Top Rated Attracties in Dublin

This former prison is one of Dublin's most historic buildings. Dating back to 1796, the Kilmainham Gaol is a massive building that housed men, women and even children prisoners. Most notably, the Gaol is known for incarcerating famous rebels and prisoners of war. Today the building serves as a museum with exhibits, artifacts and docent-led tours.

To many, Guinness is one of the most important features of Ireland. Completed at the cost of EUR30 million, the Guinness Storehouse is a fine addition to Dublin's ever-growing list of purpose-built attractions. Set inside a converted 18th-century fermentation building, it consists of six floors linked by a giant atrium in the shape of a pint glass. Although the actual brewery is not open to the public, the storehouse's new exhibition space outlines the 200-year history of the company and reveals many brewing secrets. The models and displays of the exhibition are followed by a short film and a glass of the famous brew! The storehouse is also home to the stylish Gravity Bar.

Located at Stephen's Green, this little non-profit museum takes visitors through Dublin in the 20th Century. The limited scope means that visitors to the museum can relate directly to most of the exhibits. The little museum focuses among other things on the cultural transition that took place during the period. There's a surprising amount of things to discover here and it is a great way to acquaint yourself with how the great city has come to be in recent times.

An architecturally and culturally iconic venue in the city, the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre (formerly Grand Canal Theatre) is the brainchild of Mike Adamson, CEO of LiveNation. The need for such a theater arose because numerous international theater groups were yearning to perform in the city, but save for the O2, there wasn't a venue prominent enough to host them, and the O2 couldn't accommodate all of the performances in its schedule. Thus, an initiative for another first-rate theater was taken, and with the approval of the Dublin Dockyards Development Authority, the construction of the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre began in 2007. Opened in March 2010, this theater has hosted a passel of cultural events, including ballets, plays, operas, concerts and much more. With a capacity of 2111, this is one of the premier venues for major events in the city.

Dublin's most famous park is steeped in history. It started life as common ground, not far from a lepers' hospital, and was eventually enclosed in 1664. The site of public hangings throughout the 18th century, it was not until Lord Ardilaun's patronage in 1880 that the park took on the landscaped form that we see now. Memorials are dotted around the flower beds, trees, and willow-fringed duck pond. James Joyce, Oscar Wilde, and W.B. Yeats are just some of the famous names commemorated, while the Three Fates smugly measure the thread of humanity's destiny from their fountain at Leeson Street Gate. Free concerts are held on summer days in the bandstand.

One of only two Anglican cathedrals in Dublin, this venerated church stands alongside the serene meadows of the symbolic Saint Patrick's Park. Constructed in the year 1192, the cardinal cathedral of Glendalough is an architectural masterpiece whose multiple spires soar over the urban landscapes of the Coombe, Warrenmount, and Portobello. The main attractions within St Patrick's are the tombs of Jonathan Swift and his companion, which are located in the nave. The cathedral also contains the longest medieval nave in Ireland and a stone slab engraved with a Celtic cross that covers the well from which St Patrick blessed his subjects. The adjoining garden is a welcome oasis in this densely built-up district of the city.