and just Netflix.

The last thing on this list is not really a Dublin attraction but it is an option that we’d had to choose. The rain outside had gotten obnoxious, making us feel super reluctant to go out. Our solution was to stay in at their Airbnb and watch a couple episodes of the BBC show “Happy Valley” until the rain stopped. Honestly, you can never go wrong with Netflix, especially if it’s a wholesome bonding experience with friends.

There you have it, friends! Obviously, there are many fun things to do in Dublin that aren’t on this list so feel free to share ones that weren’t mentioned. If you’ve been to any of the places mentioned above, let me know too! And of course, if you’re going to Dublin with friends soon, have fun!