Dublin: your guide to Culture, History, and Nature (2024)

With more than 8 million tourists visiting Dublin every year, the city is a popular holiday destination for European and international tourists worldwide. But there is more to Dublin than the famous Guinness beer or Irish dancing. Dublin has recently set its goal to become a leader in smart tourism and has even been awarded the 2024 European Capital of Smart Tourism title. What does that mean for tourists? More sustainable, accessible, and digital attractions and ways to explore them! Here’s a glimpse into our recommendations for what to see and experience in Dublin.

Explore Dublin’s Cultural Treasures

The best way to learn about the city’s culture is to visit one of its many modern museums. EPIC, the Irish Emigration Museum, celebrates Irish history through the stories of over 300 Irish people and their impact around the world in politics, music, sport, and literature. With interactive video galleries, quizzes, films and remastered audio recordings from 100 years ago, visitors of the museum can immerse themselves in the country’s rich history and culture.

For those more interested in Dublin’s history, 14 Henrietta Street is the perfect place to hear first-hand memories and stories from locals. The museum holds both architectural and social history, showcasing the lives of the people who have lived in the building over the last 300 years. A unique collection explores how the building’s inhabitants have experienced the changes in Dublin throughout the years, with themes of family life, politics and culture explained in intimate group tours.

Experience Dublin like a local!

Exploring the hidden gems of Dublin’s different neighborhoods is easy with the ‘Culture Near You’ app. The map features over 3,500 cultural points submitted by local arts, sports, migrant and other community groups, ensuring that visitors can find more in the city than what is provided in traditional tourist to-do lists. Visitors can find attractions and activities tailored to their preferences, ranging from browsing cultural shops to learning new skills or exploring the city’s food culture.

Another handy app to download before your trip to Dublin is the Dublin Discovery Trails app. Using smart technology, the app transports users back in time and immerses them in historical scenes and events from the city’s past. Experience the Guinness barges sailing down the River Liffey, the Crimean banquet in the CHQ Building, or the story of the famine statues. Meet augmented reality characters and hear the stories of Captain Bligh surveying Dublin Bay in the 1800s or Maggie Doyle telling her tale as a docker’s daughter.

Escape to Nature

Need a break from the busy city? With 7 kilometres of beaches, the largest city park in Europe and 7 million square metres of green space, Dublin is a great destination for nature-lovers and visitors looking for a more active holiday. Why not take one of the 1,600 bikes available through the city’s bike-sharing platforms and explore the local landscape? Dublin’s Coastal Trail offers over 3.6km of cycling and walking paths along the coastline, with water sport activities and cultural heritage attractions to discover.

Explore other Smart Tourism destinations: Best Practices from the 2024 European Capital of Smart Tourism Competition

To find out more about other smart measures that cities put forward in their applications to become the European Capitals of Smart Tourism, visit the initiative’s website or download the Best Practices 2024 Report here.