Things to Do in Dublin in December

If Christmas shopping is part of your December plans, Dundrum Town gives you plenty of choice without having to travel between different parts of Dublin. The range also makes it possible to shop for very different people in the same trip, from luxury gifts and skincare to music, fragrance and activewear.

Brown Thomas for a Wide Range of Christmas Gifts

Brown Thomas is a good starting point when you're shopping for several people and don't have a single type of present in mind. The Dundrum store brings together designer fashion, premium beauty and homeware, with gift services, personal shopping and personalisation available too.

That breadth makes it highly practical in December. You could be looking for fragrance for one person, a beauty gift for another and something for the home for someone else, all within the same store. It's also a good place to start if you're still figuring out what to buy rather than arriving with a fully formed list.

Pestle & Mortar for Skincare Gifts

For someone who enjoys skincare, Pestle & Mortar offers a more focused option. The Irish brand concentrates on straightforward, considered skincare, with products designed around purposeful ingredients and uncomplicated routines.

It's the sort of gift category that works well when you're shopping for someone who likes practical presents they can actually use. If you're unsure where to begin, a skincare-focused store also narrows the choice considerably compared with browsing a large beauty department.

Golden Discs for Music and Pop Culture Fans

Golden Discs is worth a look when you're buying for someone whose interests are more likely to involve music, films or pop culture. Alongside vinyl, CDs and DVDs, the Dundrum store stocks record players, headphones, gaming products, Funko Pops, Pokémon cards and other collectibles.

That variety makes it easier to find something personal without needing to know exactly which album or film to choose. A piece of vinyl, a pair of headphones or a small collectible can all work as Christmas presents at different price points.

Molton Brown for Fragrance and Self-Care Gifts

Molton Brown is a natural stop for fragrance, bath and body gifts. The Dundrum store also offers gifting and fragrance consultations, along with complimentary hand and arm massages, so you can take a little more time over your choice.

This is a great option when you're buying for someone whose tastes you know reasonably well but aren't sure which fragrance or body product they'll prefer. The consultation gives you an opportunity to narrow things down before committing to a gift.

Gym+Coffee for Activewear Gifts

For someone who practically lives in hoodies, joggers or activewear, Gym+Coffee offers a different kind of Christmas shopping option. The Dundrum store is the brand's flagship and carries its range of athleisure and accessories, with gift services available.

It's also a distinctly Dundrum choice. The brand opened its first store here in 2018, so this is a deserving place to browse if you'd like to give something from an Irish brand with a direct connection to the area.

December weather can make an afternoon outdoors less appealing, especially when you're already carrying shopping bags. Dundrum's leisure options give you ways to stay indoors while still making the day feel like more than a shopping trip.

Lane7 for a Social Afternoon or Evening

Lane7 combines bowling with activities including pool, shuffleboard and other games, giving groups plenty to do under one roof. It's the answer for when you want something more active than just sitting down for a meal, but don't want to spend part of the day travelling around Dublin.

Booking ahead is sensible for busy periods, mostly around weekends and school holidays. That becomes even more relevant in December, when Christmas gatherings can make popular indoor activities busy.

Rainforest Adventure Golf for Indoor Fun

Rainforest Adventure Golf keeps the tropical theme firmly indoors, with two 18-hole courses covering the Aztec and Mayan themes. The courses take players through a rainforest setting with waterfalls, volcanic effects and other details along the way. It's open daily from 10am.

It's a good choice if you want an activity that works for different ages and doesn't depend on the weather. You can also stop at the Canopy Café afterwards, so the whole visit can stay within the same indoor venue.

Movies @ Dundrum for a Cosy Cinema Break

Sometimes the best December activity is simply sitting somewhere warm for a couple of hours. Movies @ Dundrum gives you an easy cinema option in the middle of the shopping and leisure offer, making it simple to fit a film around the rest of your plans.

Check the current listings before you go, especially if there's a specific film you want to see. A daytime screening can also work well as a break between Christmas shopping and an evening activity.

You don't always want to turn a shopping day into a long lunch. Dundrum has several options for a quicker meal, so you can refuel without making food the main event.

Popeye's for Fried Chicken

Popeye's brings its Louisiana style fried chicken to Dundrum, known for spicy crispy chicken, buttermilk biscuits and Cajun fries. It's a solid pick for a quick, satisfying bite between browsing sessions.

Nando's for a Familiar Quick Meal

Nando's is a great choice when everyone in the group already knows what they want. Its Dundrum menu centres on flame-grilled PERi-PERi chicken, with vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options available too.

That makes it an easy choice when you're looking for something relatively straightforward before continuing with the rest of your day.

Slim Chickens for Southern-Style Comfort Food

Slim Chickens offers chicken tenders, wings, fries, Texas toast and hand-spun shakes, with takeaway and delivery also available. The Dundrum restaurant has halal and vegetarian options, alongside a range of dietary information for other requirements.

It's considered a go-to when the priority is a casual, satisfying meal over a long sit-down lunch.

Sushi & Go for Grab and Go Japanese

Sushi & Go is built for busy shoppers, with sushi, inari and onigiri ready to grab without the wait. Vegetarian and gluten free options are clearly marked, so it suits a quick lunch or dinner on the way home just as easily as a sweet finish to a meal.

Once the bigger presents are sorted, the smaller gifts can be surprisingly difficult. Dundrum's range of bookshops, beauty stores, toy and hobby retailers and value-led shops makes it easier to fill the gaps on your Christmas list.

Dubray for Books and Reading Gifts

Dubray is a straightforward choice when you know someone enjoys reading, but don't necessarily know which particular book they'd like. Its Dundrum store also offers gift services, personal shopping and in-store appointments.

A bookshop can also offer unique options for smaller gifts beyond novels, like when you're looking for something for a reader who already seems to own everything.

Art & Hobby for Creative Stocking Fillers

Art & Hobby covers a broad range of creative interests, from LEGO sets and toys to art supplies, craft kits and materials.

That makes it worthwhile for more than children. Creative adults can find something here too, whether that's a new hobby to try over the Christmas break or a small addition to an existing one.

Lush for Bath and Body Gifts

Lush is a great stop for small gifts that still feel considered. The Dundrum store is the largest Lush shop in Ireland and carries its bath, body and haircare ranges, alongside gifting consultations and in-store demonstrations and workshops.

Bath bombs, bubble bars and smaller body products can all work well when you're looking for something that fits neatly into a stocking.

TK Maxx for Unexpected Finds

TK Maxx works best when you're prepared to browse. Its changing selection across fashion, homeware, beauty and accessories means you may not know exactly what you'll find before you walk in.

That unpredictability can be handy for stocking fillers. Give yourself a little time to look around and you're more likely to come across something that suits a particular person rather than buying another generic present.

Penneys for Affordable Christmas Gifts

Penneys offers a practical option when you need several smaller gifts or want to keep the cost of Christmas shopping under control. The Dundrum store covers women's, men's and children's clothing alongside beauty, homeware and accessories.

It's a well-rounded stop for those final additions to your shopping list, from cosy winter accessories to beauty products and small home items.

Smiggle for Children's Gifts

Smiggle is the obvious choice here if you're shopping for younger family members. Its range includes stationery, gadgets, bags and lunchboxes, with plenty of colourful options that work well as smaller presents.

It's also a good place to look when you're trying to find something that feels a little more fun than a conventional school supply.

Eason for Books, Stationery and Small Gifts

Eason covers several great stocking-filler categories in one stop, including books, notebooks, magazines, stationery and gifts.

It's especially handy when your list includes people with very different interests. A bestselling book might work for one person, while a notebook, planner or small gift could suit someone else.

For a December evening, dlr Mill Theatre gives you a way to bring live entertainment into the day without leaving Dundrum. Its 2026 Christmas production, Pinocchio, runs from 3 December 2026 to 3 January 2027, making it a timely option for the festive period.

The theatre is in Dundrum Town Square, opposite Movies @ Dundrum, so it can easily be paired with shopping, dinner or a film. There are also relaxed performances of Pinocchio scheduled for 18 and 27 December, with adjustments to sound, lighting and audience movement for a more accessible experience.

Check the current performance schedule and ticket availability before planning your evening.

If you want to continue into Dublin city centre, December is a good time to build a day around its free cultural attractions. The National Museum, National Gallery and National Library are all indoors, making them a well-earned stop when the weather isn't inviting.

National Museum of Ireland for Irish History and Archaeology

The National Museum of Ireland on Kildare Street is home to collections covering Irish archaeology, including Viking Ireland, prehistoric artefacts, gold and the Treasury. Admission is free, and the museum is open Tuesday to Saturday from 10am to 5pm and Sunday and Monday from 1pm to 5pm.

The museum also has a welcoming December detail: it opens from 10am to noon on Christmas Eve and closes on Christmas Day and St Stephen's Day. That makes checking the date important when planning a festive visit.

National Gallery of Ireland for Art

The National Gallery of Ireland offers another substantial indoor stop, with free admission to its permanent collection and many temporary exhibitions.

Its Merrion Square location makes it easy to combine with other nearby cultural attractions, including the National Museum and National Library. The Gallery currently opens seven days a week, although it closes from 24 to 26 December, so check the latest hours if you're visiting around Christmas itself.

You don't need to know much about art to enjoy a gallery visit. Give yourself time to wander, choose a few works that catch your attention and warm up before continuing around the city.

National Library of Ireland for a Quiet Cultural Stop

For something a little quieter, head to the National Library of Ireland on Kildare Street. Its permanent Yeats exhibition is free, requires no booking and explores the life and work of W.B. Yeats through manuscripts, personal items, photographs and other material from the Library's collection.

It's an appealing December stop if you're looking for somewhere indoors where you can slow down for a while. The Library is less than 500 metres from St Stephen's Green, Grafton Street and Trinity College, so it can be incorporated into a city-centre day without adding a long walk.

The exhibition is open Monday to Sunday, although the Library's research reading rooms have separate access requirements. If you're visiting during the Christmas period, check the latest visitor information before setting out.

See the Deer in Phoenix Park

Phoenix Park is the main outdoor recommendation in this guide, but it offers something distinctive enough to make a short winter visit worthwhile. The park is home to a wild herd of approximately 600 fallow deer, many of them descendants of deer introduced to the park in the 1660s.

You don't need to spend hours walking the park. If the weather is dry, a short visit to see the deer can add some fresh air to a day otherwise spent indoors.

The deer are wild animals, so keep your distance and don't feed them. The Phoenix Park team recommends staying at least 50 metres away.

Cross Dublin's Ha'penny Bridge

The Ha'penny Bridge is another outdoor stop that doesn't need to take up much of your day. If you're already exploring the city centre, crossing the bridge gives you one of Dublin's most recognisable landmarks without committing to a long walk.

It's best treated as part of a wider route rather than a destination that needs a dedicated afternoon. Pair it with nearby shops, cafés or other city-centre sights, then get back indoors when the December weather starts to bite.

A good December day in Dublin doesn't need to involve hours outside. Start with Christmas shopping and indoor entertainment at Dundrum Town, take a break for something quick to eat, then continue into the city for free museums, galleries or the National Library.

If the weather allows, add a short stop in Phoenix Park to see the fallow deer or cross the Ha'penny Bridge before heading somewhere warm again. The combination gives you plenty of choice without requiring a rigid itinerary, and leaves room to change plans when the Irish winter has other ideas.