7 Reasons Why You Should Travel Solo To Dublin
When it comes to a solo travel enthusiast’s time to choose where they’re going to head next on their adventure alone, I’m sure Dublin isn’t the first place that pops into their head since it tends to get overlooked compared to the other competitors in mainland Europe.
The city of Dublin has seen a major tourism revival over the past decade and it’s only getting better, which makes it ideal for anybody wishing to dabble their feet in one of the most popular ways to travel these days.
Travelling alone is easily one of the most liberating experiences any human being can have in their life. The freedom of waking up in a foreign country and doing whatever you want to do, whenever you want to do it. That’s bliss.
In this post, we’re going to give you 7 reasons why you should travel solo to Dublin. By the time you reach the end, you’ll have already started packing that backpack and have your hostel booked.
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Reason 1 – The City Has Some Insanely Fun Hostels
If you’ve travelled solo before, you’ll probably already know that staying in a good hostel makes your trip a LOT more enjoyable. And thankfully, you’re in luck because there are some great hostels for anybody travelling to Dublin alone.
You can find all sorts of hostels scattered around the city, whether you’re into the wild party ones or prefer something a bit homier, there’s something for everybody.
We recommend you book your hostel through Hostelworld. It’s without a doubt the best tool to do so.
Staying at hostels is a brilliant way of meeting other people backpacking alone. Say there are ten other solo travellers staying in your hostel. That means you’re all in the same situation and will find it easy to relate to each other. That’s the beauty of it all.
The best hostel in Dublin for solo travellers has to be Generator Dublin in terms of liveliness, safety, and cleanliness.
Reason 2 – Dublin Is Safe For Solo Travellers
A fair few people are always asking us “is Dublin safe to visit?” and the answer is always yes. Dublin is safe to visit.
Millions of tourists from all over the world flock to Dublin every year, so there’s no reason why you should think you’re going to be in danger on your solo trip. Dubliners are some of the warmest people on the planet, and the vast majority of them will look after you like their own once you arrive.
Like in every city you visit, you should always take some precautions to ensure you don’t run into any hassles while here.
Tips To Stay Safe In Dublin
- Don’t get drunk alone
- Avoid flashing cash around
- Any sign of scams, immediately walk away
- Keep the emergency contact numbers handy (999) + (112)
- Cover when using ATMs
Solo female travellers will also be perfectly safe when visiting Dublin. Take the same safety measures as you would anywhere else, and you’ll be fine.
Reason 3 – Affordable Public Transport System
As we all know, Dublin isn’t a cheap city, but when it comes to public transport, it’s very affordable, even if you’re travelling on your own.
While Dublin is a very walkable city since it’s so small, sometimes you need a break and just want to get from A to B as quickly as possible, especially when you’re on the road solo. Thankfully, there are a multitude of options to get around, including buses, trains, or the Luas (tram).
On the 9th of May 2022, the government of Ireland introduced what is called a TFI 90-minute fare. Anyone who buys one can travel between Dublin Bus, the train lines, and the Luas in a 90-minute time period. It can be purchased for the vast majority of journeys in the greater Dublin area and costs 2 euros for adults, 1 euro for young adults (19–23), and 65 cents for children (5–18).
The 90-minute fare is only available on a Leap Card, which is a transport card that can be used when topped up with funds. You can purchase one in many stores across the country. For more information, see here.
Reason 4 – There’s A Hell Of A Lot To Do
When you speak to anybody who has decided to travel to Dublin, they’ll tell you that there’s so much things to do alone, whether it’s touristy experiences such as the Guinness Storehouse or taking on some of the best walks in the county, like the Poolbeg Lighthouse trail.
Not only is there a lot to do, but there’s something for everybody. On one corner, you’ll find one of many free museums around the city, and then on the next, there’s an attraction that would be of historical significance from Ireland’s past. That’s the beauty of Dublin.
Of course, taking on a lot of activities in Dublin isn’t going to be cheap. That’s when you can try one of the many free things that won’t break the bank. Free things to do in Dublin? Yes, you read that right. Think of the alluring Georgian doors up around Merrion Square or one of Europe’s largest city parks, the Phoenix Park. Checking out any of these things won’t cost a dime.
Reason 5 – Dubs Are Some Of The Friendliest People On The Planet
If you’ve been to Dublin before, you’ll know it’s no secret that every Dub will go out of their way to help anyone who wants to travel solo in their beautiful city. It’s just in their nature, I suppose.
People from Dublin are generally curious (or nosey, as they’d admit themselves). Solo travellers will reap the benefits of this because, with them being nosey, they’ll go out of their way to help you out while they get to find out what you’re up to. That’s just who they are.
Anybody who visits the capital will know it’s super easy to spark up a conversation with the vast majority of Dubs. A little word of advice if you really want to spark up a conversation with somebody: head to a pub away from the tourist hotspots, grab yourself a pint and drink where the locals drink. Before you know it, you’ll have friends for life.
Reason 6 – Dublin Is Worth Visiting Regardless Of The Time Of The Year
Every single person who travels alone finds an available time to do so at different times of the year. Some people may think, “Damn if I don’t head over there in the summer, my trip isn’t going to be worth it.” Let me tell you one thing: Dublin is worth visiting regardless of the time of year.
Summer time is an obvious preference for the vast majority of solo travellers who travel. Obviously, if you can travel at that time of year, do it. The weather is great, there are a lot of music festivals, and day drinking is a massive thing. Lots of fun all around.
But for someone who can’t travel then, for whatever reason, Dublin is insanely entertaining all year round. Yeah, you’ll see a bit of rain here and there, but just because it rains doesn’t mean you should let it stop you from having a great time. Remember that people from Dublin are used to rain. If they allowed the rain to prevent them from enjoying themselves, do you think they would still have the reputation they have today?
Reason 7 – There Are Tons Of Ways Of Meeting Other Travellers
Look, solo travel can be lonely sometimes, especially if you’re not one for starting up conversations. Fortunately, there are many ways you can meet other travellers in the same situation as yourself.
Have you ever heard of Couchsurfing? It’s an application made for travellers to meet each other or locals. Hop on the app, set up an account, and within minutes you can be meeting other like-minded people.
Multi-day guided tours bring a lot of people together, whether you’re solo or in a massive group because they’re so intimate. Spending a week of travel with a group of strangers forces you to interact with people. The guides of these tours are usually great characters as well, so they know how to get the group mingling. There are lots of tour companies in Dublin and the surrounding areas that offer this sort of tour that will take groups on a tour of Ireland. Paddywagon is a popular company you should check out if this sounds like your thing. Get Your Guide and Viator also have some great multi-day options too.
We spoke about hostels already above, so we’re not going to bore you with another piece about them.
Must-Do Things To Do In Dublin As A Solo Traveller
- Head to the Phoenix Park to see the wild deer
- Walk out to Poolbeg Lighthouse
- Enjoy a pint of plain at the Guinness Storehouse
- Take a free walking tour
- Admire the Georgian doors of Merrion Square
- Wander through some of the best free museums in Dublin
- Go on a day trip from Dublin
- Learn about Ireland’s past by taking a tour of Kilmainham Gaol
And That’s The End Of This Solo Travel Guide For Dublin
There we have it. We hope by now we’ve given you enough reasons why a solo travel adventure to Dublin should be your next trip. The great capital of Ireland is waiting.
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Written By Adam
Where In Dublin is owned, controlled and run by Adam Ryan. He’s a one-man army who knows Dublin like the back of his hand and strives to help anybody planning on visiting Dublin enjoy themselves.