A Guide to Accommodation in Dublin: Where to Stay for Every Type of Trip

Dublin is a wonderfully compact city, but choosing the right accommodation can make a surprisingly big difference to your visit. Stay around St Stephen’s Green and you can step outside your hotel and be among Georgian streets, shops and restaurants within minutes. Base yourself in Temple Bar and Dublin’s nightlife is quite literally on the doorstep. Head a little further out to Ballsbridge, Drumcondra or one of Dublin Bay’s coastal villages, and the pace becomes noticeably calmer.

There is also far more variety than you might expect. Dublin has everything from grand five-star hotels and character-filled boutique properties to traditional guesthouses, modern hostels and self-catering apartments. Visit Dublin's official accommodation listings cover hotels, hostels, B&Bs, guesthouses and self-catering properties, so there really is something for most types of traveller.

One important thing to know is that Dublin accommodation can be expensive, particularly at weekends, during the summer and around major concerts, sporting fixtures and festivals. Booking early is usually worthwhile.

The best place to stay therefore isn't necessarily the hotel with the highest rating. It is the place that suits the way you intend to experience Dublin. Here are ten accommodation categories to help you find it.