3 Days in Dublin: Itinerary + How We Booked It on Points
Planning a trip to Ireland and wondering how to spend 3 days in Dublin? This guide blends a simple, followable itinerary with the exact points-and-miles strategy we used to book free flights and a luxury stay at the Conrad Dublin for our 20th anniversary.
Whether it’s your first time in Ireland or you’re squeezing Dublin into a longer Europe trip, this itinerary covers the best distillery tours, historic sites, cozy pubs, and easy walking routes — plus the tools we used to save hundreds of dollars.
💰 The bottom line: This 3-day Dublin trip would cost $3,400+ if we'd paid cash for everything. We paid under $160 out of pocket using American Airlines miles, Hilton Honors points, and Chase Sapphire perks. Below is the full day-by-day itinerary — plus exactly how we booked it all for nearly free.
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⭐ Book What We Did in Dublin
🌤️ Best Time to Visit Dublin
Dublin is beautiful year-round, but these seasons offer the best mix of weather and crowds:
April–June: Mild temps, long daylight, perfect for walking
September–October: Fewer crowds, cozy pub weather
Winter: Christmas markets + great hotel deals
Pack layers — Dublin weather changes every 10 minutes.
🏨 Where to Stay in Dublin
We stayed at the Conrad Dublin, which was the perfect home base: walkable, quiet, and right across from St. Stephen’s Green.
Conrad Dublin (Luxury — where we stayed)
Use your Hilton Honors points or Hilton Aspire free night certificates. This was a fabulous location to explore Dublin. We walked everywhere.
Check out this helpful map to find more accommodation options:
🚶♀️ How to Get Around Dublin
Dublin is incredibly walkable. For longer distances:
Luas tram (easy, clean, cheap)
DART train for coastal day trips
Taxis + Uber are widely available
No rental car needed — the streets are narrow and parking is expensive.
🧳 What to Pack for Dublin
Dublin = layers + waterproof everything.
🍀Dublin Trip Resources
Day 1 in Dublin: Guinness, Parks & Pubs
Our tours pints lined up at the Guinness Factory
Guinness Storehouse (Book Skip-the-Line Tickets)
Start your trip with Dublin’s most iconic experience. The self-guided tour is fun, interactive, and ends with a pint at the Gravity Bar overlooking the city.
St. Stephen’s Green
A peaceful walk through one of Dublin’s prettiest parks — right across from the Conrad.
Grafton Street
Street performers, shopping, and cafés. Great spot for people-watching.
Pub Crawl
End the night with a cozy pub crawl. Favorites:
The Hairy Lemon
Kehoe’s
The Long Hall
Day 2 in Dublin: Distilleries, Trinity College & Temple Bar
Jameson Distillery Bow St. (Book in Advance)
Us at the Jameson Tour
This tour is a must — fun, fast-paced, and the tastings are generous.
Book of Kells + Trinity College
One of the most beautiful libraries in the world. Timed-entry tickets are essential.
Temple Bar
Touristy but worth a walk-through. Grab a drink or just enjoy the live music.
Dinner + Drinks
Try:
The Bank on College Green
The Brazen Head (Ireland’s oldest pub) - We grabbed a pint here and the highlight of my day was seeing someone getting thrown out (just like the movies)
Day 3 in Dublin: Cathedrals, Castles & Farewell Pints
St. Patrick’s Cathedral
Gorgeous architecture and peaceful gardens.
Dublin Castle
Take a guided tour to see the State Apartments and learn about Dublin’s history.
Last Pint at a Local Pub
End your trip with one more Guinness — it really does taste better in Ireland.
💳 How We Booked This Trip on Points
Flights
We used American Airlines miles to fly from Nashville to Dublin via Charlotte.
Off-peak awards are a sweet spot
Taxes/fees are low
Great availability for shoulder season
Hotel
We booked the Conrad Dublin using Hilton Honors points + Hilton Aspire perks:
Free night certificate
Diamond breakfast (huge value)
Room upgrade
Bonus points for charging meals to the room
Tours + Dining
We used Chase Sapphire Preferred/Reserve for:
3x points on dining
5x points on travel booked through Chase
Trip delay + baggage insurance
🛡️ Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
I recommend travel insurance. If you don’t have protections on your credit card or need more, you can get a quote from Faye for international trips. Dublin is walkable, busy, and full of cobblestones — having coverage gives us peace of mind. I am not a financial planner. My posts are for educational purposes only.
💰 Cost Breakdown (Cash vs Points)
Flights
Cash price: ~$900 per person
What we paid: AA miles + taxes
Hotel
Cash price: ~$450–$600 per night
What we paid: Hilton points + Aspire perks
🧭 Final Thoughts
Dublin is one of the easiest, most welcoming cities to explore — especially for a long weekend. With a little planning (and a few smart points redemptions), you can enjoy luxury hotels, iconic tours, and incredible food without blowing your budget. New to points and miles? Start with our Beginner Guide to learn the basics.
✍️ About the Author
Julie Davis is the creator of No Point Left Behind, where she helps travelers turn everyday spending into unforgettable trips through simple, beginner‑friendly points and miles strategies. She’s a mom, a deal‑stacking pro, and a firm believer that luxury travel doesn’t have to come with a luxury price tag.
Julie has booked everything from European getaways to Caribbean cruises using points, perks, and smart travel hacks — and she shares the exact steps so you can do it too. When she’s not exploring a new city, you’ll find her testing credit card strategies, building travel guides, or planning her next cruise.
Travel smarter. Spend less. Make every trip count.
