A Bookworm's Guide to Dublin

It will come as no surprise to anyone who knows me that I’ve visited my fair share of bookstores and other literary landmarks during my time here in Dublin.  This city is known for a lot of things (vibrant pub culture, rich history, and the Phoenix Park deer just to name a few), but Dublin is also a hub for readers and writers.   

I’ve compiled a list of all of my must-see literary landmarks.  Enjoy!

Hodges Figgis Bookstore

Hodges Figgis is the longest-operating bookstore in Dublin, and one of the largest I’ve found.  No matter what you’re interested in reading, they’ll have it stocked.  Some highlights for me included the new-releases section, an expansive cookbook room (where I picked up a traditional Irish cuisine book for a friend), and a room dedicated entirely to Irish authors.  If you’re going to visit one bookstore in Dublin, make it Hodges Figgis. 

Museum of Literature Ireland (MoLI)

For a small fee, you can gain access to one of the lesser known but highly informative museums in the city – the Museum of Literature.  Not only did the exhibits cover the Irish classics including Oscar Wilde and James Joyce, but it had multiple exhibits on contemporary authors. I also really appreciated the room dedicated to picture books and young adult authors.

The Oscar Wilde statue

Speaking of Oscar Wilde, any literary tour of Dublin wouldn’t be complete without a quick pit stop at the Oscar Wilde statue near Merrion Square park.  Make sure to observe both sides of the statue so you can catch both his smile and his frown. 

Marsh’s Library 

Just around the corner from St. Patrick’s cathedral is the gated entrance to Marsh’s Library.  This tiny museum contains a preserved 18th century library, including some of the earliest printed books in the world. Your ticket into the library also includes access to a secret garden!

Books Upstairs

If you’re looking for another bookstore to visit during your time in Dublin, I would highly suggest Books Upstairs.  It’s a small independent bookstore with a great selection of literary fiction and children’s books.  There’s a cafe upstairs, but it does fill up quickly.  If you’re interested in doing a full bookstore crawl, you might also want to visit Stokes Books and Winding Stair.

If you’re anything like me, it’s impossible to leave a trip without collecting at least one new book. This summer I am particularly interested in gaining some Irish titles for my collection.

While in Hodges Figgis I picked up Normal People by Sally Rooney.  This is the first book I’ve read by Sally Rooney, and I can’t wait to delve deeper into her collection.  Maybe I’ll even pick up another one of her novels while I’m in Dublin. 

It was so interesting to read about the day-to-day lives of students at Trinity College when the campus is a twenty minute walk away.  It also made me feel almost like an actual Dubliner when I picked up on references to Howth and the Hugh Lane Gallery amongst others that I might have missed if I’d read this novel while living in the USA.  The experiences I’ve had while living in the city really brought the book to life.  I’m also excited to watch the tv adaptation, and maybe walk through Trinity’s campus to visit the filming locations. 

I want to pick up at least one more Irish title this summer, but I’m still deciding which one to select.  After visiting the Museum of Literature, I’m tempted to read James Joyce’s Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man.  However, I’ve also heard great things about more contemporary authors such as Claire Keegan.  I might have to cave and purchase both!

In summary, Dublin should be on every book-lover’s bucket list.  These recommendations don’t even begin to cover all of the literary landmarks and book-related events hosted within this city.  The Book of Kells and Connolly Books, for example, are still on my list to visit in the coming weeks.  

Happy reading!