Things To Do In Dublin, Ireland

Things to do in Dublin

Dublin is the capital city of Ireland. What they say about Ireland is very true, the locals are so friendly and more than willing to help which is what I LOVED about this city. I loved Irelands architecture and I wish I took more pictures of the buildings, a lot of the time was spent admiring them. This cities historical sites along with their lively social scene makes Dublin an adventure for everyone. I found cheap things to do in Dublin and there was no way I could not share it with my readers.

Getting To Dublin

Although I love travelling I cannot say I love flying, however, a flight to Ireland from London Stansted was awesome. It was only 50 minutes, by the time I started to close my eyes to sleep I heard the announcement the plane was going to land soon. I am not the greatest fan of Ryanair. However, their desire to get passengers to queue excessively long before the plane has arrived could not get me down.

Getting Around Dublin

On arrival to Ireland when leaving the airport the company “DoDublin” was advertising their services and after using their buses it was definitely worth it for the three nights spent in Dublin. We paid 35 Euros each and before you think that is a lot let me explain what was part of the package. The 72 Hours travel card offered Airport express, Unlimited Dublin Public Bus Transport and Do Dublin Hop on Hop Off Bus. If you have read about my trip to Croatia you would know that I love a hop on hop off bus but this one was on another level.

DoDublin Hop on Hop off Bus

Pros

• The Bus tours featured live commentary from the bus drivers which were funny. What I loved is every bus driver was different, when you hopped on you were excited because you had no idea what the driver was going to say.
• The bus drivers were very friendly but then again they are Irish!
• The buses were frequent, the longest time we waited for a bus was 10 minutes.
• The buses stopped at a lot of attractions compared to the other tour bus companies. If you are here for a short stay and plan your time you can get a lot done.
• When the tour bus ends you are still able to access public bus services to enjoy Ireland.
• A book of discounts and free vouchers are included with your ticket.

Cons

•  Stops within the same area can take longer to get to. I would recommend ensuring you plan things that are in the same area and walk to them rather than getting on the bus each time.

What I did in Dublin

O”Connell Street

Known for being one of the Irelands most famous streets due to being an important location in Ireland’s history. This is filled with Irish heroes so be sure to be on the lookout. It is impossible to miss as it is at the heart of the city centre in Dublin, here you will find a range of shops, restaurants, and transport. Look out for the “Spire” that stands 150 metres tall it is hard not to miss.

Dublin City Gallery

Located around 10 minutes away from O”Connell street. Here is where collections of contemporary Irish art is found. The building was beautiful and there were definitely some interesting pieces. Although I am not one to go into galleries I thought it was worth a quick look due to its location to O”Connell street.

Little Museum Of Dublin

With the Hop On Hop Off Bus we got free entry into this museum. The tour was done in two rooms for a total of 30 minutes explaining key aspects of Dublin history. After which you were able to explore the museum. I am going to be honest if it was not free it would not be worth going personally for me. However, the staff were lovely and it was very interactive as the museum had key memorabilia from the different eras explained. If you are interested in the history of Dublin then this museum is worth a visit.

St Stephen’s Green

Just opposite the Little Museum of Dublin, you will find “The Green” which is known to be the largest city square in Europe! The park is open to the public and is a lovely place to take a stroll or to spend time enjoying during the summer. It is very popular among the Dubliners and has commemorative monuments for some of Ireland’s most loved historical figures.

Grafton Street

If you are around the Little Museum of Dublin and walk up the road you will find Grafton street. This a tourist busy street filled with performers and shops for all ages and tastes so you are sure to find something if you take a look. It is basically like any shopping area so I did not feel the need to buy anything I just wanted to take a look.

St Stephen Shopping Centre

This shopping centre is found at the top of Grafton Street. It is an indoor shopping centre including over 100 outlets with alternative clothes shops. The interior of the building was beautiful if you are in the local area make sure you take a look. I personally went to take pictures I didn’t really find much myself.

Temple Bar

In every Dublin blog, I have read Temple bar was always brought up so there was no way I could miss it.  Temple Bar is known to be one of the oldest areas of Dublin. Take a look round the pedestrianised streets where there are restaurants, pubs and music venues. If you want to embrace all things Irish then this is the street you need to be on. I recommend going in the evening it gets very lively.

Kilmainham Gaol

This is a very popular tourist attraction, it offers a real account of the harsh life of prisoners living in the Gaol. Listen, when we came here we did not realise that if you did not have a ticket you may have to wait for ages to actually have a tour to go inside. If visiting the Goal is important on your itinerary buy a ticket or go early to avoid disappointment. However, Kilmainham Gaol also had a free museum and at the time we came, there was a Nelson Mandela exhibition. It was very motivational and I can never say no to learning about black history so I am glad I was able to access the exhibition.

Phoenix Park

When I say this park was levels it was levels. The Phoenix is THE largest urban park in Europe. It gave me Hyde Park London feels but much bigger. It was originally a deer park so if you’re in luck you might see wild deer. Phoenix Park is also home to Dublin zoo and the home of the Irish president is also situated on the same grounds as the park. My pictures really do not do it justice, it was massive!

Things to do in Dublin: In Pictures

St Patrick’s Cathedral

Guinness Storehouse

Teeling Whiskey Distillery

Irish Museum of Modern Art

Unfortunately, I did not get to see all the places I wanted as I was only there for three days. There is so much history to Ireland and I am glad I went. I would definitely recommend a trip to Ireland.

Has anyone been to Dublin or any local Dubliners? what were your favourite things to do? Please comment, share and follow.