We did an extreme day trip to Dublin so you don't have to
Would you hop on a plane for a pint of Guinness? We flew to Dublin on an extreme day trip to see why people are jetting off for just a few hours abroad.
What's an extreme day trip?
It's the exact opposite of slow travel. An extreme day trip is all about hopping on a plane somewhere far away, seeing the sights, then hopping back on a plane the same day and making it home in time for bed. Think Milan for a pizza, Paris for a burger (yes, we went to Paris for a burger), or Dublin for the best pint of Guinness you've ever had.
Why is this not-so-eco-conscious travel trend taking off? For starters, life in the UK is getting increasingly more expensive. With many flights working out cheaper than a train ticket between British cities, it's no wonder people are choosing to head abroad for the day instead of exploring the UK. Plus, an extreme day trip means you can visit a new country without having to fork out on accommodation or use up annual leave, making travel much more affordable.
Some do it for the rush of adventure, while others see it as an opportunity to try out a destination before committing to a longer holiday there. There are sustainability concerns around catching two flights in a day, not to mention the contribution of day trips to overtourism in popular spots. But some argue that extreme day trips open up the world of travel to many who might otherwise not be able to afford it.
How easy is an extreme day trip to Dublin from the UK?
Dublin is a beginner-friendly extreme day trip, with flights from most major UK airports taking between 1 hour and 90 minutes. But that doesn't mean flying to Dublin and back in a day is easy.
To make the most of a full day in Dublin you need to get an early flight, and that's exactly what we did. We caught the 6.30am flight from Heathrow, which meant we had to arrive at the airport by 4.30am. It was lucky that we were close to the airport the night before – you'll find extreme day trips to be much more of a struggle if your nearest airport is a fair trek away.
But even though we weren't far away from the terminal, the early start made it a tiring day. The adrenaline of being in a new city definitely carried us a long way, but there's no escaping the lack of sleep. Combine that with the huge step count that comes with exploring a city and you'll exhaust yourself pretty quickly. So make sure to nap on the plane if you can.
Another issue specific to Dublin is the traffic. It's one of the world's most congested cities, and there's no train or subway from the airport to the city centre. That means your only way to reach Temple Bar and the other main sights is to hop on a bus or into a taxi, which will take you at least 30 minutes each way. We went for a taxi and, while the extra hour's travel time was annoying, our driver gave us some excellent recommendations on what to do in the city. So at least the journey wasn't a total waste.
What to do on a day trip to Dublin
It's difficult to go wrong here. Dublin's a wonderful city to visit for the day, with plenty of history, famous landmarks and world-class pubs to immerse yourself in. For a little taste of what's on offer, here's what we got up to on our day trip.
Indulged in pancakes at Póg
No bad day starts with a massive stack of loaded pancakes, so that's where we began. Our taxi dropped us off just across the River Liffey from Temple Bar, where Póg are flipping protein-packed pancakes, smoothie bowls and posh breakfasts. They don't actually flip the smoothie bowls, don't worry. The Classic pancakes, drizzled with Nutella and loaded with strawberries, raspberries, banana and white chocolate chips, provided the perfect lining for the day of Guinness ahead of us.
Sampled a pint (or two) at the home of Guinness
Speaking of Guinness, it would be rude not to try arguably Dublin's most famous export while there. We ventured straight from our pancake session to the Guinness Storehouse, a humungous pint-shaped museum boasting seven floors of brewing history, tasting rooms and unique experiences.
The Guinness Storehouse Experience tells the story of how the brewery was founded and how they make their famous Irish stout. It also comes with a free pint of the black stuff (which apparently isn't even black – it's ruby red) in the Gravity Bar on the top floor, which offers gorgeous panoramic views of the city.
There are loads of extras you can add, from printing a selfie on the foam of your pint to learning how to pour one. We went for the latter, pouring our own pint of Guinness with a little help from the experts at the Guinness Academy. If you've always wanted to get behind the bar, you'll absolutely love it.
Ate fish and chips from a celebrity-endorsed chipper
The Guinness Storehouse is huge, so we worked up a fair appetite wandering around and sampling the goods. Thankfully our taxi driver recommended somewhere for a bite to eat that was on the way to Temple Bar – a famous chipper called Leo Burdock.
A chipper is what they call fish and chip shops in Ireland, and this is no ordinary chipper. Bruce Springsteen is a regular, and plenty more famous faces have popped in for a spot of lunch. We can see why – the fish and chips are seriously good, which we happily demolished just around the corner in the sunny grounds of Christ Church Cathedral.
Top tip – don't bother ordering chips. Instead just order a piece of fish, as most chippers in Dublin will throw in a few chips for free. We wish we knew that sooner!
Revelled in live music and stout at the Temple Bar Pub
There's plenty of chatter online about how overpriced and touristy Temple Bar is, but we couldn't resist finding out for ourselves at Dublin's most famous pub.
Visiting the Temple Bar Pub weirdly reminded us of seeing the Eiffel Tower for the first time. We'd seen countless pictures of it, but nothing beats the feeling of actually seeing a place that you've heard so much about with your own eyes. It's not just a pub – it's one of the main images that comes to mind when you think of Dublin, so being there felt like a momentous occasion.
While we'd seen plenty of images of the exterior, we had no idea what it was like inside. The pub opens most days from 10.30am and closes as late as 2.30am, and unbelievably has live music on every day from open till close. So a trip to the Temple Bar Pub guarantees you'll experience a traditional Irish music session, which you can't miss on a trip to Dublin.
€9.95 for a pint of Guinness was a lot. But it felt worth the money – the atmosphere in this packed pub was electric, and we could've stayed singing along with the band for hours. But given the prices, maybe don't stay for more than a couple.
Tasted the best pint of Guinness in the world at The Gravediggers
You'd think the best pint of Guinness is going to come straight from the source at the Storehouse, but you'd be wrong. To be fair, the Guinness there is probably better than anything you can get outside of Ireland, but it's in Dublin's storied pubs where the truly exceptional pints reside. Our taxi driver reckons it tastes better elsewhere because the beer has to travel less distance from the keg to your glass, but it could just as easily be to do with the legendary atmosphere and craic Dublin's pubs are known for.
A world-beating pint of Guinness is easy to find in Dublin, but for our money John Kavanagh serves the very best. Nicknamed The Gravediggers because it's next door to Glasnevin Cemetery, this old-school neighbourhood boozer has been run by the Kavanagh family ever since it opened in 1833. So they know a thing or two about pouring the perfect pint. There's no music or TVs here – so grab a pint, chat with the locals and get cosy by the fire in this weathered Dublin institution.
The Gravediggers is pretty much halfway between the city centre and the airport, making it ideal for a first or last pint of the holiday. And after a long day exploring the city, we found it to be the perfect place to slow down and relax before catching our flight home.
Would we recommend an extreme day trip to Dublin?
As you'll have gathered by now, an extreme day trip to Dublin is an exhausting experience. We had a lot of fun though, so it's definitely something to consider if you're short on annual leave or can't afford to head away for any longer than a day.
But if you can afford it, we highly recommend staying for longer. There's so much we wanted to see that we didn't have the time for. Kilmainham Gaol. The Book of Kells Experience. Buskers on Grafton Street. EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum – the list goes on. Plus you could add County Wicklow to your trip, which is nearby and features on our list of top destinations to visit in 2025.
And there's no getting away from the environmental impact of an extreme day trip like this, as flying emits a lot of carbon. A more sustainable option that maximises your holiday time is to travel less frequently by plane, but spend longer in the destination when you do. That way you'll still be able to enjoy the same amount of time away while contributing more to the local economy of the place you visit.
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