Things to Do in Dublin This Weekend

Every Thursday evening, the same question echoes through group chats across Dublin: “What’s the plan this weekend?” It starts innocently enough. Someone drops a link to a gig, someone else mentions a new place doing brunch, and before you know it, the chat has forty unread messages and no actual decision has been made.

Dublin has that effect. For a city its size, the sheer volume of things happening on any given weekend is almost ridiculous. On a single Saturday you could hit a morning market in Temple Bar, catch a matinee at the Abbey, grab dinner on Camden Street, and end up at a late show in Vicar Street. And you’d still have missed a dozen things worth going to. That’s not a complaint. It’s the best kind of problem to have.

But it does mean you need a decent guide. Not one of those glossy “top ten experiences” lists written by someone who visited Dublin for a long weekend in 2019. You need someone who actually knows what’s on, what’s worth your time, and what’s quietly brilliant despite nobody talking about it on Instagram.

That’s what this page is for. We put together a proper rundown of the best things to do in Dublin this weekend, every week. We go through the venue listings, the social feeds, the posters stapled to lamp posts on Thomas Street. We check what’s on at the small galleries, the comedy clubs, the community centres, and the big headline venues. Then we pull together the stuff that’s actually worth leaving the house for.

Whether you’re a born-and-raised Dubliner who’s stuck in a rut of the same three pubs, or you’ve just moved here and don’t know where to start, this is your weekly cheat sheet. We cover everything from free exhibitions to late-night DJ sets, family days out to solo afternoon wandering. We update this page regularly, so bookmark it. Save yourself from the Thursday night group chat spiral. The weekend’s sorted.

This Weekend’s Highlights

A great Dublin weekend isn’t about ticking off a checklist. It’s about that feeling you get when you stumble into exactly the right thing at the right time. When you duck into a pub on Wexford Street because it’s raining and there’s a trad session in the back that turns your whole evening around. Or when you take the DART out to Dun Laoghaire on a whim and the light on the water is so good you forget you were in a foul mood an hour ago.

The best weekends in Dublin tend to mix things up. Friday night at a gig in Whelan’s, a few pints afterwards on the strip. Saturday morning at a food market, afternoon wandering through IMMA or up through the Phoenix Park, then out again for dinner and whatever takes your fancy. Sunday slowing right down. A long brunch somewhere good, maybe a gallery, a walk along the canal before the week starts again.

That’s the shape of it. But the specifics change every single week, and that’s what keeps Dublin interesting. New pop-ups, visiting comedians, one-off screenings, album launches, seasonal markets. There’s always something you didn’t expect.

Below, we’ve broken the weekend down by day and by mood. Have a look through, see what grabs you, and go from there. You can also browse events by category to find exactly what you’re after.

Saturday in Dublin: Top Picks

Saturday is Dublin’s main event. The city hits its stride by mid-morning and doesn’t really stop until the small hours. However you like to spend your time, Saturday has something for you.

Morning

Start with a market. The Temple Bar Food Market runs every Saturday and it’s one of the best ways to ease into the day. Coffee from a proper roaster, something hot and unreasonably good from one of the food stalls, and a wander through while Dublin wakes up around you. If you’re after something with more of a rummage-through-vintage-furniture feel, keep an eye out for Dublin Flea events and seasonal markets that pop up around the city. Newmarket Square, the Digital Hub, the back rooms of pubs you didn’t know had back rooms.

Alternatively, if you’re the type who needs to move before you can think, Saturday morning is brilliant for a run or walk along the Grand Canal from Portobello to Grand Canal Dock, or a loop through the Phoenix Park before the crowds arrive. The Farmleigh grounds are worth the detour if you haven’t been.

Afternoon

Dublin’s galleries and museums are genuinely world-class, and most of them are free. IMMA at the Royal Hospital Kilmainham always has something on. Their temporary exhibitions are consistently interesting, and the building itself is worth the visit. The National Gallery on Merrion Square, Hugh Lane Gallery on Parnell Square, and Chester Beatty at Dublin Castle are all free and all excellent. You could spend a whole afternoon at any one of them.

If the weather’s playing ball, a walk along the Howth Cliff Path is hard to beat. Take the DART from Connolly or Tara Street, it’s about 25 minutes, and you’re on the cliff walk within five minutes of stepping off the train. On a clear day, the views across Dublin Bay are the kind of thing you’d pay money for somewhere else.

Evening

Saturday night in Dublin is whatever you want it to be. Whelan’s on Wexford Street and The Workman’s Club on Wellington Quay are two of the best live music venues in the city. Check their listings for the week, because they regularly have acts that would fill much bigger rooms. Vicar Street and the 3Olympia handle the bigger names. For comedy, there’s usually something good at the Laughter Lounge on Eden Quay or one of the smaller club nights around town.

Dinner-wise, Camden Street, Wexford Street, Aungier Street, and the surrounding lanes have more good restaurants per square metre than anywhere else in Dublin. From casual tacos at Pablo Picante to a proper sit-down at Bastible, there’s something for every budget and mood.

For a pint afterwards, you’re spoiled. Grogan’s on South William Street, The Long Hall on South Great George’s Street, Kehoe’s on South Anne Street. These are the pubs that make Dublin what it is. No gimmicks, just good pints in rooms that have been perfected over decades.

Sunday in Dublin: Top Picks

Sunday in Dublin runs at a different pace. The city takes its time getting going, and that slower rhythm is part of the appeal. Don’t fight it. Lean in.

Morning and Brunch

Sunday brunch is practically a religion in Dublin at this point. The good places fill up fast, so either book ahead or be prepared to queue (some queues are worth it, for the record). Brother Hubbard on Capel Street does Middle Eastern-influenced brunch that’s consistently excellent. The Fumbally in the Liberties is a Dublin institution. The space, the food, the coffee, all of it. Assassination Custard in Glasnevin is small and brilliant, the kind of place that doesn’t need to try hard because everything is just done right. Over in Stoneybatter, Love Supreme does a weekend brunch that draws half the neighbourhood.

If brunch isn’t your thing, a strong coffee and a pastry from Bread 41 on Pearse Street or Two Boys Brew in the IFSC will set you up properly.

Afternoon

Sunday afternoon is for the things you keep meaning to do but never quite get around to. Dublin’s free museums are genuinely some of the best in Europe. The National Museum of Ireland on Kildare Street (the archaeology collection with the bog bodies is remarkable), the Natural History Museum (the “Dead Zoo”, as strange and wonderful as it sounds), and the National Gallery are all free and all open on Sundays.

If you want to get out of the city centre, Sunday is ideal. The Howth Cliff Walk is the obvious choice and it’s popular for a reason. But Bull Island is underrated. A proper nature reserve with a long sandy beach, accessible by bus from the city centre, and somehow most Dubliners forget it exists. Dun Laoghaire pier is a classic Sunday walk. Out and back along the East Pier, ice cream from Teddy’s regardless of the weather, maybe a browse through the shops on George’s Street on the way back to the DART.

The Grand Canal Greenway from Inchicore out towards Hazelhatch is a lovely cycle or walk if you want something a bit quieter. And Marlay Park in Rathfarnham has parkland, a craft courtyard with a great cafe, and the start of the Wicklow Way if you’re feeling ambitious.

Evening

Sunday nights in Dublin have more going on than you’d expect. Some of the best comedy nights run on Sundays. It’s when comedians try out new material, so the atmosphere tends to be looser and funnier than the polished weekend shows. A few pubs do Sunday trad sessions that are the real thing. Not performative, just musicians playing because they want to. The Cobblestone in Smithfield is the gold standard.

Check the cinema listings too. The IFI in Temple Bar and the Light House Cinema in Smithfield both programme interesting stuff. Sunday evening is a great time for a film you wouldn’t normally pick.

Browse by What You’re in the Mood For

Sometimes you don’t know what you want to do until someone describes it properly. Here’s a quick rundown of what Dublin does well, with pointers on where to start.

Live Music

Dublin’s live music scene runs deep. On any given weekend there are gigs happening in pubs, clubs, churches, and proper concert venues all over the city. Whelan’s, The Workman’s Club, The Button Factory, Vicar Street, and the 3Olympia are the big names, but don’t overlook the smaller rooms. Anseo on Camden Street, The Grand Social on Liffey Street, and Whelan’s Upstairs (a different beast entirely from the main room). Browse live music events to see what’s on this weekend.

Comedy

Dublin punches well above its weight for comedy. The Laughter Lounge on Eden Quay runs shows most nights. Cherry Comedy at the Workman’s Club is a free midweek night that regularly features big names trying out material. At the weekends, keep an eye on listings for one-off shows and touring acts at venues across the city. See comedy events.

Theatre

Between the Abbey Theatre, the Gate, the Gaiety, Smock Alley, and the Project Arts Centre, Dublin has a theatre scene that ranges from big-budget productions to raw, experimental work. Smock Alley in particular is worth watching. Their programme often includes things you won’t see anywhere else. Browse theatre listings.

Family

Dublin is full of things to do with kids. Dublin Zoo in the Phoenix Park is the obvious one, and it’s genuinely good. Imaginosity in Sandyford is brilliant for younger children. Malahide Castle and its grounds make for a great family day out. The museums are all free and most have dedicated family programmes at weekends. Find family events.

Food and Drink

Beyond the restaurants and pubs, Dublin has a growing scene of food markets, pop-up kitchens, and food tours that are worth seeking out. The weekend markets are the best starting point, but keep an eye on our listings for supper clubs, wine tastings, and new openings. Explore food and drink events.

Free Events

There’s always more free stuff happening in Dublin than people realise. Gallery openings, lunchtime concerts, outdoor screenings, walking tours, park events, talks, and workshops. If you know where to look, you can have a packed weekend without spending a cent on entertainment. See free events in Dublin.

Nightlife

For a proper night out, Camden Street and the surrounding streets are hard to beat for variety. Harcourt Street has the late bars and clubs. Smithfield and Capel Street have come into their own in recent years with a great mix of bars and late spots. Browse nightlife events.

Sport

Croke Park and the Aviva Stadium host GAA, rugby, and football matches that can define a whole weekend in Dublin. Even if you’re not a sports fan, the atmosphere around Drumcondra or Ballsbridge on match day is something worth experiencing. Check sports events.

Happening This Month

The weekend is the headline, but Dublin’s cultural calendar doesn’t stop on Sunday night. It’s worth thinking a bit further ahead.

At any given time, there are exhibitions running for weeks or months at IMMA, the National Gallery, the Hugh Lane, and the smaller galleries dotted around the city. Temple Bar Gallery + Studios, the Douglas Hyde, the RHA. These are the kinds of things you can fit in around your weekend plans, and they’re often the most rewarding cultural experiences in the city.

Dublin’s festival calendar is packed too. Depending on the time of year, you might have the Dublin International Film Festival, St. Patrick’s Festival, Bloomsday, Dublin Fringe, Dublin Theatre Festival, or New Year’s Festival on the horizon. These events transform the city for days or weeks at a time, and they’re always worth planning around.

Seasonal events matter too. Christmas markets, outdoor cinema in summer, Halloween in the Liberties, the Bram Stoker Festival in October. Dublin marks the turning of the year in ways that are genuinely fun, not just commercial.

Check our full events calendar to see what’s coming up beyond just this weekend.

Never Miss a Dublin Event

Here’s the thing about Dublin events: there are a lot of them, spread across dozens of venues, hundreds of social media accounts, and countless posters and flyers. Nobody has time to check all of that every week.

That’s why we do it. We trawl through every listing, venue website, and social feed so you don’t have to. We pull together the best of what’s on and send it straight to you. No noise, no filler, just the stuff that’s genuinely worth your time.

Our weekly newsletter lands in your inbox every Thursday, right when you need it. It covers the weekend ahead, flags anything worth booking in advance, and highlights the things you might not have heard about. It’s free, it’s short, and you can unsubscribe any time if it’s not for you (but nobody does).

Sign up and stop relying on the group chat.

FAQs: Dublin This Weekend

What are the best things to do in Dublin this weekend?

It depends on what you’re into, and that’s what makes Dublin brilliant. There’s genuine variety every single weekend. If you’re after live music, check venues like Whelan’s, The Workman’s Club, and Vicar Street for gig listings. For a more relaxed day, Dublin’s free museums and galleries (the National Gallery, IMMA, Chester Beatty) are among the best in Europe. Food lovers should hit the Temple Bar Food Market on Saturday morning. If the weather is decent, the Howth Cliff Walk or a stroll along the Grand Canal are hard to beat. We update this page weekly with specific picks, so check back regularly or browse our full event listings for everything that’s on.

What free events are on in Dublin this weekend?

More than you’d think. Dublin has a remarkable number of free things to do on any given weekend. The National Gallery, National Museum, Hugh Lane Gallery, Chester Beatty, and Natural History Museum are all permanently free. Beyond that, there are regularly free gallery openings, lunchtime concerts, outdoor events in the city’s parks, community festivals, and cultural events that cost nothing. We maintain a dedicated free events listing that’s updated weekly, so you can always find something.

What’s on in Dublin for families this weekend?

Dublin is genuinely good for families at the weekend. Dublin Zoo in the Phoenix Park is a reliable favourite. Imaginosity in Sandyford is purpose-built for younger kids and they love it. The Natural History Museum (the “Dead Zoo”) fascinates children of all ages. On a dry day, the Phoenix Park, Malahide Castle, or Ardgillan Castle grounds give kids space to run around. Many of the city’s museums run free family workshops on Saturdays and Sundays. Check our family events section for what’s on this specific weekend.

Where can I find live music in Dublin this weekend?

Dublin’s live music scene is one of the best things about the city. For a proper gig, Whelan’s on Wexford Street, The Workman’s Club on Wellington Quay, The Button Factory on Curved Street, and Vicar Street are the go-to venues. For bigger acts, the 3Arena and 3Olympia host touring names. But some of the best music happens in pubs. Trad sessions at The Cobblestone in Smithfield are the real deal, and places like Anseo on Camden Street and The Grand Social regularly host smaller gigs. Our live music listings cover everything from arena shows to pub sessions.

What’s the best area in Dublin for a night out?

It depends on your style. Camden Street and Wexford Street have the best concentration of pubs, restaurants, and live music venues. It’s the go-to strip for most Dubliners. Capel Street has become one of the most interesting streets in the city, with a great mix of bars, restaurants, and late spots. Temple Bar is famous but locals tend to avoid the most touristy pubs, though it does have genuine gems like The Porterhouse and The Palace Bar. Harcourt Street is your spot for late-night clubs and bars. Smithfield is quieter but has some excellent pubs and The Cobblestone for trad music.

What time do Dublin pubs close?

Standard closing time for Dublin pubs is 11:30pm Sunday to Thursday and 12:30am on Friday and Saturday nights. However, many venues hold late bar licences or special exemption orders that allow them to serve until 1:30am or 2:30am. Nightclubs typically run until 2:30am or 3:00am. Sunday closing is 11:00pm for most pubs. Last orders are called 30 minutes before closing, so keep that in mind. If you’re looking for late options, Camden Street, Harcourt Street, and Capel Street tend to have the most venues open late.

Is Dublin good for a weekend break?

Absolutely. Dublin is one of those cities that’s compact enough to explore on foot but has enough going on to fill a week, let alone a weekend. You can walk from the north side to the south side in about 20 minutes, which means you can pack a lot in without needing taxis or buses. The mix of culture, food, pubs, music, and history is hard to match for a city this size. Add in easy day trips to Howth, Dalkey, Bray, Malahide, even the Wicklow Mountains, and you’ve got more than enough for a long weekend. Fly in Friday evening, explore Saturday and Sunday, fly home Monday morning. You’ll be planning a return trip before you land.

What’s the weather like in Dublin at the weekend?

Honestly? Unpredictable. Dublin’s weather can give you four seasons in one afternoon, and that’s not an exaggeration. The general rule is: bring layers and don’t let the forecast put you off. Even in summer, you’ll want a light jacket. Rain in Dublin tends to come in short bursts rather than all-day downpours, so if it’s drizzling when you wake up, give it an hour. Average temperatures range from about 3-8C in winter to 15-20C in summer. The real trick is not to plan your entire weekend around the weather. Some of the best days in Dublin start grey and end golden. And if it does rain properly, that’s what the pubs and galleries are for.