SEKAI Explorer Guide Dublin (2011)

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Table of Content:

• Understand

History

Orientation

Climate

• Get in

By plane

Car parks serving Dublin Airport

By train

By bus

By boat

By car

• Get around

By trainortram

By bus

By bicycleormotorbike

By car

• See

• Do

• Buy

• Eat

Snack

Lunch

Dinner

• Drink

Traditional Irish Bars

Modern

Micro-breweriesor Brew-pubs

Bars

Clubs

• Sleep

Camping

Budget

Mid-range

Splurge

Airport Hotels

• Stay safe

Communicate

Internet cafés

Wifi access

• Get out

Understand

History

Founded in 841, Dublin was originally settled by Vikings amongst a population of Celtic tribes. In the 9th century the Danes captured Dublin and had control until 1171 when they were expelled by King Henry II of England. By the 14th century the king of England controlled Dublin and the nearby area referred to as “the Pale”. When the English Civil Wars ended in 1649 Oliver Cromwell took over. Dublin experienced huge growth and development in the 17th century because many Protestant refugees from Europe came to Dublin. By the 17th century Dublin was the second great city of Britain only behind London and a period when great Georgian style building were constructed which still stand today. Georgian style architecture was popular from 1720 to 1840 during the times when George I, George II, George III, and George IV of England were ruling. In 1800 the Act of Union between England and Ireland abolished the Irish Parliament. From this point, the Irish worked to gain their independence from England, which they finally won in 1922. The Easter rising in 1916 and the War of Independence greatly helped Ireland win their freedom. One event remembered as a key moment in Irish history is the Easter rising in 1916. A failed attempt to take over the several important buildings among them the General Post Office on O’Connell Street led to the arrest of hundreds and execution of 15 who were then considered martyrs for the cause. Many believe this event helped gain sympathy for the fight for independence from Britain.

Orientation

Dublin is divided by the River Liffey. On the north side of the Liffey is O'Connell Street--the main thoroughfare, which is intersected by numerous shopping streets, including Henry Street and Talbot Street. On the south side are St. Stephen's Green, Grafton Street, Trinity College, Christ Church, St. Patrick's Cathedrals, and many other attractions.

Dublin postcodes range from Dublin 1 to Dublin 24. As a rule, odd numbers are given to areas north of the River Liffey, while even numbers are given to areas south of the river. Usually, the lower the postcode, the closer to the city centre.

If you're already in the city, the main tourist office [2], located in St. Andrew's Church just off Grafton Street in the city centre (Dublin 2), is a good place to start for information. You can book accommodation and tours there, as well as find general information on where to go and what to do.

Although some of Dublin's finest Georgian architecture was demolished in the mid-20th century, a remarkable amount remains. They were a reminder of the past British imperialism and were pulled without regard to their beauty and architectural significance. They were replaced with modernist or pastiche office blocks, St. Stephen's Green (Dublin 2) being a prime example. Thankfully, attitudes have changed significantly, and Dubliners are now rightly proud of their impressive buildings from all eras.

Climate

Being subject to the moderating effects of the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf Stream, Dublin is known for its mild climate.

Contrary to some popular perception, the city is not especially rainy. Its annual rainfall average is only 732.7 mm (28.8 in), lower than London. However, its precipitation is spread out more evenly so that on many days there can be a light shower.

Winters in Dublin are relatively mild when compared with cities in mainland Europe -daytime temperatures generally hover around the 5°C (41°F) mark however frost is common during the period November through to February when night time temperatures dip below 0°C (32 °F) freezing point.

Snow does occur, but it is not very common, and most of Dublin's winter precipitation comes in the form of a chilly rain and hail. The lowest recorded temperature in the city is -12°C (10°F). It should also be noted that during the first week of January 2010, the city canals froze over for the first time in years--this was a common enough sight back in the 1960's, 1970's and 1980's. It could be said that Dublin's climate is very comparable to that of the northwest United States and southwest Canada, as well as to much of coastal Western Europe.

Summers in Dublin are also mild. The average maximum temperature is 19°C (66°F) in July, far cooler than even most of the coldest American cities. The hottest temperature ever recorded in Dublin is a mere 29°C (87°F), which in many other parts of the world, even at its own latitude, is just a typical summer day. Don't plan on too many hot summertime activities. Thunderstorms also don't happen very often in Dublin, on average only four days a year. Overall, the city's climate is mild however would be considered drier and cooler than western and southern parts of the island of Ireland.

Get in

By plane

Dublin is served by a two terminal airport [3] approximately 10 km (6 mi) north of the city centre. A second terminal opened in November 2010.

A full list of airlines flying to Dublin, along with timetables, can be found on the Dublin Airport website[4].

Ireland's flag carrier airline, Aer Lingus [5], flies to Dublin from a large number of European cities and from the USA. Aer Lingus fares are often lower than other flag carriers, but in part this has been achieved by matching the service levels of low-fare competitors. As a result, they now charge for checked-in bags and seat reservation at time of booking (note that this does not apply to United States flights). Aer Lingus staff is always very friendly and helpful. The planes and flight attendance are decorated in bright green to get passengers ready to see all of the green in Ireland.

Europe's largest low fares airline, Ryanair [6] has one of its main bases in Dublin from which it flies to a large number of European airports including Paris, London, Manchester, Liverpool, Madrid and Frankfurt as well as smaller regional airports such as Nantes or Kaunas. While famous for its low fares, Ryanair can be more expensive than other airlines for last minute bookings. Ireland's third airline Aer Arann [7] links Dublin to many regional Irish airports and some smaller UK cities.

Low-fare airline Flybe [8] links Dublin to Exeter, Norwich and Southampton in the United Kingdom, and also Jersey and Guernsey in the Channel Islands.

There are three types of bus transport to Dublin city:

- Aircoach [9] express service (large blue bus) connects the airport and the city centre and many of Dublin's major hotels, most of which are on the south side of the city. Buses leave the airport every fifteen minutes and the journey time to the centre is approximately thirty minutes. The cost is €7 single or €12 return. Aircoach also offers services to other destinations within Ireland, including Cork and Belfast.

Beware of taxi drivers trying to pick up passengers at Aircoach bus stops. They are strictly forbidden from doing this however you will always be accosted by at least one taxi while waitig for an Aircoach to the airport. They often offer the same rate as catching the Aircoach so accept the lift at your own discretion.

- Dublin Bus [10] offers an express AirLink service (routes 747 and 748) every 10 minutes at peak times to the city centre and bus station for €6 or €10 return. Some of these services now use the Dublin Port Tunnel to avoid the city traffic and can reach the city centre in minutes.

- Dublin bus also have a number of other local routes that serve the airport, and these offer substantially cheaper standard services to the centre and further afield in the southern suburbs: these are non-express and stop significantly more times going to and from the airport. Cost is €2 and buses run every 10-25 min depending on time of day. You can save 10 cents by purchasing a Travel 90 ticket for €1.90 in the ticket machines next to the airport bus stops, the ticket also allows you to transfer on to any other Dublin Bus services for up to 90 minutes, saving you another bus fare should you need to transfer.

- The 16A goes right through the city, stops at O'Connell Street and continues up Georges Street and, finally, to southern areas of Dublin (indicative : 40 minutes O'Connel street -> airport).

- The 41 takes a slightly more direct route and finishes on Lower Abbey Street. It stops at O'Connell Street and close to Busáras (Dublin Bus Station).

Depending on traffic, journey times can vary from 25 minutes to over an hour. These buses are considerably cheaper than AirLink and Aircoach. Both of these local bus services stop across from Drumcondra train station which is on the Dublin-Maynooth commuter line. Some trains on this line continue past Maynooth and serve stations as far away as Longford. All Dublin Bus buses (except AirLink) do not give change and fares must be paid in coins. Ticket-machines near a few outdoor bus stops, including one at the airport, do not require exact change. Tickets can also be purchased at the newsagent inside the airport. Luggage racks are limited on the local buses, and it is not unknown for drivers to turn away travellers with packs that cannot be stored.

A taxi to the city centre should cost around €20 to €30: it can be comparable to/cheaper than the bus options if you are in a group of three or more (as well as a lot less hassle). Taxis are legally obliged to provide an electronic receipt detailing the fare, distance and other pertinent details. However, they often do not furnish such a receipt.

A metro connecting Dublin Airport to the city centre is planned, but no work has started on this yet.

Unless your destination is Dublin City, it is probably best to use one of the extensive range of other bus services that stop at Dublin Airport and so avoid the city centre traffic.

Car parks serving Dublin Airport

Address

On/Off Airport

Distance / Transfer Time

Security

Park Mark®
[11] Award

Additional Information

Looking4Parking [12]

Car park does not disclose address for security reasons.

Off

Customer is met at terminal. No transfer required.

CCTV, security fencing and 24-hour on-site security.

Yes

By train

Dublin has two main railway stations. Heuston, in the west of the city centre, serves much of the west and south of the country including an hourly service to Cork which also services Limerick. Connolly, in the north-east centre of the city, serves the south east and east coast, Belfast, Sligo in the north-west and suburban commuter services including the Dublin Area Rapid Transit (DART) system. The two main stations are connected by bus and Luas routes. Visit the website for all train services local and intercity.

Iarnród Éireann [13], the national railway company, has one of the youngest train fleets in Europe and the Cork train in particular is extremely comfortable. Older trains were phased out completely in 2008 with the arrival of a massive fleet of brand new trains built in Japan and South Korea. There are internet intercity train fares for offpeak services which are substantially cheaper than over the counter tickets. Food on trains is generally overpriced and carrying your own food on board is normally permitted.

By bus

An extensive bus service operated by the state-controlled Dublin Bus serves the city and its suburbs, right out to the very outer suburbs. There are around 200 bus routes in Dublin. However, the route numbering system is highly confusing, with numbers having been issued non-sequentially and also suffix letters and alternate destinations. The Bus will display its final destination on the front of the bus, but there are no announcements as to intermediate stops; therefore, obtaining a route map from Dublin Bus is essential. Here are some pointers about using the bus services:

- Dublin Bus accepts coin fares only, no notes. If you have no coins, you can buy multiple or individual trip tickets from most shops. Certain newsagents and the Dublin Bus Office (59 O'Connell Street) sell one day, three day and five day bus passes which offer a good value and much convenience (no need to make sure you have the right amount of change!)

- Bus fares can be paid directly to the driver, just tell him your destination. If you don't have exact change, you'll get an extra slip along with your ticket, which you can exchange back at the main bus office at 59 Upper O'Connell Street, Dublin 1 (next to Post Office).

- Most city buses leave from the O'Connell Street area, (including Mountjoy and Parnell Squares, Eden Quay and Fleet Street), or from the Trinity College area, (including Pearse Street, Nassau Street, Dame Street and College Green).

- Daytime buses run from around 5AM to 11:30 pm, and there are also 24 late-night routes (known as the Nitelink service), suffixed by an N, that run from midnight until around 2AM or 4AM on weekends. Not all night link routes run at the same time every night of the week. The Nigtelink fare is a flat rate of €5. [32].

- The Xpresso is a special service designed to allow for faster and more efficient bus travel for daily commuters during both morning and evening rush hour traffic. Xpresso routes are more direct than many other bus routes, offering passengers a quicker service. These routes also have fewer stops and therefore reduce journey times between destinations. There are 22 of these routes in operation. The numbers on the front of a bus are suffixed with an 'X', e.g. 84X. A minimum flat fare (varies based on distance traveled) is charged on these services, so they are usually more expensive than a normal, non-Xpresso bus that may be traveling along the same route.

- Railink is an express bus that links Eden Quay, Custom House Quay, Jury's North Wall, Docklands Station, Connolly station, Heuston Station, and the International Financial Services centre.

- There is a ferry port link operated by Dublin Bus from Dublin Port and Dun Laoghaire ferry port to Busaras (Central Bus Station).

- It should be noted that, while there is effectively no queuing system at bus stops, those paying with cash generally enter to the left of the doors, and those using card tickets enter to the right. Your position in a perceived "queue" for a bus may be effectively irrelevant once it arrives. If you have a prepaid ticket, don't bother queuing: just get onto the bus on the right hand side of the front door.

- When paying with cash, try to ensure that you have the correct amount of change, as the bus drivers cannot issue any change. If you have only larger coins (€1 or €2), you will receive a "change receipt", which can be exchanged for cash at the Dublin Bus headquarters on O'Connell Street, Dublin 1.

- If you see An Lár written as the destination on a bus, it means that it is going to the city centre.

- NOTE: Times displayed on timetables either at stops or elsewhere DO NOT indicate the time the bus is expected to pass that stop--they are the times the bus departs from its terminus either in the city centre or at the other end. This is mainly due to the fact that Dublin's roads are exceptionally overcrowded, making it very difficult to predict the actual time. Recently bus stops have started to electronically display a live indication of when the bus is going to come. These are not 100 percent acurate and not all bus stops offer this.

By boat

Dublin Port has several passenger ferry services to/from Wales and England. The main routes are Liverpool-Dublin, Holyhead-Dublin, Holyhead-Dún Laoghaire. Companies from Wales include Stena and Irish Ferries, and from Liverpool, P&O and Norfolk Line. It is also common to arrive to Ireland via the suburban port of Dún Laoghaire 10 km (6 mi) south of Dublin. The port of Dún Laoghaire is serviced by the DART. Crossings from Liverpool are seven hours, while crossings from Holyhead are from 2.5 hours, depending on whether you take a fast ferry or a larger ferry.

If you are travelling to Dublin from anywhere in Britain, a very cheap option is to purchase a combined rail and ferry ticket. Tickets from any rail station in Britain to Dublin Port will cost no more than £30.50 one way (as of June 2010), which is particularly good value considering that the ferry ticket alone can cost up to £30 if purchased separately. Foot passengers departing Ireland do not need to book combined ferry/rail tickets in advance and can just buy them on the day at the ferry port. However returning from England it is sometimes wiser to pre-book as ferry/rail tickets may not be available on the day at some stations.

These combined tickets can be purchased direct from rail stations in Britain or online from https://www.raileasy.co.uk (with £1 booking fee plus £0.75 debit card fee).

By car

Taxis were deregulated in 2001 leading to a massive oversupply with Dublin now boasting more taxis than New York. This is bad news for taxi drivers but good news for tourists as taxis are now extremely easy to come by. They may be ordered by telephone, at ranks, or just hailed on the street. Point-to-point trips in the city centre should cost between €6 and €10 - many taxi drivers will also offer a set fare if asked. There is a national standardised rate for all taxis.

Driving in Dublin is not to be recommended for much of the day, particularly in the city centre. Traffic can be heavy and there is an extensive one-way system, which some say is explicitly designed to make it very difficult for cars to enter the city centre. There are a large number of bus lanes (buses, taxis and pedal cycles are permitted to use them, the use of which by cars is liable to strict fines. It is usually possible to drive in bus lanes at certain off-peak times, with signs displaying these periods. If you explicidly must travel into the city by car (i.e. on business, or if you have a disability, it is advisable to do research on your required route (using GPS or even Google Maps) and to seek suitable parking in advance).

It can be difficult to find parking other than in multi-storey car parks. On-street parking for short periods is allowed at parking meters, but beware of over-staying your time or you will be "clamped" by the clamping companies who patrol frequently - clamp release fees vary from €70-150 per 24 hours.

A system of two ring roads around the city has been introduced in recent years, with color coded signage in purple and blue (see the orbital route map [34]. The M50 is Dublin's ring-motorway, it connects to the M1 (to the north of Ireland and Belfast) near Dublin airport and to the M11 (servicing Wicklow, Wexford and the South) south of the city and to other motorways and national roads along its "C-shaped" route. It has recently been upgraded so is less congested, and is well signposted. However, crossing the river using the M50 entails crossing the Westlink bridge. This is a toll bridge with the amount of the toll varying depending on the type of vehicle and how it is paid. It is important to note that the toll CANNOT be paid at booths while crossing the bridge but must be paid by internet or phone (or using electronic passes in the vehicle), or in certain shops. The vehicle passes through the toll gate without stopping / being stopped but the registration plate is photographed automatically. The toll must be paid by 8 pm the following day [35] After this deadline, the longer the toll remains unpaid the higher the fees involved. For foreign registered vehicles, this currently presents no problem as the Irish vehicle registration base does not have access to foreign ownership details, but for Irish registered vehicles, including rental cars, any fees due, including penalties for late payment, may well be reclaimed through the rental company and subsequently from the credit card of the person hiring the car.

Outside of the city centre, parking is generally not an issue, and ample free parking can be found outside of the M50 (and in certain areas within the M50 ring road).

Get around

Public transportation has improved massively over the last few years, but it is still worse than in other European cities. This is more of a problem for the commuter than the visitor to Dublin, however, as the city centre is easy to get around on foot.

By trainortram

The Luas [28] (a tram/light-rail system) runs frequently and reliably, and is handy for getting around the city centre. There are two lines - red (running from Connolly railway station and the Point Theatre to the suburb of Tallaght) and green (running from St. Stephen's Green to Bride's Glen in Cherrywood). The lines do not connect. The distance between Abbey Street on the red line and St Stephen's Green, the start of the green line, is about a 15 min walk. Tickets can be bought on the platforms at the machines and do not need to be validated. A large amount of further expansion of this network is expected within the next decade.

The DART [29] suburban rail service runs along the coast between Greystones in the south and Howth and Malahide in the north. Tickets can be bought in the stations, from a window or a machine. There are four other suburban rail lines servicing areas around Dublin: [30], three of these lines operate from Connolly Station, the other from Heuston Station.

For Luas and DART network and station maps visit Dublin transportation Office site [31].

By bus

An extensive bus service operated by the state-controlled Dublin Bus serves the city and its suburbs, right out to the very outer suburbs. There are around 200 bus routes in Dublin. However, the route numbering system is highly confusing, with numbers having been issued non-sequentially and also suffix letters and alternate destinations. The Bus will display its final destination on the front of the bus, but there are no announcements as to intermediate stops; therefore, obtaining a route map from Dublin Bus is essential. Here are some pointers about using the bus services:

- Dublin Bus accepts coin fares only, no notes. If you have no coins, you can buy multiple or individual trip tickets from most shops. Certain newsagents and the Dublin Bus Office (59 O'Connell Street) sell one day, three day and five day bus passes which offer a good value and much convenience (no need to make sure you have the right amount of change!)

- Bus fares can be paid directly to the driver, just tell him your destination. If you don't have exact change, you'll get an extra slip along with your ticket, which you can exchange back at the main bus office at 59 Upper O'Connell Street, Dublin 1 (next to Post Office).

- Most city buses leave from the O'Connell Street area, (including Mountjoy and Parnell Squares, Eden Quay and Fleet Street), or from the Trinity College area, (including Pearse Street, Nassau Street, Dame Street and College Green).

- Daytime buses run from around 5AM to 11:30 pm, and there are also 24 late-night routes (known as the Nitelink service), suffixed by an N, that run from midnight until around 2AM or 4AM on weekends. Not all night link routes run at the same time every night of the week. The Nigtelink fare is a flat rate of €5. [32].

- The Xpresso is a special service designed to allow for faster and more efficient bus travel for daily commuters during both morning and evening rush hour traffic. Xpresso routes are more direct than many other bus routes, offering passengers a quicker service. These routes also have fewer stops and therefore reduce journey times between destinations. There are 22 of these routes in operation. The numbers on the front of a bus are suffixed with an 'X', e.g. 84X. A minimum flat fare (varies based on distance traveled) is charged on these services, so they are usually more expensive than a normal, non-Xpresso bus that may be traveling along the same route.

- Railink is an express bus that links Eden Quay, Custom House Quay, Jury's North Wall, Docklands Station, Connolly station, Heuston Station, and the International Financial Services centre.

- There is a ferry port link operated by Dublin Bus from Dublin Port and Dun Laoghaire ferry port to Busaras (Central Bus Station).

- It should be noted that, while there is effectively no queuing system at bus stops, those paying with cash generally enter to the left of the doors, and those using card tickets enter to the right. Your position in a perceived "queue" for a bus may be effectively irrelevant once it arrives. If you have a prepaid ticket, don't bother queuing: just get onto the bus on the right hand side of the front door.

- When paying with cash, try to ensure that you have the correct amount of change, as the bus drivers cannot issue any change. If you have only larger coins (€1 or €2), you will receive a "change receipt", which can be exchanged for cash at the Dublin Bus headquarters on O'Connell Street, Dublin 1.

- If you see An Lár written as the destination on a bus, it means that it is going to the city centre.

- NOTE: Times displayed on timetables either at stops or elsewhere DO NOT indicate the time the bus is expected to pass that stop--they are the times the bus departs from its terminus either in the city centre or at the other end. This is mainly due to the fact that Dublin's roads are exceptionally overcrowded, making it very difficult to predict the actual time. Recently bus stops have started to electronically display a live indication of when the bus is going to come. These are not 100 percent acurate and not all bus stops offer this.

By bicycleormotorbike

Hiring a bicycle is a handy way to get around if you want to get outside the very centre of the city and are comfortable cycling in traffic. That being said, the city is not very bicycle-friendly, either in terms of quantity & quality of bike paths, pedestrians and drivers honouring the bike paths, road space available where there is no bike path (i.e. numerous narrow roads), or driver attitudes in general.

There are bikes to hire in several locations around the city centre with the Dublinbikes scheme [33], there is also a bike hire place located at the entrance to the Phoenix Park, dublin 8. When cycling in the Phoenix Park, note that while there is a dedicated cycle lane on both sides of the main thoroughfare unfortunately pedestrians also use these. When cycling in the city centre, be aware that cycle lanes, where they exist, are generally shared with buses, taxis, motorcycles, and parked automobiles; cyclists should pay particular attention when approaching bus stops where a bus is pulling out.

Motorbikes are not allowed to use the cycle lanes, but many still do so. Passing on the left is also allowed only in limited circumstances but is in fact still common.

By car

Taxis were deregulated in 2001 leading to a massive oversupply with Dublin now boasting more taxis than New York. This is bad news for taxi drivers but good news for tourists as taxis are now extremely easy to come by. They may be ordered by telephone, at ranks, or just hailed on the street. Point-to-point trips in the city centre should cost between €6 and €10 - many taxi drivers will also offer a set fare if asked. There is a national standardised rate for all taxis.

Driving in Dublin is not to be recommended for much of the day, particularly in the city centre. Traffic can be heavy and there is an extensive one-way system, which some say is explicitly designed to make it very difficult for cars to enter the city centre. There are a large number of bus lanes (buses, taxis and pedal cycles are permitted to use them, the use of which by cars is liable to strict fines. It is usually possible to drive in bus lanes at certain off-peak times, with signs displaying these periods. If you explicidly must travel into the city by car (i.e. on business, or if you have a disability, it is advisable to do research on your required route (using GPS or even Google Maps) and to seek suitable parking in advance).

It can be difficult to find parking other than in multi-storey car parks. On-street parking for short periods is allowed at parking meters, but beware of over-staying your time or you will be "clamped" by the clamping companies who patrol frequently - clamp release fees vary from €70-150 per 24 hours.

A system of two ring roads around the city has been introduced in recent years, with color coded signage in purple and blue (see the orbital route map [34]. The M50 is Dublin's ring-motorway, it connects to the M1 (to the north of Ireland and Belfast) near Dublin airport and to the M11 (servicing Wicklow, Wexford and the South) south of the city and to other motorways and national roads along its "C-shaped" route. It has recently been upgraded so is less congested, and is well signposted. However, crossing the river using the M50 entails crossing the Westlink bridge. This is a toll bridge with the amount of the toll varying depending on the type of vehicle and how it is paid. It is important to note that the toll CANNOT be paid at booths while crossing the bridge but must be paid by internet or phone (or using electronic passes in the vehicle), or in certain shops. The vehicle passes through the toll gate without stopping / being stopped but the registration plate is photographed automatically. The toll must be paid by 8 pm the following day [35] After this deadline, the longer the toll remains unpaid the higher the fees involved. For foreign registered vehicles, this currently presents no problem as the Irish vehicle registration base does not have access to foreign ownership details, but for Irish registered vehicles, including rental cars, any fees due, including penalties for late payment, may well be reclaimed through the rental company and subsequently from the credit card of the person hiring the car.

Outside of the city centre, parking is generally not an issue, and ample free parking can be found outside of the M50 (and in certain areas within the M50 ring road).

See

In the summer peak season, Dublin's top attractions can get packed. Show up early to beat the crowds.

- Chester Beatty Library, Dublin Castle, Dublin 2, +353 1 407 0750 (info@cbl.ie, fax: +353 1 407 0760), [36]. Sa 11AM-5PM, Su 1PM-5PM, M-F 10AM-5PM (Closed on M from Oct-Apr). Contains a wide selection of early books and manuscripts, including sacred texts and manuscripts. European Museum of the Year 2002. Free.

- Christ Church Cathedral, Christ Church Pl, Dublin 2, +353 1 677 8099 (email@cccdub.ie), [37]. Jun-Aug 9AM-6PM, Sep-May 9:45AM-5PM or 6PM. dating back to the 11th century, is the oldest building in Dublin, though it underwent a massive restoration in the 19th century. Particularly interesting is the crypt, which predates the cathedral. €6, students €4, children with parent free.

- Dublin Castle, 2 Palace St, Dublin 2, +353 1 677 7129 (info@dublincastle.ie, fax: +353 679 7831), [38]. M-Sa 10AM-4:45PM, Su & Bank Holidays 2PM-4:45PM. Closed 24-28 and 31 Dec, 1 Jan and Good Friday. Former seat of British rule in Ireland. Guided Tour Prices €4.50, students €3.50, children €2, alternative Tour of Chapel Royal & Undercroft €3.50.

- Dublin Writers Museum, 18 Parnell Sq, Dublin 1, 353 1 872 2077, [39]. M-Sa 10AM-5PM, open until 6PM Jun-Aug. Su and holidays 11AM-5PM. Located in an 18th century house, the museum is dedicated to Irish literature and the lives of individual Irish writers such as Shaw, Joyce, Yeats & Pearse. €7.25, children €4.55, family tickets €21.

- Dublin Zoo, Welington/Zoo Rd, Dublin 8, 353 1 4748900, [40]. M-Sa 9:30AM-4PM in winter and 6:30PM in summer. Located in Phoenix Park and dating to 1830, the Dublin Zoo is the largest in Ireland, and notable for its role in wildlife conservation efforts. €15, students €12.50, Senior Citizens €12, children €10.50, family from €43.50 for 4 to €52 for 6.

- Dublinia & the Viking World, St. Michael's Hill, Christchurch, Dublin 2, +353 1 679 4611 (info@dublinia.ie), [41]. Mar-Sep 10AM-5PM, Oct-Feb 10AM-4:15PM. a heritage centre, located in central Dublin, at the heart of the medieval city. The exhibitions at Dublinia explore life as it was in the medieval city and the world of the Vikings. Discounted admission to the Christ Church Cathedral available. €6.25, children €3.75, student €5.25..

- Glasnevin Cemetery, Finglas Rd, Dublin 11 (Bus 13a 19 19a O'Connell St or 40 40a 40b 40c Parnell St), +353 1 8301133, [42]. Tours (Daily Mar-Sep) (W and F Oct-Feb) at 2:30PM. Situated just two miles from the city centre, Glasnevin Cemetery is currently running a series of walking tours. These tours give a valuable insight into the final resting place of the men and women who have helped shape Ireland's past and present. The walking tour last one and a half hours and visits the graves of Daniel O'Connell, Charles Stewart Parnell, Michael Collins, Eamonn De Valera and many other graves of architectural and cultural interest. €5, U12 Free.

- Irish Museum of Modern Art, Military Rd, Kilmainham, Dublin 8, +353 1 6129900 (info@imma.ie, fax: +353 1 612 9999), [43]. Tu-Sa 10AM-5:30PM (opens 10:30AM on W), noon-5:30PM on Su and Bank Holidays. Closed on M. Summer Late Opening until 8PM on Th from 5 Jun–18 Sep. Modern & contemporary art, formal gardens & cafe. Free entrance..

- Jeanie Johnston Famine Ship Museum, The ship is at Custom House Quay (across from Jury's Inn), +353 01 473 0111 (info@jeaniejohnston.ie), [44]. Tours daily 11AM, noon, 2PM, 3PM and 4PM. This active ship is an accurate replica of the original Jeanie Johnston, which sailed between Tralee in Co. Kerry and North America between 1847 and 1855, transporting Irish emigrants during the Great Famine. As the ship is still used for sailing it is sometimes away from Dublin so check the website or call ahead prior to your visit to ensure that the Jeanie Johnston will be at Custom House Quay. The tour takes visitors below deck to learn about some of the people who sailed on the Jeanie Johnston in the Famine years. €8.50, seniors/students €7.50, children €4.50, family €20.

- Kilmainham Gaol, Inchicore Rd, Kilmainham, Dublin 8, +353 1 4535984, [45]. Apr-Sep 9:30AM-6PM daily (last admission 5PM); Oct-Mar M-Sa 9:30AM-5:30PM (last admission 4PM), Su 10AM-6PM (last admission 5PM). The prison where the rebels from the 1916 Easter Rising were executed. It is located slightly outside the city centre and can be reached by local bus (78a, 51b, 79 51c). Access is limited to guided tours, which leave every 30 minutes and are very interesting. It is well worth a visit if you are in any way interested in history. €6, senior and groups €4, children and students €2, family €14.

- Merrion Square Merrion Square is one of the largest squares in Dublin. It is filled with very green (of course) grassy areas and has three Georgian style houses. There is a large statue of the writer and dramatist Oscar Wilde. There are also two square marble columns that are covered in famous Wilde quotes. Merrion Square is a good place to escape some of the noise of Dublin and enjoy Oscar Wilde’s witty sense of humor.

- National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin, Dublin 9, +353 1 804 0300 (botanicgardens@opw.ie, fax: +353 1 836 0080), [46]. Nov-Jan 9AM-4:30PM and Feb-Oct 9AM-6PM daily.

- The National Gallery of Ireland, Merrion Square West & Clare St, Dublin 2 (DART Pearse Station will get you to within five minutes from the Gallery.), +353 1 6615133 (info@ngi.ie, fax: +353 1 6615372), [47]. M-Sa 9:30AM-5:30PM (till 8:30PM on Th) and Su noon-5:30PM. Closed Good Friday and 24-26 Dec. National collection of Irish and European Art. Free entrance.

- National Museum of Ireland - Archaeology, Kildare St, Dublin 2, +353 1 6777444 (marketing@museum.ie, fax: +353 1 6777450), [48]. Tu-Sa 10AM-5PM; Su 2PM-5PM, closed M, 25 Dec and Good Friday. Not to be missed for anyone interested in Irish history as this museum is the national repository for all all archaeological objects found in Ireland. The Prehistoric Ireland and Treasury exhibits are particularly exceptional. Decorative Arts & History exhibits can be found at the National Museum of Ireland's other location at Collins Barrack, Benburb Street, Dublin 7. Natural History exhibits are on view at Merrion Street, Dublin 2. Free.

- Old Library at Trinity College & Book of Kells, College Green, Dublin 2, +353 1 896 2320 (adiffley@tcd.ie, fax: +353 1 896 2690), [49]. M-Sa 9:30AM-5PM, Su (May-Sep) 9:30AM (noon Oct-Apr)-5:30PM. Closed 23 Dec-1 Jan. The gorgeously illustrated original manuscript of the Book of Kells is the main draw here, but the massive Long Hall of the Old library itself is equally if not even more impressive. €9, +€2 for optional guided tour. Students & seniors €8, children under 12 free. Family admission €18..

- Phoenix Park, Phoenix Park, Dublin 8, +353 1 677 0095 (phoenixparkvisitorcentre@duchas.ie, fax: +353 1 672 6454). The largest enclosed urban park in Europe. Includes a polo field and Dublin Zoo. The residences of the President of Ireland and the U.S. Ambassador are situated in the park, but are not open to the public. If you're lucky, you may catch a glimpse of the herd of wild fallow deer that inhabit the park! Free.

- Waterways Ireland Visitors Centre, Grand Canal Quay Dublin 2 (Waterways Ireland Visitors Centre is easily accessed from the City Centre being only 10 minutes on foot from O’Connell St. Bus numbers 3, 50, 77/77A, 151 stop close to the main entrance. By Dart at Grand Canal station which is located seconds away and the Luas Stop at Spencer Dock which is a mere 5 minutes on foot.), 353 01 6777510, [50]. 10AM-6PM. The Waterways Ireland Visitors Centre is an exciting visitor attraction located in Dublin's city centre at Grand Canal Dock just off Pearse Street. The centre is housed in an award winning architectural structure affectionately known as the box in docks situated in the waters of Grand Canal Dock.The centre will bring you on an informative journey of the waterways from the pre Christian period to its modern use. Our exhibit contains child friendly interactives, environmental displays and much more… €4, children €2, students/seniors €3.

Suburbia

Dublin has many fine and quite affluent suburbs. Seeing them is a good way to get a real feel for the city's culture and identity. A walk around some them on a nice day is well worth your time as many are home to some of Ireland's finest architecture(Victorian,Georgian,Modern etc).Some are easily navigated by foot from the city's centre and are dotted with many fine upmarket delicatessans and boutiques. Examples include Donnybrook and Ballsbridge - the 46A bus goes through Donnybrook and the 7 bus through Ballsbridge, and both routes have several stops in the north and south city centre. Ballsbridge is Dublin's embassy district and is home to some of Ireland's most expensive roads including 'Shrewsbury Road', which is famous for being the 6th most expensive residential thoroughfare in the world and 'Ailesbury Road' which is equally as salubrious and home to a bulk of the capital's embassies including Spain and Poland.

Ballsbridge is also home to The Royal Dublin Society (RDS) which promotes and develops agriculture, arts, industry and science in Ireland. It hosts many concerts and also showcases the annual Show Jumping Competition, a major entertainment event. You can approach Ballsbridge via 'Herbert park', a pleasant public green park and fashionable road, opposite Donnybrook Village and vice-versa.

Dalkey and Killiney which lie on the southern most tip of Dublin. They are upmarket neighbourhoods and home to such celebrities as Bono, Maeve Binchy and Enya among others. A walk up Vico Road to take in the view is a must-do. Killiney Hill is beautiful, offering panoramic views of the surrounding Dublin Mountains. These areas are best approached by the DART, which runs along the coast and has three main stops in the city centre.

Blackrock or Dun Laoghaire, accessible by bus or DART, are also worth a visit.

Ranelagh and Dartry are also worth visiting- Ranelagh is small but affluent and has several critically acclaimed eateries.

Sandymount, a coastal suburb no more than 2 mi (3 km) south of the City Centre, is another quite affluent area with a tiny park and some restaurants. It is the birthplace of W.B. Yeats. The suburb and its strand appear prominently in James Joyce's Ulysses.There is a wonderful walk from Sandymount across the north end of its beach to the South Bull Wall which reaches a finger well out into the Bay .

Be sure to go north of The Liffey also. Clontarf, Malahide, Skerries and Howth are all great places to spend an afternoon. Malahide has a beautiful Castle (including extra doors for the ghost)in a Park and is a nice little village with harbour, beach, estuary and lots of restaurants. You can also take a 20-30 minute walk along the coast up to Portmarnock beach.(a 10 km long beach)

Howth is home to a handful of Irish celebrities including Gay Byrne and Dolores O'Riordan. Walking the cliff walk or climbing the Ben of Howth, a 561 ft (171 m) high hill on Howth Head, on a fine day is well worth your time. Although the water may be too cold to enjoy a swim, Howth has a small stretch of beach that has a beautiful view of mountains in the distance.

Dublin City's best beach is also to the north. Dollymount Strand and the adjoining bird sanctuary are highly recommended. It's a great bike ride - there's an excellent bike path along by the sea.

- General Post Office (GPO), O'Connell St Lower, Dublin 1 (All transport to Dublin City Centre), 017057000, [51]. The General Post Office (GPO) is one of Ireland's most iconic buildings. For almost 200 years it has been the headquarters of the Post Office in Ireland. It was designed by Francis Johnston in Neo Classical style and took four years to build from 1814-1818. In 1916 it was taken over by Irish Rebels led by P.H. Pearse. During the Easter Rising, The interior was completely destroyed. Amazingly, the beautiful exterior managed to survive the shelling from General Maxwell's forces and fires caused. In 1925 it was decided by the Irish Government that the building be restored and it reopen in 1929. The GPO is still a working post office and is home to the An Post Museum, which houses an original copy of The Proclamation.

Do

- Abbey Theatre, 26/27 Lower Abbey Street, +353 1 878 7222, [52]. Ireland's national theatre. This is a particularly good venue for presentations of Irish plays. The Abbey also shows classic and contemporary theatre from around the world.

- Gaiety Theatre, South King Street, Dublin 2, +353 1 677 1717, [53]. The oldest continually operating theatre in Dublin hosts popular musical shows, opera, ballet, dance and drama. Admission prices vary..

- Guinness Storehouse, St James's Gate, Dublin 8, +353 1 408 4800, [54]. Daily 9:30AM-5PM (open until 7PM in July & August). Closed Good Friday and Dec 24-26. Retells the story of Dublin's most famous drink. The exhibition is interesting and is self-guided. Price of entry includes a pint at the seventh floor Gravity Bar, which has good views over Dublin and forms the head of the giant pint of Guinness formed by the atrium. Outside, tourists will encounter horse drawn carriages for hire. Beware as they charge €30 for the short walkable 2km (1 mi) ride back to the city centre. Adults €15 (10% discount for booking online), students and seniors €11, children 6-12 €5.

- Catch a hurling or Gaelic football game [55] at the Croke Park Stadium‎, Jones Road, Dublin 3, the 82,500 seat, state-of-the-art stadium, Croke Park. These sports are uniquely Irish. Hurling is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the fastest field sport, with the ball (called a sliotar) reaching speeds above 130 kph. Gaelic football can best be described as a combination of soccer and rugby. To keep the sports "pure," it maintains an amateur status, with each parish in Ireland having a team--the inter-county games are generally extremely well-supported, so you may have difficulty getting tickets for the bigger matches. Tours of the GAA museum and the stadium are also available, including a chance to try your hand at the sports themselves [56].

- Catch a Leinster Rugby [57] game at the RDS Arena, located on Anglesea Road in Ballsbridge, Dublin 4. Occasional home games are played at Aviva Stadium, the replacement for Lansdowne Road that opened in May 2010. Unlike Gaelic games, rugby union is professional. Leinster, one of Europe's strongest sides, won the Europe-wide Heineken Cup in 2009 and 2011, and supplied many players for the Ireland national team. Domestically, they play in the RaboDirect Pro12 (non-sponsored name: Celtic League), which since 2010–11 includes teams from Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and Italy.

- Leopardstown Racecourse, Leopardstown, Dublin 18 (From Dublin city centre, follow the N11 south, turn right into the R113 (Leopardstown Road), the racecourse will be on your left), +353 1 289 0500 (info@leopardstown.com, fax: +353 1 289 2634), [58]. Located in the southern suburb of Leopardstown/Foxrock, there are regular meetings throughout the year. There is a "Pay as you Play" golf course within the racecourse grounds, as well as bars, restaurants and a nightclub (Club 92). €12.55, with reductions for students and OAPs.

- Old Jameson Distillery, Bow Street Distillery, Smithfield, Dublin 7, +353 1 8072355, [59]. Daily 9:30AM-6PM. Last tour at 5:30. Closed Good Friday and Christmas holidays. This ex-distillery hasn't produced whiskey in a while, and if you are expecting to see whiskey making, you will not find it here. However, there is a tour and recreation of the process, and whiskey tasting afterwards. After the video, make sure you raise your hand because they pick four people to volunteer for taste testing later in the tour! Adult €12.50, students and seniors €10, families €25.

- An Post Museum, GPO, O'Connell Street Lower (All transtport), 017057000, [60]. Mon - Fri10am - 5pm, Sat 10am - 4pm. The An Post Museum in Dublin’s GPO opened its doors in August 2010 with the Letters, Lives and Liberty exhibition, a blend of traditional and digital displays which was awarded a gold rosette at the 2011 Digital Media Awards. Situated in the very heart of Dublin’s city centre the museum offers a unique and engaging insight into the history of one of Ireland’s oldest and most respected institutions, the Irish Post Office. From stamps and mail boats to the role of GPO staff on Easter Monday 1916, Letters, Lives and Liberty tells the story of how the Post Office has played a vital role in the development of Irish society over the generations. The audio visuals and interactive displays allow visitors to choose subjects of particular interest as they explore aspects of the Irish Post Office story. €2.

- Walking Tours, [61]. Dublin city is famous for its characters. A great way to experience and live the city is by learning about it from people who are characters themselves - Dublin Tour Guides. Tours can vary from 1-hour to 4-hour in length and include, as well as the standard sightseeing tour, tours on topics like the paranormal and ghosts, music and song, literature, historical, 1916 Rising, and even Irish mythology. There are various walking tour companies and freelance tour guides available in Dublin.

- Dublin Literary Pub Crawl, 'The Duke Pub', 9 Duke Street, Dublin 2 (Just off Grafton Street), [62]. 2. This is the most ingenious crash course in Irish literature, history, architecture and pub bonhomie yet devised... It combines street theatre with the 'craic' that makes Dublin pubs the liveliest in Europe. It is a highly enjoyable evening that gives you the pleasant notion of replacing brain cells as you drown them. The tour is a kind of rough guide to the cultural, religious and political life of the city. Performances by professional actors are central to the experience, not forgetting a fun-filled quiz with prizes for the winners. Can be a bit formal at times but this one's been going a long time and is well worth the experience for such an unusual tour. There's just enough time to stop in each pub for a pint as well. €10-12.

Buy

Dublin's most famous shopping street is the pedestrianised Grafton Street, which runs between St. Stephen's Green and Trinity College. It has recently, along with its surroundings, been classified as an 'Architectural Conservation Zone'. This will involve a re-establishment of the area's rich historic charm and urban character.

Brown Thomas [63], Dublin's most famous and expensive department store is on Grafton Street along with a wide range of clothing, jewelry, and photography shops, etc. Alongside the historic Trinity College you will find Nassau Street where there are many shops selling tourist-related items such as Waterford Crystal, Belleek Pottery, Aran sweaters, and other Irish craft items. Shops selling these items include House of Ireland [64] and Kilkenny Design [65].

Dawson Street, parallel to Grafton Street, is home to several well stocked, large bookshops including Hodges Figgis and Waterstones.

Harvey Nichols,an upmarket British department store chain housing some of the world's most exclusive designer names in fashion, accessories, beauty and food and is located in Dundrum Town Centre,just take the green luas line from St.Stephen's green, in the Pembroke district.

The best concentration of shoe shops is found on Grafton Street and the adjoining Wicklow Street.

The Powerscourt Centre [66], just off Grafton Street, is one of Dublin's most attractive shopping centres, set in a beautifully restored 18th century townhouse. Here, you will find clothes, cafes, galleries and Irish designer jewelers. You must check out the The Loft Market - it is a haven for Dublin Fashion. There is lots of up and coming young fashion designers and vintage clothing sellers such as Perk Up! Vintage [67], Lisa Shawgi Knitwear and MO MUSE to shop around. Beware the overpriced antique dealers, some of whom will drop a price by 50% after only the merest suggestion that you are willing to haggle (and it still may not be a bargain). For gifts, there is an engraving business based in the centre next to Bonsai Shop.

Leaving Powerscourt via the ornate steps on to South William Street, you will find yourself facing a small street called Castle Market, which leads to a covered red-brick shopping arcade known alternatively as the Market Arcade or the Georges Street Arcade. This area is worth a visit for vintage clothing, fabrics, unusual accessories, vinyl and club wear. It also features some small cafes.

All of the above are in Dublin 2.

There is also an extensive shopping area on the north side of the river, in Dublin 1, centred on O'Connell Street and Henry Street (Ireland's busiest shopping street). Clery's [68] (O'Connell Street)(18 O'Connell Street) and Arnotts [69] (12 Henry Street) are large department stores each with a long history. Two large shopping centres, the Jervis Shopping Centre [70] (Jervis Street), and the Ilac Centre (Henry Street) are nearby. The latter also houses Dublin's Central Public Library [71].

Just off Henry Street is Moore Street, which has a fruit, vegetable and fish market. It's worth a stroll if you want to get a slice of life from the less genteel side of Dublin. At the top of Henry Street on Parnell Street is Chapters, which has a massive selection of books at generally cheaper prices than other high street stores, as well as a large secondhand section. It is especially great for 'coffee table' style art books.

For those for whom it just would not be a holiday without hanging out at the mall, there are various shopping centres located around Dublin, including Blanchardstown Centre (Dublin 15) [72] (39 and 70 bus routes), Liffey Valley (Dublin 22) [73] (bus routes 25, 25A, 66, 66A, 67A,78, 78A, 210 and 239), and The Square, Tallaght, (Dublin 24, last stop on the red Luas). The largest shopping centre in Europe is the recently opened Dundrum Town Centre [74], which is served by the green Luas tramline from St. Stephen's Green. In Dublin 14, it was awarded the title of best shopping mall in the World, 2006.

Dublin is not cheap for general shopping, although visitors from outside the European Union can obtain a refund of VAT (sales tax: 21.5%) on many of their purchases. Just look for the refund sign and ask in the shop for details. Keep in mind that most stores will issue VAT refund vouchers only on the same day of purchase. More on VAT refund can be found on Irish eGovernment website [75].

Also, if you want to find thrifty nick nak shops, then Talbot street is a good start. Like any city, if you look hard enough and don't get caught up in the glitz and glam when shopping, there are great bargains to be found.

Be sure to visit Temple Bar's Temple Bar Square and Meetinghouse Square on a Saturday morning or afternoon for the markets (Dublin 2), which sells all types of foods, from traditional fare to delicious baked goods. Both squares are also home to several very good restaurants. Meetinghouse Square, which lies only about 150 ft (50 m) west of Temple Bar Square, sells much finer fare and more exotic foods than Meetinghouse Square.

The Temple Bar area offers some alternative to shopping at the larger chain-stores. Small clothing boutiques, including the city centre's only swap shop, are popping up all around the area (Temple Lane, Crow Street and Fownes Street) with an emphasis on vintage and unique original independent designer pieces. If you can't make it to any of the markets at the weekend, the best can be found here during the week.

Also, in Dublin 8, Cows Lane Fashion and Design Market, which is the largest designer market in Dublin, offers handmade one-off original designs. The market is open evey Saturday from 10.00AM-5.30PM. Found outdoors on Cows Lane and indoors in the old Dublin's Viking Adventure‎, this market is not to be missed.

There is fairly extensive duty-free shopping at Dublin Airport, at prices sometimes cheaper than the rest of the city.

Eat

Dublin has a wide range of good quality restaurants, most of which are, however, horribly overpriced by European standards. Main course prices range from €10 at the lower end up to around €40 at the higher end. Wine in restaurants is generally marked up from its already expensive retail price by a factor of at least two and three times retail price would not be uncommon.

There are many excellent value Indian restaurants around the South William Street area, parallel to Grafton Street. These often have reasonable priced lunch and 'early bird' deals, offering three course meals for around €10. Quality is high but not on a par with UK. Particularly to be recommended are the Khyber Tandoori on South William Street and Shalimar on South Great Georges Street. Also excellent is Surma on Camden St and "Govindas" on Augnier Street for very cheap Hare-Krishna vegetarian food. all are in Dublin 2.

A similar multi-cultural hotspot is Parnell Street in Dublin 1 (O'Connell Street-Gardiner Street), which has a dense concentration of Chinese and Asian restaurants extensively frequented by the ex-pat communities.

Don't forget to try Leo Burdock Fish and Chips (2 Werburgh St). There is no eating in, so I have taken my fish to Christ Church Cathedral and ate it on a bench. About 10 Euro for way too much food (share it with someone).

Snack

- Bewleys, Grafton Street, Dublin 2, [76]. Dublin's most famous coffee shop. This has been a hang-out over the years for U2, Bob Geldof, and James Joyce.

- Bar Italia, several branches. Best coffee in town. Real Italian coffee with mostly Italian staff. Excellent panini and antipasto. Good value place with great atmosphere.

- Butlers Chocolate Cafés, South William Street (Dublin 2) two branches) and Dublin Airport; takeaways on Grafton Street and Nassau Street (both Dublin 2), [77]. Good coffee with a free chocolate of your choice (except at Dublin Airport, where you still get a chocolate but without a choice.) The airport branch is well stocked and generally runs special offers on boxes of chocolates not available in the city branches.

- Zaytoon, 14/15 Parliament Street, Temple Bar, Dublin 2 (opposite The Porterhouse); also Camden Street, (Dublin 2), (opposite Bleeding Horse Pub). This is a kebab shop (eat in or take out), very different from a street vendor kebab.

- SPAR, is the United Kingdom’s leading convenience store group. They have several locations in Dublin and is the perfect place to go to grab drinks, breakfast, lunch, snacks, and basic toiletries that you may have forgotten to pack.

Lunch

- Honest To Goodness, George's Street Arcade, South Great Georges Street, Dublin 2. [78] Cafe Bakery where all produce is made, baked and cooked in store. Great value. Tel: +353 1 6337727.

- Madina, 60 Mary Street, Dublin 1, County Dublin. Incredibly tasty Indian & Pakistani food. The sauces are excellent and the dishes full of flavor. If you're into spicy dishes try the "Chicken Tikka Massala" or "Chicken Korma". They also prepare delicious Mango Lassi.

- Cafe Bar Deli, South Great Georges Street, Dublin 2 and Grafton Street, Dublin 2. [79] Excellent value. Always busy. Pastas, pizzas and salads.

- Elephant and Castle, Temple Bar, Dublin 2. Nationally-famous chicken wings, extremely busy lunchtime on Saturdays (you could be waiting for up to 2 h), only order a basket of chicken wings to yourself if you're very hungry!

- Lemon Crèpe Company, South William Street, Dublin 2. Good value filled crèpes for around €4 (American style rather than French) and some of the best coffee in Dublin. There is a larger branch with canteen-style bench seating on Dawson Street, close to Trinity College.

- BóBós, 22 Wexford Street, Dublin 2 [80]. Delicious gourmet burger restaurants. Serves a wide variety of tasty burgers (beef, chicken, fish and vegetarian) sides and desserts. Also serves a great breakfast. Burgers €7-10, sides €4-5.

- Dunne & Crescenzi, South Frederick Street, Dublin 2. Delightful Italian lunch spot, open until around 8PM, but arrive early if you want to get a seat - or be prepared for a long wait. Antipasto Misto €6.50, Paninis from €4. Glass of house wine €3.50.

- Unicorn Food Company, Merrion Row, Dublin 2. Take-away deli with eat-in cafe next door. Sandwiches €4-5 or a range of Italian delights - pasta, lasagna, pizza, salads. Sometimes good cakes €2.50-€2.85. The deli is attached to the well-respected Unicorn Italian restaurant down the lane beside the deli (open for lunch and dinner).

- M J O'Neills, Suffolk Street, D-2. Great Pub Food. Carvery served 12 till 4 most days and till late weekends. Also has a good salad and sandwich bar. Price around €10 for carvery.

- T.P. Smiths, Jervis Street, Dublin 1. very good pub food, also handy to stop in if you're shopping around the Henry Street area. Food served until 9PM.

- Govinda's, 4 Aungier Street at Middle Abbey Street, just off O'Connell Street, Dublin 2, +353 1 475 0309. Krishna run vegetarian restaurant. The Govindas special (only order large if you're very hungry) is a taste of nearly everything from the hot counter.

- Café Fresh, Top floor, Powerscourt Townhouse Centre, Dublin 2, +353 1 6719669, [81]. One of the best known vegetarian cafes in the city and offers a great range at reasonable prices. As the name suggests the food is all "fresh" and is made on the premises that morning, and much of it is organic. If you're after a healthy meat-free meal, it's well worth a look.

- Epicurean Food Hall, located just yards from the famous Ha'Penny Bridge on Lower Liffety Street, Dublin 2, The Epicurean Food Hall is a Mecca for the varied palate. Under one roof are food companies and stalls from Middle Eastern fare to Cornish Pasties and from Bagels to Christophes French cuisine. You can pick and choose your food of choice and sit in the communal seating area with Dublin locals that populate this lunch time must. Recommended in particular is the Italian coffee bar La Corta which probably serves the best cup of coffee in Dublin with all the Italian touches.

- Purple Sage Restaurant, located in the Stillorgan Park Hotel, Stillorgan Road, Dublin 18. [82] The Purple Sage Restaurant serves a traditional carvery lunch from 12.30PM-2.30PM. Popular with residents and locals alike the Purple Sage Restaurant offers a memorable Irish experience. It has the best value in the city with great weekday lunch deals

- Pablo Picante, 131 Baggot Street (at the corner of Pembroke), (pablopicanteirl@gmail.com), [83]. M-F 11:30-8, Sa 12-8. A small and friendly eatery serving tasty meat and vegetarian burritos, which are great to takeaway to eat at nearby St. Stephen's Green.

- In Cahoots Café is small and welcoming place to eat and drink delicious coffee concoctions. In Cahoots Café specializes in wraps, paninis, salads, sandwiches, and gourmet coffee.

- Bad Ass Café is a chain that was started in the United States that now has a location in Ireland. The café is located in the heart of Temple Bar and is perfect for the American tourist who is missing a big hamburger. Bad Ass Café still serves traditional Irish beer, like Guinness, to keep the taste of Ireland.

Dinner

- Idlewilde Cafe, 20 Patrick Street, Dalkey, County Dublin. A charming café in this pretty heritage town on Dublin's southside coastline. Easily reached by train (Dart) or bus. The Cafe is set in a leafy courtyard and offers great breakfast and lunch as well as excellent coffee and smoothies. Great place to spot the local celeb's.

- Bella Cuba, 11 Ballsbridge Terrace, Ballsbridge, Dublin 2. Ireland's only Cuban restaurant, where the lack of competition hasn't affected the quality. Excellent food served in a fabulous Cuban atmosphere with great music. Don't forget to try the extensive cocktail list. This restaurant is very small so book in advance.

- Ryans FXB, Parkgate St., Dublin 7. Great steaks and seafood in a very friendly and comfortable restaurant upstairs in the beautiful Victorian era pub. 5 minute walk from the Guinness Storehouse and a stop away from Kilmainham Gaol on the Hop-On, Hop-Off bus. Main courses can go for between €15-25 for great quality produce from the legendary Buckleys butchers.

- Siam Thai, Andrew Street, Dublin 2. This city centre restaurant is part of a group of three, the others being in Malahide and Ballsbridge. Gorgeous Thai cuisine served by staff in traditional Thai costume. The surroundings are nice, if maybe a little on the tacky side. Nonetheless a great Thai gastro experience.

- Bang Cafe, 11 Merrion Row, Dublin 2. A great cosmopolitan menu in a well established setting. Although a little on the expensive side, the food and presentation is excellent.

- Kites, 15-17 Ballsbridge Terrace Ballsbridge, Dublin 4. Great combination of Cantonese (predominant dish), Szechuan, Peking and Thai with an extensive wine list. Excellent choice for the more discerning diner with great attention paid by the friendly, professional waiters in very rich surroundings and decor. Well worth a visit.

- Salamanca, St. Andrews St, Dublin 2. good value, tasty and substantial tapas (sized more like raciones), priced around €4-8. The steak is a particular bargain at €7.50. Also good are the chorizo dishes.

- Gallagher's Boxty House, 20 Temple Bar, Dublin 2, [84]. Good traditional Irish fare and not too expensive (mains €10-15). (A boxty is a traditional Irish potato pancake filled and rolled up--try it!). Also try the Irish stew and the chowder. Small, friendly, traditional Irish decor.

- The Bistro, 4/5 Castlemarket, [85]. Excellent continental cuisine, good atmosphere. Main courses €15-25.

- Johnnie Fox's Pub, Glencullen Road, Glencullen, Dublin Mountains. Dating from the 18th century, the highest pub in Ireland is also one of the best for seafood. Great atmosphere with traditional live Irish bands and friendly staff. Food is excellent, so is the craic. Main courses €15-20. It’s a bit far (15 km) from the city, but you can get a good view of the city by night on your drive up to the restaurant. Unfortunately, this place is a notorious tourist trap - however it has received something or a revival in recent years with dozens of Irish people travelling to the pub for casual drinks / something to do.

- Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud, 21 Upper Merrion Street, Dublin 2, [86]. Two Michelin stars, very expensive, superb. Lunch menus are a bargain at 35 euro for two courses.

- Roly's Bistro, 7 Ballsbridge Terrace, Dublin 4, [87]. One block from Jurys Hotel. Impeccable food and service, reasonable prices. Good atmosphere.

- L'Gueuleton, Fade St, Dublin 2 (behind Hogan's Bar). At the time of this writing (Sept 2006) there is no name above the door of this restaurant which has rapidly achieved cult status. It is consistently rated by food critics as one of the top five restaurants in Dublin, but it has a no reservations policy and their low prices makes it hugely popular for lunch and dinner. Three course lunch with wine yesterday was €40 per head. Don't worry about the no-reservations policy--put your name on the list and have a pint in the Market Bar or Hogan's.

- Cornucopia, 19 Wicklow Street, Dublin 2. Just off Grafton St you'll find this vegetarian heaven that serves breakfast, dinner and lunch.

- The Purple Sage Restaurant at The Stillorgan Park Hotel, Stillorgan Road, Dublin 18 [88]. This award winning restaurant serves international cuisine from 5.45PM-9.45PM Monday-Saturday. Easily accessible from all routes.

Drink

No visit to Dublin would be complete without a visit to one (or ten) of its many pubs (last count says there are over 600 pubs). Drink is relatively expensive: a pint of stout costs around €4.50 and up, while lager costs around €4.90 and up. However, the government gave a tax break to microbrewed beer in the December 2004 budget, this had a slight effect on prices in brewpubs. Pubs serve drinks until 11:30PM with some drinking-up time allowed. Many bars have late licenses allowing them to serve up to 2:30 AM, although this usually means a cover charge or price increases after 11:30 PM. Smoking has been illegal in Irish pubs (as well as all indoor workplaces) since March 2004; this has had the positive side effect of increasing al fresco facilities. Beer tends to be more expensive around the Temple Bar area, due to the increased tourist flow, and will be cheaper in more traditional styled pubs.

There are pubs in Dublin offering cheaper drinks, if you are willing to go off the beaten trail or ask other patrons for suggestions. Fibber McGees just off Parnell square, in the City, has 3 euro per drink for any drink including shorts, every Thursday night. (There is a 5 euro door fee to enter after 9 pm Thursday) please be aware Fibber McGees is a heavy metal bar, so if loud music is not your thing then best avoid. O'Reillys of Tara Street charges €3.50 for all draught beers all week. In the suburbs bars such as the Cock Tavern in Swords village north county Dublin, have special offers such as Fosters Australian beer for €3.00 per pint.

The Temple Bar that people often speak of is an area that used to be a sand bar, not an actual bar. (Originally, anyway; there is a pub called "The Temple Bar" in Temple Bar.) The Temple Bar district has a mixture of food, drink, shopping and music. It appeals to all ages, but is a hot spot for tourists. The narrow, cobble stoned streets gives it an original feeling within the heart of the city. Its central location also makes it easy to walk to from Dublin's Centre. However, late night revellers tend to make it an unpleasant place to be after dark. It can be taken over by drunken stag and boisterous hen parties, many who travel cheaply from the United Kingdom to avail of Temple Bar's delights.

Traditional Irish Bars

- Peadar Kearney's 64 Dame St, Dublin 2. Named after the man who penned Amhráin na bhFiann, Ireland's National Anthem, A great spot for pre- and post- gig drinks next to the Olympia Theatre, Peadar's attracts a young & lively crowd, with Live music from up and coming Irish trad bands. Mostly tourists here but a nice spot to talk to other visitors.

- The Cobblestone, North King Street, Dublin 7. Easily Dublin's most famous Trad pub, situated in the North end of the famous Smithfield square this pub has had just about every single Irish Trad group play it. Trad sessions are nightly, expect a good mixed crowd.

- Frank Ryans, Queen Street, Dublin 7. A favourite with students from Blackhall Place, this quaint pub keeps a traditional feel with a bit of a twist. Friendly bar staff and a highly mixed crowd of local students, law types, trendies and locals makes this a lively, fun spot for a few drinks. Expect weekly trad nights interspersed with Rockabilly, Country and Soul on the jukebox.

- O'Donoghue's, Merrion Row, Dublin 2. Famous for impromptu live music. Where folk Group The Dubliners were formed.

- The Barge, 42 Charlemont Street, Dublin 2. Near St. Steven's Green. Excellent pub food, great decor; a friendly traditional pub with very good food. Try the fish and chips, except get the wedges instead of the chips. Golden brown on the outside, crunchy, tender inside.

- Hartigan's, 100 Lower Leeson Street Dublin. Popular student bar, as a result occasionally raucous. Good option after international rugby matches.

- The Brazen Head, Bridge Street, Dublin 2. Possibly the oldest pub in Dublin but not the oldest pub in Ireland. Approximatly a thousand years old. Wonderful on warm, dry summer nights during the rare occaisions when they happen. Live traditional music and very friendly atmosphere. One of the bars is covered in signed currency notes, usually dollars, from people who wanted to leave their mark on the place. There is a large, heated open-air section enclosed within the centre of the building which is perfect for smokers. One of very few places in Dublin which serves the lesser known but very tasty Macardles brand of ale.

- O'Shea's, Bridge Street, Dublin 2. - live traditional music and dancing.

- Fallon's, The Coombe, Dublin 8 (near St. Patrick's Cathedral). small friendly local pub.

- The Oval, Abbey Street, Dublin 1. Good for drink and food, said to have the best Irish stew in Dublin. Attracts a mixed age group. Lots of pictures of old Irish celebrities with a tribute to the Quiet Man.

- Kavanagh's, Glasnevin, Dublin 9 (near Glasnevin cemetery). This pub (popularly known as The Gravediggers because of its close proximity to the cemetery) has remained untouched for over 100 years with the only things altered being the beer taps and toilets. If you're looking for a real trad Irish pub, this is the place, really worth a visit. (about 10-15 minutes on bus from city centre, get the no 19/19A/13 from O'Connell Street)

- Bachelors Inn, Bachelors Walk, Dublin 1 (near O'Connell Bridge). Good pints of Guinness and a choice of batch or regular white bread on your toasted sandwich. Popular post GAA match pub with the Dublin crowd.

- Bowe's Lounge, Fleet St, Dublin 2. Old Victorian pub, around for over 140 years.

- Mulligans, Poolbeg Street, Dublin 2, [89]. Busy pub with great Guinness with plenty of history having been frequented by James Joyce among others.

- Nancy Hands, Parkgate Street, Dublin 8. Tel: +353 1 6770149 [90]. Classic Bar & Restaurant situated close to Dublin’s Phoenix Park, the National Museum at Collins Barracks, and a short stroll from Heuston train station.

- Ryan's, Parkgate St, Dublin 8 (near Heuston Station). Beautiful Victorian pub. A good place to have a pint before getting a train out of Dublin.

- The Palace Bar, Fleet St, Dublin 2. Located at the edge of Temple Bar, this traditional bar has interesting decor complete with "snug" (small private booth). Live music upstairs Wednesday and Saturday.

- The Long Hall, 31 North Great Georges Street, Dublin 2. Atmospheric bar with interesting wooden decor, nice window to sit at to people watch.

- Kehoe's, South Anne Street. Located just off Grafton St, this is an excellent spot for a pint after a hectic days shopping. Several snugs downstairs.

- Kennedy's, 30/32 Westland Row, Dublin 2, [91]. Located to the rear of Trinity college, this traditional style pub serves good quality food and drink with plenty of friendly atmosphere. Also home to The Underground [92] one of Dublin’s newest and most intimate venues.

- O'Neills, Suffolk Street (near Grafton Street). Excellent atmosphere in a Victorian style design.

- The Stag's Head, Dame Lane (off Great Georges Street). Just great Guinness and great conversation.

- The Dawson Lounge, top of Dawson Street. Dublin's (or Ireland's) smallest pub. You have to go to see what is meant. Twenty people and it is packed.

- McDaids, just off Grafton Street right next to Westbury Hotel. Was a regular place for Oscar Wilde to ponder life.

- Grogans (Castle Lounge), South William Street, Dublin 2. Wonderful traditional pub, no music or TV. Great Guinness and a mixture of tourists and locals, with interesting art on the walls.

Modern

- The Dice Bar, Benburb Street/Queen Street, Dublin 7. One of the coolest bars in the city, mixing old school charm with cool sensibilities. If you're thinking of heading in on the weekend, get there early because this place is absolutely crammed. An eclectic mix of people and music, expect anything from ska, to reggae, to rockabilly. Sundays are especially cool with a biker/greaser crowd enjoying the 50's music on offer.

- The Bailey, Duke Street, Dublin 2. Located just off Grafton Street, this swish bar tends to attract the sophisticated side of Dublin's society, popular amongst celebrities as well. Very busy during the summer afternoons and evenings with a nice outdoor seating area.

- Lotts, 60-62 The Lotts, 9 Liffey Street, Dublin 1. Recent addition to Dublins burgeoning pub scene, fantastic new bar and lounge. Very well decorated interior with chandeliers, a marble bar and comfortable leather seating. Live music many nights. Small outside seating area as well.

- The Market Bar, Fade Street, Dublin 2, [93]. Opened in 2005, large spacious bar, with murmur of conversation in the background, nice tapas restaurant with a good value menu.

- The Odeon, Harcourt Street, Dublin 2. This attractive bar at the top of Harcourt Street is housed in a converted railway station; the new tram system has a stop directly outside.

- Pygmalion, South William Street, Dublin 2. Directly opposite Grogan's, in the Powerscourt Townhouse shopping centre; quite a contrast.

- Café en Seine, Dawson Street, Dublin 2. Typical, and not entirely unpleasant, example of a Dublin 'megapub'; recently extended to include tropical trees at the back--very expensive.

- The Globe, 11 South Great Georges Street, Dublin 2. One of the original trendy bars to hit Dublin in the mid 90's. Still as cool as ever with one of Dublins longest running clubs Ri-Ra in the basement.

- Lost Society, South William Street, Dublin 2. Just next to the Powerscourt shopping centre, this uber trendy venue is cool and sophisticated.

Micro-breweriesor Brew-pubs

- Against the Grain, Wexford Street, Dublin 2. Owned by a Galway-based brewery, offers a wide variety of Irish micro-brews and world beers. Does not serve generic commercial beers on tap. A vibrant pub with an eclectic clientele. No tv (a blessing or a curse depending on your point of view), soft music, boardgames, great beer, great food.

- The Bull and Castle, 5-7 Lord Edward Street (next to Christchurch), Dublin 2. Very interesting gastropub which offers a beer hall a large selection of microbrewed and international beers. The range of beers available is not quite as extensive as The Porterhouse but it does give the option of 0.3, 0.5 and 1-litre beers. Make sure to try a Galway Hooker (a pale ale) and the Edinburgh-style deep fried Mars bar.

- Messrs. Maguire, Burgh Quay, Dublin 2, [94]. Spread over two stories on two buildings very near to O'Connell Bridge, they produce a very good stout quite different to Guinness, fresher and more complex, plus their own ale and lager. Also has good cafeteria-style lunch sets for around €10.

- The Porterhouse, Parliament Street, Dublin 2. As well as good indigenous brews including a non-vegetarian oyster stout, there is an extensive Belgian and international beer list. Also does good reasonably priced food. Has sister pubs in Bray and Phibsboro and on Grafton Street.

Bars

- The Foggy Dew, Temple Bar next to the Central Bank. Very popular bar with all kinds of people.

- Bruxelles, off Grafton St next to Westbury Hotel. A very lively bar and popular with 20 and 30 year olds. Spread over 3 bars the music is loud and the atmosphere is excellent.a statue of the legend Phil Lynott (from irish rock band Thin Lizzy)is outside. if you like metal, rock and idie music go downstairs.

- The Duke, Duke St (off Grafton St). Great after-work bar and Fri is packed to the door.

- The Bernard Shaw, Portobello (near Harcourt St). One of the best indie bars in Dublin, very popular with 18-25 Dubliners and always welcoming to visitors.

Clubs

- The Button Factory, Curved Street, Temple Bar, Dublin 2. One of Dublin's top clubs, the Button Factory is 700+ capacity venue hoasting regular international acts. Formally known as The Temple Bar Music Centre, in recent years the venue has been renovated to give it some of the best acoustics in the capital, facilitating its hosting of leftfield live acts as well as its regular club nights. This is one of Dublin's top clubs which caters mainly for students but delivers on big names regulary such as The Bloody Beetroots, Digitalism, Erol Alkan and bands such as Shellac etc. Check [[95]] for listings.

- The Academy, Middle Abbey Street, Dublin 1. This venue has changed its tune from Hot Press Hall Of Fame to Spirit nightclub. Now renamed The Academy it now doubles as both a live venue and a dance club. These guys go for the big obvious names such as David Morales and Jose Gonzalez. Their dot matrix sign outside the venue usually advertises upcoming events.

- Twisted Pepper, 54 Middle Abbey Street, Dublin 1. Located just two doors away from The Academy, Twisted Pepper is both a swish bar and underground club. The club, which was formerly known as 'Traffic', was taken over by well known and highly regarded Dublin promoters Bodytonic last year and has since gone through an extensive facelift. Open Wednesday through Sunday the club caters for students during the week and dedicated electronic music lovers on weekends, mixing house, techno, disco, funk, soul & reggae. 'Mud' is the name of Friday nights, and 'POGO' is Saturday nights, both mixing local acts with international guests.

- Tripod, Harcourt Stteet, Dublin 2, the second last stop (or second stop from Stephens Green terminal on the Green Line) on the Green Line LUAS. A three-in-one bar and club. Crawdaddy is the bar and POD is the club as POD now run several festivals during the summer. While POD has been one of Dublin's most famous clubs it is a mere shadow of its former self and is now a Lego piece in a bigger enterprise. Tripod was previously the Redbox and like The Academy it has gone through numerous refits and name changes. Currently it hosts live acts and a club nights through the week. Podium is on Saturdays which hosts three rooms of house, techno and varying genres in the lobby. Cheaper before 12 usually but check ahead in case there's a gig going on. Still a favourite with Dublin clubbers.

- Purty Kitchen, 34/35 East Essex Street, Temple Bar, Dublin 2. Set over four small floors this club is usually packed and one spends the night trying to squeeze up and down stairs. Attracting mostly young college students (18-19) and tourists. Also, unlike many pubs and clubs in Temple Bar this is most certainly not a tourist trap and offers the best chance to get to un-wind with the locals. With drinks at only €2 (Wednesday night only) it is certainly a cheap option although Citibar around the corner also offer the same prices on a Tuesday, Tripod and most other clubs catering to college students will offer these prices on a Wednesday.

- Krystle, Harcourt Street, Dublin 2. This club is a new haven for the nouveau riche and wannabe celebrities of Ireland. If you want to go C list celebrity spotting and doing some over the top posing with the D4 set, you'll be at home, for the regular visitor to Dublin, avoid, much better places on the list.

- Copper Face Jacks, Harcourt Street, Dublin 2. Also known as "Slapper Face Jacks" This is a bizarre venue but what sets it aside from most other Dublin nights out is that if you want to hook up with singles desperate for a bit of "how's your father" it's the place for you. Known in the fine Dublin phrase as a Meat Market this night out is crammed with people desperate to score and getting more and more willing as they consume more booze. A popular place with country people as opposed to Dubliners, this venue is dark and seedy and a perfect place to get up to shenanigans. However, bear in mind because of its reputation there is often up to 3 guys there for every girl at weekends. This venue is owned by a retired Garda and is frequented by serving members of the force so an altercation in the men's room is not advised as you may be in more trouble than you think; also consider this if you are liable to seduce someone's new friend. A night's decent accomodation and entry into the club start at about €17 p/p, even with these prices the club sitll made over €16m in 2008.

- The Palace, Camden Street, Dublin 2. Popular over 20's club, recently renovated to the tune of €1m. The place is full to the brim every Friday and Saturday, attracting students, professionals and everyone else in between. Get there early if you don't want to queue for upto an hour.

- The Dragon, 64 South Georges Street, Dublin 2. A new gay-friendly superpub, beside the renowed "George Bar". Previously called sosumee, newly decorated in Moulin Rouge style interior, the crowd is mostly gay with late nights on Mon, Thurs, Friday and Sat. Superb cocktails are served by beautiful bartenders. Monday is Dolly does the Dragon, a fun and party atmosphere late night with Gay and straight mingling with Dolly as she performs famous hits. Full of bubbly people and the best night in Dublin on Mondays. The weekend nights are full of people dancing away as if they were in Ibiza. Door policy is relaxed as is the atmosphere in the club.

Outside The City Centre

- Wrights Venue, Swords is the premier nightclub in North County Dublin if you are staying North of the canals a taxi ride will typically cost around €20 for up to 4 people (a bus sometimes also runs). It is best to find out if there is anything on before traveling as it is some distance from the city (about 10km), but by far, Wrights is the preferred venue of many Dublin clubbers, and has the largest capacity of any nightclub in Ireland.

- Club 92, Leopardstown is the leading out of city Nightclub on the southside of Dublin. Been in business for over 15 years, Club 92 is where many of the young elite of South Dublin can be found socialising, although dress-code is strict and it is advised to call ahead to ensure entry is guaranteed. The easiest access is by taxi, but taking a Green Line Luas to Sandyford and walking for ten minutes can save a few Euro - return journeys are typically only by taxi and work out at around €25 to the city centre for upto 4 people.

Sleep

Camping

Dublin is not well-served for visitors who wish to camp in designated sites. The nearest to the city centre is located to the southwest of the city.

- Camac Valley Caravan and Camping Park [96] Camac Valley Caravan and Camping Park, Naas Road, Clondalkin, Dublin 22, +353 1 464 0644, e-mail: info@camacvalley.com.

Budget

There are a huge number of youth hostels (mostly around €20 per night in dorm accommodation), bed & breakfasts (around €45 per person), and hotels (€50+ per room). Cheaper accommodation is to be found around Dublin's main bus station, Busaras. While areas south of the river contain more expensive options.

- Abraham House Hostel, 82-83 Lower Gardiner Street, Dublin 1, +353 1 855 0598, email: [97], [98]. This is a good budget hostel. A sister to Ashfield House Decent prices, it has questionable 'hot' water, and each room has one key that you share with the other occupants (whether you know them or not).

- Almara Bed and Breakfast Dublin, 226 Collins Avenue West, Whitehall, Dublin 9, +353 1 851 0512, e-mail: info@almarabb.com, [99]. A four-star bed and breakfast accommodation with ensuite and standard rooms at budget rates, guest lounge, complimentary tea and coffee and private carpark. Free WiFi. Established 1991. Refurbished and extended recently to accommodate 40 guests. Member of Almara Accommodations Dublin (free finder) [100]

- Annandale Bed and Breakfast Dublin, 84 Grace Park Road, Drumcondra, Dublin 9, +353 1 8040822, e-mail: info@annandalebnb.com, [101]. A modern bed and breakfast accommodation. All our rooms are en suite and serviced each day with fresh towels. Private carpark. Free WiFi. Long established.

- Backpackers Citi Hostel, 61/62 Gardiner Street, Dublin 1, +353 1 855 0035, e-mail: [102], [103]. The Citi Backpackers Hostel is located on the main accommodation street in the very centre of Dublin city. The hostel is based in a listed Georgian building with many of its old features intact.

- Barnacles Temple Bar House [104], 19 Temple Lane, Temple Bar, Dublin 2 (in the heart of the amazing Temple Bar), tel +353 1 6716277, fax +353 1 671 6591, e-mail: templebar@barnacles.ie. Bright and spacious. Clean and nicely laid out ensuite dorms and doubles with inroom storage. Young and helpful staff.

- The Bunkhouse Hostel, 146 Parnell Street, Dublin 1. 24-hour front desk, non-smoking rooms, rooms/facilities for disabled, shared bathroom in hall, Irish breakfast, free internet services and Wi-Fi/wireless LAN. 16 bed dormitory: €22-€36. There is an eight bed dormitory with toilet and shower: €25-€39. A six bed dormitory with toilet and shower: € 25-€39. A triple dormiory with double and single bunks: €75-99. 11 rooms. Check in 2PM-12AM. Check out 11AM. Credit cards: Visa, Euro/MasterCard.

- Camden Place Hostel [105], 8-9 Camden Place, Dublin 2, Ireland, +353 1 475 8588, Friendly and clean Backpackers hostel located in Dublin's Village Quarter and within walking distance to Temple Bar. 24 hour reception, free wifi/Internet, free breakfast (pancakes on the weekend), free tea/coffee, big kitchen to cook in, free international land line calls, lounge with TV, outside terrace, artist's gallery and more! Twelve room types: dorms with ensuite bathrooms/shared bathrooms, private doubles/ twins with ensuite/shared bathrooms. €9 and up.

- Castle Hotel, Great Denmark Street, Dublin 2, +353 1 874 6949, [106]. 130 bedrooms all ensuite , facilities include tea and coffee facilities and free WiFi. Live Irish Music every weekend.

- George Frederic Handel Hotel, 16-18 Fishamble Street, Temple Bar, Dublin 8 (off Dame Street), +353 1 670 9400, [107]. Located in the west end of Temple Bar, from €70 per room.

- Farrington's of Temple Bar[108], 28 Essex St E, Dublin, +353 1 671 5135, in a typical Irish Bar around 40€ by night, Ideal for youth people. Located in the Temple Bar Area.

- Jacobs Inn Hostel, 21-28 Talbot Street, Dublin 1, +353 1 855 5660, email: [109], [110]. Nice, clean budget hostel with keycard security. A sister to Isaac Hostel. Near the bus station so easy when coming from the airport. Good competitive prices (as of Sept. 2008). Onsuite shower and bathroom as well as an additional washroom at the end of each hall.

- Kinlay House, 2-12 Lord Edward Street, Dublin 2, +353 1 679 6644, [111]. Friendly, quiet place. Open 24 h a day with keycard entry to the room. Staff was very friendly and helpful.

- Lyndon House Bed & Breakfast [112], 26 Gardiner street, Dublin 1 dublin, an ideal budget hotel near the James Joyce Museum and the Custom House. This B&B is around 35€ by night.

- Maple Dublin Hotel, 74/75 Lower Gardiner Street, Dublin 1 (located four blocks east of O'Connel Street Upper), +353 (0)1 855 5442, email: [113], [114]. Cheap accommodation with an average price of roughly 30-40€ pr night. A traditional Anglo-Irish breakfeast is being served 8AM-10AM. The hotel has its own guest carpark, and the reception is open 24 h a day.

- Maldron Hotel Parnell Square [115] Maldron Hotel Parnell Square, Parnell Square West, Dublin 1. +353 1 871 6800, email: [116]. Good position around the corner from the Writer's Museum. Typically around 59€ for a double room.

- OSheas Hotel [117], Talbot Street, Dublin 1, Ireland. Family run hotel famous for it musical history. U2 and Thin Lizzy are just two of the many bands to have started at OSheas Hotel. Only a few one-minute walk to O'Connell Street and Temple Bar.

- The Times Hostel [118], 8 College Street, Dublin 2, Ireland. New backpackers hostel in Dublin. Only a one-minute walk to Temple Bar.

- Travelodge Hotel Dublin City, Lower Rathmines Road, Dublin 6., +353 1 491 1402 (rathmines@travelodge.ie, fax: +353 1 496 7688), [119]. checkin: 3.00pm; checkout: 12.00pm. From €35.

- Trinity College (May to mid-September only), Various locations on the Trinity College campus, +353 (01) 896 1177 (ext. 1497), [120]. Summer accommodation at Trinity College is available in single, double or apartment-style accommodation (some with ensuite). The continental breakfast is very generous. Campus security may be frustrating for guests who stay out late as there are limited access points into Trinity College after midnight, which can result in a long walk from the main gate to some of the residences. From €60.

Mid-range

- Abbey Hotel [121], 52 Middle Abbey St, Dublin 1 (between O'Connell Street and Temple Bar). +353 1 872 8188. In the heart of Dublin City centre, offers excellent hotel rooms and a nice modern bar, The James Joyce Bar Dublin, that serves food all day.

- Albany House Dublin, 84 Harcourt Street, Dublin 2. +353 1 475 1092. A luxury Guesthouse located on the city end of Harcourt Street in Dublin city centre, Albany House offers fantastic room only and weekend Dublin city rates. Within walking distance of Grafton Street and Temple Bar, this Dublin City guesthouse is in an ideal location for guests visiting Dublin City.

- Baggot Court Townhouse (Dublin 2), 92 Lower Baggot Street, Dublin 2, Ireland (Located just 5 Minutes walking from St. Stephen's Green and a further 2 minutes from Trinity College), +353 1 661 2819, [122]. A 3 Star Georgian Townhouse Hotel located in Dublin City Centre in Dublin 2, Rates are inclusive of a traditional Irish breakfast, WIFI and Free Car Parking. Because of it's central location it is also walking distance to the RDS and the Aviva Stadium Dublin. €65- €135.

- Bewley's Hotel Ballsbridge, Merrion Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4, +353 1 668 1999, [123]. Located beside the RDS. Room rates from €59.

- Castle Hotel, Great Denmark Street, Dublin 1, +353 1 874 6949, [124]. Georgian Hotel in the heart of Dublin City centre, 2 minutes from O'Connell St. 130 bedrooms all ensuite , Room facilities include Free WiFi, TV, Tea and Coffee facilities and hairdryer. Hotel facilities include restaurant & bar with Live Irish Music every weekend.

- Marine Hotel, Sutton Cross, Dublin 13, +353 1 839 0000, [125]. , a three-star hotel of with its lawn rolling down to the shore of Dublin Bay. Facilities include a swimming pool, sauna, restaurants & bar. Close to the Airport and Howth Village. €75-190.

- Stillorgan Park Hotel, Stillorgan Road, Dublin 18 (a 20 min bus journey from the city by the 145 or 46a bus), +353 1 200 1800, [126]. A four-star, AA-accredited hotel with facilities such as spa, restaurant, bar, free wifi throughout throughtou the hotel, and free carparking on site. €75-160.

- Belvedere Hotel, Great Denmark Street, Dublin 2, +353 1 873 7700, [127]. 92 bedrooms each featuring free broadband. 2 meeting rooms. Free wifi in lounge areas. Rates from €50 per room.

- Express Holiday Inn Dublin Airport, Northwood Park, Santry Demesne, Dublin 9, +353 1 862 8866, [128]. Modern hotel (renovated 2006) on the road to the airport, adjacent to the Crowne Plaza. Free airport shuttle (every 30-60 min), wired internet, good continental buffet breakfast. No gym, and while buses 16A/33/41 pass nearby, it's at least 30 min to the city centre. €79.

- Fitzwilliam Townhouse Dublin, 41 Upper Fitzwilliam St, Dublin 2 (5 minutes walk from St. Stephen's Green), +353 1 662 5155, [129]. Dating back to 1700's, this Georgian House retains many of the original features of Georgian living in Dublin. All room are en-suite and offer free wireless. €55-€135.

- Fleet Street Hotel, 19-20 Fleet Street, Temple Bar, Dublin 2, +353 1 670 8124, [130]. Affordable facilities and three-star hotel accommodation in Temple Bar. Check out our Sunday to Thursday Special Rates from €25 per person sharing.

- Grafton House, 26-27 South Great Georges Street, Dublin 2, (one block from Dame Street) phone="+353 1 679 2041 (fax +353 1 6779715, email: booking@graftonguesthouse.com), [131]. In a 112-year-old Victorian Gothic style building but with pretty generic modern interiors, €65-€200.

- Mercer Hotel Lower Mercer Street, Dublin 2, (Just behind Stephens Green Centre) phone="+353 1 478 2179 (fax: +353 1`475 6524, email:cb@mercerhotel.ie)[132] The Mercer hotel – with only 41 bedrooms - is one of Dublin’s most popular city centre boutique hotels. The hotel is central, but secluded on a quiet street just off Grafton Street, Dublin’s main shopping street. With this great location, you have the best of Dublin's sights and tourist attractions on your doorstep.

- Morehampton Townhouse, 78 Morehampton Road, Donnybrook, Dublin 4 (10 minute bus from Trinity College on 38 bus route), +353 1 6688866, [133]. checkout: 11:00am. This Georgian Townhouse is located in Ballsbridge and Donnybrook district of Dublin 4. Rates are inclusive of a traditional Irish breakfast, WiFi and car parking. All 22 room are en-suite. €45-€125.

- Sandymount Hotel (formerly Mount Herbert Hotel), Herbert Road, Lansdowne Road, Dublin 4, +353 1 614 2000, [134]. a three-star hotel located in the Sandymount and Ballsbridge area next to AVIVA Stadium. Nice classic building and good size rooms equipped with large bathrooms makes it good value. The bar is great and there is a nice patio area overlooking the hotel's garden. Free WiFi access, conference facilities, and the staff is friendly and approachable. Rooms from €59.

- Nua Haven, 41 Priory Road, Dublin 6W, +353 87 686 7062, [135]. A 4four-star quality gay bed and breakfast, with private baths, cable TV, wireless internet, in a nice setting in Harold's Cross. €110 per room.

- The Tara Towers, 4 Merrion Road Dublin 4. +353 1 269 4666, fax: +353 1 269 1027 email: cb@taratowers.com. website www.taratowers.com The Tara Towers hotel is one of South Dublin’s most popular hotels and enjoys an excellent location in Blackrock close to Ballsbridge, UCD, RTE, Stillorgan and Sandymount. The hotel bedrooms enjoy spectacular views of either the Dublin mountains or Dublin bay.

- Waterloo Lodge (Ballsbridge, Dublin 4), 23 Waterloo Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4 (a 10 minute walk from St. Stephen's Green via Baggot Street), +353 1 6685380, [136]. This 3 star hotel located in Dublin 4 and only 10 minutes from St. Stephen's Green offers a home cooked breakfast included in the price. All 20 guest rooms are en-suite and free car parking is available €55-€149.

- The Clarence Hotel. The Clarence is representative of modern Ireland located on Wellington Quay right off the River Liffey. The hotel is owned by Bono and The Edge, members of the Irish music group U2. If the band has a concert in Dublin or the surrounding area you may catch a glimpse of them leaving The Clarence to go to sound check!

- Jurys Inn. Jurys Inn has three different locations in Ireland; Jurys Inn Christchurch Hotel, Jurys Inn Custom House Hotel, and Jurys Inn Parnell Street Hotel. The Christchurch location is across the street from the one thousand year old Christ Church Cathedral and Temple Bar. This location mixes Dublin’s historical and night-life tourist destinations. Walk across the street and tour Christ Church Cathedral during the day and then at night visit the pubs and watch the street performers in Temple Bar. The Custom House location is in the middle of the International Financial Services Centre. Guests also have a view of the Liffey River that runs through the city. Within walking distance of the Custom House location is the Grand Central Theatre, the Convention Centre, and shopping on Grafton and Henry Streets. The Parnell Street location is in the center of Dublin, just around the corner from bustling O’Connell Street, Croke Park, and shopping on Henry Street. Parnell Street is where historical and modern Ireland meet.

Splurge

- Radisson SAS Royal, Golden Lane, Dublin 8, +353 1 898 2900, [137]. A five-star hotel very centrally located. Double rooms about €145.

- Four Seasons Hotel Dublin, Simmonscourt Road, Dublin 4, +353 1 665 4000. [138]

- Hampton Hotel, 19 - 29 Morehampton Road, Donnybrook, Dublin 4. +353 1 668 0995, [139] Dublin's newest four-star boutique hotel located in Donnybrook within walking distance of the city center, the RDS and the National Concert Hall. Original Georgian building with stylish interior design.

- Hilton Dublin, Charlemont Place, Dublin 2, +353 1 402 9988, [140]. in the St. Stephen's Green area. Pleasant, modern hotel. Quiet rooms. Excellent housekeeping, very clean. Very accommodating to requests (such as bringing a small refrigerator at no extra cost). Luas Charlemont light rail station right across the street. Laundry, with self-serve and wash and fold around the corner. Breakfast may be provided with the room. It's not great. Don't eat there if you have to pay money. There are many other options nearby.

- Morrison Hotel, Ormond Quay, Dublin 1, +353 1 887 2400, [141]. Located on the Liffey across the river from The Clarence and near the Ha'penny Bridge.

- The Morgan, 10 Fleet St, Temple Bar, Dublin 2 (off Westmoreland Street), [142]. Dublin's premier boutique hotel located in Temple Bar offers stylish accommodations in the most vibrant district of Dublin. Choose from standard rooms, suites or penthouse apartments. All characterised by clean, modern design consistent with a lifestyle focused on the hotel experience.

- The Ritz Carlton, Powerscourt Estate and Gardens, Enniskerry, County Wicklow. Phone: +353 1 274 8888. Fax: +353 1 274 9999 Five-star world-class luxury hotel located in the affluent charming little village of Enniskerry only 30 min from Dublin.

Airport Hotels

There are a number of hotels located around the airport, for ease of flight transfer.

- Carlton Hotel is a 4-star hotel that offers free bus transfer to the airport. Stand-by rates per room are €99 and rates of €85 per person sharing can be available also. It has a bar-food menu and a restaurant located on the top floor.

- Bewley's Hotel, Baskin Lane, Cloghran, County Fingal, +353 1 871 1000, (fax: +353 1 871 1001, e-mail: DublinAirport@BewleysHotels.com), [143]. An excellent three-star hotel with room rates from €59. Operates a free and frequent shuttle bus service to and from Dublin Airport.

- Hilton Dublin Airport, Northern Cross, Malahide Road, County Fingal, +353 1 866 1800.

- Days Hotel Dublin Airport, Santry Cross, +353 (0) 1 866 9500, [144]. checkin: 14:00; checkout: 12:00. Great value airport hotel with restaurant, bar and parking. Only seven minutes drive from terminals on the private shuttle bus. (http://www.dayshoteldublinairport.com/,-6.263838)

Stay safe

- Dublin is generally a very safe city by American and European standards but as in most other large cities, a few crimes against the person, such as muggings, unprovoked attacks, and robberies, have been known to occur in Dublin. Treat Dublin as you would other western cities, and be sensible: never walk in poorly-lit areas at night, especially alone; as Dublin centre is relatively compact, be aware that walking a few blocks can take you into some bad areas. Be especially vigilant or preferably avoid all-together walking around the city centre after bar closing times on weekends (2:30AM-3:00AM) when very drunk other people looking to take advantage of drunk people roam the streets and when violent behavior and crime are most likely to occur.

- Avoid the Boardwalk and some sections of Lower Abbey Street as a large number of drug addicts hang around these areas due to nearby drug rehabilitation centres.

- You will however see a wide variety of buskers and street performers, these are normal people just plying their trade; they are usually very helpful for directions and appreciate your donations. (Busking and street performance is an old and vibrant part of Irish culture, and there is nothing unusual or unsavory about a person playing an instrument or performing in a public place even in the small hours of the morning. So approach and appreciate these talented and friendly individuals. Be aware that it is considered rude to photograph a street performer without tipping.)

- If people approach you on the street, they could indeed be people just looking for directions, charitys worker looking for donations, or people simply looking for a cigarette lighter. Be aware that Dublin people are usually open and unlike big cities like London or New York, talking to complete strangers is a common and regular occurrence. Although most Dubliners are tolerant and welcoming, nonwhite visitors should be aware that some locals may react with unpleasant abuse or attitudes towards their presence, more frequently than would be experienced in cities like London or New York, which have had more experience of multiculturalism.

- If someone who appears to be drunk or under the influence of drugs approaches you asking if they can talk to you for a moment, it is wise to keep walking (although expect drunk people to talk to you in a pub as it is common ). These people may simply ask you for a cigarette or some money for a bus, but be aware that most Dubliners, even if they have no money, would never ask a stranger for money or cigarettes (although asking for a light for a cigarette is common). There are several scams being used on unaware tourists and locals alike so please be careful and use your judgement. If someone comes to you on the street, touches you, and asks you for something, say "no" and walk away. Again, locals will almost never behave like this so avoid people who do.

- When driving, leave nothing valuable visible in your car, lock doors while driving through slow traffic in the city. There are plenty of taxis at all hours of the day and night, which are safe and usually friendly.

- Never be afraid to approach Gardai (police officers) to ask for help or directions, It is their job to help. If you do get into trouble somehow and fear for your safety (which is very rare) and cannot find a Gardai officer, head to the nearest establishment such as a bar or shop where you will be safe. Call the emergency services on 112, free from any phone, and ask for the relevant service. If you have no phone, ask anyone working in a shop or bar to call the police for you, and the employee will gladly assist. Also, most doormen and bouncers in pubs will gladly call the police for you if you explain your situation.

- Dublin has heavy traffic, and even if several of the locals tend to cross the road without having a green man, it is not recommended to follow this example. Hardly any of the cars slow down in front of zebra-crossings in busy and crowded streets.

- If renting a bicycle ensure you rent full safety wear (helmet and lights) failure to do so can (albeit it rarely) result in fines. If possible, travel by foot or public transport is best.

- Care should also be used when taking some of the "Nitelink" buses that frequent the city as they, while often safe, have seen their fair share of trouble. Sit downstairs if possible, if only to avoid the more raucous singing, shouting, and post-drinking vomiting.

- Taxis are well regulated in Ireland, however many taxi drivers have been known to take longer routes when tourists are being carried, ask for the quickest route. If staying in a hotel or hostel your host may be able to help you acquire a reputable taxi.

- The Temple Bar district is both an attraction for tourists and for pickpockets. Be aware of your surroundings.

Communicate

Internet cafés

- Moneygram/Kaah Express, 2 Hardwicke Street, Dublin 1. Cheap internet café offering a reliable internet connection and well-maintained computers. €1 per hour.

Wifi access

- Dublin City Public Libraries, Central Library, Ilac Centre, Dublin 1. provides free Broadband and Wireless access to the Internet in its network of branch libraries. [145]

- The Globe, 11 South Great Georges Street, Dublin 2. Bar offering free wifi access. Free.

- Havana Café, South Great Georges Street, Dublin 2. Very good restaurant-café-tapas bar offering very reliable, free wifi. Free.

Get out

- Howth - To the north, 14 km (9 mi) from the city centre (still marked by 18th-century milestones), the peninsula of Howth is very nice for a walk. Just take the bus or DART (€4.20 return from Connolly Station) out to Howth and walk around the cliffs! The whole tour takes about 2-3 hours. It is most beautiful in Aug/Sept when the heather bathes the cliffs in red. There is also a boat that departs from Howth harbour that goes out to the island off the coast called Ireland's Eye. You can visit it and the monolithic ruins on it for a very reasonable price and if you're lucky you might be able to get the island to yourself. The King Sitric fish restaurant at the harbor serves freshly caught fish at eye watering prices, seferal other local restaurants are better and cheaper-notably Ivans.

- Bull Island and St. Anne's Park. Two large recreation areas. Bull Island has a 5 km (3 mi) beach and is an important habitat for birds. St Anne's Park,a former Guinness family home estate, has ponds, follies, walks and a world-famous Rose Garden, as well as a coffee shop and artists' studios. The ideal way to visit them is by bicycle. Go via Amien's St, North Strand, Fairview and then follow the coastline. There'a an excellent bike path almost all the way.

Surrounding counties

- Meath. The Bru na Boinne megalithic tombs of Newgrange, Knowth and Dowth are the most important archaeological sites in Ireland and are listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage site. The site is located 50 km (30 mi) north of Dublin on the banks of the Boyne.

- Wicklow, within easy reach to the south of Dublin, is known as 'the garden of Ireland' and has good hill-walking and some of the most spectacular scenery in the country.

- Kildare is directly west Of Dublin and some of Dublin's outer suburbs are here eg Naas and Maynooth. The Curragh racecourse is in County Kildare, south west of Dublin, about 50 km (30 mi) from the city. The K Club in Kildare was the venue for the 2006 Ryder Cup in golf.

- Carlow boasts some fine architecture - with its courthouse from the mid 1800s and its Cathedral which was completed in 1833.

- Laois is located 1 h southwest of Dublin - Portlaoise has a cobbled main street with independent eateries, Georgian architecture and small pubs. The county is dotted with sleepy villages, slow-moving rivers and rolling hills.

- Kilkenny, Ireland's medieval capital, is a bustling heritage city with a thriving arts scene. 1 h 40 min by train from Dublin.