Best Things to Do on a Rainy Day in Dublin
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my links, at no extra cost to you. Please read full disclosure for more information.
Ireland isn’t known as being the sunniest of countries, but a rainy day in Dublin can put a damper on your travel plans! But rainy days don’t have to stop the fun since there are plenty of fun indoor things to do on a rainy day in Dublin!
Table of Contents
- Rainy Day in Dublin: A Guinness Storehouse Tour
- 14 Henrietta Street, Dublin
- Jameson Bow St. Distillery Tour, Dublin
- The Book of Kells
- Dublin Castle
- Belly up to the Bar…Temple Bar or Otherwise
- Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin
- Join the Newsletter
- National Gallery of Ireland, Dublin
- Irish Whiskey Museum, Dublin
- EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum, Dublin
- Kilmainham Gaol Museum, Dublin
- The Irish Rock ‘N’ Roll Museum Experience, Dublin
Rainy Day in Dublin: A Guinness Storehouse Tour
Odds are good that the Guinness Storehouse is already on your “must-visit” list for Dublin and with good reason! Between the tour, the tasting, and the killer views from the Gravity Bar, it’s one of Dublin’s most popular attractions. Beyond the standard tour, there are fun options like Guinness Academy where you can learn how to pour a proper pint, and the Connoisseur Experience where you can dive deeper into Guinness history and enjoy a more in depth tasting. Enjoy even more of this famous drink while you hang out at the Gravity Bar and enjoy the scenic views of Dublin. If you’re a Guinness fan, the Storehouse is a not-to-be-missed stop, whether it’s raining or not. If, like me, Guinness isn’t your beer of choice, Guinness Storehouse is still a fantastic experience and I’m so glad that I did it when I was in Dublin!
14 Henrietta Street, Dublin
14 Henrietta Street is the most intact collection of early to mid-18th century houses in Ireland. Built in the 1700s for Dublin’s wealthy and by 1911 over 100 people lived at 14 Henrietta Street. Built over five floors, Number 14 was occupied by lawyers in the early 1800s and later served as the headquarters for the Encumbered Estates’ Court. Following the Great Famine the demand for cheap housing for the poor increased and in 1876 19 tenement flats were installed in Number 14. In the late 1970s the last tenement residents left Number 14, which was left virtually abandoned until the 2000s when the Dublin City Council began a plan to conserve the house. In 2018 it was opened to the public as a museum to showcase its fascinating history. The indoor tour is ideal for bad weather days in Dublin.
Jameson Bow St. Distillery Tour, Dublin
Another indoor option similar to the Guinness Storehouse is the Jameson Bow St. Distillery Tour. Of the two, this tour is more intimate with smaller group sizes and it’s a guided tour, as opposed to at Guinness Storehouse where you’re left to your own devices to wander. The multimedia exhibits are incredibly well done and the included tasting has you trying three varieties of Jameson. If you’re a real whiskey fanatic and want more than the traditional tour, there are barrel blending classes, cocktail-making classes, and a bottle-your-own experience that could easily fill your day. When I was in Ireland, I preferred the Bow St. Distillery tour to the Storehouse tour, but you can’t go wrong with either and I’d recommend doing both whether it’s a rainy day in Dublin or not!
The Book of Kells
The Book of Kells is an illustrated medieval manuscript that contains the four Gospels of the New Testament. Written in Latin on vellum, it’s considered one of the most beautiful books ever written and it’s on display in the Old Library at Trinity College, Dublin. And what better rainy day activity than going to an old library? Trinity College is a liberal arts college and the Library of Trinity College Dublin is a copyright library, in which publishers in Ireland must deposit a copy of all their publications. Located in the heart of Dublin city, Trinity College Library is home to the “Turning Darkness into Light” exhibit, where The Book of Kells and other manuscripts are on display. You can also visit the Long Room, which is home to 200,000 of Trinity College Library’s oldest books. It’s a unique and fun way to spend a rainy afternoon in Dublin!
Dublin Castle
You can’t go to Ireland without seeing a castle and on a rainy day, Dublin Castle is a fantastic place to stay dry and experience part of Ireland’s past. This early thirteenth-century castle was built on the site of a Viking settlement and served as the headquarters of first the English, and then the British administration in Ireland. Dublin Castle played a significant role in the 1916 Easter Rising, a pivotal event in the formation of the Irish Republic. It was handed over to the new Irish government in 1922 and is now a government complex in addition to being a tourist attraction. The Castle Gardens are best enjoyed on a sunny day, otherwise, you can spend a couple of hours at Dublin Castle taking a self-guided or guided tour and visiting the State Apartments, the Chapel Royal, and the Viking Excavation.
Belly up to the Bar…Temple Bar or Otherwise
Temple Bar may be one of Dublin’s most famous bars, but there’s no shortage of bars where you can pass the hours on a rainy day in Dublin. If Temple Bar is a little too crowded or touristy for your taste, head to Brazen Head, Ireland’s oldest pub. Located on Bridge Street in Dublin, Brazen Head is everything you want a traditional Irish pub to be on a rainy day: cozy, dark, and moody! The fish and chips are one of the best I had in Ireland and the Guinness is cold and ready to be sipped by a roaring fire! Based on my experience, Temple Bar is the kind of place you go for a drink because it’s the thing to do when you’re in Dublin and Brazen Head is the kind of place you go for many drinks because it’s a vibe.
Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin
Whether you’re religious or not, Christ Church Cathedral is worth exploring! As a significant landmark in medieval Dublin, it holds immense historical importance. This 1,000-year-old cathedral is an important part of Irish history and an ideal place to spend some time on a rainy day. Originally a Viking Church, this working Anglican cathedral is a stunning piece of architecture (and touring the inside will keep you dry on a rainy day!) Be sure to look up at the vaulted ceilings and down at the medieval tiled floor. Head up to the belfry to see the bells and down to the crypt and see the mummified cat and rat. Daily worship services are available.
National Gallery of Ireland, Dublin
Founded in 1854, the National Gallery of Ireland is home to the country’s collection of Irish and European art, and is one of the country’s free museums! Roam the galleries and take in the exhibitions, enjoy a snack at the Gallery Cafe, and enjoy one of the national museum’s many gallery talks as you keep dry on a rainy day!
Irish Whiskey Museum, Dublin
If visiting Dublin without going to the Irish Whiskey Museum isn’t a crime, it should be! Whether you take a guided tour or do the Irish Coffee Masterclass, you’ll learn about the history of Irish Whiskey while staying warm and dry in Dublin on a rainy day! Extend your visit with drinks at McDonnells Whiskey Bar and indulge in a little retail therapy in their shop. If you’re noticing a trend that these indoor activities are mostly either alcohol or history-related, you’re not wrong. It’s all part of the charm and rich history of Dublin!
EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum, Dublin
Located in Dublin’s Docklands, EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum covers the history of Irish emigration to other countries. The fully interactive museum features engaging activities like motion sensor quizzes, dancing in the footsteps of legends, and swipe-through video galleries to tell engaging stories of the history of Ireland. The self-guided tour takes about 90 minutes, which means 90 minutes out of the rain while learning about what it means to be Irish.
Kilmainham Gaol Museum, Dublin
Once an Irish prison, Kilmainham Gaol is now a museum that takes you on a journey through Irish history. It played a significant role in the 1916 Easter Rising and the formation of the Irish Republic. For over 100 years Kilmainham Gaol held thousands of prisoners and many Irish revolutionaries were executed in Kilmainham Gaol prison. Learn the stories of the people who were held there, whether their crimes were petty or if they took part in some of the most momentous events in Irish history.
The Irish Rock ‘N’ Roll Museum Experience, Dublin
Take an hour-long tour at the Irish Rock ‘n’ Roll Museum and you’ll get a behind-the-scenes glimpse of one of Dublin’s top music venues and recording studios! Located in the Temple Bar area, the Irish Rock ‘n’ Roll Museum takes you on a journey through the process of music making as well as the history of Irish rock music. Explore Ireland’s musical past through memorabilia, the Button Factory stage, and Apollo Studios.
If you like it, put a pin on it!
Lori Barbely
Hi, I’m Lori. But you can call me Lors. I’m a middle-aged New Jersey-born gal, currently based in Orlando, Florida. My background is in editorial travel photography and writing and I've been to more than 30 countries. I’m obsessed with tropical locales and my favorite city is Tokyo. Have camera, will travel! I’m a Disney adult, Lord of the Rings fan, certified crazy cat lady, and sushi addict! I hope this blog inspires your wanderlust. Feel free to follow me on Instagram for snippets of daily life on and off the road.
