hotels4u dublin travel guide

7/29/2019 Hotels4U Dublin Travel Guide

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AT A GLANCE

Dublin is one of the most popular urban destinations in

Western Europe. The capital of Ireland offers a fascinating mix

of old and new, and despite its small size, manages to pack an

awful lot into it. The city is renowned for its lively nightlife,

while there are also plenty of shopping facilities to suit all

tastes.

WHEN TO GO

The summertime is the best time to visit Dublin if youre in search of warm (ish) temperatures and

lively festivals. It can become quite crowded though, so if you want to avoid the tourists, winter is

the quietest time of the year, although it can get pretty cold! For a happy medium, visit in spring or

autumn, while experiencing the city around St Patricks Day in March is always a memorable event.

Weather

Spring: The weather is still fairly cool, heating up in April -so its a good idea to take some layers with you

Summer: Temperatures are at their highest between Juneand August, making it the most pleasant time to visit

Autumn: Mild temperatures mean youll have to wrap upwarm, and theres also a greater chance of rain

Winter: Hats, coats and scarves are a must as averagetemperatures between December and February are below

3C

Image: Dublin Sunshine by Bex Walton

THINGS TO DO

Youll never be short of things to see and do in Dublin. The city is

home to a number of historic buildings and plenty of museums.

Get some insight into the history of Dublin, while family

attractions such as parks and zoos will keep the little ones happy.

Attractions

Dublin Castle: Dating back to the 18th

century, this city centre

castle hosts various functions for the Irish Government
http://www.dublincastle.ie/http://www.dublincastle.ie/http://www.dublincastle.ie/


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Phoenix Park: A large urban park in the city with grassland and

trees, and home to a herd of wild Fallow deer

Dublin Zoo: The biggest zoo in the country and the fourth

oldest in the world, offering six themed areas

Guinness Storehouse: Opened in November 2000, and offers

seven floors of beer-related fun

Christ Church Cathedral: The spiritual heart of the city founded

in 1028 boasts a stunning interior

Kilmainham Gaol: Operated as a prison for around 140 years

after first being built in 1796

National Museum of Ireland: Consists of three sections; Natural

History, Archaeology and History, and Decorative Arts andHistory

Temple Bar: The cultural hub of the city, home to a wide selection of shops, bars and restaurants

Nightlife

The Irish are known for enjoying a drink or two and the night

scene in Dublin certainly doesnt disappoint. Live music is very

popular in the city and you could even partake in a spot of Irish

dancing.

Brazen Head: This bar opened in the 12th

century and is one of the oldest in the world. It now offers

excellent music and food, as well as a great atmosphere.

OSheas Merchant: A traditional Irish pub with an Olde Worlde atmosphere, located close to the

Temple Bar and offering live Irish music.

Dakota Bar: A narrow bar along South William Street serving freshly made food during the day and

becoming a great venue to dance the night away in the evening.

Mulligans: One of the most famous drinking venues in Dublin, this traditional Irish pub was originally

a shebeen an unlicensed drinking venue (although its had a licence since 1782!).

Caf en Seine: A stylish bar thats a cool place to hang out. The opulent art deco interior is a great

place to enjoy a drink
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Day Trips from Dublin:

One of the great things about Dublin is that there are many places to visit just a short distance away.

So if youd like to discover more of Ireland, youll be able to choose from a range of places, whether

travelling by train or by car.

Wicklow: Bordering the city, the Wicklow Mountains NationalPark is around 20,000 hectares in size with woodland, river

valleys and spectacular mountains that were formed over 500

million years ago.

Travel Time: 1 hour

Howth: This small coastal town north-east of Dublin can be

reached by using the fast train service DART from the city

centre. There are many great walks here in stunningsurroundings, as well as a traditional harbour and Old Town.

Travel Time: 25 minutes

Bray: Situated on the east coast, this large seaside town has a

mile-long promenade, and is incredibly popular for day trippers

from Dublin. Spend some time on the beach here or climb the

241 metres to the summit of Bray Head for spectacular views.

Travel Time: 30 minutes

Cork: Built on the River Lee, Cork is home to one of the worlds

largest natural harbours, as well as to magnificent cathedrals.

From the city, youll be able to take a trip to Blarney Castle,

home to the Blarney Stone, which is said to bring great

eloquence to anyone who touches it.

Travel Time: 3 hours

Images: Dublin Castle by teamaskins / Guinness Storehouse by Corey Harmon / Kilmainham Gaol by Psyberartist / The Temple Bar by JohnHorton / Wicklow Mountains by Bjaglin / Howth by Mark Waters / Bray by Laurent Breillat / Blarney Castle by Kao Akana
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SHOPPING

The shopping facilities in Dublin have everything from designer stores and

markets to shopping centres and boutiques. Just remember to leave some

space in your suitcase!

Shopping Areas:

Grafton Street: The place to head for designer labels, this area favours

upmarket shoppers, while there are also various quirky shops along some of

the side streets.

Henry Street: Department stores such as Arnotts and Clerys offer

affordable high street clothing, while Moor Street (just off Henry Street) is one of the citys most

historical shopping strips.

Wicklow Street: A range of cafes, boutiques and more affordable stores can be found here, as well as

vintage shops and shopping centres.

Shopping Centres:

Dundrum: The biggest centre in Ireland for shopping, restaurants and movies with over 160 stores.

Liffey Valley: The newest shopping centre in the city, youll find fashion, films and food here.

Powerscourt Centre: This historic shopping centre offers a fantastic setting for shoppers with

fashion, jewellery, restaurants and beauty.

Ilac Shopping: A large single-story complex, and the oldest shopping mall in the city centre.

Jervis Shopping Centre: With three floors, this large city centre mall offers a range of famous brands.

Stephens Green: In the heart of the city, more than 100 outlets are located here over three floors.

Markets:

Designer Mart: From crafts to clothes, this outdoor market takes place every Saturday in the Old City

area of Temple Bar.

Georges Street Arcade: An old Victorian Shopping Centre with over 50 shops and market stalls

selling everything from art and music to food and fashion.

Arts & Crafts Market: Haggling is encouraged at this indoor market in Newmarket Square.

Image: Grafton Street by Sebastian Dooris
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FOOD & DRINK

Youll find a tasty mix of traditional and modern cuisine on the

menus of many restaurants, cafes and pubs in Ireland. Some of

the authentic dishes you should try in Dublin include Irish stew,

champ (mash potato and spring onions) and soda bread.Seafood is also popular. Of course no trip to Ireland is complete

without sampling a pint of the local Guinness, while Ireland is

also famous for its whiskey.

Popular Dublin Hotspots:

Chapter One: A Michelin-star restaurant serving a fusion of French and Irish dishes

Eden: Contemporary Irish food can be found at this award-winning restaurant

One Pico: Winner of various awards over the years, serving an array of meat and fish dishes

Chez Max: A charming French caf with a delightful back garden for outdoor eatingJoBurger: Offering burgers, beer and music - what could be better?

Image: Irish Stew by LWY

CULTURE & ETIQUETTE

Few places are more welcoming than Ireland. In fact, the country often describes itself as the land

of Cead Mle Filte, meaning a hundred thousand welcomes. This can be seen inscribed on

numerous pubs. Like many places, if somebody buys you a drink in a pub, it is good etiquette to pay

for the next one. Irish Gaelic was historically spoken in the country, but it is now only spoken by a

minority of people.

Useful Phrases

About you? - How are you? Whats the craic? - Whats happening / Whats the latest news? Slinte - Cheers (when clinking glasses in a pub)

Dos and Donts

DO get off the beaten path to see even more of Ireland DONT say to be sure after every sentence or mention leprechauns DO take waterproof clothing and an umbrella as rain is quite common! DONT criticise the country, as the locals may take offence to this DO try a pint of traditional Irish Guinness, but be careful how much you drink of it! DONT forget to take Euros with you, as the British Pound is not accepted

Tipping

Tipping is discretionary in Dublin, although quite often a service charge of around 10-15% is added

to your bill in a restaurant. If not, giving around 10% of the price of the bill is customary. Offering a

few extra coins to hotel porters or taxi drivers is also common.
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TRANSPORT

There are various ways of getting around (and in and out of) Dublin with excellent transport links

including trains, buses and taxis, while the cycle hire scheme is a great way of getting around the city

at your own pace.

Getting Around

Taxi: There are over 12,000 licensed taxis in Dublin, whichare easily recognisable with a large yellow and blue roof

sign

Bus: There are many services in and around the city, whileDublin Busalso operates day tours

Cycle: Dublin Bikes (dbs) has 44 bike stations across thecity, with cycles that can be rented from one station before

been dropped off at another later on in the day

Train: The DART is a high-speed railway line that runs along the coast of Dublin - ideal forgetting out and exploring other places in IrelandFare Information

Taxi: All taxis are metred with the first 1km costing between 4.10 and 4.45. Always ask thedriver roughly how much your journey should cost before getting in though

Bus: Fares depend on how many stages you travel. Most journeys are between 1-3 stages withone journey costing 1.65. You can also buy aLeap Cardfor cheaper fares on buses, DART and

rail services. Simply top it up with as much money as you like (depending on how often you plan

on travelling)

Cycle: A 3-day ticket costs 2, which allows you to use the bike as many times as you like duringthese three days. The first half hour of using the bike is free, while 3 hours will cost you 3.50on top of the cost of your ticket

Image: Dublin Bikes by William Murphy

HEALTH & SAFETY

British Embassy in Ireland

Emergency Police, Fire or Ambulance: 112 or 999

TOP FIVE DUBLIN BLOGS

1. Lovin Dublin2. Liz in Dublin3. Come Here to Me4. French Foodie in Dublin5. An American in Ireland
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hotels4u dublin travel guide

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