Guinness, Live Music, Coastal Day Trips, and Why I Keep Coming Back

Trip Dates: January 29 – February 2
PTO Used: 2 days (my job gives us our birthday off, which made this trip even easier to pull off)

This was my third trip to Ireland, and somehow it still felt just as exciting as the first time.

There are certain places that stay with you long after you leave, and Ireland has always been one of those places for me. I first visited when I was barely in my twenties, and I still remember how welcoming everyone felt, how every pub somehow turned into live music at night, and how easy it was to spend hours just walking around the city with no real plan.

This trip was a quick long weekend built around exactly that kind of energy again. Coffee shops in the morning, castles during the day, traditional music and storytelling pubs at night, and enough Guinness and comfort food to make me seriously consider extending my stay.

I worked a half day Thursday, used PTO Friday and Monday, and because my company gives us our birthday off, I only needed to use two actual PTO days to make the entire trip happen before flying back home Monday.

Flight, PTO, and Trip Cost

One of my favorite things about Ireland is how realistic it is for a long weekend trip from the U.S. if you plan carefully.

I redeemed points for my flight, which would have cost around $483 without points. Between using miles and strategically taking PTO around the weekend, the trip ended up feeling much bigger than the amount of time I was actually gone.

Full Budget Breakdown

Hostel: $141
Whiskey cocktail experience: $72
Cliffs of Moher / Galway / Doolin day trip: $89
Flight: $483 (redeemed with points)
Bus + tram airport transport: $15
Guinness and drinks: $36
Comedy show: $17
Food: $370

Total: $1,233

Where I Stayed: Clink i Lár Hostel

I stayed at Clink i Lár, which ended up being the perfect base for a fast-paced weekend in Dublin.

The location is honestly what makes this hostel so convenient. You can walk almost everywhere from here, including Temple Bar, major shopping streets, historic sites, museums, and restaurants. When you only have a few days in a city, staying somewhere central makes a huge difference.

The hostel itself feels much more modern and organized than the stereotypical backpacker hostel experience. The common areas are social without feeling overwhelming, and there are enough quiet corners to sit with coffee or plan your day if you want downtime between activities.

The rooms were clean, efficient, and surprisingly comfortable for a city hostel. I especially appreciated how secure everything felt as a solo female traveler.

One thing I always notice about hostels in Ireland is how quickly people start talking to each other. Whether it was recommendations for pubs, sharing day trip ideas, or random conversations in the lounge area, it felt very easy to meet people naturally throughout the stay.

Friday: Castles, Irish Breakfasts, and Temple Bar Energy

Friday was my first full day in Dublin, and I immediately remembered why I love this city so much.

I started the morning with an espresso from Bloom’s Café before heading to The Landmark for a full Irish breakfast. If you have never had a proper Irish breakfast in Ireland, it honestly deserves its own category of travel experience. Between the soda bread, eggs, sausages, and rich beef and Guinness stew options, it feels less like breakfast and more like preparation for a full day of walking.

After breakfast, I toured Dublin Castle, which ended up being one of the most interesting historical stops of the trip. Originally built in the 13th century, Dublin Castle served as the center of British rule in Ireland for hundreds of years before eventually transitioning into a major government and ceremonial site after Irish independence.

Walking through the castle gives you a much clearer understanding of Ireland’s political history and the long, complicated relationship between Ireland and Britain.

The rest of the evening shifted into classic Dublin nightlife.

I wandered through Temple Bar, grabbed drinks at The Old Storehouse while listening to live traditional music, and later did a whiskey cocktail experience that walked through Irish whiskey history while teaching us how to make classic whiskey cocktails.

And honestly, there is something about Irish pubs that feels impossible to replicate anywhere else. Even places packed with tourists still somehow feel warm, social, and full of personality.

The Jameson Experience

Friday night ended up being one of those unexpectedly perfect travel moments you could never really plan for.

We booked a Jameson cocktail-making experience expecting a normal group class, but somehow no one else showed up, so the entire tasting room ended up being just us. It honestly felt more like a private event than a tour. Our instructor immediately set the tone by casually placing the whiskey bottle on the table and joking that we could pour as much as we wanted, which immediately made the whole experience feel relaxed and fun instead of overly formal.

We learned proper Irish whiskey tasting techniques first before making an Old Fashioned and a traditional whiskey sour while hearing stories about Irish whiskey history and how different blends are created. After the cocktail portion, he brought us into a quieter private seating area where we drank hot spiked whiskey cider while talking for hours about how surreal it felt to finally be in Ireland together on our first girls trip.

It ended up being one of the coziest and most memorable parts of the entire weekend.

Saturday: Cliffs of Moher, Galway, and Traditional Irish Music

Saturday was dedicated to seeing more of western Ireland outside the city.

I booked a full-day tour through Galway, Doolin, and the famous Cliffs of Moher, and it easily became one of the highlights of the trip.

The drive alone felt cinematic. Endless green countryside, stone walls, sheep everywhere, tiny villages, and dramatic coastline views that somehow looked exactly like every romanticized image people imagine about Ireland.

Then you finally reach the Cliffs of Moher, and somehow they still feel more impressive in person.

Standing above the Atlantic Ocean with the wind hitting you from every direction honestly makes you feel very small very quickly. The cliffs stretch for miles, and the views feel almost unreal depending on the weather.

Galway ended up being one of my favorite stops of the day because it felt colorful, artistic, and lively without feeling overwhelming. The streets were full of musicians, pubs, cafés, and little shops that somehow felt both touristy and local at the same time.

After returning to Dublin that evening, I spent the night hopping between some of the city’s more traditional pubs.

The Pipers Corner had live traditional Irish pipe music, The Brazen Head felt full of old storytelling pub energy, and The International Bar mixed comedy and local performances into the night.

Ireland really shines at night in a way that is difficult to explain until you experience it yourself.

Sunday: A Slower Day Around Dublin

Sunday was originally supposed to be a day trip to Howth, a coastal town just outside of Dublin known for seafood, hiking trails, harbor views, and cliffside walks.

Unfortunately, train maintenance completely changed those plans during my trip, so we ended up staying in Dublin instead and spending the day wandering museums, cafés, and local neighborhoods.

But honestly, if you have extra time during your own Ireland itinerary, I would absolutely still recommend adding Howth to your list.

The town is reachable by train from Dublin in about an hour and is known for being one of the best easy day trips from the city. Most people go for the coastal cliff walks, seafood restaurants, harbor atmosphere, and slower pace compared to central Dublin.

One place I especially wanted to try was Baily Bites at Kish for their famous seafood chowder, and next time I return to Ireland, Howth is definitely still at the top of my list.

Instead, we spent the day exploring more of Dublin at a slower pace, which honestly ended up being a really nice balance after the busy previous days.

I grabbed donuts from Off Beat Donut Co., seafood at SOLE, and later visited the Guinness Storehouse, which is one of the most popular attractions in Ireland for good reason.

The Guinness experience is much more immersive than just a brewery tour. It walks through the history of Guinness, how it became tied to Irish identity, and the brewing process itself before ending with panoramic city views overlooking Dublin.

That night I ended the trip at Stitches Comedy Club, which felt like the perfect final activity before flying home.

Monday: Coffee, Pastries, and Heading Home

Monday morning was intentionally quiet.

I stopped at Bread 41 for coffee and pastries before heading to the airport, which honestly felt like the perfect ending to the weekend.

There is something very satisfying about wrapping up a trip with one final slow breakfast before switching back into normal life.

Unfortunately, the trip home did not exactly go according to plan.

During our layover on the way back to Texas, I ended up getting terrible food poisoning and spent most of the flight home unbelievably sick. And if you have ever dealt with being sick during international travel, especially on a long flight, you already know how miserable that experience can be.

As awful as it was, it also reminded me how important it is to always keep a few emergency travel essentials with you, especially when flying internationally.

A few things I would highly recommend keeping in your carry-on:

electrolyte packets
Dramamine or anti-nausea medicine
Pepto or stomach medication
ginger chews
refillable water bottle
extra snacks like crackers or protein bars
disinfecting wipes
an extra sweatshirt or change of clothes

The biggest thing is staying hydrated and trying to keep your stomach as calm as possible during the flight. Airport and airplane dehydration only makes everything worse.

Thankfully I eventually made it home safely, but it definitely turned into one of those travel stories I will never forget.

Favorite Food and Drink Spots

One of the best parts of Dublin is how food and nightlife overlap constantly. You can spend the day sightseeing and naturally roll straight into pubs, live music, or cozy restaurants without much planning.

Some standout spots from the trip:

Wexford and Camden Street for nightlife and food
The Landmark for beef and Guinness stew
Leo Burdock for fish and chips
Beanhive Coffee for latte art and cozy café vibes
The Cheeky Piglet for a traditional Irish breakfast
Murray’s Bar for live Irish dancing
The Cobblestone for traditional Irish music

More Things to Do in Ireland

Even after three trips, I still feel like I have barely scratched the surface of Ireland.

A few things I would recommend adding to your itinerary:

Free walking tours through Dublin
14 Henrietta Street for Irish social history
Kilmainham Gaol to learn about Irish independence history
National Gallery of Ireland
National Museum of Ireland
Day trip to Howth for hiking and seafood
Day trip to Kilkenny for castles and medieval history

What to Pack for Ireland in Winter

Ireland in late January and early February is cold, damp, windy, and changes weather constantly throughout the day, so layering is essential.

Things I was very glad I packed:

Waterproof jacket
Warm sweaters and thermal layers
Waterproof boots or sneakers
Thick socks
Portable charger
Umbrella
Gloves and scarf
Crossbody bag for walking-heavy days
Power adapter

I also packed my foldable Souli travel sandals, which ended up being perfect as hostel and hotel room shoes after long days walking around Dublin.

Hostel Essentials I Never Skip

If you are staying in hostels, especially for quick weekend trips, there are a few things that make the experience significantly more comfortable.

Things I never travel without now:

Microfiber towel
Shower shoes
Lock for hostel lockers
Satin pillowcase
Hanging shower caddy
Portable charger
Noise-canceling headphones
Eye mask
Ear plugs
Reusable water bottle

The small things honestly make a huge difference when you are sharing spaces with other travelers.

So, was it worth it?

Every time I return to Ireland, I leave understanding a little more why people become so emotionally attached to it.
It is not just the scenery or the pubs or the history on their own. It is the way all of it blends together with the people, the storytelling culture, and the pace of life.
And honestly, one of the biggest things that stayed with me from this trip was how genuinely kind the Irish people are. Everywhere we went, people were warm, funny, welcoming, and proud to share their culture and history.

This trip also deepened my understanding of Irish history in a way I did not expect.

Like many people, I had always casually heard the term “potato famine,” but while learning more throughout the trip, I came to better understand why many Irish people refer to it instead as “The Great Hunger.” Learning about the historical context, colonization, food exports during starvation, and the long-term effects it had on Ireland gave me an entirely different perspective and even greater respect for Irish resilience and identity.

What started as a fun long weekend getaway honestly became something much more immersive and eye-opening.

Between the music, history, conversations, landscapes, and culture, Ireland somehow always manages to feel deeply personal in a way that stays with you long after you leave.

And that is exactly why I know I will keep coming back.

4 Days in Ireland