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.
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⭐ Quick Snapshot: 3-Day Dublin Itinerary
Day 1: Guinness Storehouse • St. Stephen’s Green • Grafton Street • Pub crawl
Day 2: Jameson Distillery • Book of Kells • Trinity College • Temple Bar
Day 3: St. Patrick’s Cathedral • Dublin Castle • Farewell pint
🌤️ 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.
Day 1 in Dublin: Guinness, Parks & Pubs
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)
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.
