I’m no authority in what places are the must-dos. But I can tell you which are the ones I went to. I’ll sprinkle in some basic information along the way and tell you about my experience. Your trip will be different but I thought I’d share mine.

I wasn’t planning on being sober or wasted. But the Irish and the stereotype of how much alcohol they consume slipped my mind. And while I got a dose of U2 and Boyzone, my mind, body and soul were simply filled with whiskey and Guinness. I even felt pressure to drink even when no one was watching. And quite frankly, no one cared.

I didn’t expect the trip to be booze-filled. But here we are.

Here are five places I visited in Dublin:

Kilmainham Gaol Museum

If you have ever seen the second season of Alice in Borderland, the cells gives off a vibe similar to Chishiya’s Jack of Hearts challenge. And for the rest who might not be familiar, I could only describe it as a prison that played a significant role in Irish history.

While I can visit the museum on my own, guided tours are the only way around the prison. And the experience of immersing myself in the different wings, chambers, and execution yard are what distinguish this from other sites having a similar offering.

There are high profile inmates, pivotal to Irish independence, who have lived and/or were executed at these premises. And a lot of action happened inside these walls – plotting, prison break, marriage, etc. I leave the professionals and the Internet to provide you more information.

Guinness Storehouse

I’ve told you about how much alcohol I was filled with during my visit. And Guinness Storehouse contributed to that.

Consider me drunk. But the Guinness family has done a lot for the community, besides happiness, joy, and laughter. Even when employee benefits like health care and housing weren’t mandated nor the norm back in the day, they’ve taken it upon themselves to extend these gestures. They’ve given and continue to give women an equal seat at the board room to be heard and to contribute. Their marketing campaigns, though I’ve heard none of them before, are apparently some of the best to be ever launched.

And of course, I get to learn about the process of making beer. This isn’t the first time. For some reason, the lesson never sticks. And likely because of what comes at the end, a pint of beer! There are panoramic views of Dublin at the top floor, alongside a DJ playing party music. If this isn’t fun, I don’t know what is.

Irish Whiskey Museum

And I go from one kind of alcohol to another. And without even an iota of intellect, I’m sure you’ve guessed there’s whiskey tasting at the end.

And not so surprisingly, the museum offers a walkthrough of how the process works. And apparently, the biggest difference between Scotch and Irish whiskey, besides origin, is an extra day of storage.

I’m no whiskey expert. And in spite of the multiple lessons, I took away only one thing. According to my guide, just mention that I could taste or smell vanilla, caramel, and some honey if anyone asks me what my senses are enjoying. And I can pull off being an aficionado.

Christ Church Cathedral

In a placard below the impressive windows of the cathedral, the design was described as a fusion of Romanesque and Gothic styles. And I’ve read those two terms a thousand times. And I still had to Google which one had rounded arches and which had pointed ones.

But architecture is not my expertise nor was it my interest on this day. The place houses a crypt where many artefacts are located. The most interesting is what locals referred to as Tom and Jerry.

There are mummified remains of a cat and mouse. They were found inside an organ during restoration. And they were assumed to be trapped during a chase.

Yes, this is the biggest crypt in Ireland and one of the largest in Europe. But I chose those two as the highlights.

The Little Museum of Dublin

According to TripAdvisor, the number one attraction to visit in Dublin is the Little Museum of Dublin. And given the wide range of artefacts the museum contains, and a seemingly generic proposition of a capital’s history, I wondered how this can end up ranking at the top.

Taking a guide is mandated. And this strategy helps bring the objects on display to life. Whereas reading can often feel taxing or focus will be easily lost when a myriad of items stare you in the face, the knowledgeable staff talks through the exhibits showcased and brings direction to an otherwise directionless trip.

And working in its favour is its size. While the content feels condensed, the limited space guarantees I could digest all that were shown.

Besides history, there’s also a U2 section. Of course, one can argue that Bono is now a fundamental part of Irish identity. If you’re not a fan, you can always skip it.

All photos were taken on February 2023.