✧ Dublin CityDestinations
★★★ The Liberties · Dublin City
The Canal Studios
The Canal Studios
The Canal Studios
The Canal Studios
The Canal Studios +1 photos

The Canal Studios

South Circular Road, Dublin, Republic of Ireland

Looking for a straightforward base in Dublin City? The Canal Studios in The Liberties covers the essentials and sits near central The Liberties.

From here, Dublin City’s main attractions — including central The Liberties — are an easy walk or short ride away, so you spend less time in transit and more time exploring.

Rates shift with the season and with demand, so the live price on the booking page is always the one to trust — tap through for tonight’s or your dates' real availability.

Key facts

Class
3-star
Area
The Liberties
Address
South Circular Road, Dublin, Republic of Ireland

What’s included

Bathroom Coffee Free Internet access (Lounge) Free Wifi Hairdryer Housekeeping Iron and board Kitchen Lifts Microwave Oven Refrigerator Shower Total number of rooms 1 - 50

Getting around Dublin City

You do not need a car in Dublin City. The centre is compact: O’Connell Street to St Stephen’s Green is a 15-minute walk, Trinity College to Temple Bar is 5 minutes, and Grafton Street to Merrion Square is 10. The Luas Green Line runs from St Stephen’s Green to Sandyford, the Red Line from Smithfield to the Docklands and The Point, and the Dart serves Pearse, Tara Street and Connolly for Ballsbridge and the Aviva Stadium.

A Leap Card costs €5 and caps fares at €8 a day for city travel; single Luas or bus fares are around €2. A taxi from Dublin Airport to the city centre is €25–€35 and takes 20–40 minutes depending on traffic, while the Airlink 747 bus is €10 single and the 16 bus is €2.60 with a Leap Card. Driving in the centre means paying the €2.50 toll on the Port Tunnel and hunting for parking at €15–€25 a day; take the car only if you are leaving the city for Glendalough or the Wicklow Mountains.

How many nights should you stay in Dublin City

Three nights is the right length for a first visit to Dublin City. That gives you one day for Trinity College, the Book of Kells and Dublin Castle, one for the Guinness Storehouse and Kilmainham Gaol, and one for Grafton Street, Merrion Square and the National Museum of Ireland — plus two evenings in Temple Bar or Smithfield. Two nights is enough if you are on a city break from Britain and only want the centre; five nights lets you add a day trip to Howth on the Dart or Glendalough by bus.

A sensible first-timer shape: arrive, walk O’Connell Street to the GPO and Trinity College, eat in the Liberties. Day two, book the Guinness Storehouse for 10am (€18.50 online), then Kilmainham Gaol in the afternoon (€8) and Smithfield for dinner. Day three, the National Gallery and Merrion Square, lunch on Grafton Street, and a evening in Temple Bar. Book the Gaol and the Storehouse online at least a week ahead in July and August — both sell out.

What accommodation actually costs in Dublin City

Budget rooms in Dublin City mean €80–€130 a night: a small double in a guesthouse in Rathmines or a bunk in a Smithfield hostel, usually with a shared bathroom and a 15–25 minute walk to the centre. Mid-range is €150–€230 and gets you a private room in a three- or four-star hotel in the Liberties, the Docklands or near O’Connell Street, with breakfast extra at €12–€18. Top-end is €280–€450 and buys a room at a five-star on Merrion Square or St Stephen’s Green, with a proper restaurant and a doorman.

Rates spike hardest on St Patrick’s weekend in March, when central doubles hit €350, and during the Dublin Horse Show in August and any Aviva Stadium concert — Taylor Swift fans pushed Ballsbridge rooms past €400 in 2024. New Year’s Eve on Temple Bar is another €300-plus night. Book six to eight weeks ahead for summer and you will pay nearer the lower end of each range; walk in on the day and you will pay the top.

Questions, answered

Where is The Canal Studios located?
The Canal Studios is in The Liberties, Dublin City (South Circular Road, Dublin, Republic of Ireland), close to central The Liberties.
How much does The Canal Studios cost per night?
Prices are set live by the hotel — check the booking page for a real rate for your dates.
How many stars is The Canal Studios?
The Canal Studios is a 3-star hotel in Dublin City.
How many nights do you need in Dublin City?
Three nights is enough for a first visit to Dublin City. That covers Trinity College and the Book of Kells, the Guinness Storehouse, Kilmainham Gaol, Grafton Street and two evenings out. Two nights works for a quick city break focused on the centre; five nights lets you add a Dart trip to Howth or a bus to Glendalough in the Wicklow Mountains.
How do you get from Dublin Airport to the city centre?
The cheapest way is the 16 bus with a Leap Card at €2.60, taking 45–60 minutes to O’Connell Street. The Airlink 747 is €10 single and runs to Busáras and Heuston in 25–35 minutes. A taxi is €25–€35 and takes 20–40 minutes depending on the Port Tunnel traffic. There is no train from Dublin Airport; the MetroLink is not open.
Do you need a car in Dublin City?
No — a car is a liability in Dublin City. The centre is walkable, with O’Connell Street to St Stephen’s Green in 15 minutes and Grafton Street to Merrion Square in 10, and the Luas, Dart and bus network covers the rest for €8 a day capped. Parking costs €15–€25 a day and the Port Tunnel toll is €2.50. Hire a car only to leave the city for Wicklow or the west.
Is Dublin City better for families or couples?
Couples, on the whole: Dublin City’s main draws are pubs, restaurants and late-night music in Temple Bar, which suit adults. Families do well in the Docklands or Ballsbridge, where hotels have family rooms and the Aviva Stadium and the National Museum of Ireland at Collins Barracks are close. The National Gallery and St Stephen’s Green park are free and good for children. Avoid Temple Bar at night with young children.
What should you book early in Dublin City?
Book Kilmainham Gaol and the Guinness Storehouse online at least a week ahead in July and August — both sell out, and the Gaol is €8 with timed entry. Hotels need six to eight weeks' notice for St Patrick’s weekend around 17 March, when central rooms hit €350. The Book of Kells at Trinity College also sells out in summer; book the first slot at 9.30am.

From the blog

Pick your area first
Hotel prices swing with weekends, matches and concerts. Decide on an area, check two or three dates, and book when the rate looks fair rather than perfect.
Search hotels