Dublin Travel Guide
Our ultimate Dublin travel guide - where to go, what to eat and how to make the most of your money.
What you'll find in this guide:
Top things to do in Dublin
Some facts about Dublin
Getting to Dublin
Getting around Dublin
Dublin's best attractions
What to eat in Dublin
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GMT
Euro EUR
English and Gaelic
Type G (same us UK)
1hr 20
Some facts about Dublin
Sitting on the east coast of Ireland on the banks of the River Liffey, Dublin may be small for a capital city, but it more than makes up for it in character and atmosphere. At just an hour's flight from London or a seven-hour ferry from Liverpool, it has long been popular with tourists looking to get away for a good time in one of the city's hundreds of pubs and bars.
And while Dublin is famous for its world-class pubs, there's so much more to the city than its tipple. It has a long and rich history waiting to be discovered, beautiful arts and architecture and even the largest walled park in Europe, Phoenix Park.
Getting to Dublin
One of the great things about Dublin is how easy it is to reach from the UK, and there are plenty of options available when it comes to transport. Let's take a look at some of the easiest.
By ferry
Dublin is accessible from the UK via ferry. You can hop on at many UK port towns, with Liverpool and Holyhead tending to have the most regular services. The upside of hitting the high seas is that you can take your car with you, making it easier to venture further out of Dublin once you arrive, but do bear in mind that ferry crossings can take a lot longer than flying, and are also often more expensive.
By plane
Flights from London to Dublin take roughly an hour and a half, and are generally the quickest way to reach the city. Dublin Airport is 10km outside the city centre, making it easy to hit the town in no time. From here your choices for transport to the centre is the bus or a taxi, as there's no train station at the airport.
Getting around Dublin
Now that you've arrived at your hotel and recharged with an Irish coffee, it's time to take a look at the best ways to get around Dublin.
On foot
As with any destination, we think if you're able to, it's the best way to really appreciate and soak in the culture. Dublin city centre is compact, which means that if you're staying in the centre you'll be able to walk to pretty much everything. From Trinity College all the way to the Guinness Storehouse is only about 25 minutes on foot.
By public transport
If you'd prefer to zip around Dublin quickly, there's plenty of public transport options available. Luas is Dublin's tram system, which is comprised of two lines, red and green. Red runs from the south west to the north east of the city and the Green runs from south east to the centre. When you're planning your travel, be aware the two lines do not connect to each other and the walk from the end of the Green line to the Red line is about 15 minutes. You can pay as you go on the Luas, but if you plan on making multiple journeys we recommend getting a Leap Card. It's Dublin's pay-as-you-go public transport smart card which you can pick up at the airport or any shop displaying the logo. It'll give you 72 hours of unlimited travel for less than €20.
To save yourself time, you can manage your Leap Card online and top up on the website. And don't forget to always tap in and out, otherwise you'll get charged the maximum possible fare.
Where to go in Dublin
Now that you know how to get about, it'd probably help to know where you're going. Let's take a look at where some of the best tourist attractions in Dublin are, so that even if you're stumbling home with the beer goggles securely fastened, you'll have no excuse for getting lost.
Dublin is bisected by the River Liffey, which runs from east to west across the city. Back in the day, there used to be a pronounced cultural divide across the river with the working class to the north and the middle and upper classes to the south. However, that's no longer the case and these days we can split Dublin into several distinct districts.
The Medieval Quarter
For history buffs, the Medieval Quarter is a must. The oldest part of Dublin, it's here that you can find both Dublin Castle, Christ Church Cathedral and St Patrick's Cathedral. While walking through this district, make sure to keep an eye out for the street names as they can reveal many secrets about their past - Cook Street, Cornmarket and Fishamble Street can be discovered here, to name a few.
The Georgian Quarter
This is where you'll find Dublin's famous Georgian architecture, including St Stephen's Church, more commonly known as 'The Pepper Canister'. The district starts at Trinity College and continues up to the canal.
Dublin Docklands
Dublin Docklands is where lots of the world's biggest tech companies have offices, including Google, Facebook and LinkedIn. This area has seen significant revitalisation in the recent past and has become home to one of Dublin's most cosmopolitan scenes.
The Cultural Quarter
If you're looking for a good time on your Irish getaway, then look no further than the Cultural District. This is where you'll find Temple Bar, the home to pubs, clubs, markets and Dublin's most energetic nightlife.
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Find out moreDublin's best attractions
Guinness Storehouse
The Storehouse is a seven-storey monument to the history, production and advertising of Ireland's most famous export. Inside you'll be able to pour your own pint of the stout, learn about how Guinness can be used in some traditional Irish cooking, discover some of the secrets that go into the brewing process and finally enjoy a free pint in the panoramic Gravity Bar on the top floor.
Kilmainham Gaol
Kilmainham Gaol (pronounced 'kil-MAIN-am jail'), the former prison that held many of Ireland's revolutionaries of the past, in particular the leaders of the 1916 Easter uprising. Abandoned in 1924, it was restored in the 1960s and now acts as a museum where you can come to learn about the history of Irish independence. The gaol is 3.5km out of the city centre so you'll need to get the Luas or the bus here. The museum can only take a limited number of people at a time, so booking ahead is the only way to guarantee entry on the day.
Dublin Zoo
Dublin Zoo is the most popular family attraction in Ireland. There are over 400 animals here, spread across 28 hectares split into zones such as Asian Forests and the African Savanna. However, what we really like about the zoo is it's involved in lots of conservation projects across the globe. It works together with many others to maintain breeding programmes and reintroduce endangered species into the wild. It's had particular success with animals such as the golden lion tamarin and the scimitar-horned oryx.
TopWhat to eat in Dublin
We're happy to report that the food on offer in Dublin is fantastic; there's so many great places to eat that we couldn't possibly hope to cover them all. But, if there's one thing that Dublin and Ireland arguably do better than almost anywhere else in the world it's seafood. Especially the oysters.
When it comes to drink, Guinness is obviously what Dublin is best known for, and if you haven't tried the stuff in its homeland, you don't know what you're missing. You can visit the Guinness Storehouse to see how it's made, discover its history and even pour your own pint. However, Dublin has much more than just the black stuff.
Despite being really touristy, Temple Bar is where you'll want to go at least once during your time in Dublin. There's always some live music and a good atmosphere, although the prices can be higher than in other parts of the city. If you're looking for something away from the crowds, there's no shortage of bars to discover throughout Dublin, ranging from charming locals to hip craft beer pubs.
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