TempleFree entry

Temple Bar

#2of 10 places to visit in DublinDublin, Leinster, Ireland

Also known as Temple Bar District · Temple Bar Cultural Quarter

Quick answer

Opening hours: 10:00–16:30. Entry is free. Allow 1.5 hrs. Best time: Late morning on a Saturday for the food market.

Updated 18 September 2026 · Compiled by Traveliac, AI-assisted · 4 min read

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Photo: William Murphy / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0

Opening hours: 10:00–16:30; Open access, 24 hours; pubs and venues keep individual licensed hours. Temple Bar Food Market runs Saturday 10:00-16:30 in Meeting House Square.
Entry fee: Free
Time needed: 1.5 hrs
Best time of day: Late morning on a Saturday for the food market
Best months: May – Sep
Address: Temple Bar, Dublin 2, Ireland (between Dame Street and the River Liffey)

About Temple Bar

Temple Bar is a cobbled district on the south bank of the Liffey between Dame Street and the river, with free entry to the streets and prices for pints roughly EUR 7.50-9.20 in its pubs as of 2026, according to third-party surveys. Narrow lanes, medieval street lines and neon-lit pubs cluster around Temple Bar Square, and cultural venues, including the Irish Film Institute, the Gallery of Photography and Project Arts Centre, sit on the quieter streets around Meeting House Square.

Best time of day: Late morning on a Saturday for the food market. Or early evening for trad music before crowds peak.

Temple Bar timings

Temple Bar opens at 10:00 and closes at 16:30. Those hours hold on Saturday and Sunday too.

Opening hours: 10:00–16:30; Mon–Sun 10:00–16:30; Open access, 24 hours; pubs and venues keep individual licensed hours. Temple Bar Food Market runs Saturday 10:00-16:30 in Meeting House Square.
Closed on: Open every day

Mon–Sun	10:00–16:30

Good to know: Events, screenings and markets run seasonally in Meeting House Square; check the Temple Bar Company or venue sites.

Opening hours compiled from lovetemplebar.com and public records, last updated 18 September 2026. They change without notice — confirm before you travel. How we write these guides

Temple Bar ticket price

Entry fees for Temple Bar
Ticket	Price
Standard ticket	Free
Concession (student / senior)	Free
Children	Free

Walking through Temple Bar is free as of 2026. Pints in Temple Bar pubs cost more than elsewhere in Dublin; third-party price surveys put them at roughly EUR 7.50-9.20 versus EUR 6.20-7.00 a short walk away, so check menus before ordering. Temple Bar Food Market in Meeting House Square runs on Saturdays; verify hours at the organiser's site.

Prices compiled from lovetemplebar.com and public records, last updated 18 September 2026. They change without notice — confirm before you travel. How we write these guides

Best time to visit Temple Bar

Quiet
Moderate
Busy
Very busy

09:00 - 12:00
MorningBest time to go
Streets are quiet, cafes open, and galleries and shops draw a mix of locals and visitors.
Quiet
12:00 - 17:00
Daytime
Saturday brings the food market and heavy foot traffic, while weekdays are steady but not crowded.
Moderate
17:00 - 21:00
Evening
Pub queues and live-music sessions build, and Temple Bar Square becomes the busiest point.
Busy
21:00 - 00:30
Late night
Friday and Saturday nights are the loudest and most crowded; pickpocketing and drunken behaviour are more likely.
Very busy

History of Temple Bar

Temple Bar takes its name from Sir William Temple, whose house and gardens stood here in the early 17th century, and the area developed on land reclaimed from the Liffey shoreline. A customs house operated here from 1707 and drew warehouses, taverns and brothels, but the trade moved to larger premises on the north side of the river by 1791 and the district declined.

By the late 20th century Temple Bar was run down, with low rents and artists' studios, and a 1980s proposal to build a bus terminal on the site prompted a campaign to save it. In 1991 the government established Temple Bar Properties, a not-for-profit company, to regenerate the district as Dublin's cultural quarter.

The result is a mix of galleries, theatres and cinemas, including the Irish Film Institute on Eustace Street, opened in 1992, and Temple Bar Gallery and Studios, an artists' initiative dating to 1983. Temple Bar Food Market began in 1997 and runs on Saturdays in Meeting House Square.

Rules & etiquette at Temple Bar

Temple Bar has no entry fee or dress code, but pubs enforce age checks and refuse service to anyone visibly drunk. Tipping is not expected for a drink at the bar, though a small tip for table service is normal; restaurants commonly add discretionary service for groups.

Pickpocketing is a recognised risk in crowded stretches on weekend nights, so carry phones and wallets in front pockets and keep bags zipped. Street performers work the squares, and giving a coin is optional. Late at night the area is loud, and noise and drunken behaviour are common, so families with children may prefer daytime visits.

Pub prices are 30-50% higher than elsewhere in the city, according to third-party comparisons. Ask for a price list before ordering, avoid menus with tourist set meals aimed at passers-by, and check whether a cover charge applies to live music.

Tips for visiting Temple Bar

1
Temple Bar is at its best in daylight, when the cobbles, galleries and the Saturday food market show more of the district than its pub reputation suggests. Meeting House Square holds Temple Bar Food Market on Saturdays from 10:00 to 16:30, with food stalls set up in the square.
2
For trad music, choose a pub with a listed session rather than the loudest door, and arrive early for a seat. Compare a pint price with pubs a five-minute walk away, such as those on South Great George's Street or Aungier Street, where pints run roughly EUR 1-3 cheaper according to third-party surveys.
3
Cultural stops are free or cheap: the Gallery of Photography and the National Photographic Archive in Meeting House Square charge no entry, and the Irish Film Institute screens films on Eustace Street. Trinity College is about five minutes' walk, Christ Church Cathedral about eight, and Ha'penny Bridge links the district to the north bank.

How to reach Temple Bar

The red star is Temple Bar; the numbered pins are the 9 nearest places in our guides, each showing its rank in its city. Tap a pin for details.

Temple Bar, Dublin 2, Ireland (between Dame Street and the River Liffey)Directions in Google Maps

From Trinity College Dublin
0.4 km · 5 min
Free (walking distance)
From Dublin Airport (DUB)
10 km · 35-50 min
About EUR 8-9 by Airlink (as of 2026, verify)
From Connolly or Tara Street station
1 km · 10-15 min
Free on foot, or about EUR 2.00 by Luas with a Leap Card (as of 2026)

Nearest airport

From Dublin Airport (DUB)

about 10 km, 30-45 minutes by bus or taxi.

Nearest station

From Tara Street or Pearse Street stations

about 8-10 minutes on foot; Luas stops at Jervis or Trinity – about 10 minutes on foot.

Temple Bar FAQs

Is Temple Bar free to visit?

Yes. Walking around Temple Bar is free as of 2026. You pay only for what you buy, and pub drinks in Temple Bar cost more than elsewhere in Dublin.

Are drinks in Temple Bar more expensive?

Yes. Third-party surveys put a pint at roughly EUR 7.50-9.20 in Temple Bar pubs against EUR 6.20-7.00 a few minutes away, so compare prices before ordering.

When is the Temple Bar Food Market open?

The market runs on Saturdays from 10:00 to 16:30 in Meeting House Square, according to listings. Verify times at lovetemplebar.com before travelling.

Is Temple Bar safe at night?

Mostly, but crowded weekend nights bring pickpocketing and drunken behaviour. Keep phones and wallets in front pockets, stay in lit streets and avoid leaving drinks unattended.

Compiled with AI assistance from official sources and public records, and published only after the checks in How we write these guides. Nobody from Traveliac has visited this place. Last updated 18 September 2026. How we rank and check places