Landing in Dublin early a.m.--what to do while jet-lagged 1st day?

No specific Dublin suggestions but I've learned after many overseas trips that the best way to reset my internal clock to the local time zone is get out into the sunlight. Pick your sites to visit such that you can walk between them and maximizing your time outside will make the rest of the trip much more comfortable.

Have fun!

Many of the hotels will allow you an early check in (some with a fee) but others will give you the room if it is ready. I would check into your hotel as soon as your arrive. If the room is not ready, you can at least drop your luggage off. Then I would get into town to see some of the sights. I researched a walkable tour for that day and had a plan and made a list of priorities. If I did not get to the other sights then that was OK. I just wanted to get out and do something before returning to the Hotel for the night. (I try to stay up to about 9-10 pm - my usual bed time at home). We managed to see Trinity College, Book of Kells/Long Room, St. Pats Cathedral, and in the afternoon we took a taxi out to the Jail. It was a great first day. we are aged 50-60.

Agreed, best strategy is to get out and about--hopefully there will be sunshine to reset your clock!

With Saturday, I might look for a tour outside Dublin. My top choices would be Bru na Boinne or Glendalough, though I've no idea if such tours exist.

Thanks for the suggestions! I do want to be active and hope it's sunny.

Another option, especially if this is first time to Dublin, is to take hop on-hop off bus circuit. That would give you a good orientation for later walks. You can buy a ticket at the airport that provides transportation to/from airport, use of HOHO bus as well as other Dublin transit. Good value, IMO.

Thanks! I'll do that.

April 28th is after the Lenten/Easter season so that is good. However que times for the Long Room/Book of Kells can be lengthy. If you are interested in the Jameson Distillery tour or Kilmainham Goal (jail) book ahead of time. Make sure you check ahead to see what times museums/libraries open on Sunday as they are still very oriented around the church so times may vary!

If things aren't open yet, sit and enjoy St. Stephen's Green.

My hubby and I just booked a 'City of a Thousand Welcomes' visit with a Dubliner through the Little Museum in May.
We also arrive at 840 am and thought the 1215 appt would keep us up and moving while we get to have a pint or cup of tea with a local for an hour or so. It is a free service and got rave reviews on Trip Advisor. https://www.littlemuseum.ie/. The link for the visit is at the very bottom (City of a Thousand Welcomes). I had a hard time getting the dates/times to show because my browser was blocking the site as unsecured---check that if no dates show up in the box.

We stored our bags at the hotel, ate breakfast, and purchased tickets for a "hop off- hop on" bus tour. We rode the 2 hour circuit, walked back to the hotel and our room was ready (a couple of hours early). The tour gave us the lay of the land (but my husband fell asleep!) and we killed a couple of hours.

Hey Kathy---which hop on hop off did you use and did you like it? We would like one with a night tour as well so we can see Dublin at night. thanks

I'm going to be arriving in Dublin very early Easter Sunday and have the same dilemma about not being able to get into the hotel room. My plan is to leave my luggage at the hotel, then take the hop-on-hop-off bus. I plan to ride it all the way through and then visit several of the major sights that are open that day. I'm also planning to have afternoon tea at The Atrium Lounge. What I think will definitely be the highlight of that day is my 12:15 appointment with the folks at City of A Thousand Welcomes- I'm so looking forward to learning about Dulbin from a Dubliner- what an amazing, fun way to welcome guests (and free!). My only issue is that I don't sleep on flights (hate flying, only do it because I love to go places!) and so I'm always exhausted! I had thought of a walking tour, but figured the bus might be a better option that first day. A few food places I'm looking forward to trying: Gallagher's Boxty House, Leo Burdoc's fish and chips, Queen of Tarts bakery. Can't wait!!

We we will be arriving early in Dublin also. I thought we would get a hoho ticket at the airport and do that the first day.
You have given me some other good ideas.
Will also look at the thousand welcome tour.
Thanks

Not sure where your flying from, but if your plane lands at 8:30am, I would think you would have slept all night and be ready for the day as you normally would?? We are taking a flight leaving LAX at 7:50 at night and landing at 2:00pm and we plan to just make it a normal day as we should be well rested after a 10 hour flight with at least 6 hours of sleep (thank you Tylenol PM) and go to bed at the normal time.

We enjoyed the hop on hop off the day we arrived. It was basically rainless - different than sunny- but the commentary and the overview kept us interested. You may be able to check in earlier than you think.

Letizia, you are lucky!
Flights from the east coast to Dublin are only 6 hours long. Barely enough time to fall asleep. And then they land at 5 or 6 am, which is midnight east coast time. Result: one long sleepless night!

I am envious. I took the 14 day best of Ireland- RS tour august 2014. We landed in the am, took taxi to hotel (which was Buswell's, RS tour). We could not check in when we got there, but they kept our luggage, when to restroom and freshened up. Then we just walked around, did a little shopping, had lunch at a pub. National museum I think was by our Hotel but we never had time to get there. Trinity college also close to our hotel. St Patrick's church was nice to visit, went to Guinness brewery. St Stephens garden is lovely. For me, I felt Dublin castle was a waste of time, that is just my opinion.

Loved Ireland. Hope you have great weather