Plan a magical January break in Dublin

Pick up your fiddle and dust off your bodhrán (or at least get ready to hear them), because TradFest is back in town. From January 22-26 you can catch gigs in venues all over Dublin, from St Patrick’s Cathedral and Dublin Castle in the city centre to Swords Castle, Malahide Castle and Skerries Mills north of town. It's a packed five days, with Women of Note at St Patrick's Cathedral, Féile Kíla in the National Stadium, and an evening honouring Tom Paxton closing the festival on January 26.

For the full rundown, check out our guide to TradFest 2025.

Media captionAdd TradFest's array of shows to your calendar.

The days may be shorter in January, but that’s not always a bad thing. This is the only month when you can view the National Gallery of Ireland’s beautiful (and fragile) paintings by J.M.W. Turner. Their collection was gifted to the gallery in 1900, on the proviso that they would be displayed for free every January, when the light is at its dimmest. To mark the 250th anniversary of the artist's birth, the National Gallery of Ireland are working with the National Galleries of Scotland on a special exchange, bringing their 38 Vaughan Bequest Turner watercolours to the Dublin-based gallery for the first time. Meanwhile, the National Galleries of Scotland will play host to the Irish gallery's collection of Turner pieces overseas. 

This month also offers another chance to see a number of exhibitions that have been running since the autumn, including Rebels and Revolutionaries Women's History Tour at EPIC, Mildred Anne Butler - At Home in Nature at the National Gallery and the David Kronn Photography Collection at IMMA.  

Over at the Hugh Lane Gallery, their current exhibition, which runs until March 23, dives into the work of visual artist Brian Maguire created during 2007-2024 to appraise his passion for activism and human rights. They're also keeping their doors open until 8:30pm on Thursdays so visitors can enjoy a late evening stroll around the exhibition along with music performance and workshops.

Want to get a new perspective on old work? Stop in for a free guided tour, from tours of the National Gallery to the Sunday public tour at the Hugh Lane Gallery. On January 16, the National Gallery will also be hosting Plates and Palettes: Irish Pubs in Art, a special event that combines art and food by curating a tailored menu to bring famously painted Irish pubs to life.

In Temple Bar, go behind the scenes of Irish musical history at the Irish Rock 'N' Roll Museum Experience. You can get an all-access pass to explore the museum, the Button Factory venue, and the connected recording studios, where artists from Christy Moore to Rihanna have recorded. You can also tour Windmill Lane Recording Studios and learn to mix your own session with their virtual band.

Media captionSpend a January day in the National Gallery of Ireland.

After the rush of Christmas dinners and festive get-togethers, treat yourself to a quiet meal at a new-to-you restaurant. Stoneybatter's Vada opened in late 2024 and is serving wholesome café clasics with a sustainable focus – think brioche breakfast sandwiches with Italian sausage, herby hashbrowns and smoked Knockanore cheese. On the other side of the city, Ranelagh has not one but two new Mexican restaurants – Parrilla and Suertudo. The latter is from the team behind Amy Austin in Drury Street Carpark, and both are bringing creative Mexican dishes and punchy cocktails to Dublin 6.

The city's newest hotel The Leinster is also home to Jean-Georges' Rooftop Restaurant. The celebrity chef has put together a menu that combines French and Southeast Asian flavours with Irish ingredients, featuring meals like their salmon fillet served with mushroom seasoning, maitake, broccolini and a miso-mustard emulsion.

If you're after a family-style Thai meal, consider Achara on Aston Quay, which opened its doors in mid-2024. Their kitchen is centred around a charcoal grill, so you can dig into whole grilled seabass, grilled chicken khao soi or a Delmonico steak. 

TradFest will be sweeping across city venues at the end of the month, but you won't have to wait until then to catch a session. You'll find things are lively in Vicar Street, with big acts including Dan McCabe to Lake Street Dive popping up in January. Whelan's will see Buffalo Nichols, Galway-born singer-songwriter AARON J, Irish folk artist Moses McGuinness and synth-pop duo Selofan. Meanwhile, Kilkenny-born musical pair 49th & Main will be playing their dance beats in the 3Olympia. 

Prefer to keep things classical? The National Concert Hall is offering a robust programme in January, with the National Symphony Orchestra performing Rachmaninov and Shostakovich, Debussy and McNeff and an evening of the music of Lyle Lovett. You can also catch Derby Browne's performance devoted to blonde bombshell Marilyn Monroe's career in film. There'll also be an evening dedicated to the Showband days with Ronan Collins and crew perform Reeling in the Showband Years.

Beyond live acts, you can dive into the musical heritage of Dublin on one of the many musical tours of the city. Book in for a Musical Pub Crawl, a Rock & Roll Music Tour or Monumental Music Tour led by expert guides, or head for a self-guided wander through the Liberties or South City music trails with the help of Visit Dublin's audio guides. You'll learn about the rich musical legacies of these neighbourhoods and the major acts that got their start in local pubs and venues.

Media captionCatch a gig at Vicar Street this January.

In the Gate Theatre, Mary Norton's The Borrowers finishes its run of family-friendly shows on January 12, with the beloved story following the fortunes of the tiny Clock family. 

Over in the Abbey Theatre, Kate Hamill and Claire O'Reilly's take on Jane's Austen's Emma will run until January 25. Meanwhile, Jez Butterworth's Tony-winning The Ferryman runs at The Gaiety from January 27 until March. 

From January 6 to February 1, Bewley's Cafe Theatre are hosting their special lunchtime series once again, with Michael J Harnett's Madeira: Secrets of Sisters selected as this year's production. If you can't make it at lunchtime, there will also be a chance to see the show on the evening of January 17. 

Media captionCatch a performance at the Gate.

There's a far-reaching spread of plays, talks, outdoor events and more included in the programme for this year’s First Fortnight, a festival that promotes mental health awareness through creative arts and workshops across Ireland. In Dublin, the Smock Alley Theatre are partnering with Dublin Fringe Festival to bring SkelpieLimmer's sketchy comedy, Shame Show, to the stage. The Workmans Club will host Therapy Sessions Dublin for a night of musical performances and spoken word poetry by host Stephen James Smith. Meanwhile, St Patrick's Cathedral will showcase the mental health benefits of singing with their one-night performance, The Art of Mental Health. 

Elsewhere in Dublin, walk through Listen Now Again: Mindfulness Tour of Seamus Heaney at the Cultural and Heritage Centre at Bank of Ireland, catch a screening of Don't Forget to Remember at the National Gallery of Ireland or learn the peaceful art of origami at The National Museum of Ireland-Decorative Arts and History. 

Media captionCheck out some of the events across the city during First Fortnight.

Pre-Christmas shopping may be all about gifting, but January is the time to treat yourself. Make the most of the sales and flit between the shops in the city, from the tech steals in Arnotts on Abbey Street to the designer bargains in Brown Thomas on Grafton Street. When you’ve finished on Grafton Street, be sure to explore the side streets nearby, from the design and craft shops on Drury Street and George's Street Arcade to the boutiques of the Powerscourt Centre. Try Article for cool homeware, MoMuse for fine gold jewellery, and hit Temple Bar for vintage shopping.

Media captionShop the indie boutiques of George's Street Arcade.

Laugh away the January blues with comedy gigs throughout the city. There's quite the lineup at the 3Olympia – from January 8, Jarlath Regan kicks the year off strong with his wit, while the comedic trio Young Hot Guys takes over the stage on January 20 and 21. Irish eccentric David McSavage will close out the month at the theatre with his brand-new show on January 24.

At Vicar Street, Tommy Tiernan is making the stage his home until January 17, making room for Dara O'Briain on January 22 to 25. Or stick around for a live recording of the Blindboy Podcast on January 27. 

Resist the urge to hibernate on the couch and take yourself out on a long walk instead. There are no shortage of great hikes all within easy reach of the city centre – head out to the Phoenix Park to spot the roaming deer, or walk along the edge of Grand Canal, from the Docklands out to Portobello. 

Head a little further afield and you have the grandeur of the Dublin Mountains or coastline to explore along the Dublin Coastal Trail. Hike up to Killiney Hill and you’ll soon see why this stretch of coast, with its gentle curve of shoreline and Mediterranean greenery, is known as Ireland’s Bay of Naples.

Media captionGet out and enjoy the fresh air of the new year.

After all the activity of the festive season, January is the time to slow down and focus on yourself. Luckily, there are plenty of wellness offerings in Dublin that will help you do just that. At Little Bird in Portobello, there are yoga classes available all month, where you can partake in Slow Gentle Flow. At the Sea Sauna in Portrane, you can relax in a wood-fired Finnish style sauna, while gazing out at Tower Bay Beach. If you’re really brave, you can jump into the sea beforehand. Or, if a sweat and a soak in the mountains is more your to your taste, Glencullen's TIGH 'N ALLUIS - Irish Sweat House is a great spot for a relaxing afternoon, all while taking in the views of the Dublin Mountains around you. 

Looking for more inspiration? Discover everything that's on this Winter in Dublin.