Booklover’s Guide to Dublin
Every place you need to visit in this UNESCO City of Literature
Whenever I travel somewhere new, I’m always looking for a new fun bookstore or anything writing-related. Dublin, Ireland already has a rich history and reputation of literature (it’s literally designated as a UNSECO City of Literature!), so I knew I was going to have lots to enjoy when I visited there at the start of September!
I was not disappointed. From bookstores to museum to landmarks, Dublin is every bookworm’s dream. If you have the chance to visit, here are some places to see!
Check out this Google Map of all the places I mention — you can save it to your Google account and access it via the Google Maps app!
Museums
Museum of Literature Ireland
I only saw this recommended a few places, but it is 100% worth a visit. The MoLI is a collaboration between the University College Dublin and the National Library of Ireland, housed in a beautiful building near St. Stephen’s Green. The exhibits are so well done and easy to follow, and explored everything from Irish folklore to classic Irish authors like James Joyce to modern Irish writers. It was one of my favorite museums that we visited in Ireland, and a must-see for any booklovers.
James Joyce Centre
Located in a historic Georgian townhouse, this is an interesting deep dive into the life and writings of James Joyce. Especially if you’ve read Ulysses, this would be a great place to explore and appreciate more about the writer and his work. If you (like me) have maybe only read a handful of Joyce’s short stories (or none at all), this museum is a bit like diving into the deep end — but it did inspire me to want to read more of Joyce’s work!
Oscar Wilde House & Memorial
As you might have guessed, this is another deep dive into a specific Irish writer: comedian Oscar Wilde. The building now houses American College Dublin, so if you’re visiting during the school year, you’ll have to join one of their weekly tours to see inside the house. This didn’t end up working out on my trip, but it was still fun to walk by and see it! And directly across the street in a corner of Merrion Square Park is the Oscar Wilde Memorial Statue — enjoy the wry expression of this statue as he lounges on a boulder, and you can even use your phone to listen to “Oscar Wilde” speak about the statue and surrounding area.
Libraries
Trinity College Library
Of course, no trip to Dublin would be complete without visiting the Trinity College Library and the Book of Kells housed within. But…here’s my Ireland hot take: the Book of Kells is Dublin’s Mona Lisa. Yes, it’s very impressive and historically significant and beautiful, but when you actually visit it, you’re crammed in with a bunch of other tourists and you get about 10 seconds to look at the book itself. I’m not saying don’t go, but just have proper expectations. BUT what did make the tour absolutely worth it was the visit to the Long Room. The Long Room of Trinity College Library is always on lists of most beautiful libraries in the world, and I’m here to say it is 100% deserved. I actually gasped as we rounded the corner to see the room. Yes, it’s still crammed full of people who are all jostling to take photos, but the room is truly gorgeous. Put some headphones in and do your best to block out the tourists and pretend you’re Belle visiting the Beast’s library for the first time.
National Library of Ireland
Like many national libraries, this one is a mix of library and museum. Since COVID, they aren’t offering in-person tours of the library (as of September 2022), so if you want to see the Reading Room, you’ll have to plan ahead and apply for a “readers’ ticket” to have access. If you don’t do that, there are still some exhibits free and open to the public. When we went, there was an in-depth exhibit about W.B. Yeats, plus a LEGO model of the entire library!
Marsh’s Library
This is the hidden gem of libraries in Dublin. Located next to St. Patrick’s Cathedral, this was the first public library in Ireland, built in the early 1700s and pretty much unchanged since then. It’s a lesser-known spot, so it’s a quieter place to visit, and you can take your time admiring the books and displays they have. Be sure to keep an eye out for the little LEGO figures hiding on the shelves!
Bookstores
There are, of course, dozens of bookstores worth visiting in Dublin! I’ve included a much longer list on my Google Maps, but below are some of my favorites that I visited.
Hodges Figgis
This is the oldest bookstore in Ireland, and although it’s moved several times since it opened in 1768, it’s still worth a visit at its current location in the city center. With three floors of books, it’s easy to wander around and get lost in all the stories!
Gutter Bookshop
This bookstore gets its name from an Oscar Wilde quote: “We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.” It’s a lovely place to shop — tall windows that let in lots of light, lovely displays, and a wide range of offerings. The perfect place to find your next read!
Temple Bar Bookshop
Temple Bar is known as the party neighborhood of Dublin, but this bookstore is tucked away in a quiet street — right next door to Gutter Bookshop, actually! Escape the hubbub of the city in this indie bookstore, which was started just under ten years ago in 2013 and focuses on rare and antique books.
While you’re there, I also highly recommend getting a treat at Queen of Tarts or The West End (or both!) which share the street with Temple Bar Bookshop and Gutter Bookshop.
Winding Stair Bookshop
As you cross over the famous Ha’penny Bridge, you’ll spot a lovely yellow building rising up over the River Liffey. The top floors house a restaurant, but of course the best part is the little bookstore tucked away in the bottom floor. The Winding Stair is one of the oldest indie bookstores in Dublin, selling both new and used books. And if all that book shopping works up an appetite, head upstairs to the restaurant of the same name!
What’s your favorite bookish location to visit? Have you been to Dublin? Let me know in the comments!
Originally published at https://chelseapenningtonauthor.com on September 24, 2022.
