What to Do in Ireland for 3 Days: A Whirlwind Romance with the Emerald Isle

What to Do in Ireland for 3 Days: The Strategic Shamrock Attack

When considering what to do in Ireland for 3 days, think of yourself as a military strategist rather than a tourist. You’re conducting precise strikes into Irish culture rather than attempting full cultural occupation. This approach requires sacrifices, painful decisions, and the acceptance that this trip is a reconnaissance mission rather than a comprehensive campaign.

Day 1: Dublin Immersion – The Capital Crash Course

Begin your Irish adventure where most of the country’s history has either happened or is meticulously documented. Trinity College and its magnificent Long Room library housing the Book of Kells should be your first target. The $18 entry fee might seem steep for looking at an old book, but it’s like paying to see the Mona Lisa if she’d been drawn by monks with spectacular OCD and an unlimited ink budget. The illuminated manuscript dating from 800 AD makes the Declaration of Independence look like a hasty note scribbled during homeroom.

From there, a short walk brings you to Dublin Castle, where 800+ years of history make America’s oldest buildings seem like they were constructed last Tuesday. The $12 entry grants access to state apartments and medieval undercrofts that have witnessed more political intrigue than all seasons of House of Cards combined. The surrounding gardens offer a perfect spot for jet-lag-induced contemplation.

Lunchtime means facing the Temple Bar dilemma. This vibrant district offers atmospheric pubs with prices inflated for tourists expecting to pay them – lunch here runs $20-30. The savvy traveler walks just three blocks in any direction to find equally charming establishments where the $15-18 meals come without the soundtrack of twenty different bachelor parties singing “Sweet Caroline.”

The afternoon demands a pilgrimage to the Guinness Storehouse ($26), a seven-story tribute to Ireland’s most famous export besides redheads and literary geniuses. The self-guided tour culminates at the Gravity Bar, offering the most expensive pint in Ireland paired with the best 360-degree view of Dublin. The price of admission includes one pint, which, given Dublin prices, makes the tour almost reasonable.

Cap your first day with a literary pub crawl ($25) that combines Ireland’s twin passions – alcohol and education. Led by actors performing works from Joyce, Beckett, and Wilde while shepherding participants between historic drinking establishments, it’s the only homework you’ll ever love and the best English class that ends with everyone slightly tipsy.

Dublin Accommodations: Where to Rest Your Weary Head

Budget travelers can find hostels ranging from $30-50 per night, offering clean beds and the chance to hear German backpackers discuss their spiritual awakening on the Dingle Peninsula. Mid-range hotels run $120-180 depending on location and whether their “historic charm” means “beautiful Georgian details” or “plumbing from the Victorian era.” Luxury options start around $300 nightly and typically include staff who can pronounce your last name correctly regardless of its complexity.

Day 2: The Great Escape – Wicklow Mountains and Glendalough

What to do in Ireland for 3 days must include escaping Dublin’s urban embrace. The Wicklow Mountains await just 45 minutes south, offering landscapes that make the perfect backdrop for contemplating life’s big questions or pretending you’re in a fantasy epic. The ancient monastic site of Glendalough compares to American national parks but “with 1,500 years of extra seasoning.” The 6th-century settlement features a remarkably intact round tower standing like an ancient exclamation point against the dramatic mountain backdrop.

Photography enthusiasts should arrive between 7-9am when the morning light bathes the lakes and ruins in golden hues, and more importantly, before tour buses disgorge hundreds of visitors into your otherwise perfect shot. The complete lake loop takes about two hours at a leisurely pace, with difficulty equivalent to a moderate hike in American terms – some elevation but nothing requiring supplemental oxygen.

For lunch, the village of Laragh offers several pubs serving authentic Irish stew ($14-18) that makes the canned version you once tried seem like a criminal offense. The Wicklow Heather or Lynham’s of Laragh provide hearty portions featuring lamb that likely grew up with a better view than most humans enjoy.

The afternoon presents a decision point: continue exploring Wicklow’s scenic drives and hidden valleys, or return to Dublin for the Irish National Museum (free entry) and a whiskey education at Jameson Distillery ($25). The latter includes a tasting that helps explain why Irish whiskey is experiencing a global renaissance and why your grandfather insisted it was superior to Scotch.

Evening calls for traditional music, and while many venues advertise “authentic sessions,” O’Donoghue’s or The Cobblestone still maintain a local-to-tourist ratio favoring authenticity, especially after 9pm. For transportation, rental cars run $60-80 daily plus insurance, guided tours average $55-70, while public transportation costs $15-25 round trip but requires more planning and comfort with rural bus schedules.

Day 3: Coastal Magic – Where the Land Meets the Sea

For your final day when deciding what to do in Ireland for 3 days, the coastal village of Howth offers maritime charm just 25 minutes from Dublin by train ($7 round trip). The cliff walk presents four options of varying lengths and difficulties, with the full loop requiring 2-3 hours of moderate hiking. The paths wind past mansions that would make F. Scott Fitzgerald reach for his notebook, offering views across Dublin Bay that explain why the Vikings decided Ireland was worth the trouble.

Seafood is mandatory here, with restaurants like “The House” or “Aqua” ($25-35) serving fish that was likely swimming while you were walking. Order whatever came in that morning – the Irish don’t do frozen seafood when the ocean is literally visible from the restaurant window.

Afternoon options include lingering in Howth for beach time and harbor watching, or returning to Dublin for shopping on Grafton Street, where street performers provide free entertainment while you contemplate whether that hand-knit sweater ($125) is worth sacrificing luggage space.

For the pathologically ambitious, an alternative Day 3 involves an early morning bus to the Cliffs of Moher (3 hours each way, $50-60 round trip). This geographic spectacle rises 700 feet from the Atlantic and stretches for 5 miles, making the Grand Canyon seem like it’s trying too hard. The 4-hour on-site window allows enough time for the full walking path and requisite edge-of-the-world photos, but prepare for a day where sitting occupies more time than sightseeing.

Your final evening in Dublin deserves either a traditional Irish music and dance show ($35-45) at venues like The Arlington Hotel, or a quieter farewell dinner in a historic establishment like The Brazen Head, Ireland’s oldest pub dating back to 1198 – when the concept of America wasn’t even a gleam in a Viking’s eye.

Practical Irish Matters: The Stuff Guidebooks Bury in Appendices

Weather preparation in Ireland requires layers rather than an umbrella when the country routinely experiences “four seasons in twenty minutes.” The locals have evolved to sense impending rain through some genetic adaptation tourists can’t replicate, so whenever they mysteriously move indoors, follow them.

Currency transactions involve Euros, with exchange rates currently hovering around 1 USD to 0.93 EUR. Irish tipping culture mercifully requires just 10-15% compared to America’s guilt-inducing 20%+. In many pubs, simply telling the bartender to “take one yourself” (buying them a drink) is an acceptable alternative to numerical calculations after three pints.

Transportation efficiency starts with purchasing a Leap Card ($8 plus fare credit), which works on Dublin buses, trams, and trains while saving approximately 30% compared to cash fares. Taxis start around $5 and typically run $15-25 per city ride, with drivers who double as unofficial tour guides, political commentators, and amateur philosophers.

Budget-savvy travelers should note that most national museums offer free admission on the first Wednesday of each month. Restaurants frequently feature early bird dinner menus (€20-25 or $22-28 for three courses before 7pm), ideal for those who prefer spending money on experiences rather than elaborate meals.

Irish Cultural Quick-Guide: Avoiding International Incidents

A few basic phrases will endear you to locals, particularly “Sláinte” (pronounced slawn-cha) for cheers and “Go raibh maith agat” (guh rev mah ah-gut) for thank you. Pronounce them badly enough and you’ll receive either patient correction or silent amusement – both acceptable outcomes.

Pub etiquette involves buying rounds when drinking with a group (keeping track of whose turn it is represents an unspoken social contract) and understanding that standing at the bar gets faster service than expecting table service in traditional establishments. Conversation flows easily in Ireland, where strangers become temporary best friends through shared stories, though direct questions about religion or “The Troubles” are considered about as welcome as asking Americans about their weight or salary.

Perhaps most importantly, never order an “Irish Car Bomb” drink in an actual Irish bar – it’s the equivalent of ordering a “9/11” in New York. This American invention earns reactions ranging from polite redirection to forceful suggestions regarding alternative drinking establishments. Similarly, when photographing locals, especially in rural areas, a simple request for permission prevents your camera from being considered an invasive species.