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

This is an honest guide on where to stay in Dublin, Ireland, from someone that has lived in the capital for 35 years.

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.

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.

The quick answer:

• The best areas in the city: Ballsbridge, Ranelagh and Rathmines
• The best areas outside of the city: Drumcondra and the South Dublin Coast

Where to stay in Dublin area map

The map above will give you a sense of where to stay in Dublin based on my recommendations.

Below, you’ll find maps of both the city and the wider county with each area highlighted along with pros and cons.

Here are some need-to-knows before you dive in!

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 – that isn’t the case. 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 restaurants than others but, as the city is compact, you’re never far from places to eat and drink.

3. 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 can be more expensive.

4. 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.

The best places to stay in Dublin City Centre

The first section of this guide is packed with the best area to stay in Dublin City Centre, most of which are near Dublin’s top attractions.

Now, a note – you’ll see that I haven’t included O’Connell Street. I’ve stopped recommending this area to people in recent years.

The reality is that, despite being steeped in history, O’Connell Street is frequented by a lot of dodgy characters and it is becoming one of the areas of Dublin to avoid.

1. Ballsbridge

One of the best places to stay in Dublin is the very affluent Ballsbridge – a leafy area that’s home to many of Dublin’s embassies.

The first reason that I recommend Ballsbridge to people is that, personally, I always feel safe walking here, regardless of the time of day.

The second reason is that it’s only a 35-minute walk or a 10-15-minute bus journey into the centre (there’s also plenty of pubs and restaurants in the area).

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: Waterloo Lodge
• Mid-range: Herbert Park Hotel and Ariel House
• High-end: The InterContinental

2. Ranelagh and Rathmines

If you’re wondering where to stay in Dublin for the first time, the very trendy Ranelagh and Rathmines are two excellent options.

Each is a handy 15-20-minute bus journey from the centre and both are charming, lively areas that have plenty of great cafes, pubs and restaurants.

This is one of the best areas to stay in Dublin for first-timers, as it’s close to the heart of the action while being far enough away to avoid the hustle and bustle of the city centre.

The pros and cons to staying here

• The pros: Both areas feel safe to stroll around and they’re close to the centre
• The cons: None

Recommended hotels

• Budget: Travelodge
• Mid-range: The Devlin and Uppercross House
• High-end: None

3. 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

Recommended hotels

• Budget: O’Donoghue’s
  
• Mid-range: The Mont and The Leinster
• High-end: The Merrion

4. The Liberties

One of the best neighborhoods in Dublin for visitors looking to experience whiskey distilleries in Dublin is The Liberties.

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 neighborhoods 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 Hotel and Maldron Hotel
• High-end: Hyatt Centric

5. Stephen’s Green / Grafton Street

If you’re struggling to decide where to stay in Dublin City Centre, ‘the Green’ and Grafton Street rarely disappoint.

St Stephen’s Green sits at the top of Grafton Street and both areas are home to plenty of shops, pubs and restaurants, while the likes of Trinity College and Dublin Castle are a short walk away.

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

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: Drury Court
• Mid-range: The Green and Arthaus Hotel 
• High-end: The Shelbourne and The Fitzwilliam

6. Temple Bar/Trinity

Many guides on where to stay in Dublin list the Temple Bar district at the top spot. However, you’ll find that most Dubliners will turn their nose up at this if you suggest it.

The reality is that Temple Bar, and the area around Trinity, make great places for tourists to explore from.

Yes, many of the pubs there charge an arm and a leg but the area is close to everything, there are great lodging options and the best pubs in Dublin are a ramble away.

This is arguably the best area to stay in Dublin for first timers looking to be at the heart of the action.

The pros and cons to staying here

• The pros: Very central
• The cons: Busy, hectic at night and frequented by dodgy characters

Recommended hotels

• Budget: Temple Bar Lane and Abigail’s Hostel
• Mid-range: Wren Urban Nest and Trinity Townhouse Hotel
• High-end: The Westbury

The best areas to stay in Dublin outside of the city

The second section of this 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 neighborhoods and get a bus or train into the city, if you fancy!

1. 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 area 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 I recommend over and over again.

The pros and cons to staying here

• The pros: Very close to city centre and airport. Plenty of good lodging
• The cons: None

Recommended hotels

• Budget: Egans House and Dublin One
• Mid-range: Skylon Hotel and Croke Park Hotel 
• High-end: None

2. South Dublin coast

Killiney, Dalkey and Dún Laoghaire are three scenic (and very affluent) coastal towns a short train ride from the city centre.

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

I tend to recommend these to people that have visited Dublin before and that are now looking to see a different side to the capital.

The pros and cons to staying here

• The pros: Beautiful, safe areas
• The cons: None

Recommended hotels

• Budget: Mulgrave Lodge
• Mid-range: Royal Marine Hotel and Fitzpatrick Castle Hotel
• High-end: None

3. Malahide

Close to the airport and a short DART ride from the 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), Malahide has a lot going for it. 

The town is well connected to the city by both bus and train and the town is home to a marina, a massive park and a beautiful coastal area.

Malahide is arguably one of the best places to stay in Dublin if you’d like to experience a charming Irish town 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 town with great bars and restaurants
• The cons: Limited accommodation

Recommended hotels

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

4. Howth

And last but by no means least in my guide to the best neighborhoods to stay in Dublin is Howth.

With Howth Castle, the famous Howth Cliff Walk, the harbour and an excellent pub and restaurant scene, there’s plenty to keep you occupied here.

The DART will get you to the city’s Connolly station in around 30-35 minutes or you can explore north or south of the city with ease, either.

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: Gleann Na Smol
  
• Mid-range: King Sitric
• High-end: None

Frequently asked questions

This guide to the best neighborhoods to stay in Dublin has been written based on my experience of living in the capital for 35 years. 

While answering questions like Is Dublin Safe? is getting harder and harder, I’ve done my best to answer the most FAQs below.