If you are looking for the perfect European city break without the hassle of a long flight, an extreme day trip to Dublin needs to be added to your list immediately.
With flights from Manchester to Dublin taking just around 45 minutes, it honestly feels easier than some UK train journeys, and somehow, within an hour, you have swapped grey skies for live Irish music, Guinness, colourful streets and some of the friendliest people you will ever meet :)
We headed off for the day to celebrate my 40th birthday and managed to squeeze in sightseeing, incredible food, hidden gardens, photo booths, Temple Bar and more Guinness than we probably needed, all in one day.
Breakfast at Stage Door Dublin
The first stop of the morning had to be Stage Door, which apparently serves one of the best breakfasts in Dublin, and honestly, I completely get the hype.
After an early flight from Manchester Airport, a full Irish breakfast and Irish coffee were exactly what we needed. The place itself had such a cosy atmosphere, and the staff instantly made us feel welcome. They also spent a good amount of time laughing at Kay for not being able to handle the Irish coffee, which definitely became one of the funniest moments of the morning.
If you are planning a Dublin itinerary, I’d genuinely recommend adding this place to your list.
Sightseeing Around Dublin City Centre
One of the best things about Dublin is how walkable everything is.
After breakfast, we spent hours simply wandering through the city centre, taking everything in. We visited Trinity College, stopped by the famous Molly Malone statue and explored Love Lane, which ended up being one of my favourite little hidden corners of the city.
Dublin has an atmosphere that’s hard to explain unless you have experienced it yourself. Every street feels lively, there’s music coming from pubs before lunchtime, and there’s always something to look at, whether it’s colourful shop fronts, old buildings or little hidden alleyways.
For a city break, it’s honestly perfect because you can see so much without needing taxis or rushing around.
Iveagh Gardens
We then headed to Iveagh Gardens, and it genuinely felt like stepping into another world. Tucked away from the crowds, the gardens are peaceful, full of flowers and one of the prettiest places we visited all day. The waterfall there is absolutely stunning and definitely worth seeing if you’re visiting Dublin.
It’s one of those places that makes you slow down for a little while, especially after the chaos of city sightseeing. About 15 minutes walk from the town, but we were happy to take a slow walk there with the sun shining, but you can get the bus or a taxi.
If you are searching for hidden gems in Dublin, definitely don’t skip this spot.
Nine Crows Photo Booth
Next stop was Nine Crows for their iconic photo booth.
We only queued around five minutes on a Friday afternoon and for €5 we got two strips of photos to take home, which honestly felt like the cutest little souvenir from the trip.
I am such a sucker for things like this anyway, especially when travelling and falling back in love with photography, I’ve found myself appreciating the little printed memories even more now.
Temple Bar at Night
And then came Temple Bar, the place that completely stole our hearts.
What started as one drink quickly turned into staying there for the rest of the night, and now I fully understand why people love it so much.
The atmosphere was unreal. Live music, people singing together and genuinely some of the warmest and friendliest people we have ever met. There’s just something about Dublin that feels welcoming from the moment you arrive.
We spent the rest of the evening drinking Guinness, singing our hearts out and soaking up every second of it.
Honestly, if you visit Dublin and don’t experience Temple Bar at night, you really are missing a huge part of what makes the city feel so special.
Is Dublin Worth Visiting for a Day Trip?
Absolutely.
Before this trip, I did wonder whether Dublin was worth visiting for just one day, but we managed to fit so much in and never once felt rushed.
With such a short flight from Manchester, it makes the perfect spontaneous getaway, birthday trip or girls' day out abroad without needing loads of planning.
Beautiful streets, incredible atmosphere, amazing food, live music and memories we will talk about for a long time :)
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