9 Unmissable Things to do in Dublin at Christmas

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Are you planning a trip to Ireland and want to know the best things to do in Dublin at Christmas?

We love Christmas in Dublin, the days are very short but that just means the Christmas lights in the city are in full view for longer. Having grown up in Ireland and lived in Dublin for several years, we are always on the look out for new things to do in Dublin at Christmas.

While Dublin isn’t the most renowned location for huge Christmas markets compared to some European cities, it does have its own unique charm at Christmas, particularly if you are in the city on Christmas Eve to see the buskers on Grafton Street.

This guide to Dublin at Christmas will take you through 9 unmissable and sometimes unique things to do in Dublin at Christmas. The guide will also include recommendations for places to eat and stay in Dublin while you are there. You can also read our guide to 2 days in Dublin to help you plan your trip to Ireland in more detail. If you plan to visit other parts of Ireland at Christmas check out our guide to 40 things to do in Ireland at Christmas to help plan your festive season.

How to get around Dublin

Walking:

Dublin is quite a walkable city and most of the major attractions are within a 20 minute walk of another. Dublin city centre is also very flat which makes it quite easy to navigate.

Public Transport:

Within the city there is also a LUAS (tram) network that costs around €2 per journey. Alternatively, you can also use the bus network for visiting places a little bit out of the city centre like Kilmainham jail.

The best way to use the public transport network in Dublin is to buy a LEAP card. These can be purchased at stores around the city and at convenience stores at the airport terminal when you arrive. There are a number of specific options available for short term stays:

• 24 Hour Card – €8
• 72 Hour Card – €16
• 1 Week – €32

The tickets are valid for use across all of the services below in Dublin:

• All Dublin Bus scheduled services (not valid on tours)
• Go-Ahead Ireland Dublin City services
• All Luas (tram) services
• DART and Commuter Rail in the Short Hop Zone (all of Dublin city and county)

Bicycles:

Dublin has a very large public cycling network and this can be often be a much quicker way of getting around than using public transport/taxis. A 3 day ticket to use the Dublin Bike network is just €5, making it a really affordable way to get around the city. More information can be found here.

Hop On/Hop Off Tour:

If it is your first time visiting the city, the easiest and most efficient way to get around is the Hop On/Hop Off tour of the city. These guided tours are a convenient way to get around without worrying about the logistics and you can pick and choose when and where you would like to go throughout your stay.

Where to stay in Dublin

If you are visiting Dublin at Christmas from afar, here are some of the best hotels in Dublin to chosoe from for your stay.

Things to do in Dublin at Christmas

1) Visit Temple Bar

This is probably a bit cliche and while we know that Temple Bar is seen as an overpriced tourist trap by many, there is no denying that the area really comes to life at Christmas.

With the famous decorations lighting up the Temple Bar pub, the traditional music being blasted out around the area, not even the shock of paying €12 for a pint can dampen your festive cheer.

While we definitely recommend visiting Temple Bar during Christmas in Dublin, we also suggest not staying for too long to make sure you can still afford to put some presents under the tree after your visit.

2) Wonderlights at Malahide Castle

The wonderlights is a great family friendly event with light displays illuminating the beautiful castle grounds. The walking trail takes roughly 20-30 minutes and there are lots of great photo spots along the way to capture the memory. Prices in 2024 started at €23.50.

The castle also have lots of food and drink stalls operating on site so you can grab a burger or hot chocolate with your family after enjoying the trail.

If you are visiting from Dublin city centre, you can take the train directly to Malahide, with the station being only a 5 minute walk from the castle grounds. We would also recommend taking a trip into Malahide itself before/after the lights display, there are lots of great bars & restaurants in the town. If you visit early in the day, try out the garden house cafe, a beautiful home and garden centre that has an on site cafe as well.

Need a hotel in Malahide?

The main hotel in Malahide would be the Grand hotel, but you could also stay slightly further down the coast at the Portmarnock resort, which has one of the best golf courses in Ireland.

3) The Christmas Market at Dublin Castle

While there are a number of Christmas Markets in Dublin, the market at Dublin Castle is probably its most renowned. The Christmas market at Dublin Castle typically runs from late November to late December from aroun 12pm to 9pm daily and it is free to enter.

There are lots of great food and drink stalls at Dublin Castle and the castle grounds themselves make for a really nice setting for a market. While Dublin is not a city renowned for its Christmas Markets, we would still recommend adding this to your Dublin Christmas itinerary. If you want to go on a Christmas Market tour around Dublin, there are usually alternative options at Smithfield and Swords.

4) Take a trip to Ireland’s ‘most festive pub’

I know, I know, we’re back to promoting the pubs but who doesn’t love a festive themed pub? This time, we’re heading to the Ginger Man, proclaimed to be ‘Ireland’s most festive pub’.

The Ginger Man has been growing its Christmas displays since the early 90’s and if you are looking for a way to kick start your festive trip to Dublin, this is the place to go.

The pub try to change up their display every year and add some new installations so there’s no reason not to return year after year as part of your Irish Christmas tradition.

5) Elf Town

Elf Town is a family friendly Christmas experience that lasts over an hour and includes the opportunity to meet Santa’s elves, reindeer and of course, a private meet and greet with Santa.

This is a really immersive experience for the whole family and there are also designated slots for sensory experiences as well. Tickets typically cost between €19.95 and €29.95, with the event set to run from mid November to Christmas Eve.

You can get more information about Elf town over on their website.

6) Go Ice Skating

The last time Katie and I went ice skating, it was at Christmas in Stockholm. I spent most of the time clinging on to the side rails as the locals sneered at my complete lack of ability. Luckily for me, it wasn’t our first date so it didn’t deter Katie from marrying me in the end.

That being said, when the idea of going ice skating comes up every year at Christmas, my mind goes straight back to Stockholm and I politely decline. Hopefully you are a much better ice skater than I am though so you can enjoy some of the great ice skating rinks around Dublin at Christmas time.

The Alpine Ice Skating trails are open in Blanchardstown and Dun Laoghaire with tickets from €21 for an adult or €19 for an under 18 at the time of writing.You can get more information on their website.

7) Enjoy the lights displays around the city centre

Like many cities, Dublin has a great Christmas lights display lining the city over Christmas. The Christmas lights in Dublin are usually switched on in mid November.

The best places to see Dublin’s Christmas lights displays are Grafton Street, O’Connell Street, the GPO, Arnotts, Merrion Square, Custom House and Dublin Castle.

One novel way to experience the Christmas lights in Dublin is to take this Christmas lights bus tour. The tour will bring to you all of Dublin’s festive hotspots while you sit back and enjoy some afternoon tea.

8) Watch the buskers on Grafton Street

While the buskers (street singers) are great throughout the Christmas period, if you can make it to Grafton Street on Christmas Eve you are often in for a special treat.

In recent years, Christmas Eve on Grafton street has seen global stars like U2, Glen Hansard and Dermot Kennedy performing impromptu sessions in Dublin City centre.

The great thing about these performances is that they help raise much needed funds to support the Simon community, a charity set up to tackle homelessness in the country. The number of people in emergency accommodation in Ireland was at almost 16,000 in May 2025, 5,000+ of which were children. Events like this are a vital way to generate funds to support those in need during the Christmas period.

There is no set time that the busk will take place on Christmas Eve but stick around the Grafton Street that day and you will definitely enjoy it.

9) A Christmas day swim

Another of the quite novel Christmas tradition in Dublin, is the Christmas day swim at the forty foot. Every year, hundreds of people descend on the forty foot at Sandycove in Dublin to brave the very cold waters of the Irish sea on Christmas Day.

Lots of people will be kitted out in Christmas clothes, there’s tea, coffee and a great atmosphere. So if you love to add a bit of community spirit to your Christmas celebrations, then this is the place for you. We struggle to dip our heads under cold water in the shower so we haven’t plucked up the courage to brave these waters just yet but it is definitely on our list.

While this is not an official charity event, many participants will raise funds via sponsorship etc. so it is another great way to support local initiatives in Dublin and beyond.