One Day in Dublin City: Dublin's Viking Past

About This Dublin City Itinerary

One Day in Dublin City Itinerary Rating: Leisurely
This Dublin itinerary is recommended for people with the following interests: history, music

Dublin's Viking Past in Brief

1. Breakfast Choices in Dublin City
• Bear Market
• Coffeeangel
2. Ride the Viking Splash
3. Lunch at Brasserie 66
4. Explore Dublinia, a museum dedicated to Dublin's Viking history
5. Look for the mummified cat and the mouse in Christchurch Cathedral
6. Look for artifacts around Dublin City Council
7. Listen to music while sipping a pint at Darkey Kelly's
8. Dinner at 777
9. Experience a night out on Dame Lane

Explore other one day Dublin City itineraries here:

Dublin's Viking Past Detailed Itinerary

Well over 1000 years ago, Vikings arrived on Ireland's shores. Now you can explore Dublin's Viking past with this one day itinerary.

Start with breakfast in Dublin City at Bear Market. Bear Market is located on Pembroke Street Lower just off of Lower Baggot Street. You can't get more central than that. Bear Market serves up locally roasted Silverskin Coffee and light bites (mainly pastries). Alternatively, go across the street to Coffeeangel for a well-crafted cappuccino. The focus is definitely on pouring a perfect cup of coffee every time at Coffeeangel.

After breakfast head over to St. Stephen's Green to ride the Viking Splash (20 - 27 EUR for an adult at the time of writing). Don horned Viking helmets as you ride around the city. The over-the-top guides will have you shouting for blood from the "Coffee Celts" and "Tourist Celts" as you tour Dublin City Centre. Viking Splash is an amphibious tour. You'll drive the streets of Dublin and then splash down in the Grand Canal at Grand Canal Dock. Learn a lot about Dublin history while at the same time having some fun. The Viking Splash tour takes about an hour and 15 minutes.

Time for lunch! Sit down for a leisurely meal at Brasserie Sixty6 on Great South Georges Street. Try dishes made with fresh local ingredients like an amazing goat's cheese tartlet surrounded by a bed of salad dressed in a light pesto. The menu overall is continental with some American influences.

After lunch, explore Dublinia, a museum dedicated to Dublin's Viking history. Dublinia is ideal if you are visiting Dublin with family. Dublinia is an interactive museum of Dublin's history from the Vikings to the present day. You'll find volunteers dressed in period garb to show you various Viking crafts. When we visited, we got to see how the Vikings minted coins. Dublinia often runs free tours. We got lucky and were treated to a free 30 minute tour of the Viking area of the museum. I have to say, the campiest part of the whole Dublinia experience was the Viking toilet. The exhibit was outfitted complete with farting sounds! It was hilarious. We also saw a few interactive displays about the Middle Ages and the plagues and pestilence that were the norm. Overall, Dublinia is a fun diversion for an hour or two and is housed in a historic stone building with lovely stained glass accents. You exit the museum through the grounds of Christ Church Cathedral.

If you fancy, stop into Christ Church Cathedral for a self-guided tour (7 EUR for adults at the time of writing). If you visit Christ Church Cathedral for a service, entry is free. We took advantage of the Christ Church Cathedral Christmas Market to have a look around without paying the relatively high entrance price. Make sure to take time to explore the crypt. The crypt houses tombstones from the past few centuries but also a permanent gift shop and coffee place. You'll even find a mummified cat and rat, petrified specimens discovered in the organ pipes in the 1800s.

The Dublin City Council building is located very close to Dublinia and Christ Church Cathedral. It's worth walking a lap around the concrete Dublin City Council to look for Viking artifacts. A trove of Viking artifacts was unearthed here when they initially broke ground. The project was delayed for a long time while different parties worked out what to do with the historic site. In the end, the project went ahead despite protests but you'll find commemorative squares on the path highlighting the different finds.

Walk a short distance to the very edge of Temple Bar. Listen to some great local music while sipping a pint at Darkey Kelly's. Darkey Kelly's pours a respectable pint of Guinness and you'll find musicians playing Irish Trad music on most evenings.

Enjoy upscale Mexican food and margaritas at 777 on Great South Georges Street for dinner.

After dinner, channel your inner Viking and go marauding on Dame Lane. Dame Lane is an excellent area for a pub crawl with lots of great bars. You're sure to hear a variety of music wafting outside. Pick a pub or three and enjoy a night out on Dame Lane to end this one day itinerary exploring a millennium of Viking history in Dublin City.

Map of This Dublin City Itinerary: Dublin's Viking Past

Guide to Sidewalk Safari Dublin City Itineraries

• Leisurely: No need to get up super-early to start this itinerary which is always good if you experienced a little too much of Dublin's famous craic the night before. Take your time exploring the sights on these itineraries or take detours that you discover on your own in the process of following my suggestions.

• Intermediate: You should be able to comfortably fit in the activities recommended even if you don't get an early start. There is a fair amount of walking involved in these itineraries to get from place to place.

• Ambitious: Lots to see plus a lot of walking. Make sure to get an early start or you won't make it to everything on the list.

The perfect formula for a day out in Dublin City includes: breakfast/coffee, morning activities, lunch, afternoon activities, a pub stop, dinner, and evening fun.

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