Ireland’s capital city is Dublin, which is situated in the eastern part of the country. It has a lot of people as it is a lively city with over 1.8 million residents in total. One of its most famous historical sites is Trinity College, where The Book of Kells is located. Among the popular places are Guinness Storehouse, Saint Stephen’s Green, and Trinity College Dublin. Additionally, notable universities such as University College Dublin and Trinity College Dublin can be found in this city.
Dublin, the city of innumerable literary legends and an abundance of ancient buildings, combines an old world appeal with a warm, approachable charm. First of all, you can do a lot in a day because the city is quite walkable. We recommend starting with a few well-known locations: marvel at the elaborate embellishments of St. Patrick’s Cathedral, see the Dublin Castle, which is the “heart of the city,” and tour Trinity College’s expansive campus. Numerous museums, like the Chester Beatty, provide free admission, and there’s plenty of dining options to suit every taste and budget: One of the 43 Michelin-starred restaurants in the city offers tasting menus, and you can also stop by a pub for the greatest fish and chips you’ve ever had. Dublin makes a terrific starting point for a variety of day journeys; Belfast or the fishing hamlet of Howth are excellent ways to break up a lengthier trip.
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Flights To Dublin Guide
Dublin is served by Dublin Airport (DUB). It is located about 10 kilometres north of the city centre. The airport is a major hub, offering a wide range of international and domestic flights.
Dublin Airport features two terminals, both of which are well-equipped with modern amenities. It includes shops, restaurants, and lounges. It’s the only airport serving the city. Therefore, you wouldn’t need to worry about any alternative options.
Make your journey even smoother by arranging transportation from the airport to your hotel. For more info, visit our transfers page.
Woking Travel offers reliable and convenient transfers from Dublin Airport to your hotel. We also offer the best holiday deals so you can enjoy them. Here are ten of the best hotels in Dublin for 2024, offering a range of luxury and unique experiences:
- The Merrion Hotel: It is known for its opulent decor, extensive art collection, and luxury spa. The Merrion is a top choice for those seeking a high-end stay in Dublin. It is located near St. Stephen’s Green, it boasts beautiful gardens and fine dining options.
- The Shelbourne Hotel: This historic five-star hotel features a stunning Victorian facade, luxurious rooms, and is situated directly across from St. Stephen’s Green. It offers a luxury spa, an opulent restaurant, and a charming bar.
- Hyatt Centric The Liberties Dublin: This modern hotel offers a central location near St. Patrick’s Cathedral, spacious rooms, and excellent dining options. It’s well-regarded for its cleanliness and attentive staff.
- The Westbury: It is centrally located near Grafton Street. The Westbury combines elegant decor with modern amenities, offering guests easy access to Dublin’s main attractions. It’s known for its excellent service and luxurious ambiance.
- The Marker Hotel: It is situated in Dublin’s Docklands. The Marker Hotel is renowned for its modern design, rooftop bar, and award-winning spa. It’s perfect for those wanting a contemporary and peaceful stay near the city centre.
- Anantara The Marker Dublin Hotel: It is known for its luxury and modern facilities, this hotel offers spacious rooms, a rooftop bar, and an indoor pool and spa. This makes it a perfect choice for a lavish stay.
- InterContinental Dublin: It is in the upscale Ballsbridge area. This hotel features spacious rooms, a superb restaurant, and a tranquil garden setting. It’s ideal for both business and leisure travellers.
- The Conrad Dublin: It is situated near the National Concert Hall, this hotel offers elegant rooms, fine dining, and excellent service, providing a refined and comfortable stay.
- The Fitzwilliam Hotel: It is located close to St. Stephen’s Green. This hotel offers luxurious rooms with contemporary decor and excellent amenities, including a fine dining restaurant and a stylish bar.
- The College Green Hotel, Autograph Collection: With its prime location and beautifully decorated rooms, this hotel is a great choice for those wanting to be close to Dublin’s main sights and enjoy top-notch amenities.
Dublin provides several ways to move around:
- Bus: The network covers both the city itself and its outskirts; therefore, it has many bus routes operated by Dublin Bus;
- Luas: Dublin’s tramway consists of two lines, the Red Line and the Green Line, each easily accessible to major places.
- DART: The Dublin Area Rapid Transit system connects the city center with suburbs on the coastline.
- Taxi: In Dublin, you can find many taxis that can be stopped on the street or reserved.
- Bicycle: Many docks for Dublin bikes are located at various points inside the Dublin CBD.
- Walking: Many tourist attractions in Dublin are close enough to each other that it is easier for tourists to explore them on foot.
- Guinness Storehouse: Visit the brewhouse to see how beer is made from grains like barley. The house was also used to prepare molasses before fermentation.
- Trinity College and the Book of Kells: Explore the beautiful Trinity College campus and go to the Old Library to see the Book of Kells, an ancient book made by monks many years ago.
- Dublin Castle: There are many reasons to visit St Patrick’s Cathedral, including its history, which dates back to 800 years. The cathedral comprises state apartments, a mediaeval undercroft, and a Gothic chapel.
- Temple Bar: A great way to spend time is walking through the Temple Bar area, which boasts numerous pubs filled with live bands, artsy galleries, and street entertainment.
- Phoenix Park: When you have free time, visit Phoenix Park, located within Europe’s largest metropolitan area. It also has a bunch of deer living inside!
- St. Patrick’s Cathedral: This church’s fantastic architecture makes it worth visiting. One can learn more about it while viewing some stunning stained-glass windows.
- National Museum of Ireland—Archaeology: If you are interested in prehistoric things, the National Museum of Ireland or Archaeology must be visited first since it has one collection, among others, of ancient Celtic treasures.
- Dublin Zoo: If you’re an animal lover, why not spend a day at the Dublin Zoo? Located in Phoenix Park, it is home to many species worldwide and has a conservation message for visitors.
- Merrion Square: Next time you are close by, make sure that you take a walk around Merrion Square and look at those colourful houses made of gold.
- Dublinia: Dublinia is an interactive museum that takes you back to Viking and medieval times when Ireland had kings. The top of this old medieval ruin offers a great view.
Here are 10 highly-rated restaurants in Dublin, Ireland, offering a variety of cuisines and atmospheres:
- Chapter One: A Michelin-starred restaurant serving innovative Irish cuisine with a focus on fresh, seasonal ingredients in a luxurious setting.
- SOLE Seafood & Grill: Specialises in high-quality seafood and steaks with stunning views of Dublin Bay.
- Note: Offers a constantly evolving tasting menu featuring creative and playful dishes made with local, seasonal produce.
- The Pickle Room: A charming spot for delicious brunches, creative small plates, and inventive cocktails.
- Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud: A classic fine-dining establishment renowned for its exceptional French cuisine and impeccable service.
- Etto: A modern Italian restaurant with a focus on fresh, seasonal ingredients and open wood-fired cooking.
- Bunsen: A popular spot for delicious and juicy burgers made with fresh, high-quality ingredients.
- Fade Street Social: A lively tapas bar with a great selection of small plates, perfect for sharing with friends.
- Cornucopia Wholefoods Restaurant: A vegetarian and vegan restaurant serving healthy and delicious home-cooked food in a charming setting.
- The Old Mill Restaurant: An atmospheric restaurant with a focus on traditional Irish cuisine in a historic setting.
- Take a Literary Tour: Experience some of Dublin’s rich literary history by visiting places connected with famous Irish writers like James Joyce, Oscar Wilde, or Samuel Beckett. And don’t miss the James Joyce Centre and Dublin Writers Museum.
- Enjoy Traditional Irish Music: To soak up the traditional music scene, simply pop into one of the countless city pubs or venues where live music sessions are held. The Cobblestone and The Temple Bar are well-known venues for traditional music nights.
- Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: At your own pace, visit the most essential sites in Dublin using a hop-on-hop-off bus tour. As such, landmarks that can be visited daily include Trinity College, Dublin Castle, and Guinness Storehouse.
- Visit Dublin’s Markets: Do not miss markets such as Temple Bar Food Market or The Flea Market. Here, you can find rare souvenirs, unique items on sale, and food eateries.
- Taste Whiskies: Why not try some of the best while on a whiskey-tasting whiskey-tasting tour in Ireland? Visit distilleries like Jameson Distillery, Bow St., and Teeling Distillery for insights into the process of making whiskey and tastings.
- Cycle to Dublin Bay: Rent bicycles and cycle the scenic route from Sutton to Sandycove along the Dublin Bay Cycle Path, full of captivating views. Along the way, visit picturesque fishing villages like Howth and Dún Laoghaire.
- Discover Street Art in Dublin: The city boasts diverse street art, including colourful murals and graffiti on many walls. Go around neighbourhoods such as Smithfield or Portobello that have concealed street art jewels through self-guided tours.
- Spoil Yourself with Afternoon Tea: Traditional afternoon tea is available at any chic hotel or tea room in Dublin. A generous assortment of tea sandwiches, scones, and pastries is served with a pot of tea or glassfuls of champagne.
- Gaelic Games Match: Visit Croke Park for a match to experience the thrill of watching Ireland’s national sports, Gaelic football, and hurling, among others. And while you are there, feel the buzz among fans at this legendary stadium.
- Coastal Walk: Get away from all the hustle and bustle by walking along one of Dublin’s stunning coastlines. Take a stroll along mesmerizing cliffs at Howth Head or walk through coastal paths between Bray and Greystones, breathing in fresh sea air as well as enjoying captivating views
Dublin experience four distinct seasons:
- Spring (March to May): Gradually rising temperatures vary between 8°C and 15°C. The season is characterised by moderate days with occasional rainfall and days that are longer. As the flowers start to bloom, the city gets greener.
- Summer (June to August): The hottest season in Dublin, although it doesn’t usually become particularly hot. The mean temperatures range from 15 to 20 degrees Celsius. Showers are still prevalent although days are lengthy and usually moderate. August temperatures vary between 16 and 18 degrees Celsius and are characterised by sunny spells and sporadic rains.
- Autumn (September to November): Early fall brings with it a range of temperatures between 10°C and 16°C, which by November drops to between 6°C and 11°C. The leaves change colour, resulting in stunning sceneries, and the weather can be highly unpredictable, with both sunny and wet spells.
- Winter (December to February): Winters in Dublin are milder than those in other regions of Europe. Normally, the temperature varies between 2°C to 8°C. Snow is uncommon, but frosts are frequent. Shorter days and typically windy, rainy weather with sporadic cold snaps characterise the climate.
Get help from this local weather guide in Dublin.
Dublin and the United Kingdom share the same time zone.
- GMT: Dublin operates on Irish Standard Time (IST) which is the same as GMT. Therefore, no difference.
- BST: During summer daylight savings time, the UK and Ireland operate under British Summer Time (BST), which is GMT+1 during winter months—Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).
Currency:
- The Euro (€) is the official currency in Dublin. While credit cards are widely accepted, carrying some cash is recommended for smaller purchases or taxis.
Language:
- English is the primary language spoken in Dublin. While Irish Gaelic is the national language, it’s not commonly used in everyday conversation.
Local Customs:
It is essential to respect local customs while visiting Dublin. Some common customs in Dublin include: Pubs form part of Irish culture, where people relax over a pint of Guinness or any other drink. Tipping is a widely accepted practice in Dublin, usually about 10-15% in restaurants and cabbies.
Laws:
To find out about the laws pertaining to travellers in Dublin, please refer to the links below:
Dublin, with its rich heritage of art sources from all over the world, lively atmosphere, and friendly people, will never let you feel bored. There are many reasons why Dublin should be your destination choice, which include:
- Cultural Attractions: Dublin has world-class museums, galleries, and historic landmarks, such as Trinity College, Dublin Castle, and Guinness Storehouse.
- Literary Legacy: Many famous writers, such as James Joyce, Oscar Wilde, and Samuel Beckett, were significant literary figures living in Dublin. Visitors can also visit literary landmarks or attend various literary events anytime during the year.
- Music and Entertainment: From traditional Irish music sessions in cozy pubs to live concerts and festivals, Dublin provides it all with a vibrant music scene and entertainment industry.
- Friendly Atmosphere: Warm hospitality and affable locals characterize this city, making visitors instantly feel at home anywhere they go.
- Gateway to Ireland: Ireland’s capital city is a starting point for touring the rest of the country as it offers easy access to picturesque countryside, cute small towns, or coastal tourism sites around Dublin.
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