Read our recommendations on the best places to visit in Dublin, Ireland.
This is the first page of our two page Dublin Guide.
Located on the eastern edge of
Ireland at the mouth of the Liffey River, Dublin is just a short hop
(70 miles) across the Irish Sea from the coast of Wales. The closeness
to England led to invasions that shaped both the history of Dublin and
the political/religious outlook of many of its inhabitants. Invaded by
the Vikings and later by the Norman Kings of England, Dublin and Ireland
have had a mix
of masters.
In Norman times, Dublin and the
area surrounding it were known as the Pale. Within the boundaries of
the Pale, allegiance to the English king
was observed or maintained (at least until the
last century) and use of the English Language was enforced. Beyond the Pale, Irish customs and beliefs were
predominant, but were not politically correct, although sometimes openly
practiced. During the 700-year reign of the English, Dublin
mirrored the look, culture and religious orientation of England.
Even today, if you were to look only at Dublin's Georgian architecture, public buildings
and Presbyterian cathedrals (Christ Church and St. Patrick's)
you could easily convince yourself that you were in England.
Relative independence from the United Kingdom occurred in 1921 with the establishment
of the Free State of Ireland, with Dublin as its capital.
Approximately 1 million people or
25 percent of the Republic of Ireland's
population live in the Greater Dublin Area, while a half-million live within
the city itself. Dublin is a noted European capital, center of high
technology, and the literary core of the country.
Dublin has benefited from an economic renaissance over
the last decade and growth has been significant. Outside of Dublin,
the effects of the economy and membership in the EU appear less
significant.
Dublin is a fun, but crowded city that offers interesting architecture,
several good quality museums and a number of attractive galleries.
Pubs, good food and good conversation are easy to find in Dublin, especially
if you buy your new friends a round of Guinness. Of course, Ireland is
one of the most expensive countries in Europe for alcohol, so buying a round
(include the bartender)
can be a major investment .
In pleasant weather you will find walking between attractions a pleasant
undertaking, but it often rains in Ireland, so be ready to take a taxi
or ride the bus. Perhaps the best way to get
between the sites is to take the Dublin Tour Hop On - Hop Off bus, which
stops at all major (and some not so major) attractions. It can be used
to reach our recommended best places to visit in Dublin. Check out the
official website of the tour bus
here.
Most of the Dublin that would be of interest to tourists hugs the banks of the Liffey
River . We think the south bank of the river offers the best of Dublin and
that is where you will find most of our choices for the best places to visit in
Dublin. For centuries, the Liffey River was the lifeblood and major
transportation artery of Dublin and you will see it often as you are touring
the city. It is not that the river is scenic; instead, it is the Liffey's history and centrality that endears it to Dubliners.
The bridge in the photo
on the left is one of two pedestrian bridges that crosses the Liffey and is
called the Ha'penny Bridge, because half a penny was the original fee to use
it when it opened in 1816.
The bridge, originally named the Wellington Bridge, then renamed the Liffey
Bridge, has become one of the most enduring images of Dublin. The
original naming of the bridge after Wellington, who defeated Napoleon at the
battle of Waterloo, Belgium, reflected the Iron Duke's heritage as a native
son of Dublin (born 1769).
Be sure to take some photos while crossing the Liffey on
the Ha'penny bridge, as the combination of the two seems to capture the essence of this
interesting city.
Climate Note
Ireland has a temperate maritime climate, modified by the North
Atlantic Current. The country has mild winters, cool summers, but is consistently humid.
Expect it to be overcast about half the time.
Dublin Climate
Georgian
architecture describes a style of building that was popular
during the reigns of the four King Georges of England, who ruled
successively between 1714 and 1830. The style was classical
and valued symmetry, proportion and regularity. It included
other styles such as Neoclassical.
At the Tourist information Center on Suffolk Street you can usually find good maps and newspapers that
cover the local entertainment scene.
The Dublin Tourism Centre located just south of the
Liffey on Suffolk street is a good place to start your tour of Dublin. You will
find an abundance of pamphlets, a booking service for a variety of tours,
information on
transport, schedules for musical events and a friendly and courteous staff. Located in the
former St. Andrew's Church, the DTC is located right in the middle of the best
of Dublin's sightseeing. After you have gathered the brochures of
interest, head east on Suffolk Street to find the statue of Molly Malone at the
intersection of Suffolk and Grafton Street.
Molly is one of Dublin's icons.
Molly Malone, so the story goes, was a young, beautiful fishmonger
who sold cockles and mussels from a cart that she pushed through the streets of Dublin.
She died young from a "fever" and her brief life was immortalized in the
popular song known both as "Molly Malone" and "Cockles and Mussels". The revealing statue
on Grafton Street portrays a buxom young Molly, perhaps because she was reputed to be a
lady of the night, as well as a fishmonger. In turn, this may be why some of
the locals refer to the statue as "the tart with the cart".
Molly's song has become the unofficial anthem of Dublin. If you want to hear
Molly Malone sung by the famous Irish folk singing group the Dubliners, click the video below.
Grafton
Street is one of Dublin's major shopping venues. Large sections
have been "pedestrianized" and you will find a variety of good quality,
fashionable stores, places to eat and drink, as well as
a fair number of capable buskers (street entertainers) whose skills
will add a little more "Irishness" to your touring.
Just to the east of Grafton
Street, you will find
historic Trinity College.
Founded in the late 16th century, this was the first formal university in
Ireland. Its charter, granted by Queen Elizabeth in 1592 established Trinity as a Protestant university.
The deed conveyed an area outside Dublin's city
walls including the grounds of an abbey closed by Henry VIII when he broke
with the Church of Rome. The school grew over time and today Trinity
College educates over 12,000 undergraduates and approximately 2,000 graduate
students. Official walking tours led by Trinity College student are
available for those seeking a better understanding of the institution. See the
Trinity College website for more
details.
If you are interested in historic, hand-created manuscripts, we recommend that you visit
the Trinity College Old Library to see the Book of Kells.
The Book of Kells is a beautifully illustrated, Latin manuscript that contains the four gospels created on
vellum and, after it creation, bound in four volumes. The Book of Kells
dates from the early 9th century and was created during what has become known as
the "Dark Ages", a period in European history when written records were scarce
and Western Civilization was in decline. Many attribute the creation of
this well-preserved manuscript, by Irish monks, to be a critical
factor in continuity of the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church.
The geographical origin of
the Book of Kells is uncertain, although there is no dispute that Irish Monks
created the significant manuscript. Many believe that the Book of Kells was created at Abbey
of Kells in County Meath, while others believe that parts of the manuscript were
created at the Iona Abbey on the Isle of Iona off the coast of Scotland.
The manuscript was eventually sent to Dublin for safekeeping and given to Trinity
College later in the 16th century.
While the Book of Kells is a stunning work, the Trinity College
Library (especially the Long Room) is quite attractive in its own right. For more information, see the web site of the
Trinity College Library .
Combo-tickets for the campus tour and entrance the Old Library and Book
of Kells are available from the University.
While
in the area of Trinity College, we recommend you head south to Nassau
Street, follow it as it changes to Leinster Street, then Clarke Street until you
arrive at Merrion Square Park.
Along the
way, you will see many Georgian buildings and some of the best architecture in
Dublin.
Once at Merrion Square, take in the statue of the recumbent Oscar Wide (he was
raised on the
Square at number 1). After this, spend your time walking through the area's showcase of
Georgian architecture. William Butler Yeats lived at number 82 and Merrion
Square was also home to Daniel O'Connell, the Liberator (for more information on
O'Connell,
see our section on North of the Liffey). Although most of the
houses are now being used for offices, Merrion Square has a long and interesting history. To get
the most of this area, we recommend taking a guided walk to get the inside
scoop. If you have limited time, take a quick look at the colorful
doors, fanlights and elegant entry portal hardware that can be seen on many of the Georgians in this area.
In addition, you might want to take a gander at Fitzwilliam Square area,
several blocks south of Merrion Square on Upper Fitzwilliam Street. Although a
number of its Georgians no longer exist, this area was the source for many of
the doors shown in the iconic poster "The Doors of Dublin". If you want to
see the interior of a classic Georgian, visit
Number 29 - The Georgian House Museum
on Upper Fitzwilliam Street to see a restored late 18th century
Georgian house. (In case you are wondering why the Electricity
Board is sponsoring this exhibit, it seems they knocked down 20 Georgians to
build their headquarters and Number 29 was the "quid pro quo".
Finally, you can find more Georgians surrounding St. Stephen's Green described at the bottom of the page in
our shopping section.)
While in this neighborhood (Merrion Square), you might want to visit the
National Gallery of Ireland known for its fine
collection of paintings and sculptures. The
Gallery is currently one of the best values in Dublin, as entry is free.
If you are interested in the history of Ireland, the National Museum
has three locations in Dublin specializing in Archaeology and History (on
Kildare Street), Decorative Arts and History (Collins Barracks) and Natural
History (Merrion Street, but currently closed until further notice). For more information, visit the Museum's
official
website. We think you
will find the Museum of Archaeology and History (near Trinity College and
Merrion Square) to be the
most interesting, as it is the official repository of all archaeological items
found in Ireland. Its collection of prehistoric gold jewelry and historic
ecclesiastical objects are world renowned and visually stunning. Admission
is free.
Bedford Tower at Dublin Castle
Dublin
Castle provides
a look into the past when the facility served as the English
Government 's operating center during their 700 year rule over Ireland .
Originally, the Vikings maintained a fort at this location, but it was destroyed
by the Normans, who built a new wooden and stone fortification after
establishing their rule. During the 13th century, the Normans began work
on an enlarged, fortified stone castle. The original castle
was positioned as a defensive bastion at the confluence of the Liffey and the River Poddle.
The Poodle, which was covered over in the 18th century, served as a harbor for the Castle.
For those of you interested in the origin of names, at one time the lake then
formed by the Poddle, and used as a harbor of sorts, was known as "Black Pool, which translated in Irish as Dubh
Linn.
Only
a modest section of the current "castle" (the "Record
Tower" shown on the left) reflects its Norman Heritage. Today's facility serves as a
tourist attraction and host to official Irish Government functions, which
require its public closure from time to time. Most tourists
take the guided tours of the State Apartments, which served
as the residential and public quarters for the Viceroy's Court when England
ruled Ireland. In addition, you might want to visit
the Chapel Royal and tour the Undercroft, for more on the history of the
structure. In addition,
the Chester Beatty Library is well known for its collection of popular religious art and manuscripts from around the world.
Although the Republic of Ireland is known as a "Catholic" country, the two
cathedrals of Dublin, St. Patrick's Cathedral (below) and Christchurch Cathedral
(right), are associated with the Church of Ireland, a participant in the
Anglican Communion. Each cathedral has a long and interesting history, but
neither building is particularly extraordinary. Curiously, the city does not
have an official Catholic cathedral.
St
Patrick's, founded in the late 12th century, was added-on continuously and underwent
several major restorations, the last in the 19th century.
St. Patrick's contains the tomb of the noted author Jonathan Swift (Gulliver's
Travels) who was a Dean of the cathedral in the 18th century.
See this site for more information on
St. Patrick's Cathedral.
Christ Church Cathedral (the Cathedral of the Church of the Holy
Trinity) dates from the 12th century (there was a Viking church
at this location at the beginning of the 11th century) and the present
structure is an architectural delight both inside and out. The Crypt is quite interesting
and should be toured if you have time. See the official web site
for more
information.
Kilmainham Gaol (Jail) is one of the largest unoccupied jails in
Europe. Between 1780 and its closing in 1924, the jail was filled with
prisoners, many of whom were Irish political prisoners whose crimes were fighting for independence
and against religious intolerance. Many leaders of and participants in the five
major Irish Rebellions were imprisoned here and many of these were executed at
the facility.
Visiting the Kilmainham Gaol is a thought provoking experience, as the stark
building and excellent exhibition highlight the difficulties the Irish
experienced during their pursuit of freedom. This is a very popular
attraction, especially during the peak tourist season of summer.
Access to the Gaol is by guided
tour only. You can find details on visiting at the
Heritage Ireland website. The Gaol is located approximately two miles
to the west of central Dublin so plan to take a cab or the bus (from Aston
Quay). Just in case you visit in winter or early
spring please note that the Gaol's interior can be chilly, so bring a
coat.
There are number of areas of to shop
south of Liffey. As we noted earlier in this article, Grafton Street and
its cross-streets offer a cornucopia of shopping treats. In
addition, be sure to
see the Powerscourt Centre
http://www.powerscourtcentre.com/ an
elegant Georgian house converted into boutiques specializing in
fashion, beauty products, antiques, jewelry as well as a number of restaurants
and cafes. Its entrance is on William Street south at the corner of Coppinger Row (follow Johnson Court from Grafton).
If you are looking an opportunity to combine shopping and
sightseeing, you might appreciate
St. Stephen's Green Shopping Centre next to St. Stephen's Green at
the south end of Grafton street.
For many, the stylish Georgian houses of the 'Green" help make St. Stephen's Green one of the top
rated garden squares in Europe. The Shelbourne Hotel at 27 St. Stephen's Green
was a hangout of James Joyce.
If you are looking for items with an Irish flavor, try
Avoca on
Suffolk Street (11-13 Suffolk -at the top of Grafton near the Trinity College.
Avoca was originally a co-op of weavers who met with great success and have
branched out from fabrics to glassware, ceramics and other interesting
specialties.
Georges Street Arcade
offers an eclectic mix of fashion, books, food and souvenirs. It is
located on South Great Georges at Exchequer Street.
If you are looking for street markets, try Temple Bar, an area
known for its nightlife. On
Saturday and Sunday, the Temple Bar Book Market is held in Temple Bar Square .
Two other events are held in the area on Saturdays only. The Temple Bar
Food Market is held at Meeting House Square and features many delectable foods . The Designer Mart is held
outdoors at Cow's Lane and
merchants sell handmade designer pieces produced by Irish artist or other artists living in Ireland.
For more information on these markets and the Temple Bar area, visit the website
of the
Temple Bar Cultural Trust.
While you won't find an absence of
food or pubs anywhere in Dublin, the Temple Bar Area is known for entertainment
and nighttime frivolity. Located South of the Liffey near the Ha'penny
Bridge, the area is centered on Temple Bar Street, radiating toward Dame Street on the south,
Parliament Street on the West and Westmoreland on the East.
Temple Bar has the feeling of "old time Dublin" and is beginning to become
something of a "cultural area".
For those of you looking for
something special in a pub, try Davy Byrne's at 21 Duke Street, just
off Grafton. (Its website can be found
here.)
Davy Byrne's is the pub mentioned in James Joyce's epic novel Ulysses and a staple
of the literary pub-crawls. Many travelers also visit the Brazen Head,
a location that reputedly has hosted a pub since the late 12th century.
The Brazen Head is at 20 Bridge Street on the west side of the street near
Usher's Quay. Click here for the official website of the
Brazen Head Pub.
For many, a trip to Dublin is a chance to visit the Guinness
Storehouse (St. James Gate), the official "home" of Guinness. The Storehouse
includes a tour of the brewing process (but not the Guinness Brewery) led by a master brewer, a retail
store, an advertising museum, the Source Bar where you can learn to pour
Guinness in the correct manner, and the Gravity Bar, where your
free pint will be dispensed. For details on visiting, see the
Guinness Storehouse website.
The Gravity Bar provides 360-degree views of Dublin nearly twelve stories above
the ground. The Guinness Storehouse is approximately a mile and half walk west
from Temple Bar area.
In May of 2008, Diageo (owner of the Guinness brand) indicated that it would
shut half the plant at St. James Gate, as well as smaller operations in Kilkenny and Dundalk. A new brewery will be built on the outskirts of
Dublin, while the rest of the plant at St. James will be revamped.
There are a number of interesting attractions in Dublin and we
recommend visiting Dublin's Official Online
Tourist Office
for more complete details on "what's on" during your visit to
Dublin.
We think the best way to experience Dublin is to take a guided
walking tour. Dubliner's may never forgive us for this, but the city's
buildings and attractions are underwhelming. On the other hand, the stories about them are
usually very entertaining. It is the Irish spirit and its well-known
characters that attract most visitors to Dublin and you usually can find some of
the best of them leading walking tours. The Tourist Office can hook you up
with several capable operators.
St
Patrick's 
