Sir Alfred Chester Beatty, an American mining magnate and prolific collector of manuscripts, prints, icons and paintings left behind an incredible collection of human history when he died in 1968. Stand in awe over Egyptian papyrus texts, rare copies of the Qur’an, the Bible and an impressive selection of snuff bottles from Japan. Don’t miss the Chester Beatty papyri, which includes a 3rd-century Greek papyrus manuscript of the Gospel of Luke.

In 1998, over 7,000 items from Francis Bacon’s London studio were removed by a group of archaeologists and conservationists and placed in identical fashion inside the Hugh Lane Gallery in Dublin. No detail was spared – even particles of dust were brought over from the original studio and catalogued in an exhaustive database, which holds a picture and factual description for each item. The relocation of the studio was unprecedented in the museum world, and allowed for close study of the brilliant artist’s chaotic working space.

This is about as touristy as it gets for Dublin, but it’s also incredibly fun. Housed inside a building shaped like a giant pint-glass, your tour will take you through the products used to make the beer – including a huge waterfall to symbolise the most important ingredient (water) and as you go farther up the pint glass, the packaging, history and health benefits of a Guinness (like reducing risk of blood clots). A free pint is included in the ticket, which you can enjoy in The Gravity Bar (gets crowded). TIP: Get ahead of the group you’re in and start the tour from the top (Gravity Bar) down to avoid crowds.

Vestiges of the atrocities that occurred in this jail between 1796 and 1924 are palpable as you walk through its damp and narrow corridors that zigzag around cells. The prison is famous for its former occupants, which included many of the leaders of rebellions of 1798, 1803, 1848, 1867 and 1916. You can only view the gaol by guided tour, which will offer you insight into the lives of many of the occupants. TIP: Get there early, tickets sell quickly and you may need to wait up to an hour for the next tour.

The restored Stella Theatre is stiff competition for Dublin’s Lighthouse cinema and the IFI. The Stella, located in Rathmines (just outside the immediate city centre) has adopted a 1920’s aesthetic – almost a carbon copy of Soho House’s Electric Cinema. Sumptuous leather chairs and mirrored side tables, make for a comfortable movie watching experience. Cinema favourites of popcorn, nachos and pick ‘n mix are available at the lobby bar on your way in, while larger food and drinks orders will be delivered right to your seat. Post-film, pop upstairs to the The Stella Cocktail Club, housed in a glass atrium overlooking Rathmines main street.

Ireland is known for producing great writers, but you shouldn’t overlook the eminent artists that come from the island: Hugh Douglas Hamilton, James Barry, William Orpen, John Lavery and Jack B. Yeats are featured in the National Gallery. Don’t miss Johannes Vermeer’s ‘Woman writing a letter to her maid’ Thomas Gainsborough’s ‘The cottage girl’ and Caravaggio’s ‘Taking of the Christ.’

As a designated UNESCO City of Literature Dublin is home to some of the world’s best bookshops. With a fantastic local poetry and literature scene, magazines like The Stinging Fly and The Moth are a great place to start and available in all good book shops. Settle into an armchair at Books Upstairs just next to Trinity College and get lost in good-old story under the stunning stained-glass light.