What to See & Do in Dublin
Sights
Dublin Castle
Dublin Castle is at the heart of historic Dublin. The city gets its name from the Black Pool - ‘Dubh Linn’ - on the site of the present Castle Garden.
The Chester Beatty Library
European Museum of the Year 2002, the Library contains over 22,000 manuscripts, rare books, miniature paintings and objects from Western, Middle Eastern and Far Eastern cultures.
Dalkey Castle and Heritage Centre
Housed in the Medieval Goat Castle, exhibitions illustrate how the town developed from a small port to its later splendour.
Trinity College
Founded in 1592, Trinity College houses the famous Book of Kells, an illuminated manuscript dating from around 800 AD, making it one of the oldest books in the world.
O’Connell Street and the General Post Office
O’Connell Street is Dublin’s main traffic artery and the widest urban street in Europe. The Post Office was scene of the 1916 rebellion and faithfully rebuilt after being shelled by artillery and a warship.
Museums
The National Museum of Archaeology and History in Kildare Street is dedicated to prehistoric and medieval Ireland. The National Museum of Decorative Arts and History in Collins Barracks houses an eclectic collection including the uniform Michael Collins was shot in and an exhibition on the Easter Rising.
St Patrick’s Cathedral
St Patrick’s is Ireland’s largest church and the national cathedral. Founded in 1191 by Archbishop Comyn the building was substantially renovated between 1844 and 1869. Don’t miss the graves of Dean Swift (of “Gulliver” fame) and his beloved Stella.
Temple Bar
This is Dublin’s Bohemian Quarter. Mix with street artists and enjoy international cuisine and bustling pubs.
National Gallery
Situated in the centre of Dublin, Ireland’s National Gallery was opened in 1864 and has around 500 major international works of art.
Kilmainham Gaol
Formerly one of Europe’s most notorious prisons, the gaol and has been preserved intact. The leaders of the 1916 Rebellion were executed here.
Phoenix Park
The world’s largest enclosed municipal park contains amongst other things the residences of the Irish President and the Ambassador of the United States, Ashtown Castle and the Garda headquarters.
Guinness Storehouse
Based at historic St James’s Gate, this building is part of the original Guinness brewery. The highlight of the tour is a free pint in the stunning Gravity-Bar, high above Dublin’s rooftops well worth a visit.
Food and Drink
The last twenty years have seen a dramatic improvement in Dublin’s food scene, and you can now get top-quality food in many Dublin restaurants. However, better value and more traditional fare is on offer at eateries like Bewley’s Café and Beshoff’s fish and chip shop, and in the ubiquitous pubs. With around 1000 pubs, Dublin is one of the world’s great drinking cities.
Accommodation
Accommodation in Dublin is plentiful. There are a number of centrally-located areas that offer a great choice, with hotels ranging from the budget to the luxurious. These areas fall both north and south of the river Liffey and are usually within walking distance of the city’s tourist sights and main amenities.
Transport
On foot: Dublin is easily explored on foot as it is relatively flat. The north side’s main thoroughfare is O’Connell Street, and to get from here to St Stephen’s Green at the end of Grafton Street, the heart of the south inner city, will take no longer than 15 minutes.
By bus: Dublin’s double-decker buses serve nearly all areas of the city and run between 6.00am and 11.30pm, and are reasonably priced.
By Luas: Dublin’s tram-like network is the city’s newest mode of public transport. There are two lines - the red and the green line. The red line serves west Dublin while the green line links southern suburbs to the city centre. Both the city’s main train stations and the bus station also have Luas stops.
By taxi: Taxis are marked with yellow signs on top of the cars and are all metered.
