During the annual hustle-and-bustle of St. Patrick’s day in Dublin, tourists and residents alike take over the city centre for Dublin’s numerous activities and parades. As such, it’s natural to seek a break from the chaos and the city surely delivers on all fronts.
Spanning artisan markets and film screenings, there are countless ways to have a great time in Dublin during an often hectic time of year- and spend it alcohol-free if you please. Our shortlist includes venues all around the city, and activities perfect for group or single stay-cationing.
Visit Dublin’s Many Markets!
From the once-a-month Dublin specialties such as Le Zeitgeist Flea and Rainbow Umbrella markets to reliable Sunday specialties like Bushy Park and St. Patrick’s Cathedral market, Dublin has plenty of opportunities to shop (and window shop!) curiosities galore.
The Libertine Market Crawl is a monthly artisan series that occurs in a number of pubs in Dublin 08- flea pub crawl, anyone?- and the Dublin Alternative market occurs bi-monthly in the Grand Social, specialising in any of your artsy, ghoulish needs.
Bray-Greystones Walk
One DART journey away from the city centre, the Bray-Greytones walk is an underrated Dublin specialty that displays it all. At its peak, hikers can see the beaches, countryside, cliffs, and city below. The walk to the top takes less than half an hour, and for the adventurous, the longer walk leading to Greystones provides breathtaking views across open green fields.
The Clockwork Door/Board
Dublin boasts plenty of meeting places with board games and non-alcoholic drinks for those who like to stay in for a chill night of very un-chill UNO games with friends. The Clockwork Door even has a small escape room experience, and plenty of monthly art classes per their website.
Hen’s Teeth/The Fumbally/Meetinghouse Square
Venues such as these three, frequently have monthly specialty events and markets, and are always buzzing with brunch on the weekend. I recently enjoyed a South-Asian horror movie night at Hen’s Teeth, and bought a killer artisan balm from The Fumbally’s winter market. For these three, it always pays to stalk their social media and see what’s on for the week- Meetinghouse Square specifically hosts vibrant festivals during the St. Patrick’s season, and is only a short walk away from the Temple Bar.
The Chester Beatty Museum
Voted Europes’ Museum of the Year Award, the Chester Beatty is a hidden gem and personal favourite attraction for a day indoors. Not only does the museum have fascinating artefacts spanning the globe’s religious and cultural minorities, but it was recently revealed to have the world’s first book (!) and is free of charge to all visitors. Laborious gold-threaded kimonos dazzle the eyes, and genuine miniature Islamic prints make it an amazing destination near the city centre. In addition to its exhibits, the museum also frequently hosts free art classes, movie screenings, and theme nights on its website.
Irish Film Institute (IFI)
Last but not least, the Irish Film Institute is a short walk from Trinity and my personal go-to for salvaging a rainy day. Screenings range from blockbusters to low-budget international screenings, with an adjacent café perfect for condescendingly sipping a latte upon greeting your late-arriving friend. With their free student membership, IFI tickets can go for as low as €5, less than the price of a pint. To complete your cinematographic journey, Photo Museum Ireland is a five minute walk away and free of charge.
Looking for more ideas of things to do? Check out our blog on the Top 5 free things to do in Dublin!
