Dublin, Ireland
This Capital city founded by Vikings covers 44.5 square miles and is home to 666 licensed pubs. And with a legal drinking age of 18, no wonder why 50% of the residents are under age 25! Dublin is also connected with two popular holidays, Saint Valentine’s and Saint Patrick’s. Let’s visit Dublin!
Visiting Dublin? Here’s What To Do
There’s really so much to do, this place could keep you busy for days. Here’s a list of our must-see’s when visiting Dublin.
Visiting Dublin? Let Us Drink:
Guinness
Also know as St. James Gate Brewery, this is one of Dublin’s most visited attractions. Located southwest of the city center, this brewery was founded in 1759 by Arthur Guinness and is a must-visit when in Dublin. Take the self-guided tour through the seven story Storehouse to experience the brewing process, remember the fun Guinness advertisements, and learn how to pour a proper Guinness pint:
- Fill glass only ¾ full
- Let rest for 2 minutes
- Finish the pour
Enjoy said pint while taking in 360-degree views of Dublin below.
Jameson Distillery
When someone says ‘Irish whiskey’ there’s a good chance you picture Jameson. Learn the history of this iconic whiskey and savor the good stuff at the tour’s end.
Temple Bar
Don’t have time for a tour? Skip it and head to Temple Bar. Located on the South bank of the river, find pubs on pubs on pubs, where you’ll surely be able to enjoy a proper Jameson and Guinness. Packed with tourists, we recommend heading to Temple Bar Pub in the neighborhood center, have a drink, and sing along with a local band.
Visiting Dublin? Book at Tour!
Visiting Dublin? Admire the Architecture:
Dublin Castle
Dating back nearly 820 years, this historical piece of Irish architecture is worth definitely worth a look. Take a walk around the beautiful grounds or take a guided tour through the interior for a look at the elaborately decorated staterooms.
St. Patrick’s Cathedral
Located on the south side of River Liffey, this gothic-style church is the National Cathedral of the Church of Ireland. Founded in 1191, and stretching 141 feet into the sky, this stunning structure is the eternal resting place for more than 500 people.
Christ Church
Dating back to 1030, this striking cathedral is one of the oldest buildings in Dublin and is beautiful inside and out. Be prepared to pay an entry fee of 6.5 euros and don’t miss the crypts below.
Visiting Dublin? Have a Walk in the Park:
St. Stephen’s Green
Complete with statues, fountains, and ponds, this park just south of the river is a charming place to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city.
Phoenix Park and Dublin Zoo
Covering nearly 3 square miles, this is one of Europe’s largest parks and is home to the Dublin Zoo.
Visiting Dublin? Bonus!
We’ve teamed up with GPSmyCity and converted our Dublin travel guide into a downloadable application that comes complete with a GPS map of our recommendations and operates offline without any need of data plan or Internet connection. You can check it out here.
Getting to Dublin
Getting to Dublin: FLY
If planned in advance you can find reasonable direct flights to Dublin from most major cities in Europe for under $30. You can also find affordable international flights Brussels for $19, Paris for $20, Amsterdam for $22, and Copenhagen for $27 with our favorite flight search site, Skyscanner.
Dublin Flight Deals
Getting to Dublin: TRAIN
For a unique experience, take the SailRail train from any station in Britain to Dublin including ferry ride for only $63.
Getting to Dublin: BUS
Buses are not our favorite mode of travel.. The seats are generally cramped, the ride is bumpy, and departure/arrival times can be unpredictable. However, bus travel is generally less expensive, and in particular the ride from Belfast in Northern Ireland is just $13 for the 2 hour+ trip.
Airport to Dublin City Center
Dublin International Airport is located about 8 miles north of the Dublin city center. How will you get there?
Bus
Take one of three bus options into the city center: The fastest, Aircoach line #700, takes 25-35 minutes and costs roughly $7.45. The other options are the 40 minute Airlink line #747 for $6.40 and the 40 minute public Dublin Bus #41 for just $3.50. All can be found outside the arrivals exit of Terminal 1.
UBER/ Taxi
The 25-minute taxi ride from the airport to Dublin City Center costs about $28, or an UBER costs about $49. If you’re new to UBER, sign up and receive your first ride for free using our discount code: krissy98ue.
Getting around in Dublin
Taxi
Taxis are readily available throughout the city. There are so many in fact, it’s said there are more taxis in Dublin than New York City. Most rides in the city are less than $10 and come with friendly conversation for free.
Walk
Walkscore.com gives Dublin a score of 98, calling it a “Walker’s Paradise”. We also found this to be true and highly recommend walking around Dublin.
Bus
With over 150 lines running from one end of the city to the other, Dublin has an extensive bus network throughout the city. We recommend Looking into the ‘Leap Card’ to save time and money.
Where To Stay in Dublin:
Where To Stay in Dublin: HOTELS
With prices ranging from $50-$450/night, from budget to luxury, you’re sure to find the right hotel in Dublin. We’ve found some great hotel deals using Priceline’s sister site, Agoda.com.
Dublin Hotel Deals
Where To Stay in Dublin: HOSTELS
With over 60 hostels in Dublin, you’ll likely find one that suits your needs. Prices generally range from $13-$21 a night for a dorm room, while private rooms cost a bit more at about $53-$83 per night. Hostelworld always has great deals, especially in Dublin:
Dublin Hostel Deals
Where To Stay in Dublin: AIRBNB
We love using Airbnb. From private rooms to entire homes, Airbnb is represented in all parts of Dublin. The average Airbnb price in Dublin is only $67/night. If you’re a first timer to Airbnb use our coupon for $35 off your first night’s stay.
Where To Stay in Dublin: NEIGHBORHOODS
Choosing a neighborhood is an important part of trip planning that should not be overlooked! Dublin is a large city with 24 districts divided into unique neighborhoods. While our general recommendation is to stay closer to the city center, here are some of the best areas in Dublin.
Temple Bar
Known for it’s large concentration of Irish pubs, this neighborhood is popular with tourists, is contently central, and very well connected by public transit. This is the hub of nightlife in Dublin, so if you’re a light sleeper, you might want to look elsewhere.
Grafton Street/ St. Stephen’s Green
Know for great shopping and the beautiful St. Stephen’s Green park, this neighborhood is south of the Temple Bar neighborhood and is much less touristy. Stay here to be just close enough to the action and mingle with the locals.
Stoneybatter
Bordered by the gigantic Phoenix Park on the west side, this neighborhood is known as the Williamsburg of Dublin. Packed with coffee shops, organic restaurants, and quirky pubs, stay here to live like a local hipster.
Dublin Travel Tips:
Dublin Travel Tips: Tipping
Tipping in Ireland is good etiquette and is always appreciated. At restaurants check your bill, as there is sometimes a 10%-15% service charge added. Leave $1-$2/day at hotels and round up for taxi drivers.
Dublin travel tips: Money
Ireland’s national currency is the Euro, and is currently exchanging at 0.94EUR to $1USD. Credit cards are accepted at most places and ATM machines are readily available.
Dublin travel tips: Insurance
Traveling to Dublin is exciting and safe, but you never know when some good travel insurance could come in handy. World Nomads offers the best coverage in the business, is affordable, and is quick to act should something go wrong. For more info, check out our recent World Nomads blog post.
2 Responses to “Visiting Dublin, Ireland? Here’s THE Travel Guide”
Jenny & Josh (Local Goes Global)
We very much appreciate your post! We are traveling to Dublin in a week. 🙂
Josh Sedivy
Fantastic! Have a great time you two!