24 hours in Dublin

A great way to maximise your time in Dublin and enjoy centuries of history squeezed into an hour or so is with a walking tour. Pat Liddy’s Walking Tours are ideal, especially if you want to tailor a tour to suit your interests, with themed options on everything from The Best of Dublin – Highlights and Hidden Corners to Halloween and its Creepy Irish Origins. Don’t fancy walking? Hop on a bike and get the lowdown on the city with Cycle Dublin Bike Tours or try the Hop On/Hop Off bus tour, where you can get out at attractions that interest you.

Take a break while soaking up some history at Bewley's Café on Dublin’s iconic Grafton Street. The café is more than 100 years old and has been frequented by Dublin’s literary greats, including James Joyce, WB Yeats and Samuel Beckett. While you’re here, check out the beautiful 19th-century stained glass artworks by Harry Clarke, one of Ireland’s best-loved artists.

It's a short stroll from here to Trinity College, one of the most beautiful urban campuses in Europe. Located in the heart of the city, Trinity boasts shimmering green cricket grounds, well-worn cobblestones and some of the finest 18th-century architecture in Ireland. The Trinity Trails Campus Tour & Book of Kells Experience is the best way to get the most from your visit to the college. The campus tour will bring you into some of the university’s most important buildings, including the 19th-century Museum Building, which houses the Discipline of Geology and was inspired by the Byzantine architecture of Venice. Afterwards, admire one of Ireland's treasures: the Book of Kells, a 9th-century illuminated gospel and one of Ireland’s treasures, and then stroll through Trinity’s magnificent Old Library.

Hungry? Great, it’s time for lunch at one of Dublin’s hot-ticket pizza slice eateries. Bambino, Mani and Doom Slice are all a short walk from Trinity College and serve excellent on-the-go pizza. If you have a bit more time to spend on lunch – go for a Dublin pub lunch classic: a toastie (toasted sandwich) at the arty-boho Grogan’s pub, famous for its picture-laden walls and eccentric clientele. With a great spot on the buzzy Castle Market, Grogan’s is well placed for some post-lunch shopping on South William Street, Clarendon Street and the vibey Drury Street. If you’re looking for a more salubrious lunch option, try Amy Austin for boundary-pushing flavours and a quirky interior (lunch Thurs to Sun).

From the centre of the city, it’s time to push out a little and discover the neighbourhood of Dublin 8. Walk across the River Liffey, which flows through the centre of the city, and jump on the Luas red line at Abbey Street in the direction of Saggart or Tallaght. Running in an east-west direction, the red line is handy if you want to see some of the attractions on Dublin’s northside. For those who have a bit of time to spare, there are interesting places to get off and explore along the way including 14 Henrietta Street (alight at Jervis), the Jameson Distillery (get out at Smithfield) and the National Museum of Ireland – Decorative Arts and History set within the impressive Collins Barracks (alight at Museum).

Today, however, we’re travelling up to the Suir Road stop, a five-minute walk from Kilmainham Gaol. Now a National Monument, Kilmainham first opened in 1796 and operated as a gaol until 1924. A tour here offers a fascinating glimpse into Irish history, from the harsh 18th- and early 19th-century conditions to its use as a political prison, where 14 leaders of the Easter Rising were executed in May 1916.

Those interested in modern art should take some time to explore the nearby Irish Museum of Modern Art. Following the IMMA Garden walk, it takes about 10 minutes or so to reach the gallery, which is housed in the elegant Royal Hospital Kilmainham, a stunning 17th-century architectural gem that was based on Les Invalides in Paris.

Alternatively, catch the G2 bus from Inchicore Library and stay on for four stops until you get to Steeven’s Lane. It’s a five-minute walk from here to the Guinness Storehouse – a fantastic brewery experience that tells the story of the “black stuff”, Dublin’s famous stout. The multi-level exhibition will show you all you need to know about the history, ingredients and the marketing of Guinness, before you emerge at the top floor at the amazing Gravity Bar, with its 360-degree view of the city and surroundings.

If whiskey is more your thing, head down to the Teeling Whiskey Distillery in the heart of the Liberties, one of Dublin’s oldest neighbourhoods.

It’s time to get in gear for Dublin after dark. The city boasts a super-buzzy social scene every day of the week, whether you’re after a wine bar with a twist like Franks (set within an old butcher shop) or you want to keep it old-school at 19th-century pubs, such as the Stag’s Head, The Long Hall or the Palace Bar. Camden Street is a hive of nighttime activity and is packed with wine bars, pubs and restaurants. It’s also where you’ll find Delahunt. Housed in a historic Victorian building, the restaurant is a cosy place for dinner with traditional Irish dishes served with contemporary accents, amidst an elegant dark-wood interior and marble countertops.

It’s a stone’s throw from here to Whelan’s pub, where if you’ve any energy left, you can enjoy a club, live music or even just a post-prandial drink at the bar. Or, if traditional music is more your thing, walk past St Stephen’s Green to the buzzing O’Donoghue’s pub on Baggot Street, where you can enjoy a traditional Irish music session and raise a toast to a day well spent.