48 Hours to Party in Dublin
Dublin is synonymous with fab times, good vibes and incredible hen do adventures, making it the perfect place to head for the bride's big weekend away. You've chosen wisely, time to show this vibrant party city you're up to the task. Ladies, prepare to party!
48:00:00
Arrival
You've touched down in the Emerald Isle and you're ready and raring to get going! Time to fly through the airport and head to your accommodation to ditch your bags. There's no time to waste faffing about, you've got some serious celebrating to do!
45:21:44
Activity No.1 – Guinness Brewery
This is how you sightsee in the party town of Dublin. Forget boring rundown churches and fusty old museums, the Guinness Brewery Tour is the place to head to get a true taste of the city! You and the girls head off around the brewery and end up in the Gravity Bar at the top which boasts unrivalled views of the city!
43:13:54
Dinner
Right, now you've seen the sights, it's time to take Temple Bar by storm! You head back to your accommodation to get glammed up before you bounce out for the bride's first night out! To save a load of hassle you and the girls booked up some delicious Hen Do Dining before you went to save time traipsing around trying to find somewhere to cater for a large group of you.
41:39:21
Pub Crawl
Whilst there are plenty of pubs in and around Temple Bar, getting big groups of hens in can sometimes be a pain. Well not with this awesome Pub Crawl it won't be! You and the girls meet your friendly guide and set off around some of the best party venues this fine city has to offer!
38:12:44
The Club
After your hilarious pub crawl, you and the girls are well and truly in the dancing mood! But the lines to the club's stupidly long. Luckily, you sorted Guestlist Nightclub Entry so you don't have to mess around with any of that. Just dance on past the big old queue and head on in.
37:33:39
Night Out
The party is well and truly popping off! All the girls are on the dance floor throwing some outrageous shapes. Is the bride doing the sprinkler? How very ‘80s! You better call it a night soon, though, otherwise there may be a couple of sore heads in the morning!
28:03:11
The Morning
The alarm on your phone has definitely gotten louder... definitely nothing to do with all those cocktails the previous night… 100% the phone! The sun also seems a lot brighter than it normally is, hmm, maybe you do have the slight remnants of a hangover! Nothing a coffee and a hearty breakfast won't fix though! Time to start your latest day of hen adventures.
26:44:12
Activity No. 2 – Gaelic Games
You tried the traditional Irish beverages, now it's time to try some traditional Irish sporting activities! Yes, you couldn't come to Ireland and not throw some competitive action into the mix. You and the girls go toe-to-toe as you compete over numerous Gaelic Games. May the best hen win!
22:45:21
Lunch
Tradition dictates that, as it's the bride's big send-off, you just let her win and take the glory so everyone goes home happy. Well to hell with tradition, it's not your fault you're a better hurling, handball and Gaelic football player. OK, maybe the victory dance wasn't absolutely necessary, but you couldn't help it. Oh well, lunchtime. Time to refuel before your afternoon activities.
21:12:34
After working up a sweat this morning, it's time to relax and recline in true hen style. You and the girls head to this fantastic 5* spa resort for three whole hours of peace, tranquillity and a couple of massages thrown in for good measure!
17:43:11
Pre-Night Out
Any wedding worries the bride had will have been well and truly exfoliated away after that fabulous spa session. Now your energy levels are back at their optimum levels, it's time to get ready for your second night out!
16:12:34
Yes, your main gal is about to kiss goodbye to the single life once and for all, and what better way to go out than by giving her one last look at what she'll be missing as she strolls off for a lifetime of marital bliss. You and the girls take your seats and prepare to be wowed as these muscley man hunks take to the stage and do their thing!
13:43:21
The Club
The strip show was the gift that kept on giving, not only did you watch these insanely hot dancers strip down to their birthday suits, but the package also included guestlist nightclub entry so you could keep the party in full swing! Time to see the night out in style!
00:00:00
Home Time
Well, sadly, it's all over! You came, you saw, you conquered, and though you're going back with a couple of sore heads, you're also going back with a load of memories which will last a lifetime. Goodbye, Dublin, you've been fabulous!
It is without any doubt, one of the greatest party cities in the world. Packed full of life, music, art, laughter and don't even get us started on the subject of men with Irish accents (yum!). But now the bride-to-be has found her man, it's time to get out to Dublin and give her a weekend to remember so here's our rundown of everything you need to know about one of our favourite cities.
Nightlife
Temple Bar
It's the most famous address in the city, the cultural and musical heart of a nation that loves to have a great night out. You'll find plenty of live music, you'll also find plenty of tourist prices so while Temple bar is great to see, it can be harder on the budget.
Location; City centre, south of the river, running parallel, largely pedestrianised.
Grafton Street
By day it's a shopper's paradise, but once the bargain hunters have cleared out the way there are some great bars to be found. Welcoming, (there's no such thing as an unfriendly Irish bar) and nicely upmarket, it's a nice spot to grab a cocktail.
Location; City centre, further south from Temple Bar, close to St Stephen's Green.
Wexford Street
Close to St Stephen's Green, Wexford Street is lined with more bars than you can shake a hen's handbag at. You'll find pubs of every variety, however you wish to wet your whistle. And yes, it's a hen weekend so it is cocktails o'clock.
Location; Southern part of the city centre and easily accessible by foot if you're staying in the city centre.
North of the River
Yes, the way it's often termed does make it sound a long way away. But it's not, it's just a hop, skip and B*Witched flashback across the bridge. Here you'll find a more traditional version of the city and Ireland. This for many is the real Dublin. However, with one of the youngest populations in Europe many would argue that the real Dublin is now south of the river, drinking cocktails working for Google.
Location; North of the river (natch). Can be accessed easily via footbridges without feeling like you're venturing too far.
Baggot Street
Staring on Baggot Street you'll find one of the longest continuous stretches of pubs, bars and clubs in Ireland, possibly Europe! This is a city that has over 600 watering holes and some superb restaurants. Drinks here tend to be slightly cheaper.
Location; South of the River, not far from St Stephen's Green and close to Wexford and Grafton Streets.
Shopaholics
Grafton Street
When it's not wearing party pants, Grafton Street is the place to go to get your party pants and is the city's main shopping street. It was once considered the 5th most expensive shopping street in the world. You will see a few high street names you'll recognise.
George Street Arcade
A short walk from Grafton Street, the historic shopping arcade is now home to a great selection of independent stores, some specialising in vintage and retro clothing. Quirky and a little bit different.
Westbury Mall
If you're thinking of going upmarket and have a few pennies to spare the Westbury Mall has some lovely boutiques and jewellers. You'll also find delicious sweet treats and savouries if you're ready for a breather.
Jervis Shopping Mall
A large, modern mall in keeping with those you'll find back home. You'll see some familiar brand names as well as many not so familiar ones. Food, fashion, books gifts, music and more all under one roof.
Henry Street
North of the river, this shopping street is awash with so many shopping opportunities. It's also home to Arnott's department store.
Clery's & Arnott's
Two veritable institutions that are as interwoven into the Irish firmament as Guinness and ceilis. Clery's sits within a grand façade built in 1922, although the company actually started in 1853. Arnotts reaches back even further, starting out in 1843, today it is a sleek and funky home to many contemporary designs.
Hotels
See our handpicked hen hotels.
See our full selection of hotels and accommodation here.
Restaurants
While the city's 'cup doth runneth over', its plate is pretty darn full too! Dublin has an amazing array of great diners, cafes' artisan eateries and high end, Michelin starred restaurants. Whatever your tastes there is something for you here.
But don't leave it to chance and NEVER leave it until the night ("I know it's a busy Saturday but have you got a table for 23 free?"). Let GoHen do the hard bit for you so you can focus on having a good time. We'll arrange;
- GoHen recommended venues
- A reserved table
- Pre-ordered dishes
- Less waiting time
- Pre-paid dining
Transport
The Dublin Area Rapid Transport system (DART) provides a great network of trains which along with the buses and trams means no area of the city is inaccessible. The cheapest way to take advantage is with a prepaid LEAP Card which you can buy before you travel.
If you're feeling a bit more active you can grab a Dublin Bike which you'll find dotted all over the city.
It's time for a hen party in Dublin!
Top of the morning to you, ladies, and if it's craic you're after, then you needn't look any further than Dublin, one of Europe's - and indeed the world's - finest cities. As a renowned party city it's is a veritable haven of hospitality, so set sail for the Emerald Isle and a magical Dublin hen do!
What's so good about a Dublin hen party?
What isn't good about it? With so much to see and do in this striking city, you and the girls are spoilt for choice of ways to spend the hen weekend in Dublin. Ireland's largest city is hugely popular with tourists due to the huge number of top attractions and sights around the city. Its status as the capital city and long history means there's plenty of culture to soak in too. Dublin's said to have the youngest population in all of Europe, so a hen party night out in Dublin will be a lively one. There are also over 666 licensed pubs and bars in the city for drinking and general revelry at night, as well as over 30 fantastic Dublin hen activities to keep you busy during the days too! You could try our Dublin photo challenge game for a bit of sightseeing fun!
What to do in Dublin?
Plenty! There's a reason Dublin attracts so many tourists, and we've tracked down the best fun-filled activities in the city for hens to try and enjoy! We've got nearly 50 hen do activities in Dublin, so you've got a great selection of ways to enjoy the city around you. The horse racing in Dublin is amongst the best in Europe, and you can keep it speedy with greyhound racing - or race round the tracks yourselves with go karting. The key to a great Dublin hen party is balance, so why not try something energetic or outdoors in the morning like a dance class, then a spa treatment or pampering session in the afternoon to recover, before heading out for a meal and a show in the evening? And top off the night by hitting the town - the locals are incredibly friendly, and it's not unusual to hop on the bar and have a sing along with everyone in the pub, experiencing real Irish Craic.
When's the best time for a Dublin hen do?
There isn't a bad time for hen weekends in Dublin, its lively and action packed all year round - no matter what time you go you can be sure of a fantastic, eventful hen party. The New Year begins with the Temple Bar TradFest. Temple Bar is one of Dublin's top hotspots at night, and in January it celebrates all that's best of Irish culture with plenty of music and drinking in this award winning celebration! Spring brings in one of Ireland's most famous festivals - St Patrick's Day is the perfect opportunity to get out and paint the town red... or, uh, green! Hotels and hostels are booked out at this time, so book your Dublin hen do accomodation early to ensure you don't miss out on the festivities. Events and festivals then run all through the summer months, with the calendar highlights being the Fringe Festival and Oktoberfest. Through winter you can head to cosy, charismatic pubs and bars, enjoying the great atmosphere as well as the Dublin Christmas Market at the Square Shopping Centre.
Dublin shopping areas & recommendations
Dublin's an excellent shopping destination, so don't forget to factor in some time for picking up a few souvenirs and trinkets to remind you of your time with the girls in Ireland. No matter what part of the city you head to, you'll find a great range of shops and retail outlets. As one of the Europe's most fashionable cities the clothes shops and designer boutiques are endless - head to the central shopping district which runs from O'Connell Street to Grafton Street for one of the best shopping areas in Ireland. A quick stroll through Jervis Shopping Centre or the Powerscourt Centre, then wander the lanes of Temple Bar for unique shops and boutiques before stopping off at Castle Market for stalls and small shops.
To get all the girls there
The easiest way to get in from England is to fly in; there's an airport a few miles north of the city centre. There are various bus transfers from the airport to the city, which are very frequent, sometimes as often as every 15 minutes during peak times. From a few ports in mainland UK (Liverpool and in Wales) it's possible to get a ferry to Dublin. For travelling across Ireland, Dublin has two main railway stations that run rail services connecting to most major cities and destinations across the country.
You Pick
We Sort
You Party!
