If you want to see Dublin properly and still make it to the Guinness Storehouse, this combination ticket sorts both in one go. You get fast-track entry to the Storehouse, skipping the queue so you can get straight into the history and brewing story behind Ireland’s most famous stout. On top of that, you have unlimited hop-on, hop-off access on the Big Bus for either 24 or 48 hours.
The Big Bus route covers 25 stops across the city, and the open-top deck gives you a proper look at Dublin as you move between them. There’s live commentary on board to bring the sights to life, and a free walking tour is included too. If you’d rather follow along in your own language, recorded commentary is available in 8 languages including German, Russian, Cantonese, and English.
Your Storehouse visit wraps up in the Gravity Bar with a free pint of Guinness. The views from up there are genuinely good, and they make a decent argument for staying a while before you hop back on the bus.
Use the fast-track entry on a weekday morning if you can and you’ll have the lower floors of the Storehouse to yourself. The Guinness Storehouse is one of Ireland’s most visited attractions, and weekends in particular can get very busy in the middle of the day.
The Gravity Bar is on the seventh floor and that free pint is worth savouring slowly. The 360-degree views over Dublin are best in the late afternoon light, and you can see as far as the Dublin Mountains on a clear day. There’s no rush once you’re up there.
Plan your Big Bus day around the stops you actually care about. With 25 stops on the route, it’s tempting to stay on the bus and tick them all off, but Dublin rewards getting off and walking around. Pick three or four neighbourhoods and give each one a bit of time rather than staying on for the full loop.
The free walking tour included with this ticket is a decent way to start your first morning in Dublin. It covers the main streets and gives you a sense of the city’s layout before you branch out on the bus.
If you’re taking the 48-hour option, keep your second day for wherever you didn’t get to on the first. The Liberties neighbourhood around the Storehouse itself has a strong local character that’s easy to miss when you’re focused on the main sights.