8 of the Best Activities to do During the Rain in Dublin

Rain in Dublin is extremely common, but it can be disheartening for tourists and expats who want to get the most out of their visit. While locals can bear the rain like champions, it can be harder for those not used to constant rainy weather. Here are some suggestions on how to spend your next rainy day in the city!

Museums

During the rain in Dublin, you cannot go wrong by visiting a museum. Lucky for you, Dublin has wonderful museums, and many of them are actually free. The National Gallery of Dublin has incredible works from artists like Yeats and Caravaggio, and is completely free to explore. Be sure to also check out the National Museum of Ireland, which is actually 4 separate museums covering topics from Archaeology to Decorative Arts and History. If neither of those suit your fancy, try the EPIC Irish Emigration museum. While tickets start at €21, this museum is world renowned and extremely innovative in how it communicates the history of Irish emigration. And no trip to Dublin is complete without a visit to Kilmainham Gaol. While tickets are harder to get, there is a lot of history and culture rooted in this jail, and there is much to learn and experience. Tickets start at €8.

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Visit a Castle

There are several castles in and around Dublin. Dublin Castle is in the heart of the city, and you are able to tour the state apartments for €8. The Chester Beatty museum is close by so be sure to stop in there as well. Another castle worth visiting is Malahide. While it is out of the city, a scenic ride on the Dart will have you there in about 30 minutes. On the property, they have gardens, a butterfly house, a fairy trail, and a railway museum. Tours of the castle and gardens start at €16.

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Tour a distillery or Guinness Storehouse

Ireland is known for its Guinness and whiskey. Take advantage of this part of Irish culture by touring a brewery or distillery. The Guinness Storehouse is a favorite attraction among tourists, and for good reason! The standard tour costs €20, and includes a self guided tour, entry to Guinness tasting rooms, entry to the Gravity Bar on top of the storehouse, and a pint of Guinness at the end of the tour. You can also add premium experiences, like a STOUTie, a picture printed on top of your pint, or learn how to pour a pint of Guinness the right way. If whiskey is more your thing, you are in luck. There are several distilleries in the city, including the Jameson Bow St distillery. The Bow St Experience tour includes a 45 minute guided tour, a tasting of three different whiskeys, and a Jameson signature cocktail. Touring a brewery or distillery is a must in Dublin, and it is a wonderful way to spend a rainy day.

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Tour some Cathedrals

Dublin has gorgeous cathedrals with rich histories. Christ Church Cathedral has welcomed guests for about 1000 years, and has been a fixture throughout Dublin’s history. It is also famous for its bells. Christ Church Cathedral holds the world record for number of bells available for full circle ringing, and they weigh anywhere from a quarter of a ton to 2.5 tons. St. Patrick’s Cathedral is another iconic Gothic cathedral in the city. When it was first built, many thought it would replace Christ Church Cathedral, but they came to an agreement and have coexisted ever since. Having two cathedrals in one city is a rare occurrence, so take advantage of it and visit both!

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Catch a Show

Ireland has produced many wonderful playwrights, actors, and performers, so of course Dublin has wonderful theatre and stage performances. The Bord Gáis Theatre hosts musicals hot off of the West End, as well as operas and ballets. If musical theater is not your thing, try the Gaiety theatre. While they will host the occasional musical, they seem to mostly host straight plays. The 3Olympia theatre hosts many musicians along with the occasional comedy show or play, and the Ambassador theatre is great to see up-and-coming comedians. The Abbey also has shows, but they also host workshops, tours, and other community events.

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Hang OUt in a Pub

During the rain in Dublin, Irishmen head to the pub! While a night out in a pub should be on your Dublin bucket list anyway, a rainy day is a perfect excuse to find your favorite pub in the city. Every Dubliner has a different favorite pub, but some noteworthy pubs include Grogans, Mulligans, Hogans, and J O’Connels. While the Temple Bar is extremely popular, it is also known for being overpriced and crowded, so be sure to explore options outside of this area. The Dawson Lounge is known as the smallest pub in Dublin, as it only holds 26 people, and the Brazen Head is the oldest pub in the city, having been established in 1198.

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Listen to Live Music

Most pubs and bars have some sort of live music throughout the week, so you will probably stumble across a good band or two on your own. However, if you want to seek out live music, there are a few spots that are known for local shows. Frank Ryan’s has a great jazz band that plays on Thursdays, and the Cobblestone is a classic pub that hosts authentic Irish musicians nightly. As for bigger venues, Vicar St hosts alternative music acts, as well as comedians. And of course, you cannot go wrong with a show at Croke Park. They have hosted some of the biggest acts from all over the world, including U2, Beyoncé, and most recently, Coldplay.

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Go shopping!

Dublin has many shopping centers that feature domestic and international shops. Explore shops that you haven’t seen before and try something new! Stephen’s Green shopping center offers chain stores and boutiques with something for everyone. Jervis shopping center also offers a wide range of shops and restaurants, and is very close to the city center. If you are okay with a little rain in Dublin while shopping, Grafton Street has many shops from a Disney store to a Weir & Sons. If you like thrifting, check out the Temple bar area. They have many cool vintage stores, like Nine Crows Vintage and Lucy’s Lounge. A rainy day is a perfect excuse to go out and revamp your closet!

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While the rain in Dublin can put a damper on your plans, there are many ways to get past it and still have a great day in the city. From visiting museums to catching some live music, you can totally have an exciting, fun day in the city despite less than ideal weather conditions. Feel free to comment your favorite activities from this list, or share something I did not include!