Where To Stay In Dublin (The Best Areas And Neighborhoods)

Wondering where to stay in Dublin, Ireland?! You’ll find everything you need to know below (I’ve lived here for 35 years – I promise you’ll find this useful!).

If you’re spending 2 days in Dublin or even just 1 day in Dublin, you need a good, central base in/near the city.

While there is no one best area to stay in Dublin, there are plenty of very nice neighborhoods in Dublin to stay in during your visit.

Below, you’ll find a number of different Dublin areas worth considering – I know each area well so you can rest assured that I’m confident you’ll love any of the places recommended below.

Some quick need-to-knows about where to stay in Dublin

Before looking at where to stay in Dublin, take 20 seconds to scan the points below as they’ll save you time and hassle in the long run:

1. If you pick a central base, Dublin is walkable

Many guides on the best places to stay in Dublin talk about the city like it’s NYC or London – they’re generally doing this because they have limited knowledge of the area. Our city is small – once you pick one of the central Dublin areas, you can walk to most places.

2. There is no one great area for nightlife or restaurants

Many travel guides lead you to believe that Dublin has ‘main’ restaurant or bar areas. Yes, some places have more pubs and places to eat than others but, as the city is compact, you’re never (and I mean never) far from places to eat and drink.

3. The pros and cons of staying outside of the city

Many of the best neighborhoods in Dublin lay outside of the city centre. Places like Dalkey, Howth and Malahide are a train ride away. While you won’t be at the heart of the hustle and bustle, you’ll see a very different side to Dublin than those who stay in the city.

4. The pros and cons of staying in the city

Arguably the best places to stay in Dublin are the areas at the heart of the hustle and bustle; you’ll be a short walk from most major attractions and you won’t need to take public transport. The main disadvantage of staying in the city is that hotels in Dublin charge an arm and a leg!

The best places to stay in Dublin City Centre

OK, so, the first section of our guide is packed with the best area to stay in Dublin if you want to 1, be at the heart of the action and 2, be within walking distance of many of Dublin’s top attractions.

Note: if you book a stay through one of the links below we may make a tiny commission that helps us keep this site going. You won’t pay extra, but we really do appreciate it.

1. Stephen’s Green / Grafton Street

St Stephen’s Green sits at the top of Grafton Street and both areas are home to plenty of shops, pubs and restaurants.

These are two of the more high-end Dublin areas and you’ll find many of the top 5-star hotels in Dublin located in their surrounds.

Temple Bar, Trinity College and Dublin Castle are all no more than a 15-minute walk from Stephen’s Green and there’s also a handy LUAS tram stop on the Green’s west side.

It’s for good reason that we reply to most ‘where to stay in Dublin City Centre’ emails advising people to stay in and around The Green. The location here is hard to beat.

The pros and cons to staying here

• The pros: Close to the likes of Trinity, Dublin Castle and all major attractions
• The cons: As it’s very central, expect hotel prices to be at their highest here

Recommended hotels

• Budget: None
• Mid-range: The Green and The Marlin 
• High-end: The Shelbourne and Stauntons on the Green 

2. Merrion Square

Dublin’s Merrion Square, the former home of Oscar Wilde, is a historic oasis of calm right in the heart of the city.

Another of the best neighborhoods to stay in Dublin if you’ve a lofty budget, here you’ll discover Georgian architecture hidden in plain sight along with some of Dublin’s most colourful doors! 

Although it’s feet from the hustle and bustle, its location makes you feel like you left the city behind you.

Within a 10-minute walk you have everywhere from the National Gallery of Ireland and the Book of Kells to Grafton Street and more.

The pros and cons to staying here

• The pros: Very central yet it’ll feel like you’re outside of the city centre
• The cons: Expensive. Very expensive

Recommended hotels

• Budget: None
• Mid-range: The Mont
• High-end: The Merrion and The Alex

3. The Liberties

One of the best neighborhoods in Dublin for visitors looking to sample Irish beers and Irish whiskey is The Liberties.

Those that stay here will immerse themselves in Dublin’s past and present in an area that’s steeped in history.

Once the heart of Dublin’s industry, it’s now a cultural hotspot that’s home to the likes of the Roe & Co Distillery and the Guinness Storehouse.

You also have the likes of Marsh’s Library and St. Patrick’s Cathedral a short ramble away. Few Dublin areas are as up-and-coming as The Liberties tourism-wise.

The pros and cons to staying here

• The pros: Central, lots of accommodation options and plenty to see and do
• The cons: None

Recommended hotels

• Budget: Garden Lane Backpackers 
• Mid-range: Aloft
• High-end: Hyatt Centric

4. Smithfield

Smithfield is another of the best places to stay in Dublin when it comes to proximity to the city centre and the cost for a room for a night.

Located a 15-minute stroll from the Storehouse and 20 minutes from O’Connell Street, Smithfield is very central without being smack bang in the middle of the city.

The beauty of this is that you get a much better bang-for-your-buck when it comes to accommodation.

The pros and cons to staying here

• The pros: Short walk from most main attractions. Good value on accommodation
• The cons: If you have mobility issues the walk might be laboursome

Recommended hotels

• Budget: None
• Mid-range: McGettigan’s Townhouse and The Maldron
• High-end: None

5. Temple Bar

Many guides on where to stay in Dublin list the Temple Bar district at the top spot thanks to its nightlife.

Now, don’t be fooled into thinking it’s here that you’ll find the city’s finest bars – the best pubs in Dublin are most definitely not in Temple Bar.

With that being said, there are some great pubs in Temple Bar, especially if you’re after live music. Temple Bar is also very central so if you stay here you won’t have to walk far to reach the main attractions.

Temple Bar is arguably the best area to stay in Dublin if you’re looking for a very lively base to explore the city from.

The pros and cons to staying here

• The pros: Very central
• The cons: Very pricey for hotels and pints

Recommended hotels

• Budget: The Apache Hostel 
• Mid-range: Temple Bar Inn and The Fleet 
• High-endish: The Clarence and The Morgan

6. O’Connell St.

If you’re wondering where to stay in Dublin for the first time, O’Connell Street is a good option. Located on the north side of the city, it’s a short walk from all major attractions.

Now, my one major gripe with recommending O’Connell Street as a base is that it’s dodgy here at times (see our guide to ‘Is Dublin Safe?‘).

I’ve lived in Dublin my entire life and have spent a lot of time in the city in recent years – one of the Dublin areas I’d dodge, especially late in the evenings, is O’Connell Street.

With that being said, many tourists stay here due to how central it is and most have no negative encounters.

The pros and cons to staying here

• The pros: Extremely central. Hotels generally well-priced
• The cons: It can be rough here in the evenings so you need to be vigilant

Recommended hotels

• Budget: Abbey Court Hostel
• Mid-range: Arlington Hotel
• High-end: The Gresham

7. The Docklands

Another of the best areas to stay in Dublin if you’re looking to keep costs down is the Docklands down near Grand Canal Dock.

This area has undergone a complete transformation over the last 10-15 years thanks to the arrival of the likes of Google and Facebook.

The result is a surge in the number of hotels, bars and restaurants. It’s a short stroll from the city centre and it’s one of the best areas to stay in Dublin price wise.

The pros and cons to staying here

• The pros: Relatively short walk into city and sometimes better price-wise for hotels
• The cons: Very quiet at weekends due to the area being full of offices. It’s also outside the centre of the city

Recommended hotels

• Budget: None
• Mid-range: Clayton Cardiff Lane and Grand Canal Hotel
• High-end: The Marker

The best areas to stay in Dublin outside of the city

The final section of our guide on where to stay in Dublin contains places to stay outside of the city centre that are worth considering.

Now, getting around Dublin is pretty easy, so you could stay in one of these Dublin areas and get a bus or train into the city, if you fancy!

1. Ballsbridge

One of the best places to stay in Dublin right next to the city centre is the very affluent Ballsbridge.

Now, although it’s outside of the city centre, you’d still walk into the likes of Trinity College in under 35 minutes, so it’s not too far out.

Home to countless embassies, pubs and high-end restaurants, I’d argue that Ballsbridge is one of the safer Dublin areas and it makes an excellent base to explore from.

The pros and cons to staying here

• The pros: Nice, safe area a stone’s throw from the city
• The cons: None

Recommended hotels

• Budget: None
• Mid-range: Pembroke Hall and Mespil Hotel
• High-end: InterContinental

2. Drumcondra

I’d argue that Drumcondra is the best area to stay in Dublin if you want to be very close to the city and the airport and you don’t have a huge budget.

This is a leafy little neighborhood that’s home to plenty of expensive housing estates, Dublin’s Croke Park Stadium and lots of pubs and restaurants.

It’s one of the lesser-known places to stay in Dublin amongst visiting tourists, but it’s one we recommend over and over again.

The pros and cons to staying here

• The pros: Very close to city centre and plenty of hotels
• The cons: None

Recommended hotels

• Budget: Double bedroom studios
• Mid-range: Dublin Skylon Hotel and The Croke Park Hotel
• High-end: None

3. Malahide

Full of colour and offering pleasant coastal scenes that are a world away from the action of Dublin City Centre, Malahide is a great spot to spend a few days.

With a totally different speed of life to the city yet still boasting a ton of things to do (especially the 800-year-old Malahide Castle) and some good pubs and restaurants, Malahide has a lot going for it. 

It’s also well connected with non-stop rail services taking you to Dublin in less than 20 minutes while the slightly slower DART gets you there in under 30 minutes. 

Malahide is arguably the best area to stay in Dublin if you’d like to experience a gorgeous Irish village that’s home to plenty of history and lots of good pubs, food and public transport.

The pros and cons to staying here

• The pros: Lovely village with great bars and restaurants
• The cons: Limited accommodation

Recommended hotels

• Budget: None
• Mid-range: The Grand Hotel
• High-end: None

4. Howth

Situated on the Howth Peninsula, Howth is a scenic little town with lovely views and a ton of great pubs, beaches and superb seafood restaurants.

With Howth Castle and the famous Howth Cliff Walk nearby, there’s plenty to keep you occupied here.

The transport links back to the bright lights of Dublin aren’t bad either, and the DART will get you to Connolly station in around 30-35 minutes. 

If you’re wondering where to stay in Dublin that’ll make you feel like you’re a million miles away from the city, Howth is worth considering.

The pros and cons to staying here

• The pros: Gorgeous village, lots of pubs and restaurants and plenty to see and do
• The cons: Limited accommodation

Recommended hotels

• Budget: None
• Mid-range: King Sitric
• High-end: None

5. Dalkey and Dún Laoghaire

And last but by no means least in out guide to the best neighborhoods to stay in Dublin are Dalkey and Dún Laoghaire.

These are two very affluent coastal towns a short train/bus ride from the city centre that make very scenic bases to explore from.

Both are packed to the rafters with cracking cafes, pubs and restaurants and, if you’re using either as a base for a 2-day+ stay, you can take a number of day trips from Dublin with ease (especially nearby Wicklow).

The pros and cons to staying here

• The pros: Beautiful, safe areas
• The cons: Outside the city so you’ll need to take the bus/train

Recommended hotels

• Budget: None
• Mid-range: Royal Marine Hotel and Rochestown Lodge Hotel
• High-end: None

Frequently asked questions

Our guide to the best neighborhoods to stay in Dublin has been written based on the experience of living in the capital for 32 years. 

However, we’re sure that there are other Dublin areas that pack a punch, too. If you have a place that you’d like to recommend, let us know below.