Seeing as the weather in Ireland for about 90% of the year is rainy and miserable, we’ve become pretty good at figuring out ways to have fun without having to go out in the rain. So if you’re looking for a fun activity for next time you feel cooped up watching the raindrops fall, check out some of the options in this post.
Historical Museums and Exhibits:
Little Museum of Dublin:
- You can find the Little Museum of Dublin right across the road from the north of St. Stephen’s Green.
- One of their best selling activities is their 30 minute guided tours, the tour guides are all hilarious, great storytellers and are full of information.
- And if the weather just so happens to be nice, 1. you’re lucky, and 2. there are a number of walking tours that you can go on with the Little Museum, as well as an occasional treasure hunt.
EPIC Museum:
- The EPIC Museum (or The Irish Emigration Museum) can be found in the CHQ building on the Custom House Quay.
- They have an extensive selection of different exhibits, each one is interactive and chocked full of information, so if you visit for a family outing, there will be something for the whole family.
- They also frequently hold events where you can learn and interact with different Irish authors, learn about old Irish tales and most importantly, have fun.
National Library of Ireland:
- The National Library on Kildare Street is a sight to behold.
- They have over 12 million items that you can look at and examine completely free of charge.
- With books, manuscripts, maps, photographs, prints, drawings, music and newspapers galore, there is no shortage of information to browse through.
Art Galleries and Cultural Spaces:
Douglas Hyde:
- The Douglas Hyde Gallery is located in Trinity College Dublin.
- It costs absolutely nothing to see the excellent artworks on display.
- Their exhibits can be anything from artistic short films to the classic painted canvas to marvelous sculptures.
- They also occasionally host workshops for anyone who may be interested.
Kerlin Gallery:
- Kerlin Gallery is a contemporary commercial art gallery located on Anne’s Lane.
- Like the Douglas Hyde Gallery, the Kerlin Gallery is entirely free to visit.
- And as I said, it is a commercial gallery, so pretty much every piece of work is up for purchase, so not only is it perfect to simply look in awe, but if you are refurbishing or buying a house/apartment, you can pick up a piece here to add as decoration.
Olivier Cornet Gallery:
- The Olivier Cornet Gallery is a contemporary fine art gallery located on Great Denmark Street.
- OH! 3 for 3, the Oliver Cornet Gallery is also entirely free to visit.
- They also have a virtual exhibition space where you can visit the gallery from the comfort of your own home (provided you have a laptop).
Abbey Theatre:
- The Abbey Theatre (on Abbey Street) is arguably Ireland’s most famous theatre.
- Originally founded by the great Irish poet and Free State senator W.B. Yeats and his lifelong friend Lady Gregory.
- The Abbey Theatre’s manifesto was always “to bring upon the stage the deeper emotions of Ireland”
- They frequently put on plays with a wide variety of themes, whether it be drama, comedy, thriller or something else, the one thing that never changes is the unbelievable quality in each one of their productions.
Gaiety:
- The Gaiety Theatre is a historic theatre located on King Street.
- Throughout their historic tenure (1871 – present), the Gaiety theatre has put on plays, operas, dramas, comedies and of course, their annual Christmas pantomime.
- The Gaiety underwent major refurbishments back in 2007, so while the decorations and exterior give off the vibe of an old-timey theatre with the comfort and quality of a brand new cinema.
Glass Mask Theatre:
- The Glass Mask Theatre is a new take on Irish theatre located on Dawson Street.
- They were only founded in 2018, but that doesn’t mean they don’t know how to whip up a mean piece of theatre media.
- All of their shows are completely new and are created by up and coming directors, writers, producer and star up and coming actors.
Olympia Theatre:
- The Olympia Theatre is another timeless theatre located on Dame Street.
- They have a very wide range of performances you can see, from stand-up comedy, to classic theatre productions to live music.
- They have hosted many celebrity performances over the years, most notably would be names such as Charlie Chaplin, Laurel & Hardy, David Bowie, Adele and Foo Fighters.
Ambassador Theatre:
- The Ambassador Theatre is located on Parnell Square South.
- At one point in time, it was the longest running operational cinema in Ireland, but nowadays it is used as a live music venue and events centre.
Indoor Markets and Food Experiences:
George’s Street Arcade:
- George’s Street Arcade first opened it’s doors in 1881, which makes it the 11th oldest still functioning shopping centre in the world.
- There are a plethora of different shops in George’s Street Arcade, including Umi Falafel, Lou’s Lot, The Juicery, Maktus and New Moon Jewellery, to name a few.
Irish Whiskey Museum:
- Believe it or not, but this is actually the first Irish whiskey museum in the world.
- You can choose between their classic tour, their premium tour, their blending experience and much more. (all of which include whiskey tastings by the way)
- You can also rent out their wonderful museum for stag and hen parties, as well as Christmas parties.
Asia Market:
- Asia Market on Drury Street is a one stop shop for all your Asian food needs, from frozen meats to Kewpie mayo to the famous spicy Buldak noodles.
- The mission at Asia Market is to bring Asian flavours to Irish homes and restaurants, and they help make that possible by providing online orders and delivery.
- But it’s not only food that’s sold here, they also have a range of Chinese Lanterns, Lucky cats and various Lunar New Year paraphernalia.
Powerscourt Centre:
- This Georgian-era Townhouse turned shopping centre can be found on South Williams Street.
- Whether you have a shopping list, just want to do some window shopping or just want to take in the elegant decor, Powerscourt has that in spades.
Family-Friendly Activities:
World of Illusions:
- World of Illusion s is located on Dame Street.
- There are over 70 different optical illusions that will make you say “Wow”, from Gravity Defying rooms to infinity mirrors to a vortex tunnel.
- They also offer school tours, private hire and birthday groups if you’re unlucky enough to be born in the winter months (as a January baby, I feel your pain)
National wax museum:
- The National Wax Museum is an Irish icon located on Westmoreland Street.
- They have unbelievably lifelike statues of celebrities, your favourite characters, Irish writers and historical figures and even wax politicians!
- But the fun doesn’t stop there, there are also plenty of science/discovery based exhibitions for you to sink your teeth into (not really).
Sandbox VR
Sandbox VR is Dublin’s most advanced VR playground. With haptic feedback, motion tracking cameras (so you can see your friends or family in the game) and their very own robotic bartender, which is the first of its kind in Ireland. They have games from Stranger Things to Squid games to the Age of Dinosaurs, so no matter what your interests are, Sandbox will have something for you.
National Leprechaun Museum:
- The National Leprechaun is an experience that you just can’t get anywhere else.
- Locate on Mary’s Abbey, the National Leprechaun Museum will teach you things about Irish history and folklore that I guarantee you haven’t heard before.
Irish Rock N’ Roll Museum:
- The Rock N’ Roll Museum on Curved Street is the perfect place to go for anyone, not just rock heads.
- Not only is a stunning collection of memorabilia from Ireland’s biggest rock icons, but it is also a way to glimpse into the lives of the artists you love listening to.
- From a jam room where you can practise, to a cinema showing some of the most exhilarating moments in Irish rock history, and I’m not talking about the Burren, and even a recording studio that was once used by the musicians themselves.
So there you have it, from book libraries to Rock N’ Roll libraries, Dublin has all kind of exciting way to wait for the bad weather to pass. We hope that this list helps you next time the rain starts, which will probably be pretty soon anyways.
