Even if you’ve never fancied Guinness before, there’s something in the Dublin air that is going to compel you to visit the Guinness Storehouse and sip a sample of Ireland’s most legendary liquid. Here you’ll discover that Guinness is not actually a beer but a porter…
While the Storehouse might be billed as Ireland’s No. 1 international tourist attraction, this dynamic European capital is not short of other ways to captivate visitors. It’s history stretches back 1000 years and Viking, Medieval and Georgian legacies live on. The UNESCO World Heritage Site at Boyne Valley just north of the city actually predates the pyramids of Egypt, and the city itself has a long association with literary giants, such as George Bernard Shaw and James Joyce, and musical luminaries such as U2.
There are eerie reminders of Ireland’s turbulent past in Kilmainham Gaol, now a museum, and at Malahide Castle, there’s not one but five ghosts on the prowl! Fortify yourself for those adventures in traditional Dublin pubs where live music and great craic are always on the menu, or check out the contemporary nightlife in the trendy Temple Bar area.
Dublin Fast Facts 
• Dublin was founded by the Vikings in 988.
• The Liffey is the main river running through the city.
• The population of Dublin City and County area is approximately 1.1 million.
• There are about 18 hours of daylight daily during July and August, only getting truly dark after 11pm.
• There are over 1,000 pubs in Dublin, from traditional watering holes to trendy late night bars.
• The “Oldest Pub in Ireland” is reputed to be located in Dublin; this pub is called the Brazen Head. There has been a pub on this site since 1198. |
Dublin Highlights The Famine Memorial – these statues of tall, emaciated people shuffling along the dock heading for ship are a sombre commemoration of the great famine of the mid 19th century when Ireland lost more than a million people to famine and emigration.
Kilmainham Gaol - closed in 1924, this is a bleak but fascinating attraction. The only way to visit the Gaol is with a guided tour which is great as you learn all about Ireland’s turbulent past and independence as the jail housed the leaders of the Easter 1916 rebellion.
Sample some local brews - discover how the world famous brews are made at the Guinness Storehouse or Old Jameson Distillery.
Francis Bacon’s Studio - after his death in 1992, his London studio was moved in all its messy glory to the Hugh Lane Gallery. You look through a perspex window at the 7,000 items they shifted: a huge easel, piles of paints, jars, brushes, rags, pots, books, photos, towels and empty boxes of Krug Champagne.
Statue hunt - there are plenty to find and some have acquired some interesting nicknames (ask a local!). Keep your eyes peeled for James Joyce, Oscar Wilde & Molly Malone.
Enjoy a pint in the Temple Bar - although it can be a bit touristy, it is still a great place for an evening out and to find a live music ‘session’.
Trinity College - the oldest University in Ireland, founded in 1592, has prime real estate in central Dublin and is home to one of the world’s most famous books, The Book of Kells.
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Dublin Insider Insights 
"If you want to get away from the tourists in the Temple Bar and have a pint where locals go then Kehoe’s
is a good place to start. It’s an old school, small, Irish pub with a couple of little snugs and an upstairs ‘parlour’ kind of seating area – it’s cosy and very atmospheric."
Jenny Gavigan
"The Pig’s Ear was a great restaurant find on Nassau St - upstairs with a nice outlook over Trinity College. The menu is billed as ‘traditional Irish with a modern touch’ and this is a perfect description. My meal was delicious and beautifully presented – some puddings even come in old fashioned jars."
Gabrielle Brown
"If you’re over traditional Irish and feel like a drink then give Café en Seine a go. As the name suggests it is rather ‘Parisian’ and has a real glamorous Art Nouveau flavour – marble floors, glass panelled ceilings and great lamps. Very cool."
Siobhan McDonald
"If you are a history buff then try the 1916 Rebellion Walking Tour (Mon-Sat 11.30am, Sun 1.00pm) which is taken by the authors of the book “The Easter Rising”. You’ll be taken to the relevant sites of the rebellion to give you an understanding of how the formation of the Irish Republic came about."
Anne Graham
"A great alternative for shopping on the smart Grafton Street is Henry & Mary Streets, off O’Connell St. These
streets (Henry turns into Mary) have a great selection of department stores and High St shops."
Nadine Brits |
