Fan Stay
The Dean Dublin
Hip design hotel on Harcourt Street with a buzzing rooftop bar and vinyl-playing lobby. Young rugby and GAA fans love its vibrant nightlife-district location and proximity to St Stephen's Green and Dublin's best pubs.
stadium
Aviva Stadium
Dublin, Ireland · Capacity: 51,000
About Aviva Stadium
Aviva Stadium is a major stadium in Dublin, Ireland, with regular global sports and entertainment events.
- Opened: 2010
- Capacity: 51,000
- Architect: Scott Tallon Walker, Populous
- Structural engineer: Cimolai, Buro Happold Engineering
- Home teams: Irish Rugby Football Union, Football Association of Ireland
- Owner: Irish Rugby Football Union
- Official site: www.avivastadium.ie
Fan Guide · Irish Rugby & Football
The Aviva on historic Lansdowne Road
The Aviva Stadium rose on the site of Lansdowne Road, the oldest rugby ground in the world, its swooping glass curve now home to Irish rugby and the football team — and a regular NFL and big-match host in the heart of Dublin.
It's in the leafy Ballsbridge district, walkable and on the DART rail, near the pubs of the city.
Below are the Dublin stays, restaurants and bars fans use around the Aviva.
Fan tip: It's on the DART rail in Ballsbridge — and Dublin's pubs are the obvious pre- and post-match.
Where Fans Stay, Eat & Drink near Aviva Stadium
All Dublin hotspots →Hotels, bars, restaurants and things to do near Aviva Stadium in Dublin — every pick web-researched and source-cited, closest to the stadium first.
Where to Stay
Fan Stay
The Gresham Hotel
The Gresham on O'Connell Street has been Dublin's grandest address since 1817, and its location on the city's main boulevard makes it the traditional base for GAA county teams traveling to Croke Park just a mile away. The hotel lobby has seen countless victorious county delegations return with the Sam Maguire or Liam MacCarthy cups, and the adjacent bar fills with fans before and after games on major championship weekends. Sports tourism in Dublin genuinely does not get more historically rooted than a stay here.
Fan Stay
The Merrion Hotel
Dublin's leading 5-star hotel set across four Georgian townhouses on Merrion Square with a garden, pool, and acclaimed Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud. International rugby and football fans choose The Merrion for its elegant base near government buildings and easy DART access to the Aviva.
Fan Stay
The Shelbourne, Autograph Collection
Dublin's most iconic five-star hotel, overlooking St Stephen's Green since 1824. A short walk from the Aviva Stadium, it has hosted rugby legends, rock stars, and heads of state, making it the ultimate base for fans seeking a premium matchday experience.
Fan Stay
The Shelbourne Hotel
Overlooking St Stephen's Green since 1824, The Shelbourne is Dublin's most iconic hotel. The Irish Constitution was drafted in its rooms, and today it remains the city's premier address for visiting sports stars and fans alike. The Horseshoe Bar is a legendary meeting point before and after events.
Bars & Pubs
Lemon & Duke
Backed by Irish rugby internationals Rob Kearney, Brian O'Driscoll, and Jamie Heaslip, Lemon & Duke on Royal Hibernian Way is Dublin's premier sports bar and the unofficial Six Nations headquarters for fans who can't get Aviva Stadium tickets. Multiple large screens cover every angle of the room, the menu leans into classic Irish pub food done well, and the ownership's rugby pedigree means the place genuinely understands what fans need on match day. Booking well in advance is essential for Ireland home fixtures.
Mulligan's of Poolbeg Street
Established in 1782, Mulligan's is widely regarded as the home of the finest pint of Guinness in Dublin and has been a gathering place for GAA and rugby fans for generations. On All-Ireland Final weekends the pub heaves with jerseys from every county in Ireland, creating one of the most electric sporting atmospheres in the country without a stadium in sight. The sawdust-on-the-floor, no-frills interior is a deliberate contrast to modern sports bars — and fans love it all the more for that.
Mulligan's Pub
Mulligan's on Poolbeg Street, established in 1782, is widely regarded as serving the finest pint of Guinness in Dublin and has been the gathering place for sports fans, journalists, and theatre people for centuries. The wood-panelled interior and complete absence of televisions make it a pub for conversation rather than match watching — the ideal post-match debrief location after a rugby international or GAA final. Being handed a perfect Mulligan's Guinness after a day at Croke Park or the Aviva is one of the purest experiences in Irish sports travel.
O'Donoghue's
Legendary Dublin pub on Baggot Street where The Dubliners got their start, with nightly traditional Irish music sessions. GAA and rugby fans gather here for pints of Guinness and spirited singalongs after matches at the Aviva Stadium.
The Bridge 1859
Legendary Ballsbridge pub named for the year the nearby Aviva Stadium site first hosted rugby. Just steps from the ground, it is the definitive pre-match pint destination for Ireland rugby fans and has hosted countless post-match celebrations.
The Hill Pub
Named after Croke Park's famous Hill 16 terrace, The Hill Pub on Clonliffe Road is the go-to pre-match pint for GAA supporters. On All-Ireland final days the atmosphere is electric, with fans in county colours spilling onto the street. It perfectly captures the passion and community spirit of Gaelic games.
Restaurants
Fan Eats
The Winding Stair Restaurant
The Winding Stair on Ormond Quay Lower is one of Dublin's most beloved restaurants, serving modern Irish cuisine overlooking the Ha'penny Bridge in a building that has housed a bookshop since 1894 and where Irish writers, sportspeople, and cultural figures have dined for generations. The seasonal menu features the finest Irish produce — Connemara lamb, Carlingford oysters, and soda bread with Kerrygold — making a post-match dinner here the definitive Irish sports travel reward. The riverside setting and the bookshop atmosphere combine for a uniquely Dublin experience.
Fan Eats
Fade Street Social
Celebrity chef Dylan McGrath's flagship restaurant on Fade Street in Dublin's Creative Quarter offers two dining experiences: a relaxed gastropub and a refined restaurant. The Irish charcuterie and seafood are standouts. Its central location makes it ideal for fans exploring Dublin between events at the Aviva Stadium and 3Arena.
Fan Eats
The Brazen Head
Dating back to 1198, The Brazen Head claims to be Ireland's oldest pub. Located on Bridge Street, it serves hearty Irish stew, boxty, and beef and Guinness pie alongside live traditional music nightly. Fans visiting Dublin for rugby at the Aviva or GAA at Croke Park make this their first stop.
Fan Eats
The Church
Stunning restaurant and bar set in a beautifully restored 18th-century church on Mary Street. With its dramatic stained-glass windows and multi-level layout, it draws fans celebrating after GAA finals at Croke Park, just a short taxi ride away.
Fan Eats
The Old Spot
Popular Ballsbridge gastropub just minutes from the Aviva Stadium, serving elevated Irish comfort food and hearty brunches. On rugby and football match days, its outdoor terrace fills with fans fuelling up before heading to the ground.
Fan Eats
The Winding Stair
Beloved restaurant above a historic bookshop overlooking the Ha'penny Bridge, serving modern Irish dishes with locally sourced ingredients. Rugby fans crossing the Liffey to Aviva Stadium stop here for hearty Irish fare and a literary atmosphere.
Things to Do
Attraction
Aviva Stadium
Built on the legendary Lansdowne Road site, the Aviva Stadium is home to both Ireland's national football and rugby union teams, creating a uniquely shared and intense national sporting identity. International rugby weekends transform Dublin into a festival city with fans from throughout the British Isles and beyond. The stadium tour covers both dressing rooms and the storied history of Irish sport on this ground.
Attraction
Aviva Stadium (Lansdowne Road) Tour
Tour the Aviva Stadium on the historic Lansdowne Road site, the oldest continuously used international rugby ground in the world (since 1878). Home to Ireland's rugby and football teams, the 51,700-seat arena hosts Six Nations matches and UEFA fixtures.
Attraction
Aviva Stadium Tour
The Aviva Stadium in Lansdowne Road is Ireland's national sports arena, a spectacular modern bowl built on the historic Lansdowne Road site where Irish rugby and football have been played since 1872, making it arguably the world's oldest international rugby ground still in use. Official tours cover the changing rooms used by the Irish Rugby and Football teams, the trophy displays, and the broadcast facilities where some of rugby's most dramatic moments have been narrated. On Six Nations weekends, the atmosphere generated by 51,000 green-clad Irish fans is among the most spine-tingling in European sport.
Attraction
Croke Park
The headquarters of the Gaelic Athletic Association and one of Europe's largest stadiums, Croke Park is the venue for the All-Ireland Senior Football and Hurling Championships—two of world sport's most thrillingly atmospheric events. The GAA Museum inside the stadium tells the story of Ireland's national games and their deep cultural significance. Attending an All-Ireland Final weekend in Dublin is a rite of passage for any sports fan visiting Ireland.
Attraction
GAA Museum at Croke Park
Housed within Croke Park — the fourth-largest stadium in Europe — the GAA Museum is a must-visit for any sports fan, chronicling 140 years of Gaelic football and hurling through interactive exhibits, historic footage, and iconic trophies including the Sam Maguire and Liam MacCarthy cups. The Skyline rooftop tour offers panoramic views across Dublin from the top of the stadium's stands, putting the city's sports geography into dramatic perspective. For fans new to Gaelic games, the museum provides the essential cultural context that makes attending a live match at Croke Park truly unforgettable.
Attraction
Croke Park Stadium Tour & GAA Museum
Tour the 82,300-seat Croke Park, the home of the GAA and Ireland's largest stadium. The museum chronicles the history of Gaelic games including hurling and Gaelic football, with exhibits on the 1920 Bloody Sunday and the evolution of Ireland's unique indigenous sports.
Plan Your Trip to Aviva Stadium
Aviva Stadium in Dublin is tracked across 0 events and seats 51,000 fans. Here's how fans build a trip around it:
- Anchor Event: Use the event cards below to select your next anchor date.
- Celebrities Tracked Here: Taylor Swift and others appear in linked venue sightings.
- Post-Event Path: Continue into Dublin and Dublin hotspots for food, bars, and stay options.
Celebrity Sightings at Aviva Stadium
Sources & References
Structured facts on this page (capacity, opening year, architect, ownership) are compiled from public reference databases and verified against venue coordinates.
Frequently Asked Questions About Aviva Stadium
Taylor Swift have been spotted at Aviva Stadium.
Aviva Stadium has a capacity of 51,000 people.
Aviva Stadium opened in 2010. It was designed by Scott Tallon Walker, Populous.
Irish Rugby Football Union, Football Association of Ireland play home games at Aviva Stadium in Dublin.
Check our events page for upcoming events at Aviva Stadium.