Top Ten Things to Do in Dublin During Your Erasmus+ Stay

Studying at English schools in Dublin: make the most of the city

Dublin is much more than a place to attend a course. For teachers, education staff and international participants studying at English schools in Dublin, the city itself becomes part of the Erasmus+ experience. Historic universities, museums, theatre, literature, traditional music, coastal walks and lively neighbourhoods all provide opportunities to experience Irish culture and use English naturally outside the classroom.

The city is also relatively compact, which makes it easy to explore around a training timetable. Many of Dublin’s best-known attractions are within walking distance of the centre, while the DART and public transport network make it straightforward to reach coastal areas such as Howth. Whether you are in Dublin for one week or staying longer, these ten experiences offer a good introduction to the city and its culture.

Studying at English schools in Dublin: make the most of the city

Attending an English language or professional development course in Dublin gives participants the opportunity to combine structured learning with cultural immersion. Language development does not stop when lessons finish; ordering food, navigating the city, visiting museums, talking to other international participants and experiencing local culture all create authentic opportunities to communicate in English.

For Erasmus+ participants, this wider experience can support intercultural competence as well as language confidence. Dublin’s combination of education, culture and international connections makes it particularly suitable for teachers and education professionals who want their mobility experience to extend beyond formal training.

1. Explore Trinity College and the Book of Kells

Dive into Ireland’s literary heritage

Trinity College is one of Dublin’s most recognisable landmarks and has been at the centre of Irish academic life since the sixteenth century. Its historic campus sits in the heart of the city, making it easy to visit before or after a training session. For educators in particular, the combination of architecture, scholarship and history makes Trinity much more than a conventional tourist attraction.

The Book of Kells Experience includes the medieval manuscript itself and access to the historic Old Library. The Long Room is currently undergoing a major redevelopment programme, so the experience has changed while conservation work takes place, but it remains one of Dublin’s most important cultural attractions. For teachers interested in literature, history, art or cultural heritage, Trinity provides an excellent introduction to Ireland’s academic and intellectual traditions.

2. Discover Irish history at the National Museum

Uncover Ireland’s past

The National Museum of Ireland is an excellent place to understand the history and culture behind the country you are visiting. The Archaeology branch on Kildare Street contains some of Ireland’s most important objects, including the Ardagh Chalice and Tara Brooch, alongside prehistoric artefacts and material from Viking and medieval Ireland.

The Decorative Arts and History collections at Collins Barracks provide a different perspective, covering Irish social, military and cultural history. The Natural History Museum on Merrion Street is currently closed for refurbishment, although selected collections can be seen at the Dead Zoo Lab at Collins Barracks. For educators, these museums provide useful cultural context and can also prompt ideas about storytelling, heritage, identity and the way museums communicate complex subjects to different audiences.

3. Walk or cycle through Phoenix Park

Enjoy the great outdoors

Phoenix Park offers a welcome contrast to Dublin’s busy streets. Covering more than 1,700 acres, it is one of Europe’s largest enclosed city parks and contains Áras an Uachtaráin, the official residence of the President of Ireland, Dublin Zoo, historic monuments and extensive areas of woodland and grassland.

The park is ideal for walking, cycling or simply taking some time away from a full professional-development programme. Its famous herd of fallow deer is part of the landscape, although visitors should always observe them from a respectful distance. For participants spending several days in Dublin, Phoenix Park is an easy way to experience some green space without leaving the city.

4. Tour the Guinness Storehouse

Discover Ireland’s brewing heritage

The Guinness Storehouse at St James’s Gate tells the story of one of Ireland’s best-known brands and its connection with Dublin. The visitor experience explores brewing, advertising, company history and the development of Guinness from a local brewery into an internationally recognised name.

For international visitors, the Storehouse also provides an interesting example of how Irish heritage, branding and storytelling are presented to a global audience. The visit finishes at the Gravity Bar, which offers panoramic views across Dublin. It is particularly popular with groups and can provide a relaxed social activity alongside a week of training and professional networking.

5. Wander Through Temple Bar

Experience Dublin’s cultural quarter

Temple Bar is often associated with nightlife, but there is much more to the area than pubs. Its cobbled streets contain independent shops, cultural organisations, galleries, cafés and the Irish Film Institute, while the neighbourhood’s architecture gives visitors a sense of the older street pattern of central Dublin.

During the day, Temple Bar has a very different character from its evening atmosphere and is worth exploring on foot. Later in the day, traditional music and busy pubs bring a more social side of the district to life. For Erasmus+ participants, the area offers an easy place to meet colleagues, experience live music and spend time together outside the training environment.

6. Learn at EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum

A journey through Irish diaspora

EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum in Dublin Docklands explores the history of Irish emigration and the influence of Irish people around the world. Its interactive approach makes it particularly interesting for educators because it uses digital media, personal stories and multimedia interpretation rather than relying only on traditional museum displays.

Themes such as migration, identity, belonging and cultural exchange also connect naturally with the wider aims of international mobility. For participants involved in Erasmus+, the museum can prompt reflection on how movement between countries shapes individuals, communities and institutions. In 2026, EPIC is also hosting an exhibition examining Ireland’s relationship with the European Union.

7. Explore Dublin’s literary heritage

Follow in the footsteps of literary giants

Dublin has a remarkably strong literary identity, associated with writers including James Joyce, Oscar Wilde, W.B. Yeats, Samuel Beckett and many others. Visitors can explore this heritage through literary walking tours, historic pubs, plaques and landmarks across the city, or visit the Museum of Literature Ireland on St Stephen’s Green.

For language teachers in particular, Dublin’s literary heritage can add another dimension to an Erasmus+ stay. It offers opportunities to connect language learning with storytelling, cultural identity and the social history behind well-known writers and texts. It can also provide practical ideas for using place, literature and authentic cultural material in future lessons.

8. Experience Irish theatre at the Abbey Theatre

Experience world-class theatre

The Abbey Theatre is Ireland’s national theatre and has played a central role in Irish cultural life since the early twentieth century. Founded by figures including W.B. Yeats and Lady Augusta Gregory, it has long supported Irish writers and performers while exploring social, cultural and political themes through drama.

Seeing a performance can be particularly valuable for teachers and language educators because theatre provides exposure to authentic spoken English, storytelling and different forms of cultural expression. Even for participants who do not regularly attend theatre at home, an evening at the Abbey can offer a memorable insight into contemporary Irish culture.

9. Take the DART to Howth

Explore the scenic coastline

One of Dublin’s advantages is how quickly you can travel from the city centre to the coast. Howth is a fishing village on Dublin Bay that can be reached easily by DART and is known for its harbour, seafood restaurants and coastal scenery.

The walks around Howth Head offer sweeping views across Dublin Bay and the Irish Sea, providing a complete change of atmosphere from the city centre. Visit Dublin continues to highlight Howth Cliff Walk as one of the capital’s most scenic experiences. For participants with a free afternoon or weekend, Howth is an easy and rewarding way to experience Ireland’s coastline without planning a longer journey.

10. Visit the National Gallery of Ireland

Discover the art of Ireland

The National Gallery of Ireland provides a quieter cultural experience in the heart of Dublin. Its collection includes Irish and European art, giving visitors the opportunity to explore visual culture, history and changing artistic traditions within an accessible city-centre setting.

For teachers and education professionals, galleries can also provide useful inspiration for classroom activities involving observation, interpretation, discussion and critical thinking. A visit can be combined easily with Trinity College, Merrion Square or St Stephen’s Green, making it suitable for an afternoon after training.

English schools in Dublin for Erasmus+ participants