Travelling Alone? A Solo Traveller’s Guide to Dublin Ireland

What is Solo Travelling? 

Solo travel is simply travelling alone rather than with a companion. Solo travel allows you to explore a destination on your own terms.  You decide how and where you want to spend time on your trip.  

Solo travel places you outside your comfort zone and encourages you to fully immerse yourself in the culture of your destination, meet new people and be receptive to new experiences.    

Dublin is the capital city of Ireland and extremely popular amongst solo travellers because of its rich culture, fascinating history and of course the craic! Whether you are a seasoned solo traveller or planning your first trip, here’s why Dublin is an ideal location for your next solo adventure.  

Planning Your Trip to Dublin

May to September is the best time to visit Dublin.  The weather is milder during these months, and there is always a range of events and festivals taking place.

Dublin Airport is one of the busiest airports in Europe, with over 100 flights each day arriving from 197 destinations worldwide.  This makes Dublin easy to get to, no matter where you are travelling from.  If you are flying to Dublin from outside Europe, be sure to check your visa requirements. 

Dublin city itself has fantastic public transport options with busses, trams and trains that can take you all around the country. 

Solo Traveler Accommodation in Dublin

There are plenty of hotels and hostels to choose from in Dublin city.  If you are looking for affordable accommodation in Dublin where you can have some privacy be sure to check out DCU Rooms.  We offer private single rooms at competitive prices, which makes it the perfect accommodation for solo travelers. DCU Rooms is located on Dublin City University’s historic campus.  The campus is just outside the city centre, surrounded by parks and green spaces.  There are regular busses into the city, making for an easy commute to the tourist sites.    

Safety Tips for Solo Travelers in Dublin 

A key concern for any solo travel is, of course, safety.  Luckily Ireland has been named the 7th safest country in Europe.  Even though Dublin is generally a safe city, it is still important to take some precautions.  This includes being aware of your surroundings, avoiding unlit areas at nighttime and keeping your valuables secure, especially in crowded areas.  If an emergency does occur, the emergency service number is 999, which will connect you to the police, fire brigade, and ambulance services.  

Must-See Sights and Attractions in Dublin

Dublin is full of cultural and historical landmarks, which is what attracts so many tourists each year.  Dublin’s most popular attraction is the Guinness Store House, where you can explore the history of Ireland’s most loved beer.   

Take a museum or gallery trip

You can also visit many of our museums, such as the National Museum of Ireland, the Irish Museum of Modern art and EPIC, an interactive museum that explores Irish emigration where you may learn about your Irish ancestry.  

Wander the streets

Simply wandering the streets of Dublin is a great experience in itself.  There are historical treasures around almost every corner of the city, such as the GPO, a landmark in the Irish War of Independence, St. Stephen’s Green, one of Dublin’s most beloved parks and The Wall of Fame in temple bar, which is a tribute to Irish musical royalty such as acts like U2 and Phil Lynott. 

Explore Grafton Street

If you fancy doing some shopping Grafton Street in Dublin is a must.  There is a wide range of unique and affordable shops to luxury department stores such as brown Thomas.  However, one of the best and most unique things about Grafton Street has to be the talented Street performers and musicians who perform daily on the high street.  Many of Ireland’s most beloved artists, such as Dermott Kennedy, started performing on this very street.   

Check out Croke Park

During the summer months, you may be lucky enough to catch a GAA match at Croke Park Stadium (just a stone’s throw away from DCU Rooms).  In Croke Park, you can enjoy a Gaelic Football or Hurling game, which are two of Ireland’s national sports.  These games are thrilling, and the stadium’s atmosphere is always incredible, seeing teams from each county in Ireland battling it out for the championship title.  Croke Park has a fantastic museum where you can learn about the history of GAA and the stadium.  On top of the stadium is an open-air skyline walk where you can take in stunning panoramic views of the city.  

Day Trips for Solo Travellers

Ireland is a magnificent (but small) island, so Dublin is an awesome destination to make your base camp.  There are a ton of cool landmarks in the city, but if you have your heart set on activities further afield, there are always day trips to destinations all over the country.  These tours leave from the city centre each morning, making them easy to get to from our location.   

Some popular day trips include: 

• The cliffs of Moher Co. Clare 
• The Giants Causeway Co. Antrim 
• Newgrange Co. Meath 
• Blarney Castle in Co. Cork 
• Galway City 
• Cork City       

Meeting People in Dublin

Your state of mind will develop as a solo traveller. You will benefit massively by becoming open to new experiences and meeting new people. Joining organised tours and participating in group activities is a sure way to meet interesting people from around the world. The Irish are renowned for being some of the friendliest people in the world. This kind of culture makes it very easy for a solo traveller to meet and have the craic with the locals.

Author Bio: Katie McGarr is one of the passionate writers for DCU Rooms, a cheap accommodation in Dublin for frugal travelers who’d love to experience the astonishing beauty of the city on a budget. This travel buff enjoys writing and sharing articles about money-saving hacks on accommodation, airfare, dining, and getting around the city.