Things to do in Dublin for Students

No self-respecting student should miss the chance to sup Dublin’s famous black gold. And, let us tell you, with somewhere between six and seven hundred pubs in the city, there are plenty of opportunities to do so. Brewed since the mid-18th Century, Guinness’s strong, malty flavor has been a hit with generation after generation of stout drinker, and shows no sign of letting up.

Students can get a taste of the good stuff at any Dublin pub worth its salt. Of course, those offering student discounts (of which there are many) are probably the best bet for cash-strapped undergraduates. A pint of Guinness with enough change left over to pick up a second-hand copy of Ulysses? Priceless.

Pro-tip: scholars of the black stuff can bag discounted entry to the Guinness Storehouse with a Dublin pass from Go City. Click here to find out more.

Dublin has a plethora of mind-expanding museums, and those that aren’t free to enter will usually offer discounted entry for student-card holders. Experience several centuries of European art at the National Gallery, including landmark works by Caravaggio, Rembrandt, Turner, Monet and Picasso. Meanwhile, the Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA) showcases modern and contemporary masterpieces by Lichtenstein, Louise Bourgeois, Lucian Freud et al. Free to enter, the Hugh Lane Gallery features Francis Bacon’s preserved studio and hosts concerts (also free) on Sundays.

Ireland’s National Museum is split between three themed locations, meaning you can pick and mix from archeology, natural history and decorative arts branches. Or immerse yourself in the country’s storied history at the moving EPIC Irish Immigration Museum, Jeanie Johnston Tallship and quirky Little Museum of Dublin.

Note: the Dublin pass includes entry to a number of the city’s must-see museums.

Can you even say you’ve been to Dublin if you haven’t taken a peek at the legendary Book of Kells? No, dear reader, you cannot. You’ll find this extraordinarily well-preserved medieval manuscript within the hallowed halls of Trinity College, the stunning 16th-century seat of learning that looks like it's straight from the pages of a Harry Potter novel.

Make a pilgrimage to Christ Church Cathedral, where soaring stained-glass windows, a mummified cat and mouse, and a casket containing the heart of 12th-century saint Laurence O’Toole are among the many highlights.

Dublin Castle is another must-see for students, thanks to its sumptuous state apartments, gothic chapel, fearsome Viking defenses, and the pretty formal gardens that were once home to Dubh Linn, the tidal pool that gave the city its name.

Dublin has produced and nurtured more big characters – both real and fictional – than just about any other place on Earth. Stroll the compact center’s streets and gardens to meet some of the city’s most famous sons and daughters. Start in the leafy environs of St Stephen’s Green where Dublin’s literary heritage is writ large in a rather serious-looking bronze bust of James Joyce, and in Henry Moore’s abstract memorial to W.B. Yeats. The park also stars an imposing statue of some dude called Arthur Guinness. Head over to Suffolk Street for that essential selfie with Molly Malone, fictional heroine of the ‘Cockles and Mussels’ ballad, and certainly Dublin’s most-visited statue. You can also find Oscar Wilde reclining louchely on a rock in Merrion Square Park, musician Phil Lynnott hanging out on Harry Street, and the enormous disembodied head of Dubliners legend Luke Kelly in the park that bears his name.

If the best things in life are free, then life really doesn’t get much better than Dublin’s great green spaces. The mighty Phoenix Park is the largest enclosed urban park in Europe and boasts a zoo, a fort, an ornamental lake, a Victorian flower garden, several dozen sculptures and statues, and a sizable herd of fallow deer. During the warmer months, you can often find students studying on the lawns, heads buried in books, and seemingly oblivious to all the joggers, cyclists, summer tourists (and deer) milling around the place.

Feeling energetic? Brace yourself for one of Dublin’s most popular hikes. This quad-stretching climb takes you over 1,200 feet up Montpelier Hill, just southwest of the city center in the Wicklow Mountains. Up top, you can explore the Palladian Ruins of the so-called Hellfire Club, an 18th-century hunting lodge, as well as taking in widescreen panoramas of the Dublin skyline.

North of the city, Glasnevin’s National Botanic Gardens and grand, leafy cemetery are also worth a visit. Ogle immaculate Victorian glasshouses and the 18th-century rose garden before paying your respects to Irish national heroes including Brendan Behan and Michael Collins just next door.

Beaches might not be the first thing you think of when it comes to Dublin, but fine sandy stretches at the likes of Portmarnock and Dollymount Strand are well worth a visit whatever the weather.

But the jewel in the Dublin coast’s crown is, without a doubt, the picturesque fishing village of Howth, where headland hikers are rewarded with fine views of Dublin Bay and may even spot the odd puffin or gannet along the clifftop. Back in the village, treat yourself to some of the best fish and chips in the region at one of the many excellent waterfront diners.

Finally, if ever there was an experience designed for Dublin students, it has to be a bracing dip at the Forty Foot, a wild bathing pool in Sandycove. Descend the steps to dip your toes (and the rest of you, if you’re feeling brave enough) in the Irish Sea and say hey to the inquisitive local seals.

Students can explore dozens of Dublin attractions for one low price with the Dublin pass. Click the buttons below to find out more and choose your pass.