Dublin

History

Founded in 841, Dublin was originally settled by Vikings among 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 surrounding area referred to as “the Pale”.
When the English Civil War 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 largest city in the British Isles, only behind London, and a period when great Georgian style buildings were constructed that 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 on, 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.
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, now considered martyrs for the cause. Many believe that 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 Mary Street, the busiest shopping district in the city. On the south side are St. Stephen's Green and Grafton Street, the second busiest and most upmarket shopping area, Trinity College, Christ Church and St. Patrick's Cathedrals, the main branch of the National Museum, and many other attractions.
Dublin postal districts 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 (exceptions are Dublin 8 and 20 which span both sides of Liffey). Usually, the lower the district number, the closer to the city centre.
Although some of Dublin's finest Georgian architecture was demolished in the mid-20th century, a remarkable amount remains. At one point these buildings were considered a reminder of the past British imperialism and many were demolished without regard to their beauty and architectural significance and replaced with modernist or pastiche office blocks, parts of 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.

By plane

Dublin AirportDublin Airport has an extensive short and medium haul network, and is the base for Aer Lingus, Aer Lingus Regional, and Ryanair. Terminal 2 can accommodate wide-bodied jets and is used by Aer Lingus (& Regional), American Airlines, Delta, Emirates, Norwegian and United. All the others use the older Terminal 1, some 300 m north with a walkway between. Together they offer direct flights to most major cities in UK (serving all London airports, but most frequently Heathrow) and Europe (including Keflavik, Moscow and Istanbul). North America is well-served, with flights to New York, Newark, Boston, Chicago, Orlando, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle and Washington (with pre-clearance of US customs & immigration before flying) and Toronto and Halifax. Middle East flights include Dubai, Doha and Abu Dhabi. Domestic flights are to Kerry and Donegal; there are no flights to Belfast, Shannon or Cork. All the main car hire companies have kiosks in Arrivals - there's much better choice here than in city centre, but book ahead for the best deals. The airport has car parking short-term on-site, long-term off-site, and "meet & greet" services. The currency kiosks are run by ICE with a 10% buy / sell rate, decent value. There's the Radisson Blu and Maldron hotels at the airport and a few more at the M1/M50 junction just south and in Swords to the north.

Between airport and city: bus and taxi are the options, there's no rail / metro link.

• Aircoach (the big blue bus) runs to city centre and several of Dublin's major hotels, which are mostly south-side. Buses run from T1 then T2 every 15 mins, taking 30 mins, fare is €7 single or €12 return. Aircoach also run to other cities, including Cork and Belfast. Taxi drivers routinely try to pick up passengers waiting at the Aircoach stop: they're forbidden to do so, but offer a similar rate and get many takers, so they persist.
• AirLink Buses 747 and 757, operated by Dublin Bus, run daily 05:00-00:30 every 10 mins or so daytime. They take 30 mins from T1 via T2 and the tunnel into dockland; then they hit the downtown traffic and make slow progress. The 747 goes via Central Bus Station (Busáras), Connolly Railway Station, Gardiner St, O’Connell St, College Green & Temple Bar, Christ Church Cathedral, High St, Ushers Quay and Heuston Railway Station. The 757 runs further south via Custom House Quay, O’Connell Bridge, Hawkins St & Temple Bar, Westland Row, Merrion Square, St Stephen’s Green, Camden and Harcourt St. The fare (cash only) is €7 single, €12 return or free if you buy a Leap Visitor Card in the terminal before boarding.
• Local buses are much slower - allow an hour - but cheaper (typically €3.30) and may be more convenient for the suburbs. The two routes are:

A taxi to the city centre should cost around €20-30, so it will match the bus if you are in a group of three or more. Taxis are legally obliged to provide an electronic receipt detailing the fare, distance and other pertinent details. Make sure to ask for a receipt as otherwise they often don't provide one.

Other destinations: many Bus Eireann routes between Dublin and other Irish cities run via the airport, see individual cities' "Get in". Within County Dublin:

By train

The country's railways converge on the city, see Rail travel in Ireland.

• Heuston

  address: St Johns Rd West, Dublin 8
  This serves all directions except the north or the east coast. Direct trains run from Cork (2 hr 30), Galway (2 hr 30), Limerick Colbert (2 hrs 15) and Waterford (2 hr). Other services have a change at Limerick Junction, which is near Tipperary and 30 km from Limerick. From Tralee and Mallow, change at Cork. Heuston has toilets, ATM, small shops, kiosks & cafes, plus supermarkets on the streets nearby. To reach the centre take the tram: if your ticket is made out to Dubin City Centre then the tram fare is already included.

• Connolly

  address: Amiens St, Dublin 1
  This serves the north plus the east coast. Direct trains run from Sligo (3 hr), Belfast via Drogheda (2 hrs), and Rosslare ferry port via Wexford (3 hr). From Derry change in Belfast, from Donegal the nearest station is Sligo. Connolly is also a hub for suburban and DART trains from all around the city. It has toilets, ATM and small shops, and Madigan's bar / restaurant. The surrounding area is tacky at night.

Allow 45 mins if you need to transfer between Heuston and Connolly.

By bus

main bus station has Bus Eireann services from most towns in Ireland, such as Belfast (2 hr 30), Cork (4 hr), Limerick (3 hr 30), Galway (4 hr) and Donegal (2 hr 30), all running via the airport. Other operators are Kavanaghs to Limerick and Waterford, and Citylink and GoBus to Galway. Eurolines Bus 871 runs nightly to Dublin from London Victoria via Luton, Birmingham, Lymm motorway services (with National Express connections from Liverpool, Manchester, Bradford and Leeds) to Holyhead then by ferry to Dublin Port and Busáras. Luggage lockers are in the basement, along with the pay-to-enter public toilets.
Some buses to County Dublin and neighbouring County Meath don't use the station but leave from stops in in the nearby streets. Busáras is just south of Connolly railway station and 300 m east of O'Connell Street.

By boat

Dublin has ferries from Holyhead in Wales (Stena or Irish Ferries, 3 hr 30), Bootle near Liverpool (P&O, 8 hrs) and Douglas, Isle of Man (Isle of Man Ferries, 3 hr 30). From Cherbourg in Normandy and Pembroke in Wales they nowadays only sail to Rosslare and not to Dublin. All sailings are to 2 km east of the centre; a link bus connects the port to Busáras. The former ferry port of Dún Laoghaire, 7 km south, is no longer used: the new tunnel means that motorists can disembark at Dublin and drive straight onto the motorway without getting snarled in city centre traffic.
Another ferry route is the short crossing from Cairnryan in Scotland to Belfast, then by road or rail to Dublin.

By car

If you're visiting Dublin just for a day trip, don't bring a car into the congested centre, use a Park & Ride. From the south, use either Sandyford Luas stop, just off junction 15 of M50 on Blackthorn Rd, or Bray DART stop on Bray Rd. From the west, use Red Cow Luas stop, off junction 9 of M50. From the north east, use Howth DART station. Tariffs at Park & Ride stations are €2 - €4.

You can see much of the city on foot.

By tram

Luas trams are frequent and reliable, and are handy for getting across the city centre. The Red Line runs west from Connolly railway station and the Point Theatre to Busaras, Abbey Street, Heuston railway station, Red Cow P&R, Tallaght P&R and Saggart. The Green Line runs south from Broombridge to O'Connell St, St Stephen's Green, Balally Stillorgan and Sandyford P&Rs, Leopardstown and Cherrywood to Bride's Glen. The lines cross in the city center, with a short walk between Abbey Street on the Red Line to either O'Connell GPO on the Green Line northbound or Marlborough Street southbound. Buy tickets from the machines on the platforms, they don't need to be validated. A ride within the central zone (which covers Heuston - Connolly) costs €3.20 single and is valid for 90 mins.

By train

The DART 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: map. Three of these lines operate from Connolly Station, the other from Heuston Station.

By bus

The state-controlled Dublin Bus serves the city and its suburbs, with some 200 routes. Most buses in the city pass through the O'Connell St area (including Mountjoy and Parnell Squares, Eden Quay and Fleet St) and the Trinity College area (including Pearse St, Nassau St, Dame St and College Green). Daytime buses run 05:00-23:30, and at weekends there are 18 Nitelink bus routes running from midnight until 04:00 for a cash fare of €6.60. The Xpresso is an express service for rush-hour commuters. There are 13 Xpresso routes; they make limited stops and charge more than standard buses.
The bus displays its destination on the front; An Lár means the city centre. A small screen inside the bus shows the next stop in Irish and English, with an audio announcement in both languages. Online core route maps are also available.
There is a Dublin Bus mobile phone app which can give directions only if you know exactly which bus stop you want to go from and to, but it does provide real-time arrival information. Google Maps' Transit function is a good alternative for journey planning, and hittheroad.ie has a journey planner that can take you from address to address using Dublin Bus, Luas, and DART trains.
At the stop, there's usually an indicator board showing which buses are arriving when. (The paper timetables don't show the expected arrival time at that stop, they're the departure times from the route terminus, so who knows when.) Real time information on bus arrivals is on the Dublin Bus website and as an App.
Signal the bus to stop, else the driver won't know you want to board. If you have a prepaid Leap Card (see below), enter on the right-hand side and tag on with the reader. Otherwise enter on the left-hand side to pay the driver: exact fare and coins only for most routes. (The Airlink 747 / 757 and Dublin Port ferry connection are exceptions.) The cash fare is €2.15 for up to 3 stages (covering most central journeys) and €3 for up to 13 stages.

Leap Card

A Leap Card is a rechargeable card for Dublin Buses, Luas trams and DART / Commuter trains within the metropolitan area. Leap cards can be purchased in both terminals of Dublin Airport and at city retail outlets displaying "Leap Card" signs. The card costs €10 and comes with €5 credit and a €5 reserve credit. The card can be topped up at retail outlets, Luas ticket machines, DART / commuter railway ticket machines, or online at the Leap Card website. The card should be touched on and off at Luas tram stops and railway turnstiles. On buses, either present the card to the reader on the driver's machine and state your destination so the driver deducts the correct fare, or present it to the reader by the door, which will deduct a flat fare of €2.45; so you never touch off when leaving the bus. There is a daily cap of €7 for travel exclusively on Dublin Bus, including Xpresso services. The daily cap is €10 for use on Dublin Bus, Luas, DART and Commuter Rail, with an extra €1 discount for each subsequent trip within 90 minutes. Leap Card fares are on average 20% cheaper than paying with cash, so you break even on the fifth trip.
A Leap Visitor Card for short-stay visitors costs (as at 2019) €10.00 for 24 hours, €19.50 for 72 hours, or €40.00 for 168 hours ie a week, starting from first use. It gives you unlimited travel on the Airlink 747 and 757 airport buses, scheduled Dublin Buses, Luas trams, and DART / Commuter trains within the metropolitan area. It's not valid for the Aircoach or on bus tours, and it doesn't give you admittance to any of the sights. You can buy the card at the airport at the Spar shops in T1 and T2 Arrivals or tourist kiosk in T1, in the city centre at the Dublin Bus office at 59 Upper O'Connell Street, at the Discover Ireland Centre at 14 Upper O'Connell Street, at the Visit Dublin Centre on 25 Suffolk Street, or it can be ordered online and posted to you if time allows. The Leap Card reader displays the card's date of expiry after each touch on/off, until the last day when it displays the time of expiry.

By bicycle/motorbike

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.
When cycling in the city centre, be aware that cycle lanes, where they exist, are generally shared with buses, taxis, motorcycles, and parked cars; 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. When cycling in Phoenix Park, while there is a dedicated cycle lane on both sides of the main thoroughfare unfortunately pedestrians also use these.
There are bikes to hire in several locations around the city centre with the Dublinbikes scheme. A 3-day pass (which is the only pass available to non-residents) costs €5 and gives you access to the bikes. They are free for the first 30min, up to 1h rentals cost €0.50 and up to 2 hours cost €1.50, so it is a good idea to return the bikes frequently. You can purchase the 3-day pass only at stations which accept credit cards, but once purchased you can use it to rent bikes at any station. Your credit card will be preauthorized with a security deposit of €150, which will be charged in case of theft or if the bike was not returned within 24 hours. Among others, there is a Dublinbikes bike hire place located at the entrance to the Phoenix Park, Dublin 8.

By car

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. Jaywalking is common. There are a large number of bus lanes (buses, taxis and pedal cycles are permitted to use them; others are vigilantly fined). It's usually lawful to drive in bus lanes at the off-peak times displayed on signs. If you must travel into the city by private car, do research on your required route (using GPS or even Google Maps) and 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, with colour coded signs in purple and blue (see the inner orbital route map and outer orbital route map). The M50 motorway connects to the M1 (to the north of Ireland and Belfast) near Dublin airport and to the M11 (for Wicklow, Wexford and the South) south of the city and to other motorways and national roads along its "C-shaped" route. It has 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. 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 being stopped but the registration plate is photographed automatically. The toll must be paid by 20:00 the following day.
After this deadline, the longer the toll remains unpaid, the higher the fees involved. For foreign registered vehicles, this 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. The car hire company may charge a hefty fee as well (Avis, for example, charges €30 per unpaid toll, on top of the original toll and the €3 notice fee).
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).

By taxi

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 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.

In summer, Dublin's top attractions can sell out. Buy tickets online in advance if you know you want to see something, especially for the Book of Kells where even early arrivals may find all the day's slots are filled.
The Dublin Pass gives you free and fast track entry to thirty-some attractions in Dublin. Adult prices are €62 for one day, €83 for two, €102 for three and €128 for five, child prices about half, and days must run consecutively. You may struggle to break even on this deal as only the Hop-on Hop-off bus tour and the Jameson Distillery and Guinness tours charge over €20; most are way cheaper and among their "free entry" attractions are many that don't charge anyhow. The Pass doesn't include the Library & Book of Kells at Trinity College, and it doesn't include any public transport.

North of the river

• General Post Office (GPO)

  phone: +353 1 705-7000
  address: O'Connell St Lower, Dublin 1
  The GPO is the headquarters of the Post Office in Ireland, built in Neo-Classical style 1814-1818. In 1916 it was occupied by Irish rebels led by PH Pearse, who read the Proclamation of the Republic outside the front door of the building. The interior was burnt out by shelling from government forces against the rebels, but the exterior survived. Subsequently the GPO was restored, reopening in 1929, and remains a busy working post office. It formerly hosted An Post Museum: this closed in 2015 but you can view the collection online.

• O'Connell Street is the broad thoroughfare running north from the river, and the main district for budget accommodation. It was smashed up in the 1916 uprising and subsequent civil war, but rebuilt; then in the 1970s the developers made one sorry mess of it. Plus their assistants: All along O'Connell Street the pieces flew, up went Nelson, and the pillar too . . . was the ditty commemorating the 1966 IRA bombing of Nelson's Column. Where it stood, next to the GPO, is now the 121 m pin of the Spire of Dublin; close by on North Earl St is the James Joyce Statue. Northbound trams glide up the street: go a block east for the southbound track. The city council are doing their best to further improve the place but it's a work in progress: pleasant enough by day, but tacky by night.

• St Mary's Pro-Cathedral

  address: 83 Marlborough Place
  Dublin's Catholic cathedral, built in 1825. Catholicism was always the majority religion in Ireland, but its practice was forbidden until the 19th C. The official cathedral is Christ Church, so designated by the Pope in 1300, but taken over by the Protestants in the 16th C. When the laws relaxed, St Mary's was built in neo-Classical style as a temporary or "pro"-cathedral, until such time as the Pope decrees otherwise or the Protestants hand back Christ Church; neither event appears imminent.
• At its north end at Parnell Square, O'Connell St takes a turn and becomes Frederick St. Here are the Rotunda Hospital, City Art Gallery, Writer's Museum and Garden of Remembrance.

• Dublin City Gallery - The Hugh Lane

  phone: +353 1 222 5550
  address: Charlemont House, Parnell Square North, Dublin 1
  This public gallery has permanent and temporary exhibitions of modern and contemporary art. It also houses Francis Bacon's studio which was relocated in 2001 from London.

• Dublin Writers Museum

  phone: +353 1 872-2077
  address: 18 Parnell Sq, Dublin 1
  Located in an 18th-century house, the museum is dedicated to Irish literature and the lives of individual writers such as Shaw, Joyce, Yeats & Pearse.
• The Garden of Remembrance across the street from the gallery and museum commemorates those who died in the struggle for Irish independence. Open daily.
• The River Liffey is lined by stylish buildings, much scrubbed-up or re-developed in recent years. Just upstream from O'Connell Bridge, the is the one on all the picture postcards and film locations, a 43 m cast-iron arch spanning the river between Liffey St Lower and Wellington Quay. Officially called the "Liffey Bridge" (Droichead na Life), it was built in 1816 to replace the cross-river ferries, with the right to charge a ha'penny toll for the next century. There were turnstiles at both ends, removed in 1919 after the toll ceased. The bridge was extensively repaired in 2001. Please don't clutter it up with "love-locks" - the last big clean-up removed 300 kg of these, and bear in mind that the 2001 repairs were by Harland and Wolff, who built the Titanic.
• Downstream from O'Connell Bridge the river broadens into dockland and the open sea, with poignant reminders of the Irish people's relationship with that sea.
• on Custom House Quay depicts victims of the Great Famine (an Gorta Mór) of 1845-49, when a million died and another million fled the country. Five gaunt figures totter to the docks with their bundles as if to take ship and leave. Or perhaps they hope for scraps from those ships, which during the famine years were briskly exporting food for profit, plenty to feed everyone yet unaffordable to most.

• EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum

  phone: +353 1 906 0861
  address: CHQ, Custom House Quay
  This museum tells the story of Ireland’s expansive emigration, and the impact it has had on the world. Features 1500 years of Irish history told through 20 interactive galleries.

• Jeanie Johnston Tall Ship Museum

  phone: +353 01 473-0111
  address: Custom House Quay
  The original Jeanie Johnston was a 3-masted barque sailing between County Kerry and North America 1847-1855, taking Irish emigrants west in the Great Famine, and bringing timber back east. No lives were ever lost aboard, even during her final sinking. The present ship is a replica launched in 2000, and berthed here to act as a museum. The ship has previously made cruises and served as a training vessel, but since 2010 she's not been seaworthy, and the repairs appear unaffordable.

• Samuel Beckett BridgeDesigned by Santiago Calatrava, this is a harp-shaped cable-stay road bridge of 120 m. It spans the river between North Wall Quay (in Docklands, north bank) and Sir John Rogerson's Quay (near Grand Canal Square, south bank) and the whole contraption hinges through 90 degrees to let ships pass. Daytime it's busy with traffic and is most scenic when floodlit at night. Calatrava also designed the James Joyce bridge upstream.

• Green on Red Gallery

  phone: +353 1 671-3414, +353 87 245 4282
  address: Park Lane, Spencer Dock, Dublin 1
  This one of Ireland’s most dynamic and exciting galleries. Representing some of the best Irish and international contemporary work on the market. The programme is based on 10-11 solo exhibitions and 1-2 group or thematic exhibitions per year. Green On Red participates annually in international art fairs and the gallery’s artists regularly exhibit abroad in private and public venues.

=== South of the river ===
Many of Dublin's top sights are just south of the river, notably Trinity College, the National Museum archaeology collections, the National Gallery, and the elegant town through Merrion Square to St Stephen's Green.

• Trinity College

  phone: +353 1 896-2320
  address: College Green, Dublin 2
  Trinity College is the fine Georgian campus of the University of Dublin. It's generally open to stroll around in daylight hours, but it is a working university, and most interiors are off-limits to tourists. You can visit the Chapel near the front (west) gate of the College. But the big attraction (ie mobbed) is the Old Library and Book of Kells. If you've not booked online, then first buy your ticket from the machines under the new (Lecky) library just south - this is for a timed slot, and on holiday weekends may be booked out. You enter an exhibition hall setting the Book in the context of other monastic writings of its period, circa 800 AD. Next, enter the display area: only two pages are displayed at any time, one being richly illustrated with little text (or no text, on the "carpet" pages), and one page being text of the Vulgate Gospels, written in Insular Majuscule Latin. But it's difficult to enjoy, with crowds jostling round the display case. Next, go upstairs into the massive Long Hall of the library, with books and ladders and more books and ladders towering away upwards. Last but not least, exit through the gift shop, which can be entered without a ticket.
• Look into the posh Bank of Ireland opposite the College while waiting for your appointment with Kells. Small display of early banknotes and memorabilia.
• Temple Bar is the district just west of the College along the riverside. It's wall-to-wall pubs and eating places, the cobbled streets are agreeable but there are no specific sights except Ha'penny Bridge until the Castle area, described in "West city". It's thronged with merry-makers, and by evening the hen parties and lads' outings are steaming, raucous and upchucking.
• Irish Whiskey Museum: and not before time. Irish distilleries have for too long pumped out bland commercial fare, though the country has all the ingredients (including the know-how) to produce whiskey of character to rival single-malt Scotch. The museum is next to the Dublin Visitor Centre at the gates of Trinity College. It's open daily Apr-Oct 10:00-18:00, Nov-Mar 10:30-18:00; the bar stays open Friday till 23:00 and Sat & Sun to 22:00. Standard tour (1 hour) costs €20.

• Molly Malone statue

  address: corner of Suffolk Street & St Andrew's Street
  Molly Malone is the subject of a maudlin 19th century music-hall ballad, who pushed her wheelbarrow crying "cockles and mussels alive, alive-oh" before dying of a fever. She's entirely fictional, though Dublin had many such streethawkers, and the lyrics have parallels in earlier folk tunes. The kitsch statue dates to 1988 and was originally on nearby Grafton Street, but moved to its present spot in 2014 to make way for tram tracks. She's often mocked as "The Tart with the Cart" or "The Trollop with the Scallop" and her breasts (above an unhistorical low-cut dress) have been well polished by passing hands. Alas amidst these misogynist tropes & gropes, we forget the sad fate of the cockles and mussels themselves.

• National Gallery of Ireland

  phone: +353 1 661-5133
  address: Merrion Square West & Clare St, Dublin 2
  Impressive national collection of Irish and European Art.

• National Museum of Ireland - Archaeology & History

  phone: +353 1 677 7444
  address: Kildare St, Dublin 2
  Excellent display of Ireland's artefacts from prehistory through the Viking era to independence. The standout is the Treasury (eg the 12th C Ardagh Chalice and 9th C Tara Brooch), and the prehistoric jewellery: gold and silver beautifully worked and carved - then chucked into the bog?? And likewise into the bog went bodies, presumably of defeated foes given the violence of their deaths. Normally when a body is buried, the flesh decays and a skeleton persists. But if you throw a body into a peat bog, the acid dissolves the bones while tannin preserves the hide. The person turns into a handbag.

• National Museum of Ireland - Natural History

  phone: +353 1 677-7444
  address: Merrion Square, Dublin 2
  The "Dead Zoo" contains a comprehensive zoological collection stored and maintained in a manner unchanged since its establishment in Victorian times.

• Merrion SquareThis large stately square is filled with grassy and shady areas and surrounded by Georgian red-brick houses. At the northwest corner is a life-sized statue of the writer and dramatist Oscar (draw breath) . . . Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde (1854-1900), who grew up at No. 1 here. He's depicted sprawled on the embankment, with a lop-sided smirk, as if totally wasted. (As if!) Two short marble columns are covered in his quotable quotes. On the surrounding buildings, plaques commemorate other notable residents, such as the Duke of Wellington. The fine architecture continues south, along Mount Street Upper and Fitzwilliam Street Lower. The neo-classical government buildings on Upper Merrion St can be visited by free guided tour Saturdays hourly 10:30-13:30, pick up tickets in the National Gallery lobby.

• Number Twenty Nine

  address: 29 Fitzwilliam Street Lower
  Georgian townhouse museum recreates the lifestyle of a historic middle-class family. It's closed for renovation until 2020.

• St Stephens Green

  address: Dublin 2
  Pleasant Victorian public park. Note the Fusiliers' Arch, constructed in 1907 to commemorate the Royal Dublin Fusiliers who fell in the Second Boer War (1899-1902).
• on Dawson Street is the office of the Lord Mayor of Dublin. You can only get in to see it (eg the plush 1821 Round Room) for special events or on occasional open days.

• Little Museum of Dublin

  phone: +353 1 661-1000
  address: 15 St Stephen's Green, Dublin 2
  Housed in a Georgian townhouse on St. Stephen's Green, this displays the 20th C social, cultural and political history of Dublin city, with many artefacts donated by Dubliners. Visit by guided tour every 30-60 mins.
• Iveagh Gardens are a block south of St Stephens Green: a hidden green space, as they're secluded by buildings.
• The Grand Canal marks the southern boundary of the inner city; the Royal Canal similarly loops across the northern city. Both were built in the 18th / 19th C to carry passengers and freight between Dublin and the Shannon and Atlantic. The Grand Canal took 47 years to construct: the expense of crossing the Bog of Allen replicated the prehistoric custom of sinking gold into bogs. And indeed Irish waterways go that far back, as the earliest dwellers could barely get about by land. The dockland visitor centre has closed but the Waterways Ireland website gives information eg on walks, navigability and fishing on this and the other canals.

West city

The original Dublin was in this area, at the confluence of the Liffey and the smaller Poddle (now culverted). Their peaty waters formed a dark pool, in Irish dubh linn.

• Dublin Castle

  phone: +353 1 677-7129
  address: 2 Palace St, Dublin 2
  Former seat of British rule in Ireland. The guided tour (hourly) takes in the medieval basements and Chapel Royal, then you see the State Apartments in your own time. You can skip the tour and just see the apartments for less.

• Chester Beatty Library

  phone: +353 1 407-0750
  address: Dublin Castle, Dublin 2
  Sir Alfred Chester Beatty (1875-1968) was an American mining magnate who amassed a fabulous collection of early books and manuscripts and oriental art. He moved to London and collaborated generously with the British Museum, but in 1950 there was a falling-out and he moved to Ireland. He established the library to avoid his collection being split up; it's now in the Clock Tower in the Castle gardens.

• Christ Church Cathedral

  phone: +353 1 677-8099
  address: Christ Church Pl, Dublin 2
  Dating back to the 11th century, this is the oldest building in Dublin, though it underwent a massive restoration in the 19th century. The oldest part is the large crypt, where amongst the items on display are a mummified cat and a rat, which got themselves stuck in the church organ in the 19th C.

• Dublinia & the Viking World

  phone: +353 1 679-4611
  address: St. Michael's Hill, Christchurch, Dublin 2
  The exhibitions explore life in the Viking settlement and medieval city. Discounted admission to the Christ Church Cathedral available.
• St Audoen's Church on Cornmarket near Christ Church is a 19th C neo-classical church built over 12th C remains. It's now the RC Polish Chaplaincy for Ireland.
• St Michan's Church on Church St north of Arran Quay was built in 1686 on Viking foundations. It has fine interior woodwork and an organ used by Handel. However the main draw was the mummified remains in the vaults: a 400-year old nun, a crusader, and the ancient Earls of Leitrim. In Feb 2019 these remains were vandalised so the vaults are closed for the forseeable future.

• National Museum of Ireland - Decorative Arts & History

  phone: +353 1 677-7444
  address: Collins Barracks, Benburb St, Dublin 7
  The building itself is remarkable, a great Georgian former barracks around a parade square. Displays decorative arts and artefacts over 400 years, from rustic houses through Georgian elegance to "Proclaiming a Republic", the events of Easter 1916 when the interior decor of the Post Office took a turn for the worse.

• Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA)

  phone: +353 1 612-9900
  address: Royal Hospital, Military Road, Kilmainham, Dublin 8
  Modern & contemporary art, formal gardens & café.

• Kilmainham Gaol

  phone: +353 1 453 5984
  address: Inchicore Rd, Kilmainham, Dublin 8
  This prison was in use 1796-1924; thousands have passed through, including many convicts transported to Australia. It's best known as the place where the rebels from the 1916 Easter Rising were executed. (Several now lie in Arbour Hill Cemetery just north of the Decorative Arts Museum.) Access only by guided tours, every 30 mins, pre-booking essential.
• Irish National War Memorial park and gardens are dedicated to the 49,500 Irish soldiers who died in the Great War. They're on the riverside just north of Kilmainham Gaol.

• Dublin Zoo

  phone: +353 1 474-8900
  address: Welington/Zoo Rd, Dublin 8
  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.

• Phoenix Park

  phone: +353 1 677-0095
  The largest enclosed urban park in Europe, 2.5 km by 2 km. Includes Dublin Zoo, the residences of the President of Ireland and of the US Ambassador, the Cross commemorating the Pope's visit in 1979, a monument to the 1882 assassinations here, several sports fields, and a herd of fallow deer. Just beyond is Farmleigh mansion. But no phoenix, the name derives from Irish fionn uisce - "clear water".
• The President's Residence (Áras an Uachtaráin) can be visited by free guided tour on Saturdays hourly 10:30-15:30. Pick up a ticket from the Phoenix Park visitor centre, no booking.
• Grangegorman Military Cemetery is a leafy, reflective space on the northeast flank of Phoenix Park, opposite the fish ponds.
• Farmleigh is an Edwardian mansion off White's Road at the west end of Phoenix Park. It's used to accommodate visiting VIPs but at other times can be seen by guided tour, daily 10:00-16:30, adult €8.

South suburbs

• Donnybrook and Ballsbridge: take 46a bus to Donnybrook and the 4 or 7 buses to Ballsbridge. 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.
• Ranelagh and Dartry are also worth visiting- Ranelagh is small but affluent, accessible by the Luas Green line and has several critically acclaimed eateries.
• Sandymount, a coastal suburb 3 km south-east of the 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.
• is now a "city-within-a-city" on Belfield Campus.
• Rathfarnham Castle is originally Elizabethan but prettified in the 18th C. Open May-Sept daily, Oct-Apr W-Su.
• The Pearse Museum is in St Enda's Park, Rathfarnham, Dublin 16. Patrick Pearse lived here 1910-16.

North suburbs

• Glasnevin Cemetery

  phone: +353 1 830-1133
  address: Finglas Rd, Dublin 11
  It's two miles from the city centre. Glasnevin Cemetery runs 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.

• National Botanic Gardens

  phone: +353 1 804-0300
  address: Glasnevin, Dublin 9
  Extensive gardens favouring alkaline-loving species. The great Palm House (where Wittgenstein often came to warm his lugubrious backside) was rebuilt in 2004, though the original Aquatic, Fern & Cactus houses are still under restoration. A gateway leads into Glasnevin Cemetery adjacent. The gardens also manage the arboretum at Kilmacurragh in County Wicklow.

• Drumcondra is a relatively expansive and bustling Victorian suburb, boasting several good parks as well as Griffith Avenue, said to be Europe's longest tree-lined residential avenue. To the east of Drumcondra is Croke Park, the centrepoint of Gaelic sports; the canal-side route to Croke Park should be approached with some caution especially at night. To the west of Drumcondra is Glasnevin which can occupy a visitor nicely with the National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin Cemetery (containing many historically significant tombs) and good restaurants can be found in the Botanic Gardens and on The Rise, off Griffith Avenue.
• Clontarf (accessible by DART/commuter rail) is a great seaside location to spend an afternoon.

• Bull Island Nature ReserveA large recreation area. Bull Island has a 5-km (3-mi) beach, Dollymount Strand (Dublin's best beach), and is an important habitat for birds. Also nearby the island is St Anne's Park, a former Guinness family home estate, which 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 is an excellent bike path almost all the way. It can also be accessed by walking from Clontarf Road DART station or bus route 130 from the city centre.

Tours

• Leinster House

  address: Kildare Street, Dublin 2
  Leinster House is home of the Houses of the Oireachtas, the parliament of Ireland, and can be visited by free tours. Tours include visits to the Dáil and Seanad Chambers. You need to be there at least 15 min before with an ID/passport/drivers license and sign up at the entrance in Kildare Street Gate. Max. 30 people per tour. Tours last approx. 30 min.

• Guinness Storehouse

  phone: +353 1 408-4800
  address: St James's Gate, Dublin 8
  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 great 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.

• Teeling Distillery

  address: 13-17 Newmarket, Dublin 8
  New distillery since 2015 in Dublin. Good guided tour with different tastings in the end.

• Old Jameson Distillery

  phone: +353 1 807-2355
  address: Bow Street Distillery, Smithfield, Dublin 7
  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.

• The Lazy Bike Tour Company

  phone: +35314433671
  address: 4 Scarlet Row, Essex Street West, Temple Bar, Dublin 8
  The Lazy Bike Tour Company offers tours of Dublin by electric bike. They use state of the art, retro, funky orange bikes to get you around the city. The tour takes in some the major sights in the city as well as taking you off the beaten track to show you a very real side of Dublin. Tours last around 2 hours and are guided by local guides full of information.

• Walking ToursDublin 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. Anyone interested in geeky history should try the Ingenious Dublin tours, that cover history of medicine, Irish inventions (yes, there are lots!), great Irish scientists (lots of those too). They have walking tours and self-guided MP3 tours.

• Dublin Literary Pub Crawl

  address: 'The Duke Pub', 9 Duke St, Dublin 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.

Performing Arts and Concerts

• Abbey Theatre

  phone: +353 1 878-7222
  address: 26/27 Lower Abbey St, Dublin 1
  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

  phone: +353 1 677-1717
  address: South King St, Dublin 2
  The oldest continually operating theatre in Dublin hosts popular musical shows, opera, ballet, dance and drama.

• Gate Theatre

  phone: +353 1 874 4045 or +353 1 874 6042
  address: Cavendish Row, Parnell Square, Dublin 1
  Has a focus on European and American theatre ranging from classics to modern plays. It was established as a theatre company in 1928.

• National Concert Hall

  phone: +353 1 417 0000
  address: Earlsfort Terrace, Dublin 2
  Offers classical concerts. Frequent performances by the resident orchestra, the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra.

• Bord Gáis Energy Theatre

  phone: +353 1 677 7999
  address: Grand Canal Square
  The theatre offers a wide range of shows featuring ballets, musicals, family shows, drama, concerts, comedy and opera. The modern building was designed by Daniel Libeskind and completed in 2010.

• International Dublin Gay Theatre FestivalAn annual event held in May, celebrating the contribution of gay people to theatre, past and present. The Festival was founded in 2004 to mark the 150th anniversary of the birth of Oscar Wilde, in his native city. With an emphasis on new or recent International and Irish works with a broadly gay theme or relevance, the Festival has grown to become the largest event of its type in the world.

Sports

• Traditional games at Croke Park Stadium

  address: Jones Rd, Dublin 3
  Catch a hurling or Gaelic football game at this 82,300 capacity, state-of-the-art stadium. 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 km/h. 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. You can also walk across the roof of one of the biggest stadiums in Europe, which provides great views of the city's skyline.

• Tallaght Stadium

  address: Whitestown Way, Tallaght
  Watch a Shamrock Rovers F.C. soccer match during the FAI League of Ireland Football (association football) season from March to November. Home matches take place on Friday nights at 19:45. Tickets cost: €15 (Adult), €7 (U-16′s/OAPs).
• Watch rugby union at

  RDS Arena

  address: Anglesea Rd, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4
  This is the home ground of Leinster Rugby, who play in the Pro14 professional European league. They often win it, most recently in 2019. The stadium has a capacity of 18,500 and big games sometimes transfer to the larger Aviva stadium.
• on Lansdowne Rd, Dublin 4 is Ireland's national stadium, capacity 51,700. International rugby, soccer and other big events are hosted here. It's a mile or so southeast of the centre, take DART train to Lansdowne Rd or buses towards Sandymount or Ballsbridge.

• Leopardstown Racecourse

  phone: +353 1 289-0500
  address: Leopardstown, Dublin 18
  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).

Other

• Irish Film Institute

  address: 6 Eustace Street, Temple Bar, Dublin 2
  Watch independent Irish and international movies.

• Conradh na Gaeilge

  address: 6 Harcourt St, Dublin 2
  An Irish language centre where you can hear Irish being spoken as a first language and also enjoy a beverage with friends.

Dublin is not cheap for general shopping, although visitors from outside the European Union can obtain a refund of VAT (sales tax: 23%) 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.

South side

The south side of the river (Dublin 2) includes Dublin's most famous shopping street, the pedestrianised Grafton Street, which runs between St. Stephen's Green and Trinity College. It has, 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. 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. Dawson Street, parallel to Grafton Street, is home to the official residence of the lord mayor (the Mansion House) as well as several upmarket clothes shops, restaurants and well stocked large bookshops.

• Brown Thomas

  address: 88-95 Grafton Street, Dublin 2
  Dublin's most famous and expensive department store is on Grafton Street along with a wide range of clothing, jewelry, and photography shops, etc.

• Powerscourt Centre

  address: 59 South William Street
  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 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, 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.

• George's Street Arcade

  address: Dublin 2
  A covered red-brick shopping arcade. This area is worth a visit for vintage clothing, fabrics, unusual accessories, vinyl and club wear. It also features some small cafes.

• Hodges Figgis

  address: 56-58 Dawson Street, Dublin 2
  Well-stocked large bookshop (now owned by Waterstones).

• House of Ireland

  address: 37/38 Nassau Street, Dublin 2
  Sells above-mentioned tourist-related items.

• Kilkenny Design

  address: 6 Nassau Street
  Also sells above-mentioned tourist-related items.

• Fresh - The Good Food Market

  address: Grand Canal Square
  A smaller Irish supermarket with three other locations. One of the few places where you can find Guinness Foreign Extra Stout. Also offers beers from other Irish breweries.
• The best concentration of shoe shops is found on Grafton Street and the adjoining Wicklow Street.

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.
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.

• Casa Rebelde

  address: Crow Street, Dublin 2
  A unique football supporters shop that stocks clothing from around the world for the fashion conscious football fan.

• Cow's Lane Fashion and Design Market

  address: Dublin 8
  The largest designer market in Dublin, offers handmade one-off original designs. The market is open every Saturday from 10:00-17:30. Found outdoors on Cow's Lane and indoors in the old Dublin's Viking Adventure, this market is not to be missed.

North side

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). 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. For a more traditional Dublin shopping experience go to the Liberties area around Thomas street and check out the stalls on Meath street and the liberty market (off Meath Street) on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Also, if you want to find thrifty nicknack 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.

• Arnott's

  address: 12 Henry St
  A large department store with a long history.

• Jervis Shopping Centre

  address: Jervis St
  A large shopping centre.

• Ilac Centre

  address: Henry St
  Another large shopping centre. It also houses Dublin's Central Public Library.

• Chapters Bookstore

  address: Ivy Exchange, Parnell Street, Dublin 1
  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.

Further afield

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.

• Blanchardstown Centre

  address: Dublin 15

• Liffey Valley

  address: Dublin 22

• The Square Tallaght

  address: Dublin 24

• Dundrum Town Centre

  address: Dublin 14
  The largest shopping centre in Europe with 4 floors and a range of impressive shops such as Marks and Spencer, House of Fraser, Harvey Nichols and more

• Harvey Nichols

  address: Sandyford Road, Dublin 16
  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, in the Pembroke district.
• There is fairly extensive duty-free shopping at Dublin Airport, at prices sometimes cheaper than the rest of the city.

Dublin has a wide range of good quality restaurants, most of which are seen as overpriced by European standards. Main course prices range from around €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.
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.
In Dublin, there has been a rise in Mexican, Indian and ergonomically-designed eateries as restaurants, to reflect the hipster demographic. Many of the Indian and Mexican restaurants are small businesses.

Budget

• Bewley's Café

  address: Grafton St, Dublin 2
  Dublin's most famous coffee shop. This has been a hang-out over the years for U2, Bob Geldof, and James Joyce.

• BóBós

  address: 22 Wexford St, Dublin 2
  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.

• Butlers Chocolate Cafés

  address: 24 Wicklow Street, Dublin 2
  Good coffee with a free chocolate of your choice (except at the airport, where you still get a chocolate but without a choice). The original branch is on Wicklow Street and additional branches are found throughout the city. Small takeaways are on Grafton St, Dublin 2 and Nassau St, Dublin 2 and Henry St, Dublin 1. There are branches in both T1 and T2 at the airport after security which are well stocked and generally run special offers on boxes of chocolates not available in the city branches.

• Govinda's

  phone: +353 1 475-0309
  address: 4 Aungier St, Dublin 2
  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. There is another restaurant in Middle Abbey St, just off O'Connell St.

• Honest To Goodness

  phone: +353 1 6337727
  address: George's St Arcade, South Great Georges St, Dublin 2
  Cafe Bakery where all produce is made, baked and cooked in store. Great value.

• Lemon Crèpe Company

  address: South William St, Dublin 2
  Good value filled crèpes for around €4 (American style rather than French) and some of the best coffee in Dublin.

• Leo Burdock Fish and Chips

  address: 2 Werburgh St, Dublin 8
  In this branch, there is no eating in. Take your fish to Christ Church Cathedral and eat it on a bench. About 10 Euro for way too much food (share it with someone).

• Madina

  address: 60 Mary St, Dublin 1
  Incredibly tasty Indian & Pakistani food. The sauces are excellent and the dishes full of flavor. If you're only into milder dishes then try the "Chicken Tikka Massala" or "Chicken Korma". They also prepare delicious mango lassi.

• Pablo Picante

  address: 131 Baggot St
  A small and friendly eatery serving tasty meat and vegetarian burritos, which are great to takeaway to eat at nearby St. Stephen's Green.

• Zaytoon

  phone: +353 1 400 5006
  address: 44 Lower Camden St
  Casual Persian restaurant with kebabs etc. They also have a fast-food cafe in Temple Bar (corner of Parliament St and Essex St).

Mid-range

• Bad Ass Café

  address: 9-11 Crown Alley, Dublin 2
  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.

• Balfes Brasserie & Bar

  phone: +353 1 646 3353
  address: Balfe Street
  20 seater outdoor terrace, zinc covered bar and open kitchen serving steak, prawns and whole fish roasted on a charcoal grill, while fresh oysters, ceviche, seaweed cured Gravlax and Castletownbere crab, make up the seafood offering. The all-day dining menu offers healthy breakfasts, leisurely lunches and dinner using the best of Irish seafood and quality meat. Fresh local produce goes into creating Balfes’ salads, weekend brunches, juices and cocktails.

• Bar Italia

  address: Ormond Quay, Dublin 1
  Real Italian coffee with mostly Italian staff. Excellent panini and antipasto. Good value place with great atmosphere.

• Cornucopia

  address: 19/20 Wicklow St, Dublin 2
  Just off Grafton St you'll find this vegetarian heaven that serves breakfast, dinner and lunch.

• Dunne & Crescenzi

  address: South Frederick St, Dublin 2
  Delightful Italian lunch spot, open until around 20:00, but arrive early if you want to get a seat - or be prepared for a long wait.

• Elephant and Castle

  address: 18 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.

• F.X. Buckley Steakhouse at Ryan's

  address: 28 Parkgate St, Dublin 8
  Great steaks and seafood in a very friendly and comfortable restaurant. 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.

• Gallagher's Boxty House

  address: 20 Temple Bar, Dublin 2
  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.

• Peploe's

  address: 16 St Stephen's Green
  Excellent basement wine bar and bistro.

• Salamanca

  address: 1 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.

• T.P. Smiths

  address: 9-10 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 21:00.

Splurge

• Bang Restaurant

  address: 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.

• Brasserie Sixty6

  phone: +353 1 400-5878
  address: 66-67 South Great Georges Street, Dublin 2
  Large & stylish modern European restaurant right in the heart of Dublin's shopping and entertainment district. Open 7 days and nights a week offering diners lunch, brunch and dinner. 180 seats with great food reviews, friendliest staff, stylish surrounds and fantastic cocktails.

• Fire at the Mansion House

  address: Dawson Street, Dublin 2
  Casual dining restaurant with cocktails in the city (open for lunch and dinner).

• L'Gueuleton

  address: 1 Fade St, Dublin 2
  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.

• Kites

  address: 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.

• Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud

  address: 21 Upper Merrion St, Dublin 2
  Two Michelin stars, very expensive, superb. Lunch menus are a bargain at 35 euro for two courses.

• Purple Sage Restaurant

  address: Stillorgan Rd, Dublin 18
  The restaurant serves a traditional carvery lunch from 12:30-14:30 and international cuisine from 17:45-21:45 M-Sa. Offers weekday lunch deals.

• Roly's Bistro

  address: 7 Ballsbridge Terrace, Dublin 4
  Impeccable food and service, reasonable prices. Good atmosphere.

• Unicorn Food Company

  address: 12b 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).

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).
Drinking 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. There are pubs in Dublin offering cheaper drinks, if you are willing to go off the beaten trail or ask other patrons for suggestions. 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.
Pubs serve drinks until 23:30 with some drinking-up time allowed. Many bars have late licenses allowing them to serve up to 02:30, although this usually means a cover charge or price increases after 23:30.
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.
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

  address: 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

  address: 77 North King St, 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

  address: 5 Queen St, 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

  address: 15 Merrion Row, Dublin 2
  Famous for impromptu live music. Where folk group The Dubliners were formed.

• The Barge

  address: 42 Charlemont St, Dublin 2
  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

  address: 100 Leeson St Lower, Dublin 2
  Popular student bar, as a result occasionally raucous. Good option after international rugby matches.

• The Brazen Head

  address: 20 Bridge Street Lower, Dublin 8
  Possibly the oldest pub in Dublin but not the oldest pub in Ireland. Approximately a thousand years old. Wonderful on warm, dry summer nights during the rare occasions 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 Merchant

  address: 12 Bridge Street Lower, Dublin 8
  Live traditional music and dancing.

• Fallon's

  address: 129 The Coombe, Dublin 8
  Small and friendly local pub.

• The Oval

  address: Abbey St, 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

  address: 1 Prospect Square, Glasnevin, Dublin 9
  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.

• Bachelors Inn

  address: Bachelors Walk, Dublin 1
  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

  address: 31 Fleet St, Dublin 2
  Old Victorian pub, around for over 140 years.

• Mulligans

  address: Poolbeg St, Dublin 2
  Busy pub with great Guinness with plenty of history having been frequented by James Joyce among others.

• Nancy Hands

  phone: +353 1 677-0149
  address: 30-32 Parkgate St, Dublin 8
  Classic bar & restaurant situated close to Phoenix Park, the National Museum at Collins Barracks, and a short stroll from Heuston train station.

• Ryan's

  address: 28 Parkgate St, Dublin 8
  Beautiful Victorian pub. A good place to have a pint before getting a train out of Dublin.

• The Palace Bar

  address: 21 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

  address: 31 Georges St Great South, Dublin 2
  Atmospheric bar with Victorian decor, nice window to sit and people watch. One of the last "long hall" bars in Ireland.

• Kehoe's

  address: 9 Anne St South
  An excellent spot for a pint after a hectic days shopping. Several snugs downstairs.

• Kennedy's

  address: 30/32 Westland Row, Dublin 2
  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 one of Dublin’s newest and most intimate venues.

• O'Neill's

  address: Suffolk St, Dublin 2
  Excellent atmosphere in a Victorian style design. The also have great pub food. Carvery served 12:00-16:00 most days and till late weekends. Also has a good salad and sandwich bar. Price around €10 for carvery.

• The Stag's Head

  address: 1 Dame Court, Dublin 2
  Just great Guinness and great conversation.

• The Dawson Lounge

  address: 25 Dawson St, Dublin 2
  Dublin's (or Ireland's) smallest pub. You have to go to see what is meant. Twenty people and it is packed.

• McDaids

  address: 3 Harry Street
  Was a regular place for Oscar Wilde to ponder life.

• Grogans (Castle Lounge)

  address: 15 William St South, 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

  address: Benburb St/Queen St, 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 50s music on offer.

• The Bailey

  address: 1-4 Duke St, Dublin 2
  Located just off Grafton St, this swish bar tends to attract the sophisticated side of Dublin's society, popular among celebrities as well. Very busy during the summer afternoons and evenings with a nice outdoor seating area.

• The Lotts

  address: 9 Liffey St Lower, Dublin 1
  Fantastic 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

  address: 14a Fade St, Dublin 2
  Opened in 2005, large spacious bar, with murmur of conversation in the background, nice tapas restaurant with a good value menu.

• The Odeon

  address: Harcourt St, Dublin 2
  This attractive bar at the top of Harcourt St is housed in a converted railway station; the new tram system has a stop directly outside.

• Pygmalion

  address: South William St, Dublin 2
  Directly opposite Grogan's, in the Powerscourt Townhouse shopping centre; quite a contrast.

• Café en Seine

  address: 39-40 Dawson St, Dublin 2
  Typical, and not entirely unpleasant, example of a Dublin 'megapub'; includes tropical trees at the back.

• The Globe

  address: 11 South Great Georges St, Dublin 2
  One of the original trendy bars to hit Dublin in the mid 90's. Still as cool as ever with one of Dublin's longest running clubs Ri-Ra in the basement. It is worth noting that there is no cover charge for the night club. The bar also offers free Wi-Fi.

Micro-breweries and brew-pubs

• Against the Grain

  address: 11 Wexford St, 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

  address: 5-7 Lord Edward St, 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.

• J.W. Sweetman

  address: 1-2 Burgh Quay, Dublin 2
  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

  address: 16-18 Parliament St, 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 St.

Bars

• The Foggy Dew

  address: 1 Fownes Street, Dublin 2
  Very popular bar with all kinds of people.

• Bruxelles

  address: 7 Harry Street
  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

  address: 8-9 Duke St, Dublin 2
  Great after-work bar and Fri is packed to the door.

• The Bernard Shaw

  address: 11-12 South Richmond Street, Dublin 2
  One of the best indie bars in Dublin, very popular with 18-25 Dubliners and always welcoming to visitors.

• O'Donoghues of Suffolk Street

  address: Suffolk Street
  A comfortable bar that caters for live music and sporting events on their large screens. It is also something of a hang-out spot for some of the city's most well-known musicians, actors and DJs.

• Fibber McGees

  address: 80-81 Parnel Street
  A heavy metal bar. Has €3 per drink for any drink including shorts, every Thursday night, but there is a €5 door fee to enter after 21:00 Thursday.

• O'Reillys

  address: Tara St
  Charges €3.30 for all draught beers all week.

Clubs

• The Button Factory

  address: Curved St, Temple Bar, Dublin 2
  One of Dublin's top clubs, the Button Factory, with a capacity of more than 700, hosts regular international acts. Formally known as The Temple Bar Music Centre, the venue has been renovated to give it some of the best acoustics in the capital, facilitating its hosting of left field 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 regularly such as The Bloody Beetroots, Digitalism, Erol Alkan and bands such as Shellac etc. Check their website for listings.

• The Workmans Club

  address: 10 Wellington Quay, Dublin 2
  The building, located on Wellington Quay (next door to the U2-owned Clarence Hotel), has existed on this site for over 160 years and from 1888 to 2003 and was the home of the original Workingmens Club. It was turned into a live entertainment venue in 2010. The venue is based over two floors and with a number of sections. The main live room is a 300 capacity venue and beside it is the venue bar. There are popular DJ's, varying in genre, on every night of the week, sometimes on in different rooms at the venue simultaneously and they usually spin until around 4am most nights.

• The Academy

  address: Middle Abbey St, 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.

• Krystle

  address: Harcourt St, 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

  address: Harcourt St, Dublin 2
  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", this 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 three boys 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 accommodation and entry into the club start at about €5-10 per person depending on the day, also free before midnight weekdays and 23:00 at the weekend: even with these prices, the club still made over €16m in 2008.

• The George

  phone: +353 1 478 2983
  address: 89 South Georges St, Dublin 2
  The oldest gay bar in Dublin. The crowd is mostly gay with late nights except on Mondays and Sundays. A wide variety of drag shows take place throughout the week. Wednesdays are "Space 'n' Veda" at 23:00, hosted by Veda and Davina Devine. Thursdays are "Thirsty Thursdays" hosted by Davina Devine. Saturdays (free in before 23:00 and €10 after) are "Saturgays & Beauty Spot Karaoke", hosted by Veda and Davina Devine and offering patrons the chance to sing karaoke on stage and win two bottles of beer - the winner wins a whole case of beer. Sundays (free in before 22:00 and €5 after) are "Bingo with Shirley Temple Bar", offering various prizes and occasionally very high grand prizes. The remaining nights have DJs with current or classic hits. Arrive early if you want seats as the venue fills up quite quickly, especially on Karaoke and Bingo nights. There is also a more pub-like section to the side of the main club (known as 'Jurassic Park' by gay Dubliners, as a joke about its patrons) catering to an older clientele.

Camping

Dublin is not well-served for camping or caravaning. The nearest to the city centre is beyond the M50 to the southwest.

• Camac Valley Caravan and Camping Park

  phone: +353 1 464 0644
  address: Naas Rd, Clondalkin, Dublin 22
  Friendly well-run site on bus route to city.

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. South of the river is more expensive.

• Abbington House

  phone: +353 1 444-1415
  address: 30 St Annes Rd, Drumcondra, Dublin 9
  Simple 3-star in north city.

• Abraham's Hostel

  phone: +353 1 855 0600
  address: 82-83 Lower Gardiner St, Dublin 1
  This is a passable budget hostel, very central. It has lukish 'hot' water, and each room has one key that you share with the other occupants (whether you know them or not).

• Adelphi Guesthouse

  phone: +353 1 836-3859
  address: 67-68 Lower Gardiner St, Dublin 1
  This is a city center bed and breakfast.

• Almara

  phone: +353 1 851 0512
  address: 226 Collins Avenue West, Whitehall, Dublin 9
  Long-established B&B in north city, gets good guest reviews.

• Anchor House Dublin

  phone: +353 1 878 6913
  address: 49 Lower Gardiner St, Dublin 1
  Central simple B&B. Friendly helpful staff, mostly.

• Ashling House

  phone: +353 1 837-0300
  address: 168 Drumcondra Rd, Dublin 9
  Guesthouse in leafy Drumcondra. Decent rooms but it's not a B&B.

• Avondale House

  phone: +353 1 874-5200
  address: 41 Lower Gardiner St, Dublin 1
  Basic B&B accommodation (few en suite) in city center.

• Backpackers Citi Hostel

  phone: +353 1 855-0035
  address: 61/62 Gardiner St, Dublin 1
  Very basic hostel, central, and only as clean as its worst recent occupant.

• Barnacles Hostel

  phone: +353 1 671 6277
  address: 19 Temple Lane, Dublin 2
  Bright and spacious. Clean and nicely laid out ensuite dorms and doubles with in-room storage. Young and helpful staff.

• Times Hostels Camden Place

  phone: +353 1 475-8588
  address: 8-9 Camden Place, Dublin 2
  Friendly and clean backpackers hostel. 24-hour reception, free Wi-Fi/Internet, breakfast, tea/coffee, big kitchen to cook in, international land line calls, lounge with TV, outside terrace, artist's gallery and more. Has dorms & private doubles both with ensuite or shared bathrooms.

• DCU Summer Rooms

  phone: +353 1 700-5736
  address: Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin 9
  Dublin City University's accommodation is open to the public from June - September. There are three different types of accommodation. All have en suite rooms. Hot buffet breakfast is also available. Swimming pool and gym (additional fee) on campus.

• Glen Guesthouse

  phone: +353 1 855 1374
  address: 84 Lower Gardiner St, Dublin 1
  Remote control colour T.V, direct dial telephone, tea & coffee-making facilities, power showers, en-suite.

• Jacobs Inn Hostel

  phone: +353 1 855 5660
  address: 21-28 Talbot St, Dublin 1
  Nice, clean budget hostel with keycard security. A sister to Isaac Hostel. Ensuite shower and bathroom as well as an additional washroom at the end of each hall. The bunks are pods so there's extra privacy. Hostel is being refurbished, aims to be complete by July 2019.

• Kinlay House

  phone: +353 1 679-6644
  address: 2-12 Lord Edward St, Dublin 2
  Central yet quiet hostel. Open 24h a day with keycard entry to the room. Staff friendly and helpful.

• Lyndon House

  address: 26 Gardiner St, Dublin 1
  Basic 2-star near the James Joyce Museum and the Custom House.

• Maple Hotel

  phone: +353 1 855 5442
  address: 74/75 Lower Gardiner St, Dublin 1
  Basic 2-star, showing its age, no lift to upper floors.

• Times Hostels College St

  phone: +353 1 675 3652
  address: 8 College St, Dublin 2
  Decent backpackers' hostel, very central, some noise from bars & clubs nearby. Another branch at Camden Place near St Stephen's Green.

• Townhouse Hotel

  phone: +353 1 878-8808
  address: 47- 48 Lower Gardiner St, Dublin 1
  Decent 3 star in central north-side location. Parking available, private garden.

• Travelodge Dublin City Centre

  phone: +353 1 491 1402
  address: Lower Rathmines Rd, Dublin 6
  Reliable chain 3-star, though not exactly "city centre".

• Trinity College (May to mid-September only)

  phone: +353 1 896-1177 ext 1497
  address: Various locations on the Trinity College campus
  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.

• Generator Dublin

  phone: +353 1 901 0222
  address: Smithfield Square
  Design-led hostel. Open social spaces but also a bar and a café to its guests. There are male and female shared rooms that come with all facilities, plus prrivate rooms. Group bookings and private hires available.

Mid-range

• Abbey Hotel

  phone: +353 1 872-8188
  address: 52 Middle Abbey St, Dublin 1
  Central 3-star, vfm facilities, some noise, and breakfast kinda basic.

• Albany House

  phone: +353 1 475-1092
  address: 84 Harcourt St, Dublin 2
  Good central 3-star, some noise in street-facing rooms. Shower & taps take 5 mins to run hot, keep running & have faith.

• Baggot Court Townhouse

  phone: +353 1 661 2819
  address: 92 Lower Baggot St, Dublin 2
  Decent 3-star Georgian townhouse.

• Barry's Hotel

  phone: +353 1 874-9407
  address: 2 Great Denmark St, Dublin 1
  Central 2-star, all rooms en-suite, tea/coffee making facilities, free Wi-Fi.

• Belvedere Hotel

  phone: +353 1 873-7700
  address: Great Denmark St, Dublin 2
  Decent 3 star, but a lot of construction noise in vicinity in early 2019.

• Clayton Hotel

  phone: +353 1 668 1111
  address: Merrion Rd, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4
  Splendid 3-star in 19th C school building.

• Buswells Hotel

  phone: +353 1 614-6500
  address: 23-27 Molesworth St, Dublin 2
  Georgian three-star hotel, small rooms but friendly staff, good location.

• Castle Hotel

  phone: +353 1 874-6949
  address: Great Denmark St, Dublin 1
  Georgian hotel with 130 bedrooms all ensuite, free Wi-Fi, TV, tea & coffee facilities and hairdryer. Restaurant & bar with live Irish music every weekend.

• Dublin Citi Hotel

  phone: +353 1 679-4455
  address: 46-49 Dame St, Temple Bar, Dublin 2
  3 star in busy central location, all rooms en suite. Hotel also has the Trinity Bar and Havanna nightclub.

• Handel's Hotel

  phone: +353 1 670 9404
  address: 16-18 Fishamble St, Temple Bar, Dublin 2
  Central 3-star In the west end of Temple Bar.

• Fitzwilliam Townhouse

  phone: +353 1 662-5155
  address: 41 Upper Fitzwilliam St, Dublin 2
  Georgian house with many original features. All room en-suite with free Wi-Fi. Decent 3 star, you're paying 4-star rates for the great location.

• Fleet Street Hotel

  phone: +353 1 670-8124
  address: 19-20 Fleet St, Temple Bar, Dublin 2
  Central 3-star, most rooms comfy, some a bit worn.

• Grafton Guest House

  phone: +353 1 679 2041
  address: 26-27 South Great George's St, Dublin 2
  In a 112-year-old Victorian Gothic style building but with generic modern interiors. Some visitors report that reception is next door at Kelly's, it's not clear if this is a permanent arrangement.

• Jurys InnMid-range chain with three locations:
  Jurys Inn Christchurch, facing Christ Church Cathedral and Temple Bar;
  Jurys Inn Custom House Quay, in the International Financial Services Centre near Connolly station just north of Liffey;
  Jurys Inn Parnell St, junction with Granby Row.

• Kildare Street Hotel

  phone: +353 1 679-4643
  address: 47-49 Kildare St, Dublin 2
  Simple mid-range hotel in old building on 3 floors with no lift. Blarney Inn pub and Club Nassau are also part of this hotel.

• Maldron Hotel

  phone: +353 1 871-6800
  address: Parnell Square West, Dublin 1
  Clean welcoming 3-star hotel, but a lot of construction noise in early 2019. Not to be confused with the Maldron at the airport.

• Morehampton Townhouse

  phone: +353 1 668-8866
  address: 78 Morehampton Rd, Donnybrook, Dublin 4
  3-star with all 22 room en-suite, wi-fi, car parking.

• Portobello Hotel

  phone: +353 1 475 2715
  address: 33 South Richmond St, Dublin 2
  2-star, many rooms have views onto the Grand Canal.

• River House Hotel

  phone: +353 1 670 7655
  address: 23 - 24 Eustace St, Temple Bar, Dublin 2
  2-star right in the centre of Temple Bar.

• Sandymount Hotel

  phone: +353 1 614 2000
  address: Herbert Rd, Lansdowne Rd, Dublin 4
  A three-star hotel 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 Wi-Fi, conference facilities, and the staff are friendly and approachable.

• Talbot Hotel Stillorgan

  phone: +353 1 200 1800
  address: Stillorgan Rd, Dublin 18
  A four-star, AA-accredited hotel with spa, restaurant, bar, free wifi throughout the hotel, and free car park.

• Clarence Hotel

  address: 6-8 Wellington Quay
  Owned by Bono and The Edge from Irish band U2, buzzing happening sort of place . . . code for, you may get a lot of noise from Temple Bar, and "cool" means the showers are a tad lukeish. Overall it's a good central 4-star for 5-star prices: you're paying for the rock associations.

• Waterloo Lodge

  phone: +353 1 668 5380
  address: 23 Waterloo Rd, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4
  3-star in quiet area. All 20 guest rooms are en-suite and free car parking is available.

• Aspect Hotel Parkwest

  phone: +353 1 642 9100
  address: Nangor Road Park D12 F2V4

• Premier Suites Dublin Sandyford

  phone: +353 1 292 0200
  address: The Forum, Ballymoss Road Sandyford Industrial Estate

Splurge

• InterContinental Dublin

  phone: +353 1 665-4000
  address: Simmonscourt Rd, Dublin 4
  5 star, gets great reviews for comfort and service.

• Hampton Hotel

  phone: +353 1 668-0995
  address: 29 Morehampton Rd, Donnybrook, Dublin 4
  Four-star boutique hotel. Original Georgian building with stylish interior design. Downstairs bar is noisy, pick an upper floor for quiet.

• Hilton Dublin

  phone: +353 1 402-9988
  address: Charlemont Place, Dublin 2
  Pleasant, modern hotel, clean and quiet.

• Morrison Hotel

  phone: +353 1 887-2400
  address: Ormond Quay, Dublin 1
  Comfortable stylish hotel, central for sights. Part of Hilton chain.

• Radisson Blu Royal Hotel

  phone: +353 1 898-2900
  address: Golden Lane, Dublin 8
  Five-star hotel, functional modern building, swish comfy interior & very centrally located.

• Radisson Blu St Helen's Hotel

  phone: +353 1 218-6000
  address: Stillorgan Rd, Blackrock
  5-star in grand old mansion in southern suburbs, on bus route to centre.

• The Morgan

  address: 10 Fleet St, Temple Bar, Dublin 2
  Stylish accommodation in standard rooms, suites or penthouse apartments. All characterised by clean, modern design.

• The Shelbourne

  phone: +353 1 663-4500
  address: 27 St Stephen's Green, Dublin 2
  Five-star hotel overlooking Stephen's Green in the centre of Dublin. Fine old building dating to early 19th century, generally comfortable, but staff sometimes rushed and overloaded. Part of the Marriott chain.

• Spencer Hotel Dublin City

  phone: +353 1 4338800
  address: Excise Walk, IFSC, Dublin 1
  Chic, luxurious five star hotel in the docklands. The quay outside is busy, rooms at the back are quieter.

Airport

Dublin Airport is north of the city near the town of Swords. Hotels listed here are so close to the airport that you'd travel that way to reach them, even if you weren't flying (eg many inter-city buses run via the airport). Those closer to Swords town centre are listed on that page along with other amenities: they're much cheaper than their airport or city centre equivalents.

• Carlton Hotel

  address: Old Airport Rd, Cloghran
  4-star hotel with free bus transfer to the airport. Bar-food menu and a restaurant on the top floor.

• Clayton Hotel Dublin Airport

  phone: +353 1 871 1000
  address: Stockhole Lane, Swords, Co. Dublin
  Convenient three-star hotel with free shuttle bus service to the airport.

• Holiday Inn Express Dublin Airport

  phone: +353 1 862-8866
  address: Northwood Park, Santry Demesne, Dublin 9
  Modern hotel 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. Buses 16A/33/41 pass nearby, but it's at least 30 min to city centre.
• Maldron Hotel is within the airport complex, B&B double from €150. Not to be confused with the downtown Maldron Hotel.

• Radisson Blu Hotel Dublin Airport

  phone: +353 1 844-6000
  address: Dublin Airport
  Four-star accommodation within the airport complex just minutes from the passenger terminals.

Dublin is generally a very safe city during the day by American and European standards but can be an intimidating place on weekend nights. 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. Areas where crimes against foreigners have occurred include Rialto and western parts of the North Circular Road. Be especially vigilant or preferably avoid walking around the city centre altogether after bar closing times on weekends (02:30 - 03:00) when very drunk people looking to take advantage of other drunk people roam the streets and when violent behaviour and crime are most likely to occur. Most homicides in the city are gang related.
Never be afraid to approach Gardaí (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 Garda officer, head to the nearest establishment such as a bar or shop where you will be safe. Call the emergency services on "999" or 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.

Area information

• Avoid the Boardwalk and Lower Abbey Street as a large number of drug addicts hang around these areas due to nearby drug rehabilitation centres.
• The area around Temple Bar is both an attraction for tourists and for pickpockets. Be aware of your surroundings.
• Most suburbs on all sides of the city are very safe, but there are a few rough areas, mostly on the Northern and Western peripheries of the city, which are seldom visited by tourists but might warrant some caution. Nonetheless, those interested in urban regeneration may find a visit to Ballymun (home to Ireland's most well known tower-blocks as well as Swedish furniture superstore IKEA) and Tallaght (a historic village that was developed into a 70,000-strong residential suburb) of interest.

People

• You will 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, charity workers 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.
• If someone who appears to be drunk, under the influence of drugs or a habitual drug user, 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" or "sorry" and walk away. Again, locals will almost never behave like this so avoid people who do.

Traffic

• 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.
• 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 you rent a bicycle, ensure you rent full safety wear (helmet and lights) failure to do so can (albeit 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, but 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.
• Be aware when crossing over roads where pedestrians have an official right of way sign, as these are frequently ignored by Dublin motorists particularly taxis, also beware than unlike a lot of European cities, Dublin cyclists will nonchalantly cycle on footpaths. This often happens even when there is also a cycle lane right beside the path, something that, in turn, is frequently ignored by the Gardai.

Medical

You should only go to the hospital if you're too ill to go there, so to speak. For immediate treatment of minor ailments try one of the Walk-in Medical Centres. The most central are at 16 Dame St (M-F 09:30-18:30, Sa 11:00-17:00, Su 12:00-16:00) and at 71 Middle Abbey St (M-F 10:00-17:00, Sa 10:00-15:00). They're private so an EHIC card won't help. Expect to pay 60 euro for a consultation, plus the cost of any prescription or other treatment.

Embassies

• Argentina

  phone: +353 1 269 1546
  address: 15 Ailesbury Drive, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4

• Australia

  phone: +353 1 664 5300
  address: Level 3 47/49 St Stephen's Green

• Austria

  phone: +353 1 269 4577
  address: 93 Ailesbury Road, Dublin 4

• Belgium

  phone: +353 1 631 5284
  address: 1 Elgin Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4

• Canada

  phone: +353 1 234 4000
  address: 7-8 Wilton Terrace, Dublin 2

• Chile

  phone: +353 1 667 5094
  address: 44 Wellington Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4

• China

  phone: +353 1 219 6651
  address: 118 Merrion Road, Dublin 4

• Cuba

  phone: +353 1 475 2999
  address: 32B Westland Square, Pearse Street, Dublin 2

• Denmark

  phone: +353 1 475 6404
  address: 7th Floor, Block E, Iveagh Court, Harcourt Road, Dublin 2

• Finland

  phone: +353 1 478-1344
  address: Russell House, Stokes Place St. Stephen's Green, Dublin 2

• France

  phone: +353 1 277 5000
  address: 66 Fitzwilliam Lane, Dublin 2

• Germany

  phone: +353 1 269 3011
  address: 31 Trimleston Avenue, Booterstown, County Dublin

• Greece

  phone: +353 1 676 7254
  address: 1 Upper Pembroke Street, Dublin 2

• Hungary

  phone: +353 1 661 2902
  address: 2 Fitzwilliam Place, Dublin 2

• India

  phone: +353 1 497 0843, +353 1 4966792, +353 899858536 (for emergencies)
  address: 6 Leeson Park, Dublin 6

• Israel

  phone: +353 1 230 9400
  address: Carrisbrook House, 122 Pembroke Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4

• Italy

  phone: +353 1 660 1744
  address: 63-65 Northumberland Road, Dublin 4

• Japan

  phone: +353 1 202 8300
  address: 3rd Floor, Nutley Building, Merrion Centre, Nutley Lane, Dublin 4

• Mexico

  phone: +353 1 667 3105
  address: 19 Raglan Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4

• Netherlands

  phone: +353 1 269 3444
  address: 160 Merrion Road, Dublin 4

• Norway

  phone: +353 1 662 1800
  address: 34 Molesworth Street, Dublin 2

• Pakistan

  phone: +353 1 261 3023
  address: Ailesbury Villa 1-B, Ailesbury Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4

• Poland

  phone: +353 1 283 0855
  address: 5 Ailesbury Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4

• Portugal

  phone: +353 1 669 9100
  address: 70 Upper Leeson Street, Dublin 4

• Russia

  phone: +353 1 1492 2048
  address: 184-186 Orwell Road, Rathgar, Dublin 14

• South Africa

  phone: +353 1 661 5590
  address: Alexandra House 2nd Floor, Earlsfort Centre, Earlsfort Terrace, Dublin 2

• South Korea

  phone: +353 1 660 8800
  address: 15 Clyde Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4

• Spain

  phone: +353 1 269 1649
  address: 17A Merlyn Park, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4

• Switzerland

  phone: +353 1 218 6382
  address: 6Ailesbury Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4

• United Kingdom

  phone: +353 1 205 3700
  address: 29 Merrion Road, Dublin 4

• United States

  phone: +353 1 668-8777 (during business hours)
  address: 42 Elgin Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4

Internet

• Dublin City Public Libraries

  address: Central Library, Ilac Centre, Dublin 1
  Provides free broadband and wireless access to the Internet in its network of branch libraries.

• Moneygram/Kaah Express

  address: 2 Hardwicke St, Dublin 1
  Cheap internet café offering a reliable internet connection and well-maintained computers.

Almost all of Ireland is within 2-3 hours travel from Dublin, and the transport routes converge on the city. Those listed here are all within two hours and could be done as a day-trip.

• County Dublin

• Dalkey and Killiney — in the south are upmarket neighbourhoods and home to such celebrities as Bono 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. Get here by DART.
• Blackrock or Dun Laoghaire — in the south and accessible by bus or DART, are also worth a visit.
• Howth — a peninsula (14km/9 mi from the city centre) very nice for a scenic seaside walk - the whole tour takes about 2–3h. There are boat trips to the island of Ireland's Eye, with gannets, puffins, fulmars, cormorants and a ruined Martello Tower.
• Malahide and Skerries — are all great seaside locations 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 5 km long beach).

County Meath

• Brú Na Bóinne Archaeological Park — the 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.

County 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.

• Enniskerry — for the gardens in the Powerscourt Estate and the highest waterfall in Ireland
• Glendalough — for the monastic village, round tower and lakes

County Kildare — directly west of Dublin and some of Dublin's outer suburbs are here e.g. 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.

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

County Laois — Located 1 h southwest of Dublin. The county is dotted with sleepy villages, slow-moving rivers and rolling hills.

• Port Laoise — has a cobbled main street with independent eateries, Georgian architecture and small pubs
• Kilkenny — Ireland's medieval capital, is a bustling heritage city with a thriving arts scene. 1 h 40 min by train from Dublin.

United Kingdom

• Holyhead, Wales

• Liverpool, England

Crown dependencies

• Douglas, Isle of Man