Welcome to Dublin, Swifties

“Are you ready for it?”

Taylor Swift is coming to Dublin city during the European leg of her Eras Tour and we are beyond excited! After she has said “so long, London”, Taylor’s three Dublin concerts will happen over a weekend at the end of June, so we’ve compiled this guide on how to dedicate your long weekend in Dublin to Taylor Swift – whether you were lucky enough to get tickets or not!

Here are 13 (if you know, you know) Swiftie-friendly activities:

If you managed to get your hands on Taylor Swift concert tickets, attending the concert has to be top of your list! She will be performing at the Aviva Stadium which has a capacity of over 50,000 and somehow Taylor Swift fans have managed to sell it out for not one, not even two, but three nights from the 28 – 30 June!

We wonder what inspires Taylor Swift’s choice of surprise songs for the concert. Could it be the stadium? The Aviva is one of Ireland’s top sporting venues and is known as the home of Irish rugby, so we could be in for something with a sports reference like The Alchemy or You Belong With Me.

On a sunny day, what could be more fun than sitting with your friends in the Phoenix Park and crafting those all-important friendship bracelets? At 1,752, this is the largest enclosed park in Europe and it’s sure to offer the perfect spot. Try the People’s Flower Garden where you can let the blooms inspire you, settle down within sight of the resident deer herd or pay a visit to Dublin Zoo, which is located within the park. Beware though, for the zoo harbours snakes…

A Taylor Swift friendship bracelet-making event is also being hosted at Bow Lane Social Club in the city centre. This two-hour guided session of bracelet making, “filled with fun, friendship and madness”, is the perfect way to make new friends while Swift’s songs play in the background.

“They’re burning all the witches even if you aren’t one”.

Taylor Swift loves to take inspiration from folklore, as do the people of Dublin! Mythology and folklore are an integral part of the city’s culture. Tales, rumours and superstitions have always swirled through the streets and the Mythology and Folklore Walking Tour is a fun way to gain some insight into the city’s psyche. As you walk through Dublin, your guide will share stories of fairy lore, superstitions, witches, the occult and many of the legends that have shaped our folklore from ancient times right through to today.

If you’re in your Lover Era, then a stroll down Love Lane will have you singing about your sweetheart in the street. Located in Temple Bar, this laneway is a shining example of what happens when local artists are allowed to let their creativity flow! You may have seen pictures on Instagram of its colourful mural-covered walls, dotted with tiles featuring quotes about love from movies, plays, books, poems and songs. Don’t miss!

Continue celebrating your own Lover Era with afternoon tea in Pink Restaurant. Located in the heart of Dublin city on South William Street, this restaurant celebrates all things PINK! Expect pink flower-covered walls, a pink neon sign, pink cocktails on pink tables, and even pink icing piped delicately onto an array of sweet treats. Get your gang assembled for Ladies’ Night here, or enjoy the regular menu with Pink’s take on classics such as fish ‘n’ chips and black truffle rigatoni.

“Who uses typewriters anyway?”

Taylor Swift’s music is filled with literary references from Romeo and Juliet, The Great Gatsby and The Scarlet Letter, to name just a few. Given that her latest album is called The Tortured Poet’s Department, we couldn’t stay silent about the UNESCO City of Literature that is Dublin!

During your visit, check out some of our favourite literary activities around the city. Take a selfie with the statue of poet and playwright Oscar Wilde in Merrion Square. Have a pint in one of the numerous literary pubs which were frequented by famous writers such as Bram Stoker, Brendan Behan and Patrick Kavanagh. Or drop into the Museum of Literature Ireland (MoLi) and learn about the lives of Ireland’s great storytellers from James Joyce to Sally Rooney.

With song titles such as Maroon, Lavender Haze, Gold Rush and Red, and each era boasting its own designated hue, it’s clear that colour is a big deal in the Swiftie universe. That makes this next activity we’ve got lined up all the more appropriate. Join the Taylor Swift Neon Painting Pre-Party for two hours of painting under UV lights while listening to Taylor tunes. Get your tickets online and see if you can express yourself with as much colour as Taylor Swift does.

Making music is a full-time job with long hours and hard work needed to create the final product, and Taylor Swift manages to do it with a broken heart. Take a trip to Windmill Lane Recording Studios to understand what it takes to create fantastic music.

On the studio tour, you can learn the recording process, hear stories about the famous faces who have stood at the microphone since the studio opened in 1978, and create your own session with the help of a virtual band. U2, Bruce Springsteen, Kylie Minogue and so many other big names in the music world have recorded here. Perhaps Taylor Swift will be next…

As Swifties know, Taylor Swift was born in 1989. However, what you may not know about Miss Swift is that she has ancestors who lived right here in Dublin! At EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum, professionals traced Taylor Swift’s story back to 1880 when her great-great-grandfather George Findlay married Louisa Anna Darling in Dublin.

Visit the neighbourhoods they called home; Phibsborough, Portobello and Harold’s Cross, or check out EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum to understand the island of Ireland’s emigration and what it means to be from here. During your visit to the museum, why not book a genealogy consultation so you can trace your family too? Who knows, you could be related to Taylor Swift.

The Temple Bar district in Dublin city is known for its buzzing nightlife, with musicians performing late into the night in the pubs that line these cobbled streets. During the day, Temple Bar is a great place to check out unique vintage shops. Nine Crows offers a collection of designer knitwear, leather jackets with that perfect worn-in look and brightly coloured fleeces ready for their next life. You’ll also want to check out The Big Smoke Vintage Clothing which offers fashion from the 1960s to the 2000s.

Taylor tries out new styles of music in each era, and you should too! Across the island of Ireland, we have many pubs where you’ll find a traditional music session – either planned or spontaneous. Luckily for you, Dublin has some of the greats.

The Cobblestone in Smithfield humorously brands itself as “A Drinking Pub With A Music Problem” and live traditional music can be expected here every day of the week. O’Donoghues is another great spot for nightly trad music sessions and don’t forget about The Brazen Head. Dublin’s oldest pub, which dates back to 1198, hosts traditional music sessions all week and anyone can join in as long as they can keep up! Could Taylor Swift’s trip to Dublin influence the start of the Traditional Music Era?

Take a trip to one of Dublin’s own suburban legends. Charming seaside villages are dotted along the coast of Dublin Bay and are easily accessible by the city’s suburban rail service, the DART. Head south from the city centre and stop off in lovely spots such as Dún Laoghaire and Dalkey, known for their cute cafes, quirky shops, historic sites and excellent sea swimming spots.

For the true Swiftie, though, the village of Howth to the north is a must. After all, it’s located in Dublin postal district number 13! The harbour here is filled with bobbing sail boats, as well as the occasional seal or harbour porpoise. You can browse in Howth Market for handmade jewellery, artwork and sweets treats. Then take on the scenic Howth Cliff Path Loop and imagine you’re Taylor Swift on stage as the wind blows through your hair. Finish the day off with a salty bag of chips by the Irish Sea.

Speaking of seas, Taylor Swift loves an ocean reference in her music. “We used to watch the sun go down on the boats in the water”, “I’m like the water when your ship rolled in that night” and “Do you remember all the city lights on the water?”.

If, like Taylor, you love the lyricism of the sea, then a trip to Poolbeg Lighthouse should satisfy your inner mariner. Follow the Great South Wall walk towards the picturesque red lighthouse. You’ll be able to see most of Dublin Bay from here, including Bull Island, Howth and the iconic Poolbeg chimneys that once powered the city. 

You didn’t think we could finish this article without mentioning Taylor Swift’s beau, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, did you? Dublin is the home of the Aer Lingus College Football Classic, an annual clash between some of American college football’s biggest teams. Why not make plans to catch a game next time you’re here?

Once the concert is over and you find a Blank Space in your diaries, you’ll need a way to keep those Swiftie vibes going. How about knitting your very own Taylor-inspired cardigan? We knew the star was a fan of Irish knitwear when she wore a traditional Aran knit to promote her Evermore album. And now Irish designer Gabrielle Malone has created this bespoke cardigan which uses different stitches and symbols to represent Taylor’s connection with the island. Download the pattern and try it out for yourself!