Dublin

Introduction

dublin

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Ireland's capital since medieval times, Dublin continues to entice visitors with its blend of Irish hospitality and lively nightlife. Pubs and beer are seemingly at the centre of life in this city, whose most popular attraction is the Guinness Storehouse and the most popular area among visitors is Temple Bar, primarily due to its central location and, of course, availability of pubs and clubs, although its medieval cobbled streets do add immensely to its appeal.

Located in the province of Leinster, Dublin currently holds a population of nearly 1.1 million inhabitants to include the urban areas of Dublin and is by far the largest city in Ireland. Built upon the River Liffey, it became one of the fastest growing capital cities in Europe in recent years, both economically and population wise.

Once a city all too familiar with its inhabitants emigrating to foreign shores, the capital (as well as the rest of the country) has since gone through a major economic boom known as the Celtic Tiger. And while the economy has been faltering somewhat since this boom period ended just before the turn of the decade, Dublin has nonetheless evolved from a city of emigration to a thriving city of immigration. The Irish capital is now home to a large number of foreign nationals - most notably from Poland, United Kingdom, China, Lithuania, Russia and Nigeria. Indeed Dublin has grown up a lot from its infantile status into a thriving, modern and multicultural city in Europe.

One of the many consequences from the day of Celtic Tiger is the relatively high costs related to living as well as visiting the fair city (and the country in general). However, with the end of the boom, Dublin is becoming a more accessible city, price-wise.

When in Dublin, do as the Dubs do. The city centre area is compact and easily accessible by foot. Enjoy your days taking in the sites on the streets and head out at night to enjoy the 'craic' (Gaelic for 'fun') - i.e. drinking, music and dancing! The friendly locals are sure to wish 'Céad míle fáilte romhat' (A hundred thousand welcomes to you).

Neighbourhoods

old Dublin

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The city of Dublin is the heart of the Dublin Region, and is primarily separated by River Liffey into the Northside and the Southside. This divide has historical and socio-economical significances, where traditionally most of the neighbourhoods in the northside were those of working class whereas the southside were made up of mostly of more affluent middle and upper-middle class neighbourhoods. The divide is blurring, given the affordability of housing in the northside in comparison to the southside, particularly for new (and often young) home-owners, although for now, the status quo remains.

The inner city centre areas are often identified around the streets and squares of significance as well as specially concentrated areas, including Grafton Street, Dame Street, Pearse Street, St Stephen's Green and Temple Bar on the southside, and O'Connell Street, Parnell Street, Italian Quarter and Irish Financial Services Centre (IFSC).

What was formerly known as County Dublin is now dissolved and administratively divided into three counties - Fingal, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown and South Dublin - as well as the Dublin city area. Fingal comprises of 28 towns, and has its head office in Swords, the third largest town in Ireland. Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown comprises of 30 towns, and has its head office in Dún Laoghaire. South Dublin is made up of 17 towns and has its head office in Tallaght.

Sights and Activities

Trinity College

One Dublin's most famous tourist attraction, Trinity College (also known as the University of Dublin) sits proudly on extensive grounds right in the centre of the city on College Green. Now more than 400 years old, it is Ireland's oldest university and today ranked as one of the world's top 50 universities. Aside from its magnificent grounds, the college is most famous for being home to the Book of Kells, an amazingly ornate illuminated manuscript in Latin that monks inked by hand as many as 1,200 years ago. Entry to the college grounds is free, but there is a €9 entry fee (€8 for students/senior citizens) for the Book of Kells. There are also student-led guided tours for €10 which includes the admission to the Book of Kells. Additionally, visitors to Trinity College can also visit the Douglas Hyde Gallery and the Science Gallery for free. Visitors may also download Science Safaris: The Trinity Trail podcast series to enhance their visit to the campus.

Science Gallery

The Science Gallery is an one-of-a-kind venue where science meets arts and the public from an interactive manner, and explores various topics of current interests. Please check the events listing prior to visit, as there is transitional period in between exhibits. Science Gallery does not house a permanent exhibit. Entry is free although some experiments may incur a small charge to cover the running costs. There is also a café (albeit somewhat clinical in appearance) in the gallery that serves delicious Italian food.

National Museum of Ireland

The National Museum of Ireland has three branches in the capital: the Archaeology branch on Kildare Street, which looks at prehistoric and medieval Ireland; the Decorative Arts & History branch at Collins Barracks; and the Natural History branch on Merrion Street (currently closed for restorations - part of the exhibits can be seen as temporary exhibition at Collins Barracks). All are free of charge.

The National Gallery of Ireland

Facing onto Merrion Square (but with a second entrance at Clare Street), the The National Gallery of Ireland is home to the Irish national art collection. Most notable for its comprehensive collection of Irish art, the gallery also has some great works from Italian baroque and Dutch masters. Free entry to the permanent collection.

Irish Museum of Modern Art

Located on an impressive site - in a 17th century building west of Dublin city centre that was formerly a hospital - the Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA) is Ireland's home of modern and contemporary art. Free entry, except to some special exhibitions.

Dublin Castle

Originally a castle boasting four circular towers and tall walls, Dublin Castle dates all the way back to the 13th century. Just one of these towers remains today, however, and most of the castle's surviving buildings are from the 18th century. It is nonetheless a grand location boasting several different museums as well as regular diplomatic functions.

Christ Church Cathedral

The oldest cathedral in the city, the Christ Church Cathedral is a gothic-style church of almost a thousand years old. Although it has undergone many restorations, it remains an excellent example of medieval and Victorian architecture. It is adjacent to Dublinia and entry to both places can be bought together at a discounted price.

St Patrick's Cathedral

Built in honour of the patron saint of Ireland, St Patrick's Cathedral is the largest cathedral in Ireland. Located just beyond the old Dublin city wall (whereas Christ Church was within the city wall) adjacent to the famous well where St Patrick was said to have baptized converts on his visit to Dublin, the cathedral boasts one of the largest organ in the country with over 4,000 pipes.

Guinness Storehouse

One of the most visited attractions in the city, the Guinness Storehouse is located inside St James Gate brewery, which has been the home of the famous black stuff since the 1700s. Here one can learn all about how the stout is made, its many famous advertising campaigns and even how to pour the perfect pint. The tour ends with a complimentary drink in the Gravity Bar, which offers a great 360-degree view of the city. Online purchase of the tickets is discounted by 10% and as the tour of the storehouse is self-guided, visitors should download the podcast available on the web to accompany their visit.

Old Jameson Distillery

The Old Jameson Distillery in Dublin's modern Smithfield district offers visitors the chance to learn everything about the history of this famous whiskey and its founder, John Jameson.

Glasnevin Cemetery

The Glasnevin Cemetery is Dublin's premier resting place and the current home to the Great and the Good of Irish Society. Famous Politicians, Revolutionaries, Writers etc can all be found here. The cemetery now links into the equally fascinating Botanic Gardens next door.

Events and Festivals

• Temple Bar Tradfest - late-January - styling itself as Dublin's biggest and best festival of Irish music and culture, the Tradfest features many traditional music concerts around Temple Bar as well as cultural workshops and a Pub Trail and Food Trail.
• Jameson Dublin International Film Festival - mid-February - this film festival brings the best Irish and international movies to cinemas around the city.
• St Patrick's Festival - mid-March - the festival features a number of different cultural events building up to St Patrick's Day on 17 March (nicknamed Paddy's Day), when there is a major parade through the city, usually terminating at St Patrick's Cathedral.
• One City One Book - whole of April - this festival is designed to encourage everyone in the city to read the same book during the month of April each year. Various related events including seminar, theme-related walking tour, book readings and movie screening are also organised.
• Heineken Green Energy Festival - first weekend in May - three-day music festival featuring a number of major rock acts playing in the grounds of Dublin Castle.
• Street Performance World Championship - mid-June - street performers from all over the world are invited to entertain and to compete for the title of World Champion.
• Dublin Pride Festival - mid-June - a festival celebrating lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender culture, including a Gay Pride parade.
• Taste Festival - mid-June - a must for foodies, as acclaimed and selected Dublin restaurants, chefs and food-providers gather to provide a taste of some of the best at reasonable prices. Food demonstrations, cookery classes and wine tasting sessions draw huge attentions while music tents are also in place to entertain visitors with live music.
• Bloomsday - 16 June - a celebration of the life of James Joyce and a walk through of the events in Ulysses, his most famous masterpiece. Some of the activities include readings of the novel, people dressed in the clothes of 1904, walks and pub crawls.
• Festival of World Cultures, Dun Laoghaire - late August - this south Dublin festival celebrates world music with concerts, cafes, fairs, markets, workshops and discussions.
• Dublin Fringe Festival - early September - a lively prelude and alternative to the Dublin Theatre Festival, including street theatre performances.
• Dublin Theatre Festival - late September to early October - this event brings the best international theatre to Dublin as well as promoting Irish productions.
• Open House Dublin - late September or early October - brought forward by Irish Architecture Foundation, buildings and heritage sites of architecture significance, some privately owned, open their door to the public for just one weekend. Bookings essential for some sites.

Weather

Dublin has a typical temperate maritime climate with cool summers and mild winters. June to September is summer season with daytime temperatures between 16 °C and 20 °C and nights of around 12 °C. Winters are still above zero, even at night. The highest and lowest temperatures possible are just above 30 °C and just below -10 °C - both are a rarity! Precipitation is evenly distributed throughout the year, so you're sure to need a raincoat or umbrella no matter when you visit. No need to panic though: it rarely rains for days on end! Autumn and winter are the wettest times while spring being the driest season. May is often the driest and most sunny month of the year.

Getting There

By Plane

Dublin Airport
Dublin Airport (airport code: DUB) is located 10 kilometres north of Dublin city centre. For terminal information and options for getting from the airport to Dublin city, see the detailed Dublin Airport page. Airlines serving domestic destinations include Aer Lingus, Ryanair and Aer Arann. Destinations include Cork, Galway, the Aran Islands, Sligo and Kerry. There are dozens of airlines serving European destinations. Intercontinental cities served include Toronto, Montreal, Chicago, New York, Orlando, Denver, Tel Aviv, Atlanta, Abu Dhabi and Philadelphia.

By Train

Irish Rail runs a number of rail links across the country to and from Dublin. The city has two main railway stations: Heuston, in the west of the city centre which serves much of the west and south of the country including an hourly service to Cork which also services Limerick. And Connolly, in the northeast of the city centre, serves the southeast and east coast, Belfast, Sligo and areas in the northwest. The two main stations are connected by bus and Luas routes (see below).

By Car

As traffic can be intense and parking fees high, it is best to leave your car at a Park & Ride station. If you are coming from the south choose either the Sandyford Luas stop, located just off junction 15 of the M50 on the Blackthorn Road, or Bray DART stop, on the Bray road. If you are coming from the west, the Red Cow luas stop, off junction 10 of the M50, is the best. Coming from the northeast use the park & ride station at Howth DART station. Tariffs at Park & Ride stations range from €2 to €4, and include public transport.

By Bus

Busáras bus station is next to Connolly train station. Bus Eireann offers a wide range of connections between Dublin and many major cities and towns across Ireland and even to the Uk, although frequencies to remote areas might be low. There is a so-called Expressway coach network which complements rail services. Eurolines serves some places in continental Europe.
Kavanaghs has services to Waterford and Limerick, Citylink to Galway and some places in the west.

By Boat

Holyhead, north Wales:

• Irish Ferries Irish Ferries operates regular passenger and car ferry services between Dublin Ferryport and Holyhead, which has good rail and road connections to the rest of Britain.

Liverpool:

• P&O Irish Sea Ferries Operates services between Dublin Ferryport and Liverpool.

Isle of Man:

• The Isle of Man Steam Packet Company run a regular service between Dublin and Douglas on the Isle of Man.

Getting Around

By Car

Driving in central Dublin may be tricky for visitors as many of the roads operate on one-way system, with multiple restrictions during peak hour. Moreover, for the majority of travellers from continental Europe, USA and Canada, it may be confusing as Ireland's driving side is on the left and not on the right. Street parking is also hard to come by, and the rates for the city's many multistory carparks are expensive, with hourly charges of between €2.50 and €3, if not more.

Taxis, on the other hand, are abundant in the city after regulations on taxi plates were relaxed a number of years ago. Unlike a number of other cities around the world, taxis in Dublin can be of any vehicle make or colour. However, they are easily identified by the yellow taxi plate located on the roof of the vehicle. They can be found at taxi ranks or easily hailed off the street.

Taxis in Dublin use a meter to calculate the rate to be paid. The meter uses distance to determine the rate, however, if the speed drops below 21km/h a time rate is used instead of distance. There are currently two rates used to determine the final charge (depending on when you are travelling):

Standard Rate (08.00am - 08.00pm):

• Initial Charge (includes 1km or 170 seconds)......€4.10
• Next 14km or 40minutes (to max €17.20).................€1.03/km or €0.36/min
• Next 15km or 43minutes (to max €36.00).................€1.35/km or €0.48/min
• Over 30km or 86minutes (over €36.00)................... €1.77/km or €0.63/min

Premium Rate (20.00h - 08.00h & Sundays and Public Holidays):

• Initial Charge (includes 1km or 170 seconds)......€4.45
• Next 14km or 40minutes (to max €21.70).................€1.35/km or €0.48/min
• Next 15km or 43minutes (to max €43.50).................€1.57/km or €0.55/min
• Over 30km or 86minutes (over €43.50).....................€1.77/km or €0.63/min

Additional Charges:

• Booking Fee....................€2.00
• Additional passengers....€1.00 each

Generally most fares for average-length journeys will be between €10 and €20. Tipping taxi drivers is not required; however it will not be refused if offered.

(Charge rates correct as of October 2009)

By Public Transport

Airport
The following public Dublin Bus services go from the airport to the city centre: 16A, 41, 746, 747, 748. The private Air Coach is faster and runs 24 hours a day, but it is more expensive at €8 single or €14 return. Dublin Bus provides dedicated airport services as well, for €6 single and €10 return.

Dublin Bus
Dublin Bus is run by CIE (Córas Iompair Éireann) and operates public bus services throughout Dublin City as well as to a number of adjoining areas. Generally the fares range from €1.15 to €4.50 depending on how far you are travelling.

The standard fare breakdown:

• City centre shopper - €0.50
• Stages 1-3 - €1.15
• Stages 4-7 - €1.60
• Stages 8-13 - €1.80
• Over 14 stages - €2.20
• Outer suburban 1 - €2.20
• Outer suburban 2 - €3.50
• Outer suburban 3 - €4.50

It is important to note that Dublin Bus services only accept coins as payment and no change is given if you have more than the exact fare. However, prepaid tickets may be purchased from a large number of shops in the city and used when boarding the bus.

A full list of routes and timetables can be found on the Dublin Bus website.

LUAS - Tram System:
The LUAS tram system is operated by Veolia Transport Ireland Ltd. There are currently only two LUAS routes in operation - The Red Line running from Connolly Station to Tallaght and the Green Line running from St. Stephen's Green to Sandyford. The two lines do not connect and it takes approximately 10-15 minutes to walk between St. Stephen's Green and Abbey Street or Jervis stations.

With approximately 80,000 people choosing to use the LUAS service on a daily basis, it has become a popular way to travel in recent years. Its advantage lies in regular and on-time scheduling, and it also runs earlier and later than the bus service.

The LUAS routes currently operates:

• Monday to Friday from 05:30am to 00:30am
• Saturday from 06:30am to 00:30am
• Sunday from 07:00am to 23:30pm
• Bank Holidays from 07:00am to 00:30am

The tickets can be bought from ticket machines at the platforms and do not require further validation, and tickets must be retained throughout the journey. Single trip cash fare between €1.50 and €2.40 depending on the time (if peak or off-peak) and zone(s) travelled. Further information can be found on the LUAS website.

DART - Suburban Rail:
Operated by Irish Rail, the service runs along the coast of Dublin Bay, from Howth and Malahide in the north to Greystones in the south. Ticket prices vary, depending on the stations travelled, and can be bought at the ticket counters or machines at the DART stations.

Irish Rail also operates 4 other suburban commuter train lines that serve Dublin and commuter belt area outside of Dublin.

(All prices for public transport correct as of October 2009)

By Foot

Of course, probably the best way to travel around the city centre of Dublin is to hit the streets on foot. The most popular tourist areas in the city are reasonably close together and well within walking distance. Strolling through the various areas you will soon witness how old Dublin meets the new modern developments and neither backdrop will seem out of place. During the day the streets will be bustling with shoppers and workers running out to grab lunch. Even at night the streets are relatively safe. However, as is with all cities, it is best to keep to well lit and busy areas.

By Bike

A new free bike scheme called DublinBikes has been launched in September 2009. Operating within the Dublin city centre area, approximately 450 bikes at 40 bike stations are available for use. A subscription is required - €2 for 3 days subscription, and €10 for annual subscription (for residents).

The first 30 minutes of use is free, and following the return of the bike, another may be taken out within a couple of minutes of checking-in the first place. Bikes that are not returned within 30 minutes will incur the following hire fees: 1 hour - €0.50, 2 hours - €1.50, 3 hours - €3.50, 4 hours - €6.50, every additional 30 minutes thereafter €2 per period. A missing bike will leads to a penalty cost of €150.

Not all bike stations have facility to accept credit card payments, therefore taking out a temporary subscription from that station is not possible.

Nightlife

Long famous as a good-time city, Dublin has become a mecca for young tourists from Britain and elsewhere in Europe that descend on the Irish capital specifically to party. Therefore you're sure to find fellow tourists everywhere on the nightlife circuit, although some groups of visitors, particularly stag (bachelor) and hen (bachelorette) parties, have earned themselves something of a bad reputation. Pubs and nightclubs aside, Dublin has an active cultural scene, with plenty of concerts, theatre and other events to choose from. The best sources for information on what's on in the city at any given time include In Dublin, The Irish Times newspaper and Entertainment.ie.

Eat

There are plenty of good quality places to eat in Dublin, with a wide price range to suit all budgets and a variety of cuisine type on offer. Admittedly, Dublin is an expensive city and therefore many travellers may find eating out in Dublin overpriced. However, many restaurants are offering set value menus in order to make dining out a more affordable affair once again. For a list of places to eat, see Eating Out in Dublin.

Drink

Being the Irish capital, the first thing most travellers think of upon their arrival in Dublin is where can they get a decent pint! And for sure the city is not one to disappoint. The River Liffey creates a divide through the city between the Northside and the Southside - both of which offer a multitude of variously themed pubs and clubs. Some of the bigger places are quite obvious to the passerby, however a little venturing down winding streets and narrow lanes can provide satisfying rewards in the form of small, but homely pubs and bars. It's also not unusual to find larger clubs hidden away in obscure locations. A reasonably comprehensive list of pubs in the capital can be found at the Dublin Pubscene website.

Sleep

Budget

Mid-Range

Upscale

The Burlington Hotel - A 4-star hotel in Ballsbridge, minutes walk from the Dublin city centre. It is a Dublin institution and it's recently been newly decorated and renovated. There's a newly renovated bar and lobby, renowned ballroom, modern conference facilities and opulent bedrooms, spacious restaurants and expert chefs.

Work

All citizens of the European Union, with the exception of the newest member states (Bulgaria and Romania), have full working rights in Ireland. Citizens of Switzerland, Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein also have full working rights in Ireland.

In general, non-EU/EEA citizens are required to have either a work permit, a green card or a scientific researcher agreement in order to work in Ireland although certain categories are exempted, including spouses of Irish/EEA nationals, parents of Irish citizens and individuals with business permissions. The regulations pertaining to immigration and employment law change constantly and anyone seeking to remain in the country to work should consult the website of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment.

International students from non-EU/EEA countries - such as China, the USA and Philippines to name a few - are entitled to work part time for up to 20 hours per week during school term, and full time for up to 40 hours per week during holidays, on the premise that the primary purpose of entering the country is to study and the students will be attending a full-time course of at least one year, leading to a recognised qualification.

Additionally, a student who has completed a third level course on or after 1 January 2007 (be it a primary degree, a master's or a doctorate) in an Irish third-level educational institution can obtain a six-month extension to their visa under the Third Level Graduate Scheme, during which they can work full time and seek a longer work permit. More information is available from the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS).

Learn

• University of Dublin (commonly known as Trinity College Dublin)
• University College Dublin
• Dublin City University
• Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland
• Dublin Institute of Technology
• Dublin Business School
• National College of Ireland

Safety

See also Travel Safety

National Police Service - An Garda Síochána

The police force in Ireland are called An Garda Síochána - more commonly referred to as "the Gardaí" or just simply "the Guards". Members of the force can be identified on the street usually by the green florescent jackets they wear with the word "GARDA" written on the back and front.

The Gardaí in Dublin police an area known as The Dublin Metropolitan Region which incorporates the city and County of Dublin as well as small portions of adjacent counties - Kildare (to the west) and Wicklow (to the south).

The current headquarters of An Garda Síochána is located in the Phoenix Park - one of the largest municipal parks in Europe, to the west of Dublin City.

Keep Connected

Internet

Dublin is littered with Internet Cafes where you can gain access to the internet and make international calls for reasonable rates. However, most of them can be easily missed due to their small size or obscure locations off side streets. Most notable locations would be along O'Connell street and around the Temple Bar area. You can also get a reasonably comprehensive list from this Golden Pages directory search.

Phone

See also: International Telephone Calls

Mobile Phone Networks:
There are currently four main mobile phone operators dominating the Irish market:

• Vodafone (prefix 087 - GSM900/1800 - 3G 2100)
• O2 (prefix 086 - GSM900/1800 - 3G 2100)
• Meteor (prefix 085 - GSM900/1800)
• Three (prefix 083 - GSM900/1800 - 3G 2100)

Most European phones and operators will allow you to roam on Irish networks, however you should ensure before arrival that your phone can operate on the GSM900/1800 network and that your service provider has set you up to allow roaming. This is especially true for visitors from outside the Eurozone.

Phone Boxes:
Due to the large take up of mobile phone use in Ireland in recent years, there has been somewhat of a decline in public phone boxes on the streets. But there still is a reasonable number of them around and these will accept coins or prepaid cards.

Emergency Services:
The police service (An Garda Síochána) and fire services can be contacted by dialling 999 or 112 on any phone or mobile phone throughout the country.

Post

Postal services for domestic and international mail are available at the local post office - there is one in most neighbourhoods of Dublin and in many towns and villages around the country. An Post is the national postal service provider. They're generally open Monday to Friday, between 9:00am to 5:30pm or 6:00pm, and smaller post offices would also impose lunch-time closure. Half-day service is available on Saturday, from 9:00am to 1:00pm. The General Post Office (GPO) on O'Connell Street in Dublin is the main post office in Dublin, and it is open Monday to Saturday, from 8:00am to 8:00pm. The post offices are closed on Sunday and Bank Holiday.

Ireland does not currently have a nationwide postal code system and in Dublin, certain areas have postal areas, given as Dublin XX with XX being numbers 1 to 24. Areas to the northside of Dublin have odd numbers, while areas to the southside of Dublin have even numbers (except the official residence of the President of Ireland - Áras an Uachtaráin - which is designated Dublin 8 despite being located in Phoenix Park on the northside).

External Links

• VisitDublin.com - The official Dublin tourism website
• Dublin.ie - The city's official web portal
• Menu Pages - Dublin restaurant guide
• Dublin Bus
• Dublin Airport - flight information
• Dublin Area Rapid Transit
• Dublin Pub Scene - pub listings
• Dublin Pass - tourism attractions card
• Dublin Hotels.com - city hotel listings
• Dublin Hotels - city hotel listings
• Dublin 1 Hotels - city hotel listings
• Hotels in Dublin - city hotel listings
• Luas.ie
• IrishJaunt - travel website about Ireland
• Dublin Events