By Ashleigh Howarth

Solo travel isn’t just about collecting passport stamps and fridge magnets - it’s also about stepping out of your comfort zone, chatting to randoms, and snapping the odd selfie with someone you just met five minutes ago.

In Dublin, the city is packed with pubs and incredible experiences but enjoying them on your own can feel a little intimidating.

For anyone flying solo in Dublin and keen to meet like-minded travellers, here are some of the best experiences designed to spark a chat, share a laugh, and maybe even turn a one-day connection into a lifelong friendship.

Photo: Courtesy of Games of Throes Studio Tour.

Game of Thrones Studio Tour

Few things break the ice faster than a friendly debate over who truly deserved to rule the Iron Throne. Whether you’re fiercely loyal to House Targaryen, Stark, Lannister, Baratheon or Greyjoy, you’ll find plenty of fans eager to share their opinions at the Game of Thrones Studio Tour.

Located roughly 90 minutes from Dublin, the best way to get there is by joining the bus tour, as it’s the perfect opportunity to meet others right from the start.

Once inside, you’re free to explore at your own pace – From Beyond the Wall to Castle Black, Winterfell, Dragonstone, King’s Landing, and the Destroyed Throne Room, there’s so much to see and take in!

Stand where legends once stood on one of the many sets, admire the iconic looks worn on screen by your favourite characters, marvel at the impressive weapons used in battle, and get up close to some of the show’s most recognisable props, including Daenerys Targaryen’s intricate dragon necklace and Jaime Lannister’s gold hand.

You can even try your hand at riding a dragon and discover how the series was brought to life through a fascinating collection of behind-the-scenes videos and exhibits.

As the world's only official licensed Game of Thrones Studio Tour, it's well worth a visit, regardless of whether you've been a fan since the first episode or are only just discovering the series now.

Website: https://gameofthronesstudiotour.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gotstudiotour/

Guinness Storehouse

If downing a Guinness or two is on your list (and let’s face it, you’re in Ireland, so it should be!), the Guinness Storehouse is more than just a brewery tour - it's a surprisingly social experience.

‍The home of Ireland’s famous pint since 1759, the storehouse is spread across seven floors and brings the story of Guinness to life through interactive exhibits, tasting experiences and hands-on activities.

‍Whether you're comparing tasting notes in the Tasting Rooms, learning to pour the perfect pint at the Guinness Academy, or sipping a Stoutie with your own mugshot printed on it, there’s plenty to have a chinwag about.

‍With visitors coming from all over the world, you just never know who you will find while downing your complimentary drink and admiring the incredible 360-degree views from the Gravity Bar.

‍Website: https://www.guinness-storehouse.com/en

‍Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/homeofguinness

Jameson Distillery Bow Street

When in Ireland, you gotta do what the Irish do, and that’s drink!

A few drinks can make striking up a conversation feel a whole lot easier, and there’s no better place to put that to the test than at Jameson Distillery Bow St.

There’s a stack of experiences designed to get you sipping and chatting, from whisky tastings and cocktail-making classes to barrel blending sessions and premium whisky-and-chocolate pairings.

You can also get stuck into Redbreast tastings, tour-and-cask draw experiences where you’ll try whisky straight from the barrel at full strength, or the Jameson Experience - an immersive guided tour that finishes with three shots that might just leave you feeling a little bit tipsy and extra chatty.

By the time you’re enjoying your complimentary signature cocktail at the bar, the group no longer feels like a room full of strangers, making it the perfect chance to continue the conversation long after your experience has ended.

Website: https://www.jamesonwhiskey.com/en-ie/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamesonwhiskey/

The Irish Dance Party

Music and dancing have a knack for bringing people together, and The Irish Dance Party at the historic 19th-century Merchants Arch Bar is right up there as a top spot for a night of live tunes, laughs and good vibes.

The show takes place upstairs, accessed via a 200-year-old staircase, which then opens into a room with a plane hanging from the ceiling!

Both sessions bring the same high-energy mix of live Irish music and world-class dancers who somehow make it all look way too easy. The afternoon show is more hands-on, giving you the chance to pick up a few simple steps from the performers themselves, while the evening session levels things up with a three-course meal and a more dinner-theatre-style setup.

What really makes it pop is the atmosphere. Between learning the lyrics with the musicians, clapping along with the dancers, and chatting to the people next to you about the show, it quickly turns into one big, shared experience with a room full of new friends.

Located right in the heart of the Temple Bar District overlooking the River Liffey, Merchants Arch keeps the energy going downstairs too, with live music, a packed bar pouring plenty of beers and spirits and the chance to even jump into a full pub singalong.

Website: https://www.irishdanceparty.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/irishdanceparty/

Day trips with Paddywagon Tours

Organised bus tours are honestly one of the easiest ways to meet people while travelling, especially on day trips where everyone’s in the same “let’s make the most of it” headspace.

Paddywagon Tours runs big, bucket-list style trips out to places like the Giant’s Causeway and Belfast, as well as the Cliffs of Moher, which makes it feel like you’re ticking off the highlights reel of Ireland.

What makes these tours great for meeting people is the mix of travellers you end up thrown in with. You’ve got solo adventurers, students, couples, families and professionals all bundled together for the day, sharing the same laughs, same stops and usually the same “wow, is this real?” moments.

The drivers are a big part of the vibe too. Knowledgeable, funny and up for telling you plenty of stories, they’re brilliant at getting everyone talking. They’ll ask where people are from, nudge you to say hello to your seatmate, and keep the bus buzzing with music as you roll through the Irish countryside, turning the whole trip into a moving social.

Then there’s the photos – having someone on hand to take your photos and vice versa not only mean you have a day without the awkward arm selfies, but you also get plenty of the scenery in your images and build a trust with this person who you didn’t know from a bar of soap this morning.

Don’t be surprised if those connections stick. Whether it’s a one-day laugh or someone you swap socials with and keep in touch with, that little slice of the road tends to stay with you long after the trip’s done.

Website: https://www.paddywagontours.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paddywagontours/

Traditional Irish Musical Pub Crawl

‍If you want the classic Irish pub experience without the awkwardness of wandering into a packed bar on your own, The Traditional Irish Musical Pub Crawl is about as easy as it gets.

Led by two professional musicians, it’s part live gig, part storytelling session and part pub crawl, taking you through two of Dublin’s iconic pubs while diving into the history of Irish music, songs and instruments along the way.

Kicking off at the Ha’Penny Bridge Inn at 6pm, you’ll warm up your vocal cords here before moving on to Flanagan’s Bar and Restaurant for the next leg of the night.

‍You’ll quickly realise how easy it is to let your guard down when you’re belting out the same chorus or laughing along to the same stories as everyone else.

‍And because it’s not one of those late-night pub crawls that rolls on until the early hours, you’ll still feel human the next day instead of completely wrecked (unless you want to keep on partying, then all credit to you!)

‍Website: https://www.musicalpubcrawl.com/

‍Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musicalpubcrawldublin/

Irish Rock ‘n’ Roll Museum

If your Spotify is stacked with the likes of U2, The Cranberries, Thin Lizzy, Sinéad O’Connor, Rory Gallagher, Shane MacGowan or Bob Geldof, then the Irish Rock 'n' Roll Museum Experience is basically calling your name!

Part museum, part backstage pass, this spot takes you behind the curtain of one of Dublin’s iconic music venues and recording studios, letting you wander through the same spaces where some of Ireland’s biggest music moments went down.

The tour rolls through the famous Button Factory, packed with stories from the Irish music scene and rooms where artists like The Script, Rihanna and will.i.am have laid down tracks.

You’ll also stumble across loads of memorabilia and the Irish Wall of Fame - basically a nostalgia overload for music lovers.

If you’re into these artists, odds are the person next to you is too. One minute you’re spotting a guitar from your favourite band or flipping out over handwritten lyrics, and the next you’re deep in chat about the best gigs you’ve ever been to, arguing over the greatest Irish band of all time, or adding new tunes straight to each other’s playlists.

Website: https://irishrocknrollmuseum.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/irishrockmuseum/

Walking Tours with Generation Tours

If you’re more about getting your steps in and seeing Dublin up close and personal, a walking tour is one of the best ways to get around the city.

Not only do you hit all the big-name landmarks, but the local guides really bring the city to life, spinning yarns about writers, rebels, rogues and revolutionaries, while pointing out details you’d never spot on your own.

And of course, there’s a cheeky pub stop thrown in along the way, which is very on-brand for Dublin.

You’ll start the day off as strangers, but by the end of it you’ve picked up a few mates.

Website: https://www.generationtours.com/dublin

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/GenerationTours/

Hop-On Hop-Off Bus

‍If you’re feeling a bit overwhelmed and not sure where to kick off your Dublin adventure, the Hop-On Hop-Off bus is a solid way to get your bearings. Riding the bus for a full loop is a great way to get the lay of the land, suss out the spots worth coming back to, and figure out which neighbourhoods are worth diving into properly.

‍With stops at some of Dublin’s biggest hitters - including Trinity College, Dublin Castle, St Patrick’s Cathedral, EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum, Dublin Zoo and O’Connell Street - it’s an easy, no-fuss way to tick off the main sights.

‍Plus, with ticket options that bundle in walking tours, museums, guided experiences and even bike rides, you can basically map out half your trip in one hit.

‍Every time you jump on, each ride turns into a chance to link up with someone new. You’re constantly sitting next to different travellers, swapping tips on where to go next, or chatting about where you’ve come from. Before you know it, the person next to you could end up being your sightseeing buddy for the day.

‍Website: https://city-sightseeing.com/en/50/dublin

‍Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/citysightseeingworldwide/

This story was written with the assistance of GPSmyCity.

Flying solo in Dublin: The best experiences for meeting people and exploring the city