Dublin City

Dublin Tourist TOP TEN

1. Guinness Storehouse

This is Dublin’s top tourist attraction! Guinness Storehouse is dedicated to everything there is to know about Ireland’s most famous beer. It starts with a dramatic story 250 years ago and ends in the bar with a freshest free pint of Guinness you’ll ever taste.

Website: www.guinness-storehouse.com

2. Trinity College Dublin & The Book of Kells

Trinity College’s Old Library and the Book of Kells Exhibition are considered a “must see” for visitors to Dublin. The Old Library building was constructed in the 18^th century and here you’ll find The Book of Kells - a 9th-century gospel manuscript famous throughout the world.

Website: www.tcd.ie

3. Dublinia & The Viking World

The Dublinia exhibition covers Dublin’s history from the arrival of the Anglo-Normans in 1170 to the closure of the monasteries in the 1540s. There are many exhibits here which include videos, models and reconstructions. The ground floor houses a large-scale model of Dublin around 1500, a display of artifacts from Wood Quay, and reconstructions.

Website: www.dublinia.ie

4. Temple Bar

Temple Bar is an area on the south bank of the River Liffey. Temple Bar has preserved its medieval street pattern, with many narrow cobbled streets, and it’s lively nightlife is a favourite of tourists and the area is promoted as “Dublin’s cultural quarter”.

5. Kilmainham Gaol

Built in 1792, it is Ireland’s most famous disused prison. It held throughout the years many famous Nationalists and Republicans. The leaders of the 1916 Easter Rising were executed here. The prison was closed in 1924 and the building gives a good insight into the history of Irish Republicanism

6. The Old Jameson Distillery

Jameson’s guides will lead you through the fascinating story of the whiskey maker Jameson. Follow the path through malting, milling, mashing, fermenting, distilling and maturing and complete the visit with a whiskey in the bar.

Website: http://www.whiskeytours.ie

7. Dublin Castle

Dublin Castle is now a major Irish government complex. Most of it dates from the 18th century, though a castle has stood on the site since the days of King John. The Castle served as the seat of English, then later British government of Ireland. When The Irish Free State was established in 1922, the complex was ceremonially handed over to the newly formed Provisional Government led by Michael Collins

Website: http://www.dublincastle.ie

8. National Gallery of Ireland

This purpose-built gallery was opened to the public in 1864. It has more than 2,000 works on display! Heavy on the Irish Landscape art and portraits, yet every major school of European painting is well represented.

9. St. Stephen’s Green

Perhaps the most famous of Dublin’s squares, this is a popular spot for people to feed ducks and have picnics on a summer day in Dublin! Located at the top of Grafton Street, it’s also an ideal place to rest after a days shopping in town, and get lost by the lake, trees, and plants.

10. Christchurch Cathedral

Located in the oldest part of the city, this cathedral is one of Dublin’s finest historic buildings. It dates back to 1038 when Sitric, then Danish king of Dublin, built the first wood here. The simple foundation was extended in 1171 and rebuilt in stone by Strongbow. The present structure dates mainly from 1871 to 1878 when a huge restoration was undertaken.

Website: www.cccdub.ie

Free Stuff

A section dedicated to free stuff in Dublin and on the outskirts of the city.

All parks are free.

Free walking Tour – in English and Spanish (See brochures in Reception)

Dublin is a city of FREE museums…

National Gallery

National Library

Museum Of Natural History

National Museum are all free to explore.

But, wait! There’s more free stuff…

Dublin City Gallery – The Hugh Lane

You’ll find the actual studio of Francis Bacon (which was moved from London where the Dublin artist lived for 31 years). The studio includes tables and furniture piled with materials and mess, slashed canvases and more.

A new extension includes 13 bright galleries with pieces from the 1950’s and onwards.

Chester Beatty Library presents the extraordinary collection of Alfred Chester Beatty. Texts and works from around the world, Chinese jade books and european calligraphy as well as illuminated Islamic texts. There’s a landscaped garden in front of the building and a rooftop garden on the third floor, perfect for your lunch break.

At Dublin City Gallery – The Hugh Lane you can dig out all sorts of funky magnets, colour prints, puppets pop culture hardbacks

Glasnevin Cemetery

Free tours 14.30 Wednesday and Friday of Irelands largest cemetery, sometimes referred to as Croak Park. Notable people here include Michael Collins, Eamon de Valera, and the poet Gerard Manley Hopkins.

There are towers at the South Eastern End that were once used to keep watch for bodysnatchers. The cemetery was also mentioned in James Joyce’s Ulysses.

Colin Barracks, the castle’s courtyard and Chapel Royal are free.

On a Tuesday free tour of the House of Lords for those interested in the country’s politics.

Musicians along Grafton Street, though a couple coins will put a smile on their lips.

Free Stuff Outside the City:

National Botanical Gardens (50 acres) watch the grey squirrels and try to spot the rare red squirrels. The Garden traces it’s origins back to 1795. Free entrance all days, and free guided tours every Sunday @ 12pm and 2.30pm

Sandycove has a renowned bathing spot the chill of the Irish Sea.

Kilney Hill has a fantastic (and free) panoramic view of the city below

Eating:

Check out the Irish Pubs for:

Irish Stew

Full Irish breakfast w black pudding

Bangers and Mash

Pies

Picnic:

Pick up a takeaway lunch and head to St. Stephen’s Green. Picnic in the quiet company of James Joyce’s statue and the resident duck! The park also has a garden for the blind, complete with signs in Braille.

Food

Easy shopping:

Supermarkets close to Camden Place

Tesco Express open 7am-11pm Mon-Fri, 7am-10pm Weekend

Fresh Market

Food halls and markets

Epicurean Food Hall

Essentially just a food court for snacks and specialist porducts. Choose between French, Mexican, Japanese, Indian, Lebanese and more.

Asia Market: If you want to cook oriental head for this market, find everything from the basics to grass jelly and chicken feet!

Moore Street Market

Open air market with fruit fish and flowers, and even phone cards and hair extensions.

Meeting House Square Market

Great open air market, peer, pick and taste your way around through the gourmet lane.

Smithfield Fish Market

Grab the freshest fish in town and cook it back here.

Sheridans Cheesemongers

Cheese heaven of farmhouse cheeses from around the country. Sample one of the sixty cheeses on display and pick up some crackers, olives or salmon too.

Nightlife

Explore Temple Bar, up and down Camden Street, wander through South William Street, Dublin is a city of bars, pubs and clubs!

Local off License:

IMPORTANT! All offies close at 10pm by law every night! Pubs close 11.30pm, 12.30am or 2am with late license

For a good pint of Guinness, head to…

Foggy Dew

Anseo

Slattery’s (Rathmines)

Bernard Shaw

O Donoghue’s

Hairy Lemon

Live Venues:

The Academy

Crawdaddy

Vicar Street

Local venue Wheelans right around the corner.

Dublin gay bars are in George st.

The George

The Dragon

STUDENT DEALS:

National Concert Hall.

Often if there are tickets left for performances during the week, students can avail of the ”Stand-by Scheme.” An hour before the performance, students can buy tickets for only 5euro for any seat.

5% off in GameStop - 10% off in Heatons

10% in HMV (they’ll give you their own student card when you show your normal one)

10% in Schuh

Most cinemas give a discount too. Cinemas have early bird specials (about 5 euro for shows before 2pm)

Shopping In Dublin

Grafton Street

Henry Street

Dundrum Town Center: Get lost in Europe’s largest shopping and entertainment centre, with more than 100 retails outlets, cinemas, restaurants and bars. You’ll love it or hate it…

Penney’s

Cheap cheap cheap department store.

Dunnes Stores

Food to clothing to homeware, Dunnes has cheap prices and a good selection of all the basics

Books:

Murder Ink

Small specialist bookstore with murder on the menu: from historical mystery to sci-fi mystery, true crimes and more.

Music

Road Records

Small record shop latest indie, and good place to get tickets for local gigs.

Walton’s

With everything within traditional irish music: CDs to instruments (banjos, bodhrans, guitars) to sheet music for instruments as the fiddle.

Shoes

Schuh

Two floors of trendy footwear from trainers to formal shoes.

Fleamarkets

Bookfair every Saturday @ Temple Bar Square

Second hand/ Vintage/ Charity Shops

Lucy’s Lounge

11 Fownes St, D2

Awesome reviews, this shop has an excellent selection of vintage.

Harlequin

13 Castle Market, D2

Cluttered and packed with vintage clothing from the 1920s and on, satin gloves, top hats and all.

Flip

3-4 Fownes Street, D2

Lotsa 60’s and 70’s clothing, and funky belts. Good jeans for guys.

Wild Child Vintage Clothes

22 South Georges Street, D2

Lower prices than some of the others, dig away for the finds. Plus funky furniture.

Swopshop

7 Crow St, D@

Clothing exchange shop. Sell you clothes or find new ones in the shop!

Georges St. Arcade

South Great Georges Street, D2

A mixture of a market and an arcade. Find kooky random things from scarves to old coins, Turkish delight, old vinyl’s.

Try something different…

Sports Stadium

Croke Park, home of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) a gigantic modern stadium with 82.000 capacity. Home of the GAA museum, that accounts for hurling and gaelic football as well as camogie (women’s version of hurling) and handball. Tours of the stadium cost about 10 euro and includes entry to the museum (no tour on match days)

Escape the City!

Howth

Escape the city to the fishing village of Howth. Here you will find Ireland’s Eye, an island seabird sanctuary that shelter s 6^th century monastery. In the summer, there are tours to the island. Howth is also home to Howth Castle, the oldest uninhabited house in Ireland (but it’s closed to the public)

Sandycove. James Joyce Museum. James Joyce stayed at this location 1 week before he left for Italy. The museum displays JJ’s guitar, waistcoat, walking stick, and letter photos etc., plus sweeping views of Dublin Bay.

Tours!

DUBLIN CITY TOUR

Operator: The Dualway Group Prices: From 16.00 EUR Duration: 1.5 Hours Starts and finishes in Dublin Visits: Dublin

MULTI-LINGUAL HOP ON HOP OFF DUBLIN CITY TOUR

Operator: The Dualway Group Prices: From 16.00 EUR Duration: 1.5 Hours Starts and finishes in Dublin Visits: Dublin

THE DUBLIN BAY & CASTLE TOUR

Operator: The Dualway Group Prices: From 25.00 EUR Duration: 3.5 Hours Starts and finishes in Dublin Visits: Malahide & Howth, Co. Dublin

THE DUBLIN BAY & CASTLE TOUR

Operator: The Dualway Group Prices: From 25.00 EUR Duration: 3.5 Hours Starts and finishes in Dublin Visits: Malahide & Howth, Co. Dublin

THE DUBLIN BAY & CASTLE TOUR

Operator: The Dualway Group Prices: From 25.00 EUR Duration: 3.5 Hours Starts and finishes in Dublin Visits: Malahide & Howth, Co. Dublin

DUBLIN BUS TOUR-HOP ON HOP OFF.