From forgotten libraries to hidden parks, here are some unusual, unique and secret places to visit on your study holiday in Dublin.
Dublin has no shortage of attractions to keep you busy while you’re on your study holiday in Dublin, but you might not know that the city is also full of unusual spots. These are the kind of places sought out by savvy visitors who prefer to step away from the main crowds.
If you’re in Ireland for a study holiday, you’ll probably want to spend your free time enjoying the pubs and exploring the city’s eclectic character. But if you want to really get under the skin of Irish culture, you’ll need to wander a little off the beaten track too.
Whether that means swimming in icy waters just outside the city, listening to live music in a sacred setting, or discovering Irish wildlife up close, here are some of the most unusual things to do in and around Dublin.
Dublin’s most unusual places to visit
Sometimes the best way to see the city is by taking a different route or choosing a less obvious stop. How about a reading of James Joyce, or a museum of vintage radios inside a Martello tower?
Join a reading of Ulysses at Joyce’s “pharmacy”
Sweny’s, open since 1847 on Lincoln Place, was once a working pharmacy. Today it’s a non-profit literary landmark and a place of pilgrimage for fans of Dublin’s most famous writer, James Joyce.
The interior looks almost exactly as it did in Joyce’s day, though instead of medicine and toiletries the shelves are now lined with books.
You can still buy the famous lemon soap tablets that Leopold Bloom purchases in Ulysses. Sweny’s also hosts free readings of Joyce’s works throughout the week, run by volunteers.
Step inside a haunted library
Ireland’s first public library was founded in 1707 by Narcissus Marsh, then Archbishop of Dublin.
Marsh’s Library, near St Patrick’s Cathedral, has barely changed since, right down to the positioning of the books. Local legend has it that the Archbishop himself never really left and still haunts the corridors at night.
Even if ghosts aren’t your thing, this library is worth visiting for its history alone. Bram Stoker, author of Dracula, was a regular visitor.
Listen to a concert at Dublin’s Unitarian Church
The Unitarian Church at St Stephen’s Green was built more than 150 years ago thanks to a bequest from Thomas Wilson, whose father served as aide-de-camp to George Washington during the American Revolution.
Past members of the congregation include Irish revolutionary Robert Emmet and John Jameson, founder of the famous distillery.
Today the church is just as well known for music as for worship. With its stunning acoustics, it has hosted concerts by artists including Hozier, Dermot Kennedy and Markéta Irglová.
Try Murphys brown bread ice cream
Murphys Ice Cream began in Dingle, County Kerry, before opening a Dublin shop on Wicklow Street in 2010.
Their award-winning ice cream is made using milk from Kerry cows, a rare native breed descended from ancient Celtic cattle. Flavours are proudly Irish, from aran donn (caramelised brown bread) to salann (Dingle sea salt).
They even make sorbets using distilled Irish rainwater. It’s not your everyday ice cream experience.
Browse Lucy’s Lounge vintage clothing store
If you love vintage shops, Lucy’s Lounge (11 Fownes Street Upper) is a must. Spread across multiple levels, it’s full of quirky retro pieces that could keep you browsing for hours.
Nearby, you’ll also find other second-hand gems like Nine Crows Vintage (22 Temple Lane South) and Dublin Vintage Shop (Capel Street).
Visit Oscar Wilde’s statue
Oscar Wilde is one of Ireland’s most celebrated literary figures.
In Merrion Square Park, directly opposite the Georgian townhouse where he once lived, you’ll find his colourful life-size statue.
It’s a popular photo stop and a chance to pay tribute to Dublin’s wit and wordsmith.
Picnic with the Hungry Tree
The park at King’s Inns, Ireland’s oldest law school, is a lovely place for a picnic.
It’s also home to Dublin’s Hungry Tree, a London plane tree thought to date back to the 1930s.
Over the decades, it has “eaten” much of a cast-iron bench beneath it, absorbing the backrest into its trunk. The quirky sight has become a favourite on social media, so visit early in the day or midweek if you want a photo without the queue.
Unusual experiences just outside Dublin
If you don’t mind venturing a little further, there are plenty of unusual outdoor experiences waiting just beyond the city. On a good day, you might even brave a swim in the Irish Sea.
Spot deer in Phoenix Park
Phoenix Park was created in 1662 as a royal hunting ground and is now home to a herd of around 600 wild fallow deer, direct descendants of the original 17th-century stock.
At over 700 hectares, it’s the largest enclosed park of any European capital, so the deer aren’t always easy to find. Males tend to gather on the eastern side, females on the west.
Visit in October and you might catch sight of the stags locking antlers during rutting season.
Take a dip at the Forty Foot
For centuries the Forty Foot, a deep-water bathing spot at Sandycove, was men-only. That changed in 1974 when a group of women protested the rule by diving in themselves.
Since then, everyone has been welcome. The New York Times has named it one of the best swimming spots in the world, and locals keep up the tradition of swimming here year-round, even on Christmas Day.
Many believe the cold water helps them stay young, which explains the steady stream of swimmers of all ages braving the waves.
Explore the vintage radio museum at Howth’s Martello tower
The Ye Olde Hurdy-Gurdy Museum of Vintage Radio is tucked inside an early 19th-century Martello tower overlooking the fishing village of Howth.
Around 50 of these defensive towers were built by the British across Ireland during and after the French Revolutionary Wars.
The museum opened in 2003, the project of local resident Pat Herbert, who wanted to share his impressive collection of gramophones, radios, Morse equipment and other radio artefacts.
Why a study holiday in Dublin is more than the classics
When you think of Dublin, it’s easy to picture the big names: Trinity College, Guinness Storehouse, Temple Bar. But as you’ve seen, there’s a whole other side to the city waiting for you.
From libraries that hold centuries of secrets to swimming spots with a rebellious history, these unusual places show you the Dublin that locals love. They give you the chance to understand Irish culture in ways a guidebook never could.
So during your study holiday in Dublin, make time for the unexpected. Step into the smaller streets, sit on that half-swallowed bench, try the brown bread ice cream. You’ll return not only with better English, but also with stories you’ll remember long after you’ve gone home!
