Honeymoon in Dublin

Congratulations.

Personally I find Dublin underwhelming and easy to see in 2 days. If you must stay in Dublin make Glendalough and Newgrange Days trips.

If you can rent a car and head to the gorgeous West Coast. Towns like Kinsale and Dingle. Stunningly beautiful and in October November fewer tourists.

With that said make your Bnb reservations knowing that weather might be a factor. Put flexibility into you itinerary.

I’ve traveled in Eire and N Ireland in November twice. A few moments of rain but not enough to stop exploration. However with global warming make certain you watch the weather forecast right up
To your flight.

Gorgeous country, wonderful people, Guinness and loads of fresh seafood. What’s not to like?

(Full disclosure) I am not generally a big fan of the strategy of taking day trips from a big expensive city, but you could definitely catch a bus tour to the Newgrange/Knowth, also Glendalough, Powerscourt and the Wicklow Mountains. I would just get access to a guidebook and see what appeal to you.

That's a lot of time in Dublin where after two visits myself (2002 and 2016), I would say three full days (four nights) is plenty. The two highlights for me were Kilmainham Gaol (visited in 2016) and the Archeological Museum (visited on both trips). The Book of Kells exhibit is nice, but my wife and I did not feel compelled to visit it a second time when we returned in 2016 after seeing it in 2002. Certainly the Temple Bar area is worth seeing while you are in town, and St. Stephen's Green. Guinness Tour is a marketing thing not a brewery tour but it's kind of fun.

I strongly suggest not staying in Dublin the whole time. I would consider starting with a bus direct to Kilkenny from the airport, rest up, then a full day in Kilkenny the next day. (The bus network is very well developed, we did this upon arrival in Shannon in 2016, catching a direct bus to Galway and then two days later, back to Shannon to pick up our rental car). Get a car and day trip from there to Wicklow sights, Rock of Cashel, Jerpoint Abbey. Cahir Castle is a nice visit and could easily be combined with Rock of Cashel. You could also consider staying for a couple of nights in Trim and visiting the Bru na Boinne sights by rental car too. For me this would be much more appealing that bus tours out of Dublin. You waste a chunk of time just getting to the bus, and they control how long you get to visit sights, bus tours are often overpriced, etc.

If the flight is not already booked, you could also fly into Shannon which even with limited time open up the west coast. I would not go there and back from Dublin with relatively little time though.

Thanks so much to those that have replied already - I am so grateful for the advice. Nothing is set in stone, as it were, yet....so I am taking this all in!!

My husband and I just went to Ireland for 2 weeks this past June for our 30 anniversary. We landing in Shannon and traveled along the southern coast ending in Dublin. Looking back at the trip, I really hate that we spent 2 nights and 3 days in Dublin. We just fell in love with the small towns and the beautiful drives around Dingle and the Ring of Kerry. If we ever return, I will just fly into Shannon and set sail from there! Also, if you rent a car, it was SO MUCH easier getting settled in a smaller place like Shannon. Dublin’s airport area would have been a little more difficult for first time driving on the left side of the road. I’m sure your journey will be amazing wherever you end up. The people and scenery of Ireland are just beautiful.

Go North! Enjoy Belfast and the Causeway Coast. Beautiful scenery.

Consider staying a night at the Bayview Hotel on Port Ballintrae. This was our favorite hotel of all on a recent trip. Fabulous view and closely located to Bushmills, Giants Causeway, Dunluce Castle. Easily accessible by public transport and just a few hours from Dublin.

Restaurant recommendations in Dublin-Gallaghers Boxty and The Pig’s Ear.
For something extra special-we went to Patrick Guilbaud a 2 star Michelin restaurant.
I love Dublin, but then I’m a city gal ( living in AK for some reason).
If you know the history, visit the Post Office. The bullet holes are still there. The Kilmainham Gaol is also a favorite, but be sure to buy tkts in advance.
I’ve been twice.
Going back as I love it!

Like diveloonie, I am a city girl so absolutely love Dublin. There is a ton to do and I see nothing wrong with taking day trips from there. We did one day trip to Belfast. You could also do Glendalough Spend a day in Wicklow etc. I think it depends on what you like to do and see. I also loved the West Coast of Ireland.... really just depends on what you want to do and see.

While there is much to be said for the West of Ireland-it is gorgeous, I love Dublin and spent a week there following a Rick Steves' tour. Even with that length of stay I returned for additional days the following year. If you can find a reasonably priced BnB, or VRBO type accomodations then Dublin would make a good home base for you. There are many sights to see in or near Dublin that would keep you busy for a week. I would suggest taking a train to Kilkenny for a day or splurging and hiring a private tour guide to take you to sites you want to see like Glendolough, Wicklow Mnts., Powercourt and so on. There are also day tours to Newgrange as others have mentioned as well as other places. Dublin has excellent restaurants in all price ranges. I found that Rick's Ireland book is helpful and his restaurant recommendations are on point.

My husband and I honeymooned in Dublin in Nov. 2014! We also made Dublin our home-base (we did a week in Dublin and a week in London). I loved it... yes-- people will tell you to go stay elsewhere for that amount of time, but I enjoyed sleeping in, exploring, dining... slowly drinking Irish coffees and sitting in the park. We did 1 day trip the the Cliffs of Moher (hindsight: probably would have done 2). We enjoyed the Jameson tour and just exploring the streets of Dublin. Unfortunately my favorite lunch spot is now gone (Meet & Meat).