Dublin, the complete travel guide

Explore the charming city of Dublin, Ireland, steeped in history, culture, and a lively atmosphere. Stroll through the bustling streets, marvel at the stunning architecture, visit world-famous museums, and sample delicious Irish cuisine. There’s no shortage of things to discover in Dublin. Start planning your adventure today!

Dublin, founded by the Vikings in the 9th century, (‘Dubh linn’) translates to “Black Pool” | UNESCO World Heritage Site

Know before you go

Useful links

Dublin in photos

Dublin Castle Ireland Monument Church Ancient

Trinity College Dublin Ireland — Trinity College

Molly Malone Statue Attraction Fiskmadam Baskets Dublin — Molly Malone Statue

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Ireland Dublin Howth Landscape Seascape Cliffs — Howth

Pyramid Steps Stone Ancient Historic Ocean Sea — Pyramid Steps

The Hapenny Bridge Bro Pedestrian Bridge Dublin — The Hapenny Bridge

Dublin Home House Ireland Europe Architecture — Architecture

Sky Ireland Nature Dublin Clouds Landscape Sea

Dublin Night City Urban Cityscape Sky Reflection

Dublin Night Blue City Urban Cityscape Sky — Cityscape

Dublin Ireland Fall Leaf Season Nature Color

Rory Gallagher Corner Ireland Dublin Bar Sign — Rory Gallagher Corner

Sweet Sugar Cream Delicious Cake Cup Cake

Urban Dublin Street Landmark Architecture Busy

Ireland Dublin Street City Street Artist Music

Martello Tower Shenick Island Seascape Sea WaterMartello Tower Shenick Island Seascape Sea Water — Martello Tower Shenick Island

Dublin Ireland Travel Tourism Vacation Destination

Ireland Dublin Coast Sea Water Ocean Landscape

River Liffey Dublin Ireland things to do in Dublin places to see in Dublin — River Liffey

Dublinia Museum Dublin Vikings History travel and home visit Dublin — Dublinia, Museum, Vikings History

trinity dublin — Trinity College Library

Best time

Dress warm and party hard!

Blossoms start appearing everywhere in February with the start of Spring.
May to July (July average 17°C / 63°F) brings warmer weather, whereafter autumn kicks with cooler temperatures.

20 fun facts about Dublin

Most people are under the impression that the O’Connell bridge is as wide as it is long, but that is not quite on the mark. The O’Connell Bridge is known to be the oldest traffic bridge in Europe that is wider than it is long. It is 50 m wide and 45 m long.
Ha’penny Bridge is the oldest pedestrian bridge in Dublin and is still in use with about 30,000 pedestrians crossing the bridge daily.
Dublin is also known to have the youngest population in Europe, with about a third of its population under the age of 25 years.
Have a beer in Ireland’s oldest pub, namely the Brazen Head (1198AD).
If you can’t make it to the Brazen Head, don’t worry. The city has around 740 Irish pubs!
Go to the Guinness Brewery at St James’s Gate and see The Guinness storehouse. Besides of course the beer, the Guinness family is famous for holding a one-of-a-kind 9,000-year property lease (signed in 1759). The Guinness family still holds the majority share.
The now world-renowned Guinness Book of Records started off in 1952 by the Guinness family as a marketing freebie.
Local cuisine includes delicacies such as Shepherd’s Pie, Irish Stew, Soda Bread, and boiled bacon and cabbage.
Worth a visit is Dublin Castle. It is the oldest castle in the city and opened in 1204.
Dublin is famous for being a UNESCO City of Literature, one of only six cities of Literature in the world.
George Bernard Shaw the famous Irish dramatist, critic and Nobel Prize winner, was born (July 26, 1856) in Portobello, Dublin.
Sports lovers should make a point to watch a bit of “Gaelic football”. It is the Irish version of soccer and rugby put together!
Meander through Phoenix Park’s 707 hectares of peaceful landscapes. Phoenix Park is believed to be the largest city park in Europe and also features the Dublin Zoo.
The very first MGM lion (remember the roaring lion at the beginning of the movies?) named ‘Slats” was born in Dublin Zoo in 1919.
Some of the most famous music bands were formed in this vibrant city. Names such as U2, Westlife, Boyzone, Thin Lizzy, Kodaline, and My Bloody Valentine come to mind.
Oscar Wilde (playwright, poet, essayist, and novelist), Jonathan Swift (noted for his use of ironic invented personas), Bram Stoker (creator of Dracula) attended the ancient Dublin university, Trinity College. The university was brought about at the request of Queen Elizabeth I.
Dublin does not have mountains! The hills do not meet the criteria to claim mountain status. But if you’re looking for a bit of height, Sugarloaf is the tallest hill at 423 m (1388 ft) above sea level.
Since 1922, the city is home to the Irish parliament.
The city is all loved up! The remains of St Valentine are at White Friar Street Carmelite Church on Aungier Street. Light a candle and make your way to Love Lane in Temple Bar and read the many love letters and witty words on ceramic tiles.
Despite practising Catholicism, there are no Catholic cathedrals in Dublin.

Food & Culinary Experiences

holiday packages

250 + Dublin vacation packages with reviews

From self-guided holiday packages to fully guided tours and trips, short or long.

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Avoid the crowds with these trips & tours

The best of Dublin

'Dublin Pubs Bucket List' - 4hr 'Best of the Best' Dublin pubs private tour.

Also, check out these popular tours:

Travel budget

One thing we all know only too well is the cost of living where we live. However, what we don’t know is how it compares to our dream holiday destination. Compare city to city on typical holiday expenses. Like the cost of dinner out, or the cost of groceries (self-catering holidays), or transport such as taxis, buses, and trains.

Travel Trivia

Tollymore Forest Park

Nothern Ireland

Tollymore Forest Park, the first state forest park in Northern Ireland, is a place of breathtaking natural beauty.

It is situated in the Mourne and Slieve Croob Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty at Bryansford, close to the town of Newcastle. Every day of the year from 10:00 to sunset, the woodland is accessible. Driving there is the quickest way to get to the park. If you are driving a rental car from Belfast, drive 60 kilometers south on the A49. Profit from the route’s proximity to Newcastle, a charming beach town at the foot of the majestic Slieve Donard mountain. Before continuing to Tollymore Forest Park, pause here for a drink and to take in the breathtaking views of the Irish Sea.

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The Bucket List

1000 Adventures Big & Small, by Kath Stathers

Who does not have a bucket list?! It’s the length of people’s bucket lists that are so intriguing. Well, after reading this book, a number of destinations will be added to any reader’s bucket list.

It’s a marvellous conversation starter on the coffee table. In addition to that, it’s a beautifully presented hard-cover and certainly well worth being in our travel books’ collection.

The photography is excellent, and the short and sharp reviews of the bucket list items make it an interesting read.

Review

“It’s a guide to wanderlust and self-fulfillment, catering to all ages and interests. Bucket List not only includes standard travel to-dos like kayaking through Vietnam’s Ha Long Bay or visiting Petra at sunrise; but also localized experiences, such as sipping tea with Bollywood stars in Mumbai or helping conserve the Arabian oryx.” –RealClearLife.com

The spectacular library of Trinity College in Dublin.

Top 5 things to do in Dublin

Newgrange

County Meath, Ireland

Newgrange is a prehistoric exceptionally grand passage tomb built during the Neolithic period, around 3200 BC, making it older than Stonehenge and the Egyptian pyramids!

County Meath is but one of the many fascinating destinations in Ireland – about eight kilometers (5.0 mi) west of Drogheda on the north side of the river Boyne.

Brú na Bóinne - Archaeological Ensemble of the Bend of the Boyne

"The three main prehistoric sites of the Brú na Bóinne Complex, Newgrange, Knowth and Dowth, are situated on the north bank of the river Boyne 50 km north of Dublin. This is Europe's largest and most important concentration of prehistoric megalithic art."

UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE >>

Get to know Dublin at your own pace with your Hop-On Hop-Off Bus ticket.

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Where to stay in Dublin

Travel and Home Choice Stay

With only 1.3 km from the city center, you get the best of both worlds. The vibrant city is a stone’s throw away, while you wake up to the beautiful ocean sounds and panoramic views. On top of all this, the service and amenities are superb. Book direct and experience a fabulous and comfortable hotel stay in Dublin.