Split your morning between the magnificent National Museum of Ireland – Archaeology and Trinity College’s lovely grounds, making sure to leave time to visit the Book of Kells Exhibition. The university lies right at the heart of the city, so you’ll be spoilt for lunch options – try Fallon and Byrne’s cavernous food hall (with a candlelit wine bar in the basement) or sample divine pastries at Queen of Tarts.

Explore Grafton Street and its offshoots for a little retail therapy; the area offers a huge range, from high street to high-end. Next, stroll the pretty park of St Stephen’s Green. If it’s a weekend, sign up for the fascinating walking tour, but even a stroll unattended will uncover plenty in this historic city oasis.

Head to Exchequer Street for a cosy dinner at French brasserie The Green Hen. Then finish your night with a pint somewhere on nearby South William Street – try Grogans, one of Dublin’s most loved and lively pubs.

After a hearty breakfast in the original Brother Hubbard café, stroll across the river for a tour of Dublin Castle. Set aside some time to visit the Chester Beatty Library on site, a one-time winner of the European Museum of the Year. It’s also home to The Silk Road Café – a lovely lunch spot offering Middle Eastern and Mediterranean mains and an array of baked goods.

Head back north across the Liffey to immerse yourself in Dublin’s history at the General Post Office, where the 1916 Rising exhibition is state-of-the-art. Nearby Parnell Square houses both the compact Hugh Lane Gallery and the Dublin Writers Museum, though you may have to choose between the arts in order to do either site justice.

Whatever your decision, end the evening in the Writers Museum basement restaurant, Chapter One. Great Irish ingredients are complemented by knowledgeable staff and lively local customers, resulting in a relaxed gourmet experience.

Wander further afield to take a tour of the atmospheric Kilmainham Gaol, before heading across the road to the Irish Museum of Modern Art. A gorgeous museum located in the grounds of the Royal Hospital Kilmainham, this is also the perfect place – Irish weather permitting! – to have a picnic.

No trip to Dublin would be complete without a tour of the Guinness Storehouse®, so spend a couple of hours learning all about the history and heritage of the nation’s favourite brew. Finish up in the seventh-floor Gravity Bar, which offers panoramic views of the city.

Head towards Portobello for dinner in one of Dublin’s best restaurants: the small but sensational Bastible. Hang around for drinks in one of the buzzing bars dotting the neighbourhood, or simply walk off your food with a stroll along the canal.