What do you recommend we must do in Dublin after the RS tour?

The National Museum of Ireland if it isn't on your tour, as well as a day trip to Kilkenny.

It would help to know what is on the itinerary for your tour in Dublin. Wouldn't want to recommend anything you are already going to visit.

I’d hop on a train from Dublin to Belfast . In Belfast I’d visit the Titanic Museum. I’d then have a meal
at Mournes. You could stay the night at the Premier Inn on Alfred Street.. Return train to Dublin the next day.

So, we'll be taking a walking tour and then going to Trinity College to see the Book of Kells with the Rick Steves tour.

Currently there are no trains between Dublin and Belfast- bus replacements between Newry and Belfast, so you may as well go by one of the three bus companies all the way.

An announcement on the opening date of Belfast Grand Central Rail Station and the start of hourly Dublin to Belfast trains is rumoured to be imminent, but other sources say that driver training is running behind schedule so the date may be closer to Christmas than October.

Thanks, everyone! I'm wondering about the Hop On Hop Off double decker bus tour. Do you need tickets before hand or can we get them there? Do you think it's worth it? Thanks!

With just two extra days after the tour, I definitely would stay put in Dublin. We did the hop-on/hop-off bus and it was 'fine'. I'm not that big on them, but it was a way to orient to the city. It did work out perfectly as transportation to and from the Guinness Storehouse tour. I'm sure you could just get the bus tickets there, but if you want to tour Guinness I'd probably get tickets a week or two in advance. The Storehouse tour wasn't a highlight for me, but of course it depends on your interests. There was a nice view of the city, and a free beer. :)

Some other ideas for your free time would be EPIC, the Irish Immigration museum (excellent) , the National Museum of Archaeology, and a walk through St Stephens Green Park. The Traditional Music Irish Pub crawl is fun, and you might also want to check out what is playing at the Gaeity Theatre while you are there. We saw Riverdance at the Gaeity on our trip.

And don't underrate just wandering about, there was wonderful music in so many places

If Kilmainham Gaol isn't included in the RS tour book tickets for that asap. The tickets go on sale 30 days in advance and frequently sell out. A day trip to the neolithic sites of Newgrange and Knowth with the Mary Gibbons tour is also very good..

The only must-sees are the things that YOU must see.

An alternative to the HOHO bus (which is very unnecessary in a city so small and walkable) is to have tea on board a vintage bus while it drives around to show you the city. The food was very nice, and we had a great time. Book ahead:
https://www.vintageteatrips.ie

I agree that EPIC is an excellent museum (I think you can buy advance tickets). When I was there, it was nearly empty, so YMMV. Same with the National Museum and the Dead Zoo (these are free, but I don't know whether you can reserve a timed entry; probably don't need to in October?). Another one RS recommends is 14 Henrietta Street, which I haven't been to, so...

When strolling, don't forget to go east toward the harbor, where there has been much redevelopment. Nice restaurants, modern spaces, it's a great contrast to the city center.

A day trip to Newgrange if you're not already going there on the tour. The provider I've seen recommended here is Mary Gibbons, I think.

A couple ideas for things off the beaten path:

See a play at either the Gate Theater or Abbey Theater. I've seen plays at both of them. They're both world-class theaters, but I slightly prefer the Gate. In 2004, I saw a performance of A Christmas Carol there with my sister. We were both in tears.

Go to an Evensong service at Christ Church Cathedral.

Hike a bit of the Wicklow Way trail: https://www.wicklowway.com/. It's a 100-mile long trail through County Wicklow between Dublin on the north and County Wexford on the south. In 1999, I walked the trail. The trail starts in Marlay Park: https://www.visitdublin.com/marlay-park

Book a side trip to Glendalough (https://glendalough.ie/), a monastic center dating back to St. Kevin in the Eighth Century or so. It's 25 miles south of Dublin. You can book at the Tourist Information center in downtown Dublin.

See St. Valentine's remains. Yes, the saint who's commemorated on Feb. 14 is buried in Dublin (https://whitefriarstreetchurch.com/saint-valentine/) in Whitefriar Street Church: https://whitefriarstreetchurch.com/. It's a long story about how an Italian saint ended up in Ireland.

Go to the Dublin Writers Museum; https://www.dublin.info/writers-museum/

Sounds like you are on the 6 day tour that ends in Dublin? We just finished that tour earlier this month. Some of the items others suggested are part of the tour. Great tour by the way. Saw a lot

We also stayed for two days after the tour. I really wanted to see Northern Ireland. We did a one day tour with Wild Rover that was excellent. It was a long day. Guinness you want to book in advance. We went to the dead zoo. Really wanted a tshirt saying that. Unbeknown to us at the time the dead zoo closed just a few days later for renovations.

We went to Epic it was good but crowded. Went to the art museum too. We also walked a lot to find statues I wanted to see. The six day tour is very busy so it was nice to not have everything planned after our tour.

Enjoy

So much to see. You've all given me some great ideas. Thank you! I can't wait to get there!

Christchurch Cathedral and Kilmainham Gaol were two of my favourite sights in Dublin, if your tour doesn't go to those. Note that Kilmainham Gaol usually requires reservations.

Kilmainham Gaol Tickets are released 30 days in advance and disappear almost immediately. Tickets often are released first thing in the morning each day for that day. I was there two weeks ago and had no problem getting day-of tickets.

In Dublin, we enjoyed the Doublin Castle tour, the famine museum, River Dance at Gaiety Theatre, Kilmainham Gaol, Jenny Johnston Famine ship and just walking around the city. Eating in pubs and listening to traditional Irish music.

I took the advice of other posters, on my first trip to Ireland, and did the Mary Gibbons tour to Newgrange. We really enjoyed it! I would highly recommend it.

We were in Dublin 2 days at the end of our trip. For me the highlight was the 1) Historical Walking Tour (RSbook). The Trinity Irish History grad student was excellent. 2) Chester Beatty Museum
3) National Gallery ( they currently have two Vermeers). Our adult kids like Kilmainham best and my husband the archeological museum.

Did Kilmainham Gaol this past weekend and would say it is a must. Get on your computer NOW and get tickets if you can. They go incredibly fast.

Agree Kilmainham Gaol is a must. Went there in September. And yes, get your tickets NOW.

If you are doing the longer Ireland tour, it included a guided tour of the Gaol and visited the Titanic Museum in Belfast. After our RS BO Ireland, we took a bus and returned to Dublin. We took the Wild Wicklow bus tour and the Mary Gibbons tour to Newgrange. Mary Gibbons is very popular and definitely need advance tickets. Have a great time!