Dublin Travel Guide | How to Plan an Affordable Trip

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I’m talking my one of my best travel experiences the tour was 3 years back. This post “Dublin Travel Guide | How to Plan an Affordable Trip”will share my Dublin travel guide, focusing on how to explore Dublin on a budget.

In my previous post, I mentioned how expensive Dublin is for tourists. Still, I managed to spend around £100 for 24 hours, which is expensive by most standards. For an extra £50, you can travel to another European city for a few more days. I reviewed my budget and decided to share my tips to make the trip as affordable as possible. This is for anyone planning a weekend city break in Dublin and needs to plan carefully.

Of course, it all depends on your choice. As a budget solo traveler, I try to experience as little as possible and spend money on things like souvenirs. Instead of eating at fancy restaurants, I go to the nearest grocery store for a meal deal. It’s cheaper and more durable for me.

But enough about me, let’s get down to business.

Here’s how to budget for an affordable trip to Dublin

I recently started a new job, which is 9 to 5, that means my time is much more limited now than it was years ago when I had flexible hours. I usually hate weekend travel, but I have no choice until the end of February.

I thought it wouldn’t be too difficult to find a return flight from Friday to Sunday. But believe me, it was stressful. Weekend flights are either too expensive or the timing doesn’t work for me.

Flight

I got a Ryanair return ticket for £25. Booking a day earlier would have been cheaper. But with COVID, I try not to book too far in advance, especially with companies that don’t offer refunds. I couldn’t find a Friday night flight, so I had to take an 8 am flight on Saturday. From the looks of other passengers, I wasn’t the only one with this problem. Fortunately, Ireland lifted their travel ban before my trip. I only need a passenger locator form and a COVID vaccination pass.

Airport removal

Don’t forget airport transfers in your Dublin travel plans. Dublin Airport is about 30 minutes from the city center, so you’ll need to plan how to get there. The cheapest option is the Dublin Express Coach. I got a return ticket for €10/£8, which saved me money compared to an Uber ride. You can buy tickets online or at the terminal before departure. Another option is air coach.

Accommodations

I love staying in hostels because I love making new friends as an adult. Some people don’t like it, but I don’t mind. I live in a male dorm with only six other people. Often, because of COVID, you only get two other roommates. I checked Booking.com for the cheapest hostel. In Dublin, the cheapest hostel for one night was £41/€49, which is the price of two to three nights in a less expensive city. It’s crazy. Although it was the cheapest, I wouldn’t recommend the hostel I stayed in because it was noisy.

Transportation

I usually like to walk around during my city breaks to get to know the city and burn some calories. I only take public transport when I have to. I’ve been to cities where I’ve only taken the train to arrive and depart, walking elsewhere. So, I was surprised when I had to take a bus in Dublin and found out that you can’t use your card to pay for bus tickets. Since I haven’t used cash in over six months and rely solely on Apple Pay, it felt like a step back in time. Fortunately, the bus driver let me ride for free.

In Dublin, you can only buy bus tickets with a pre-paid smart card called a Leap Card or with the correct fare in coins. It’s good to get a lip card. You can get a pass for 24 hours, 72 hours or seven days. You can buy your Leap Card at Dublin Airport or order it online before your trip. If you have a lot of unused coins, this is a good way to spend them.

Food and Attractions

For an affordable trip to Dublin, I often choose hostels that offer a basic breakfast. It saves me money in the morning. But sometimes, especially in the winter, I need extra coffee throughout the day. I buy from the cheapest coffee shop, usually Greggs or get a 99p hot chocolate from McDonald’s. If my hostel doesn’t provide breakfast, I go for pastries and coffee or get a full McDonald’s breakfast, which is the cheapest option in Dublin.

I don’t drink, but there is Guinness everywhere in Dublin. A pint costs around €3-4 if you’re interested.

When it comes to charms, I stick to free options. I admire the landmarks, soak in the atmosphere, take pictures and move on. As a blogger, I still research these places before writing about them, so the experience is still immersive for me. There are some attractions that I wish I had paid for, but they keep me coming back to the city.

Finally

I hope you find this Dublin travel guide helpful. There is so much to do in Dublin, and I can’t wait to go back after figuring out how to find affordable accommodation.