For other places with the same name, see Dublin (disambiguation).

Dublin (Irish: Baile Átha Cliath, "Town of the Hurdled Ford") is the capital city of Ireland. Its vibrancy, nightlife and tourist attractions are world renowned and it's the most popular entry point for international visitors to Ireland.

As a city, it is disproportionately large for the size of the country with a population of 1.9 million in the Greater Dublin Region (2011); nearly half of the Republic's population lives in this metropolitan area. The central sights can be navigated by foot, with a few outlying sights, and suburbs sprawling out for miles.

The climate is mild so Dublin is a year-round destination. It's seldom freezing in winter, cool in summer and frequent light showers anytime, see County Dublin weather chart.

Understand [ edit ]

History [ edit ]

Founded in 841, Dublin was originally settled by Vikings among a population of Celtic tribes. In the 9th century the Danes captured Dublin and had control until 1171 when they were expelled by King Henry II of England. By the 14th century the king of England controlled Dublin and the surrounding area referred to as “the Pale”.

When the English Civil War ended in 1649, Oliver Cromwell took over. Dublin experienced huge growth and development in the 17th century because many Protestant refugees from Europe came to Dublin. By the 17th century Dublin was the second largest city in the British Isles, only behind London, and a period when great Georgian style buildings were constructed that still stand today. Georgian style architecture was popular from 1720 to 1840 during the times when George I, George II, George III, and George IV of England were ruling.

In 1800, the Act of Union between England and Ireland abolished the Irish Parliament. From this point on, the Irish worked to gain their independence from England, which they finally won in 1922. The Easter rising in 1916 and the War of Independence greatly helped Ireland win their freedom.

A failed attempt to take over the several important buildings, among them the General Post Office on O'Connell Street, led to the arrest of hundreds and execution of 15, now considered martyrs for the cause. Many believe that this event helped gain sympathy for the fight for independence from Britain.

Orientation [ edit ]

Customs House on the Liffey

Dublin is divided by the River Liffey. On the north side of the Liffey is O'Connell Street — the main thoroughfare, which is intersected by numerous shopping streets, including Henry Street and Mary Street, the busiest shopping district in the city. On the south side are St. Stephen's Green and Grafton Street, the second busiest and most upmarket shopping area, Trinity College, Christ Church and St. Patrick's Cathedrals, the main branch of the National Museum, and many other attractions.

The green Leeson St nameplate pre-dates inclusion of postal districts; the newer blue Hatch St nameplate indicates the district is Dublin 2

Dublin postal districts range from Dublin 1 to Dublin 24. As a rule, odd numbers are given to areas north of the River Liffey, while even numbers are given to areas south of the river (exceptions are Dublin 8 and 20 which span both sides of Liffey). Usually, the lower the district number, the closer to the city centre.

Although some of Dublin's finest Georgian architecture was demolished in the mid-20th century, a remarkable amount remains. At one point these buildings were considered a reminder of the past British imperialism and many were demolished without regard to their beauty and architectural significance and replaced with modernist or pastiche office blocks, parts of St. Stephen's Green (Dublin 2) being a prime example. Thankfully, attitudes have changed significantly, and Dubliners are now rightly proud of their impressive buildings from all eras.

There is a Dublin Visitor Centre northside at opposite the GPO, and another southside at by Trinity College. They're both open daily 08:30-18:00. Several other places call themselves "tourist offices" but are just marketing their own tours.

Get in [ edit ]

By plane [ edit ]

Between airport and city: bus and taxi are the options, there's no rail / metro link.

Aircoach (the big blue bus) runs to city centre and several of Dublin's major hotels, which are mostly south-side. Buses run from T1 then T2 every 15 mins, taking 30 mins, fare is €7 single or €12 return. Aircoach also run to other cities, including Cork and Belfast. Taxi drivers routinely try to pick up passengers waiting at the Aircoach stop: they're forbidden to do so, but offer a similar rate and get many takers, so they persist.

(the big blue bus) runs to city centre and several of Dublin's major hotels, which are mostly south-side. Buses run from T1 then T2 every 15 mins, taking 30 mins, fare is €7 single or €12 return. Aircoach also run to other cities, including Cork and Belfast. Taxi drivers routinely try to pick up passengers waiting at the Aircoach stop: they're forbidden to do so, but offer a similar rate and get many takers, so they persist. AirLink Buses 747 and 757, operated by Dublin Bus, run daily 05:00-00:30 every 10 mins or so daytime for route 747 and about every 30 mins for route 757. They take 30 mins from T1 via T2 and the tunnel into dockland; then they hit the downtown traffic and make slow progress. The 747 goes via Central Bus Station (Busáras), Connolly Railway Station, Gardiner St, O’Connell St, College Green & Temple Bar, Christ Church Cathedral, High St, Ushers Quay and Heuston Railway Station. The 757 runs further south via Custom House Quay, O’Connell Bridge, Hawkins St & Temple Bar, Westland Row, Merrion Square, St Stephen’s Green, Camden and Harcourt St. The fare (cash only) is €7 single, €12 return or free if you buy a Leap Visitor Card in the terminal before boarding.

operated by Dublin Bus, run daily 05:00-00:30 every 10 mins or so daytime for route 747 and about every 30 mins for route 757. They take 30 mins from T1 via T2 and the tunnel into dockland; then they hit the downtown traffic and make slow progress. The 747 goes via Central Bus Station (Busáras), Connolly Railway Station, Gardiner St, O’Connell St, College Green & Temple Bar, Christ Church Cathedral, High St, Ushers Quay and Heuston Railway Station. The 757 runs further south via Custom House Quay, O’Connell Bridge, Hawkins St & Temple Bar, Westland Row, Merrion Square, St Stephen’s Green, Camden and Harcourt St. The fare (cash only) is €7 single, €12 return or free if you buy a Leap Visitor Card in the terminal before boarding. Local buses are much slower - allow an hour - but cheaper (typically €3.30) and may be more convenient for the suburbs. The two routes are:

- Bus 16 via Drumcondra railway station, O'Connell St, Georges St and out to the southern suburbs of Rathmines and Ballanteer / Kingstown. - Bus 41 via Drumcondra railway station and O'Connell St, passing near Busáras, to Lower Abbey St. Northbound it runs out to Swords. The stops for the local buses are at Terminal 1 through the car park opposite Arrivals exit and then to the right. Pay with coins only, the ticket machines give change but bus drivers don't. Luggage space is limited on the local buses, and it is not unknown for drivers to turn away travellers with packs that cannot be stored.

A taxi to the city centre should cost around €20-30, so it will match the bus if you are in a group of three or more. Taxis are legally obliged to provide an electronic receipt detailing the fare, distance and other pertinent details. Make sure to ask for a receipt as otherwise they often don't provide one.

Other destinations: many Bus Eireann routes between Dublin and other Irish cities run via the airport, see individual cities' "Get in". Within County Dublin:

- Bus 101 runs every 20 mins to Balrothery, Balbriggan and Drogheda. This bus runs from Dublin Talbot St via Drumcondra but is not available for journeys just between city, airport and Swords. - Bus 102 runs from the airport every 30 mins to Swords, Malahide, Portmarnock and Sutton near Howth. - Drumcondra (Bus 16 & 41) has trains from Connolly towards Maynooth. - Aircoach Bus 700 runs to Leopoldstown & Sandyford, 702 to Bray & Greystones, and 703 to Dún Laoghaire, Dalkey & Killiney.

By train [ edit ]

The country's railways converge on the city, see Rail travel in Ireland.





Allow 45 mins if you need to transfer between Heuston and Connolly.

By bus [ edit ]

Dublin Bus

main bus station has Bus Eireann services from most towns in Ireland, such as Belfast (2 hr 30), Cork (4 hr), Limerick (3 hr 30), Galway (4 hr) and Donegal (2 hr 30), all running via the airport. Other operators are Kavanaghs to Limerick and Waterford, and Citylink and GoBus to Galway. Eurolines Bus 871 runs nightly to Dublin from London Victoria via Luton, Birmingham, Lymm motorway services (with National Express connections from Liverpool, Manchester, Bradford and Leeds) to Holyhead then by ferry to Dublin Port and Busáras. Luggage lockers are in the basement, along with the pay-to-enter public toilets.

Some buses to County Dublin and neighbouring County Meath don't use the station but leave from stops in in the nearby streets. Busáras is just south of Connolly railway station and 300 m east of O'Connell Street.

By boat [ edit ]

Stena ferry to Ireland

Dublin has ferries from Holyhead in Wales (Stena and Irish Ferries, 3 hr 30 min), Bootle near Liverpool (P&O, 8 hrs) and Douglas, Isle of Man (Isle of Man Ferries, 3 hr 30 min). From Cherbourg in Normandy and Pembroke in Wales they nowadays only sail to Rosslare and not to Dublin. All sailings are to 2 km east of the centre; a link bus connects the port to Busáras. The former ferry port of Dún Laoghaire, 7 km south, is no longer used: the new tunnel means that motorists can disembark at Dublin and drive straight onto the motorway without getting snarled in city centre traffic.

Another ferry route is the short crossing from Cairnryan in Scotland to Belfast, then by road or rail to Dublin.

By car [ edit ]

If you're visiting Dublin just for a day trip, don't bring a car into the congested centre, use a Park & Ride. From the south, use either Sandyford Luas stop, just off junction 15 of M50 on Blackthorn Rd, or Bray DART stop on Bray Rd. From the west, use Red Cow Luas stop, off junction 9 of M50. From the north east, use Howth DART station. Tariffs at Park & Ride stations are €2 - €4.

Get around [ edit ]

You can see much of the city on foot.

The Ha'Penny Bridge

By public transport [ edit ]

Public transport in Dublin consists of trains, trams and buses. Unlike many other European capitals, the rail network in Dublin is quite limited, so buses are by far the main mode of public transport. Public transport is not run by a single agency, but by a number of state-contracted operators, and most information is provided separately on each operator's website. Trains are run by Irish Rail and trams by Luas, while most buses are run by Dublin Bus, except some local buses in suburban areas which are run by Go-Ahead Ireland.

Transport for Ireland (TFI) is the umbrella brand for public transport in Ireland, although it's website primarily just directs you to the individual operators websites for information. However, the TFI Journey Planner is a good way to plan your journey across different modes, and the Live Departures provides real time information for all rail and bus stops. TFI also provides a number of smartphone apps including a journey planner and real time departures. Note that the journey planner app also provides real time departures, so you don't need to download both. The TFI Journey Planner and Live Departures are also integrated into Google Transit and are available within Google Maps.

Tickets and Leap Card [ edit ]

On trains and trams, tickets can be purchased from ticket vending machines at the station or stop prior to boarding. Train tickets are valid for the day of purchase and are needed to get through the entry and exit turnstiles at stations. Tram tickets do not have to be validated prior to boarding, but must be used within 90 minutes of purchase. On buses, you can pay the fare to the driver when boarding, however you must have the exact amount in coins. Notes cannot be taken, and if you overpay in coins, no change is given.

If you plan to use public transport a lot, consider getting a TFI Leap Card, which you can top up with credit and use to pay fares on all public transport in the city, at a 30% discount. Leap Cards can be purchased from most convenience shops at just €5 for adults and €3 for children (this is actually a deposit and if you register your card online, it can later be refunded to an EU bank account or a number of charities). You can check your credit and top up the card at most convenience shops, at train or tram ticket vending machines, and on your phone with the Leap Top-Up App.

To use your Leap Card on trains or trams, you need to tag-on by holding your card against the turnstile or validator before boarding, and then tag-off again at the turnstile or validator at the end of your journey. You will automatically be charged the relevant fare between the tag-on and tag-off locations. To use your Leap Card on buses, you need to place the card on the drivers machine, and tell the driver where you are going, and they will deduct the relevant fare. If you are making a longer journey, you can instead hold your card against the validator on the right hand side of the door where you will automatically be charged the highest fare. It's important to note that if you don't tag-on, you don't have a valid ticket, so you could be fined if a ticket inspector boards and checks your card.

Single fares are around 30% cheaper with a Leap Card than with cash. If you change between any buses, trams or trains within 90 minutes, then any subsequent fares will automatically be reduced by a further €1. The fares are also capped, so once you reach a certain amount within the same day or week (Monday to Sunday), you can continue to travel for free for the remainder of that day or week. For adults, the daily caps are €7 for buses or trams, €9.50 for trains and €10 for all modes. The weekly caps are €27.50 for buses or trams, €37 for trains and €40 for all modes. Child caps are much lower, about one third of the adult caps.

A special Leap Visitor Card is also available for tourists, which allows unlimited use of all public transport for 1 day (€10), 3 days (€19.50), or 7 days (€40), starting from the time of first use. This can be purchased at arrivals in Dublin Airport (WH Smith in Terminal 1 and Spar in Terminal 2) in some city centre tourist offices, or ordered online for delivery. Once your chosen time period expires, you can also top it up with additional time periods at most convenience shops in the city.

By train [ edit ]

The DART (Dublin Area Rapid Transit) is a frequent suburban rail service around Dublin Bay, from Howth and Malahide in the north to Bray and Greystones in the south, passing through the city centre, Dún Laoghaire and Dalkey. It is a convenient way to visit some of the coastal parts of the city, and the southern section runs along the coastline with scenic views of the bay.

Along the core section between Howth Junction in the north and Bray in the south, trains run every 10 minutes Monday to Friday and every 30 minutes on Saturdays and Sundays. North of Howth Junction, services split, with every second train either running to Howth in the northeast, or continuing north to Malahide. South of Bray, every third train extends to Greystones.

In addition to the DART line, a number of commuter rail lines also operate in Dubin:

The Northern commuter line runs from Connolly Station to Drogheda, through the north Dublin coastal towns of Portmarnock, Malahide, Donabate, Rush, Skerries and Balbriggan.

runs from Connolly Station to Drogheda, through the north Dublin coastal towns of Portmarnock, Malahide, Donabate, Rush, Skerries and Balbriggan. The Western commuter line runs from Connolly Station to the university town of Maynooth, through Drumcondra, Castleknock, Clonsilla and Leixlip. A short branch line operates from Clonsilla to Dunboyne. During the day, these trains are timed to connect with Western commuter trains at Clonsilla, while at peak times the Dunboyne trains continue through Clonsilla and extend into the Docklands Station in the city centre.

runs from Connolly Station to the university town of Maynooth, through Drumcondra, Castleknock, Clonsilla and Leixlip. The Southwestern commuter line runs to Kildare, through Clondalkin, Hazelhatch, Sallins and Newbridge. Some of these services operate to Heuston Station to the west of the city centre, while some operate through the Phoenix Park Tunnel to Connolly Station and Grand Canal Dock.

runs to Kildare, through Clondalkin, Hazelhatch, Sallins and Newbridge. Some of these services operate to Heuston Station to the west of the city centre, while some operate through the Phoenix Park Tunnel to Connolly Station and Grand Canal Dock. The Southeastern commuter line runs from Connolly Station along the south Dublin and Wicklow coasts, through Bray, Greystones, Wicklow, Rathnew and Arklow, eventually extending into Wexford.

All trains in Dublin serve one of three stations:

Connolly Station is the main commuter hub and the closest to the city centre, serving the DART, all Northern, Western and Southeastern commuter trains, and the Southwestern line trains which operate through the Phoenix Park Tunnel. It also serves Intercity trains to Sligo and Rosslare, as well as the cross-border Enterprise train to Belfast. Many of the trains through Connolly also serve Tara Street and Pearse Station , which are closer to the main shopping areas in the south city centre.

is the main commuter hub and the closest to the city centre, serving the DART, all Northern, Western and Southeastern commuter trains, and the Southwestern line trains which operate through the Phoenix Park Tunnel. It also serves Intercity trains to Sligo and Rosslare, as well as the cross-border Enterprise train to Belfast. Many of the trains through Connolly also serve and , which are closer to the main shopping areas in the south city centre. Heuston Station is to the west of the city centre and serves the Southwestern commuter line trains which don't operate through the Phoenix Park Tunnel. It is also the main Intercity station for Dublin, serving all trains to the south and west of Ireland, including Cork, Galway, Kilkenny, Limerick, Tralee, Waterford and Westport. The Red line of the Luas tram network connects Heuston and Connolly Station with each other.

is to the west of the city centre and serves the Southwestern commuter line trains which don't operate through the Phoenix Park Tunnel. It is also the main Intercity station for Dublin, serving all trains to the south and west of Ireland, including Cork, Galway, Kilkenny, Limerick, Tralee, Waterford and Westport. The Red line of the Luas tram network connects Heuston and Connolly Station with each other. Docklands Station is in the north docklands and only serves peak-time commuter trains from Dunboyne. It is a short walk from the Spencer Dock stop on the Luas Red line, and a slightly longer walk from Connolly Station.

A map of the rail network in Dublin is available here.

The short hop zone covers all of the DART, as well as commuter rail services as far as Balbriggan, Kilcock, Sallins and Kilcoole. Single fares within the short hop zone are €2.25-€6.20 adult and €1.25-€2.55 child if purchased from ticket vending machines, while if paying with a TFI Leap Card are €1.70-€4.90 adult and €0.80-€1.94 child. Day return, 1 day, 3 day, 7 day and monthly tickets are also available. A family all day ticket is available for €20, which can be used by up to 2 adults and 4 children.

By tram [ edit ]

A Luas tram at Heuston Station

The Luas (Irish language for "speed") is Dublin's tram system. The system only launched in 2004 and the trams are modern and usually reliable. Trams run frequently from early in the morning until just after midnight each day. There are two lines:

The Red line runs from Tallaght and Saggart in the southwest of the city to Connolly Station and The Point in the east, serving the Red Cow, St. James's Hospital, Heuston Station, Abbey Street, Busáras and the 3 Arena.

runs from Tallaght and Saggart in the southwest of the city to Connolly Station and The Point in the east, serving the Red Cow, St. James's Hospital, Heuston Station, Abbey Street, Busáras and the 3 Arena. The Green line runs from Brides Glen in the southeast of the city to Broombridge in the northwest, serving the Cherrywood and Sandyford business districts, Dundrum Town Centre, St. Stephen's Green, O'Connell Street and the TU Dublin Grangegorman Campus.

Both lines connect with each other in the city centre, where there is only a 100m walk from the Abbey stop on the Red line to either the O'Connell GPO (northbound) or Marlborough (southbound) stops on the Green line. The connection between both lines is not signposted, but you can easily see where the lines cross each other. The Red line also connects with train services at Connolly Station and Heuston Station, while the Green line connects with Western commuter trains at Broombridge.

Single fares on the Luas are €2.10-€3.20 adult and €1.00-€1.30 child if purchased from ticket vending machines, while if paying with a TFI Leap Card are €1.54-€2.40 adult and €0.80-€1.00 child. Day return, 1 day and 7 day tickets are also available.

By bus [ edit ]

City network [ edit ]

An extensive network of 150 bus routes serves most parts of the city and its surrounding suburbs. Most buses in the city centre pass through the O'Connell St area (including Mountjoy and Parnell Squares, Eden Quay and Fleet St) and the Trinity College area (including Pearse St, Nassau St, Dame St and College Green). Services vary from high frequency routes running every few minutes all day, to lower frequency routes running every hour or less, to peak-only limited-stop "Xpresso" routes and weekend-only late night "Nitelink" routes.

Confusingly, the bus network in Dublin is run by two separate companies, with timetables listed on two separate websites, and displayed at stops in two different formats. However, both companies share the same fare structure and Leap ticketing system, and all routes are included in the Transport for Ireland Journey Planner and Real Time apps:

Dublin Bus operate all cross-city routes, and all routes which run to and from the city centre. The timetables displayed at stops refer to the time the bus leaves the terminus, not the time it will be passing that particular stop, so there is a bit of guesswork required.

Go-Ahead Ireland operate local routes in the suburbs, as well as orbital routes which avoid the city centre. In contrast to Dublin Bus, all Go-Ahead Ireland timetables displayed at stops refer to the times buses are due to be passing that particular stop.

A schematic map of the core cross-city routes, as well as a map of the city centre stopping locations are available here. A detailed map of the entire city network, colour coded by frequency is available here (and for the far outer areas see here).

Cash fares within the city (exact amount in coins only) are €2.15-€3.80 adult and €1.00-€1.60 child, while if paying with a TFI Leap Card are €1.55-€3.00 adult and €0.80-€1.26 child. Those paying with a TFI Leap Card can also benefit from a €1 discount if interchanging within 90 minutes, and maximum daily and weekly caps. See Tickets and Leap Card.

At busier stops, an electronic sign lists the next 4 to 6 real-time departures. For all other stops, real-time departures can be checked online or in TFI apps (see By public transport above). All buses display their route number and destination on the front. When you see your bus approaching, hold out your hand to signal to the driver that you want to get on, otherwise they may not stop. If you have a prepaid TFI Leap Card, enter on the right-hand side and tag on by holding your card against the reader. Otherwise enter on the left-hand side to pay the driver.

Inside the bus, small screens display the next stop in both Irish and English, along with an audio announcement in both languages. When you see or hear your stop being announced, press one of the red buttons to signal to the driver that you want to get off.

Useful routes [ edit ]

The following routes are the most frequent cross-city routes, running every 8 to 12 minutes Monday to Friday, and every 10 to 15 minutes on Saturdays and Sundays:

Route 4 operates from Harristown and Ballymun in the north to Ballsbridge and Blackrock in the southeast.

Route 15 operates from Clongriffin and Artane in the northeast to Templeogue and Ballycullen in the southwest.

Route 16 operates from Dublin Airport and Santry in the north to Rathfarnham and Ballinteer in the south.

Route 27 operates from Clare Hall and Artane in the northeast to Walkinstown and Tallaght in the southwest.

Route 39a operates from Ongar and Blanchardstown in the northwest to Baggot Street and University College Dublin in the southwest.

Route 40 operates from Charlestown and Finglas in the northwest to Ballyfermot and Liffey Valley in the west.

Route 41 and Route 41c operate from Swords, Santry and Drumcondra in the north to Abbey Street in the city centre, with every second bus (route 41) serving Dublin Airport.

Route 46a operates from the Phoenix Park in the inner northwest to University College Dublin, Stillorgan and Dún Laoghaire in the southeast.

Route 130 operates from Abbey Street in the city centre to Clontarf, Bull Island and St. Annes Park in the east.

Route 145 operates from Heuston Station in the inner west to University College Dublin, Stillorgan and Bray in the southeast.

While Dublin's bus network is primarily focused on cross-city routes and routes into the city centre, there are also a number of orbital routes which avoid the city centre. The most useful of these are:

Route 17 operates around the south of the city, from Rialto via Terenure, Rathfarnham and University College Dublin to Blackrock, every 20 minutes Monday to Saturday and every 30 minutes on Sundays.

Route 17a operates across the north of the city, from Blanchardstown via Finglas, Ballymun, Santry and Coolock to Kilbarrack, every 20 minutes Monday to Sunday.

Route 18 operates across the inner south of the city, from Palmerstown via Ballyfermot, Kylemore, Crumlin, Rathmines, Ranelagh and Ballsbridge to Sandymount, every 20 minutes Monday to Sunday.

Route 75 operates across the outer south of the city, from Tallaght via Rathfarnham, Ballinteer, Dundrum and Stillorgan to Dún Laoghaire, every 30 minutes Monday to Sunday.

Route 76 across the west of the city, from Tallaght via Clondalkin, Liffey Valley and Ballyfermot to Chapelizod, every 20 minutes Monday to Sunday. A limited number of services extend to Blanchardstown (route 76a, Monday to Friday only).

Route 175 operates across the south of the city, from Citywest via Tallaght, Ballinteer and Dundrum to University College Dublin, every 30 minutes Monday to Friday and every 60 minutes on Sundays.

Night services [ edit ]

On most routes, the last departures to and from the city centre are at 23:30 each night. However, two routes operate a 24 hour service, 7 days a week, with departures every 30 minutes throughout the night in each direction:

Route 15 is a cross-city route from Clongriffin in the northeast and Ballycullen in the southwest, via the Malahide Road, city centre, Rathmines and Templeogue.

Route 41 operates between Abbey Street in the city centre and Swords in the north, via Drumcondra, Santry and Dublin Airport.

On Friday and Saturday evenings, a network of 16 Nitelink routes provide late night departures from the city centre to most parts of the city. These depart from D'Olier Street, Westmoreland Street and Aston Quay between midnight and 4am, and only operate outwards from the city centre. A map of the Nitelink routes and timetables are available here.

Normal daytime fares and tickets apply to the two 24 hour routes. On the Nitelink routes there is a higher cash fare of €6.60 and Leap fare of €4.50. As with all routes, only the exact amount in coins is accepted on the bus. However, if you don't have the exact amount, you can also purchase a prepaid ticket for the same amount from Londis or Colemans on Westmoreland Street or from Spar on D'Olier Street.

By bicycle/motorbike [ edit ]

Dublinbikes, Temple Bar

Hiring a bicycle is a handy way to get around if you want to get outside the very centre of the city and are comfortable cycling in traffic. That being said, the city is not very bicycle-friendly, either in terms of quantity & quality of bike paths, pedestrians and drivers honouring the bike paths, road space available where there is no bike path (i.e. numerous narrow roads), or driver attitudes in general.

When cycling in the city centre, be aware that cycle lanes, where they exist, are generally shared with buses, taxis, motorcycles, and parked cars; cyclists should pay particular attention when approaching bus stops where a bus is pulling out. Motorbikes are not allowed to use the cycle lanes, but many still do so. Passing on the left is also allowed only in limited circumstances but is in fact still common. When cycling in Phoenix Park, while there is a dedicated cycle lane on both sides of the main thoroughfare unfortunately pedestrians also use these.

There are bikes to hire in several locations around the city centre with the Dublinbikes scheme. A 3-day pass (which is the only pass available to non-residents) costs €5 and gives you access to the bikes. They are free for the first 30min, up to 1h rentals cost €0.50 and up to 2 hours cost €1.50, so it is a good idea to return the bikes frequently. You can purchase the 3-day pass only at stations which accept credit cards, but once purchased you can use it to rent bikes at any station. Your credit card will be preauthorized with a security deposit of €150, which will be charged in case of theft or if the bike was not returned within 24 hours. Among others, there is a Dublinbikes bike hire place located at the entrance to the Phoenix Park, Dublin 8.

By car [ edit ]

Driving in Dublin is not to be recommended for much of the day, particularly in the city centre. Traffic can be heavy and there is an extensive one-way system. Jaywalking is common. There are a large number of bus lanes (buses, taxis and pedal cycles are permitted to use them; others are vigilantly fined). It's usually lawful to drive in bus lanes at the off-peak times displayed on signs. If you must travel into the city by private car, do research on your required route (using GPS or even Google Maps) and seek suitable parking in advance.

It can be difficult to find parking other than in multi-storey car parks. On-street parking for short periods is allowed at parking meters, but beware of over-staying your time or you will be "clamped" by the clamping companies who patrol frequently - clamp release fees vary from €70-150 per 24 hours.

A system of two ring roads around the city has been introduced, with colour coded signs in purple and blue (see the inner orbital route map and outer orbital route map). The M50 motorway connects to the M1 (to the north of Ireland and Belfast) near Dublin airport and to the M11 (for Wicklow, Wexford and the South) south of the city and to other motorways and national roads along its "C-shaped" route. It has been upgraded so is less congested, and is well signposted.

However, crossing the river using the M50 entails crossing the Westlink bridge. This is a toll bridge with the amount of the toll varying depending on the type of vehicle and how it is paid. The toll cannot be paid at booths while crossing the bridge but must be paid by internet or phone (or using electronic passes in the vehicle), or in certain shops. The vehicle passes through the toll gate without being stopped but the registration plate is photographed automatically. The toll must be paid by 20:00 the following day.

After this deadline, the longer the toll remains unpaid, the higher the fees involved. For foreign registered vehicles, this presents no problem as the Irish vehicle registration base does not have access to foreign ownership details, but for Irish registered vehicles, including rental cars, any fees due, including penalties for late payment, may well be reclaimed through the rental company and subsequently from the credit card of the person hiring the car. The car hire company may charge a hefty fee as well (Avis, for example, charges €30 per unpaid toll, on top of the original toll and the €3 notice fee).

Outside of the city centre, parking is generally not an issue, and ample free parking can be found outside of the M50 (and in certain areas within the M50 ring road).

By taxi [ edit ]

Taxis were deregulated in 2001 leading to a massive oversupply with Dublin now boasting more taxis than New York. This is bad news for taxi drivers but good news for tourists, as taxis are now extremely easy to come by. They may be ordered by telephone, at ranks, or just on the street. Point-to-point trips in the city centre should cost between €6 and €10: many taxi drivers will also offer a set fare if asked. There is a national standardised rate for all taxis.





See [ edit ]

Dublin city panorama

In summer, Dublin's top attractions can sell out. Buy tickets online in advance if you know you want to see something, especially for the Book of Kells where even early arrivals may find all the day's slots are filled.

The Dublin Pass gives you free and fast track entry to thirty-some attractions in Dublin. Adult prices are €62 for one day, €83 for two, €102 for three and €128 for five, child prices about half, and days must run consecutively. You may struggle to break even on this deal as only the Hop-on Hop-off bus tour and the Jameson Distillery and Guinness tours charge over €20; most are way cheaper and among their "free entry" attractions are many that don't charge anyhow. The Pass doesn't include the Library & Book of Kells at Trinity College, and it doesn't include any public transport.

North of the river [ edit ]

The Spire on O'Connell Street

O'Connell Street is the broad thoroughfare running north from the river, and the main district for budget accommodation. It was smashed up in the 1916 uprising and subsequent civil war, but rebuilt; then in the 1970s the developers made one sorry mess of it. Plus their assistants: All along O'Connell Street the pieces flew, up went Nelson, and the pillar too . . . was the ditty commemorating the 1966 IRA bombing of Nelson's Column. Where it stood, next to the GPO, is now the 121 m pin of the Spire of Dublin ; close by on North Earl St is the James Joyce Statue. Northbound trams glide up the street: go a block east for the southbound track. The city council are doing their best to further improve the place but it's a work in progress: pleasant enough by day, but tacky by night.

is the broad thoroughfare running north from the river, and the main district for budget accommodation. It was smashed up in the 1916 uprising and subsequent civil war, but rebuilt; then in the 1970s the developers made one sorry mess of it. Plus their assistants: was the ditty commemorating the 1966 IRA bombing of Nelson's Column. Where it stood, next to the GPO, is now the 121 m pin of the ; close by on North Earl St is the Northbound trams glide up the street: go a block east for the southbound track. The city council are doing their best to further improve the place but it's a work in progress: pleasant enough by day, but tacky by night.

At its north end at Parnell Square, O'Connell St takes a turn and becomes Frederick St. Here are the Rotunda Hospital, City Art Gallery, Writer's Museum and Garden of Remembrance.





The Garden of Remembrance across the street from the gallery and museum commemorates those who died in the struggle for Irish independence. Open daily.

across the street from the gallery and museum commemorates those who died in the struggle for Irish independence. Open daily. The River Liffey is lined by stylish buildings, many of which have been renovated within living memory. Just upstream from O'Connell Bridge, the is the one on all the picture postcards and film locations, a 43 m cast-iron arch spanning the river between Liffey St Lower and Wellington Quay. Officially called the "Liffey Bridge" ( Droichead na Life ), it was built in 1816 to replace the cross-river ferries, with the right to charge a ha'penny toll for the next century. There were turnstiles at both ends, removed in 1919 after the toll ceased. The bridge was extensively repaired in 2001. Please don't clutter it up with "love-locks" - the last big clean-up removed 300 kg of these, and bear in mind that the 2001 repairs were by Harland and Wolff, who built the Titanic .

is lined by stylish buildings, many of which have been renovated within living memory. Just upstream from O'Connell Bridge, the is the one on all the picture postcards and film locations, a 43 m cast-iron arch spanning the river between Liffey St Lower and Wellington Quay. Officially called the "Liffey Bridge" ( ), it was built in 1816 to replace the cross-river ferries, with the right to charge a ha'penny toll for the next century. There were turnstiles at both ends, removed in 1919 after the toll ceased. The bridge was extensively repaired in 2001. Please don't clutter it up with "love-locks" - the last big clean-up removed 300 kg of these, and bear in mind that the 2001 repairs were by Harland and Wolff, who built the . Downstream from O'Connell Bridge the river broadens into dockland and the open sea, with poignant reminders of the Irish people's relationship with that sea.

on Custom House Quay depicts victims of the Great Famine ( an Gorta Mór ) of 1845-49, when a million died and another million fled the country. Five gaunt figures totter to the docks with their bundles as if to take ship and leave. Or perhaps they hope for scraps from those ships, which during the famine years were briskly exporting food for profit, plenty to feed everyone yet unaffordable to most.

) of 1845-49, when a million died and another million fled the country. Five gaunt figures totter to the docks with their bundles as if to take ship and leave. Or perhaps they hope for scraps from those ships, which during the famine years were briskly exporting food for profit, plenty to feed everyone yet unaffordable to most.



Samuel Beckett Bridge





South of the river [ edit ]

Many of Dublin's top sights are just south of the river, notably Trinity College, the National Museum archaeology collections, the National Gallery, and the elegant town through Merrion Square to St Stephen's Green.

Trinity College



Look into the posh Bank of Ireland opposite the College while waiting for your appointment with Kells. Small display of early banknotes and memorabilia.

opposite the College while waiting for your appointment with Kells. Small display of early banknotes and memorabilia. Temple Bar is the district just west of the College along the riverside. It's wall-to-wall pubs and eating places, the cobbled streets are agreeable but there are no specific sights except Ha'penny Bridge until the Castle area, described in "West city". It's thronged with merry-makers, and by evening the hen parties and lads' outings are steaming, raucous and upchucking.

is the district just west of the College along the riverside. It's wall-to-wall pubs and eating places, the cobbled streets are agreeable but there are no specific sights except Ha'penny Bridge until the Castle area, described in "West city". It's thronged with merry-makers, and by evening the hen parties and lads' outings are steaming, raucous and upchucking. Irish Whiskey Museum: and not before time. Irish distilleries have for too long pumped out bland commercial fare, though the country has all the ingredients (including the know-how) to produce whiskey of character to rival single-malt Scotch. The museum is next to the Dublin Visitor Centre at the gates of Trinity College. It's open daily Apr-Oct 10:00-18:00, Nov-Mar 10:30-18:00; the bar stays open Friday till 23:00 and Sat & Sun to 22:00. Standard tour (1 hour) costs €20.

and not before time. Irish distilleries have for too long pumped out bland commercial fare, though the country has all the ingredients (including the know-how) to produce whiskey of character to rival single-malt Scotch. The museum is next to the Dublin Visitor Centre at the gates of Trinity College. It's open daily Apr-Oct 10:00-18:00, Nov-Mar 10:30-18:00; the bar stays open Friday till 23:00 and Sat & Sun to 22:00. Standard tour (1 hour) costs €20.













on Dawson Street is the office of the Lord Mayor of Dublin. You can only get in to see it (eg the plush 1821 Round Room) for special events or on occasional open days.



Iveagh Gardens are a block south of St Stephens Green: a hidden green space, as they're secluded by buildings.

are a block south of St Stephens Green: a hidden green space, as they're secluded by buildings. The Grand Canal marks the southern boundary of the inner city; the Royal Canal similarly loops across the northern city. Both were built in the 18th / 19th C to carry passengers and freight between Dublin and the Shannon and Atlantic. The Grand Canal took 47 years to construct: the expense of crossing the Bog of Allen replicated the prehistoric custom of sinking gold into bogs. And indeed Irish waterways go that far back, as the earliest dwellers could barely get about by land. The dockland visitor centre has closed but the Waterways Ireland website gives information eg on walks, navigability and fishing on this and the other canals.

West city [ edit ]

The original Dublin was in this area, at the confluence of the Liffey and the smaller Poddle (now culverted). Their peaty waters formed a dark pool, in Irish dubh linn.









St Audoen's Church on Cornmarket near Christ Church is a 19th C neo-classical church built over 12th C remains. It's now the RC Polish Chaplaincy for Ireland.

on Cornmarket near Christ Church is a 19th C neo-classical church built over 12th C remains. It's now the RC Polish Chaplaincy for Ireland. St Michan's Church on Church St north of Arran Quay was built in 1686 on Viking foundations. It has fine interior woodwork and an organ used by Handel. However the main draw was the mummified remains in the vaults: a 400-year old nun, a crusader, and the ancient Earls of Leitrim. In Feb 2019 these remains were vandalised so the vaults are closed for the forseeable future.

on Church St north of Arran Quay was built in 1686 on Viking foundations. It has fine interior woodwork and an organ used by Handel. However the main draw was the mummified remains in the vaults: a 400-year old nun, a crusader, and the ancient Earls of Leitrim. In Feb 2019 these remains were vandalised so the vaults are for the forseeable future.



Kilmainham Gaol



Irish National War Memorial park and gardens are dedicated to the 49,500 Irish soldiers who died in the Great War. They're on the riverside just north of Kilmainham Gaol.

park and gardens are dedicated to the 49,500 Irish soldiers who died in the Great War. They're on the riverside just north of Kilmainham Gaol.



The President's Residence ( Áras an Uachtaráin ) can be visited by free guided tour on Saturdays hourly 10:30-15:30. Pick up a ticket from the Phoenix Park visitor centre, no booking.

( ) can be visited by free guided tour on Saturdays hourly 10:30-15:30. Pick up a ticket from the Phoenix Park visitor centre, no booking. Grangegorman Military Cemetery is a leafy, reflective space on the northeast flank of Phoenix Park, opposite the fish ponds.

is a leafy, reflective space on the northeast flank of Phoenix Park, opposite the fish ponds. Farmleigh is an Edwardian mansion off White's Road at the west end of Phoenix Park. It's used to accommodate visiting VIPs but at other times can be seen by guided tour, daily 10:00-16:30, adult €8.

Strawberry Hall, Strawberry Beds

South suburbs [ edit ]

Donnybrook and Ballsbridge: take 46a bus to Donnybrook and the 4 or 7 buses to Ballsbridge. Ballsbridge is Dublin's embassy district and is home to some of Ireland's most expensive roads including 'Shrewsbury Road', which is famous for being the 6th most expensive residential thoroughfare in the world and 'Ailesbury Road' which is equally as salubrious and home to a bulk of the capital's embassies including Spain and Poland. Ballsbridge is also home to The Royal Dublin Society (RDS) which promotes and develops agriculture, arts, industry and science in Ireland. It hosts many concerts and also showcases the annual Show Jumping Competition, a major entertainment event. You can approach Ballsbridge via 'Herbert Park', a pleasant public green park and fashionable road, opposite Donnybrook Village and vice-versa.

and take 46a bus to Donnybrook and the 4 or 7 buses to Ballsbridge. Ballsbridge is Dublin's embassy district and is home to some of Ireland's most expensive roads including 'Shrewsbury Road', which is famous for being the 6th most expensive residential thoroughfare in the world and 'Ailesbury Road' which is equally as salubrious and home to a bulk of the capital's embassies including Spain and Poland. Ballsbridge is also home to The (RDS) which promotes and develops agriculture, arts, industry and science in Ireland. It hosts many concerts and also showcases the annual Show Jumping Competition, a major entertainment event. You can approach Ballsbridge via 'Herbert Park', a pleasant public green park and fashionable road, opposite Donnybrook Village and vice-versa. Ranelagh and Dartry are also worth visiting- Ranelagh is small but affluent, accessible by the Luas Green line and has several critically acclaimed eateries.

and are also worth visiting- Ranelagh is small but affluent, accessible by the Luas Green line and has several critically acclaimed eateries. Sandymount , a coastal suburb 3 km south-east of the centre, is another quite affluent area with a tiny park and some restaurants. It is the birthplace of W.B. Yeats. The suburb and its strand appear prominently in James Joyce's Ulysses . There is a wonderful walk from Sandymount across the north end of its beach to the South Bull Wall which reaches a finger well out into the Bay.

, a coastal suburb 3 km south-east of the centre, is another quite affluent area with a tiny park and some restaurants. It is the birthplace of W.B. Yeats. The suburb and its strand appear prominently in James Joyce's . There is a wonderful walk from Sandymount across the north end of its beach to the South Bull Wall which reaches a finger well out into the Bay. is now a "city-within-a-city" on Belfield Campus.

Rathfarnham Castle is originally Elizabethan but prettified in the 18th C. Open May-Sept daily, Oct-Apr W-Su.

is originally Elizabethan but prettified in the 18th C. Open May-Sept daily, Oct-Apr W-Su. The Pearse Museum is in St Enda's Park, Rathfarnham, Dublin 16. Patrick Pearse lived here 1910-16.

North suburbs [ edit ]





Drumcondra is a relatively expansive and bustling Victorian suburb, boasting several good parks as well as Griffith Avenue, said to be Europe's longest tree-lined residential avenue. To the east of Drumcondra is Croke Park, the centrepoint of Gaelic sports; the canal-side route to Croke Park should be approached with some caution especially at night. To the west of Drumcondra is Glasnevin which can occupy a visitor nicely with the National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin Cemetery (containing many historically significant tombs) and good restaurants can be found in the Botanic Gardens and on The Rise, off Griffith Avenue.

is a relatively expansive and bustling Victorian suburb, boasting several good parks as well as Griffith Avenue, said to be Europe's longest tree-lined residential avenue. To the east of Drumcondra is Croke Park, the centrepoint of Gaelic sports; the canal-side route to Croke Park should be approached with some caution especially at night. To the west of Drumcondra is Glasnevin which can occupy a visitor nicely with the National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin Cemetery (containing many historically significant tombs) and good restaurants can be found in the Botanic Gardens and on The Rise, off Griffith Avenue. Clontarf (accessible by DART/commuter rail) is a great seaside location to spend an afternoon.

(accessible by DART/commuter rail) is a great seaside location to spend an afternoon.

Do [ edit ]

Tours [ edit ]















Performing Arts and Concerts [ edit ]









Bord Gáis Energy Theatre (Grand Canal Theatre)





Sports [ edit ]

Bloody Sunday Sun 21 Nov 1920 saw shocking killings in Dublin. Ireland was nominally still part of the UK, but had declared independence, and civil war broke out. That Sunday morning, the IRA killed 16 British intelligence officers in Dublin. In the afternoon, Dublin had a Gaelic football match against Tipperary at Croke Park. Police, army and "Black and Tan" paramilitaries arrived mob-handed, officially to search the spectators for suspects. They began firing indiscriminately into the crowd: 12 were fatally shot (including a Tipperary player) and two more were crushed in the stampede to flee. It was a huge blow to the legitimacy of British rule. See Thurles for more on the link between Gaelic football and Irish identity.





Watch rugby union at

at on Lansdowne Rd, Dublin 4 is Ireland's national stadium, capacity 51,700. International rugby, soccer and other big events are hosted here. It's a mile or so southeast of the centre, take DART train to Lansdowne Rd or buses towards Sandymount or Ballsbridge.



Other [ edit ]





Buy [ edit ]

Dublin is not cheap for general shopping, although visitors from outside the European Union can obtain a refund of VAT (sales tax: 23%) on many of their purchases. Just look for the refund sign and ask in the shop for details. Keep in mind that most stores will issue VAT refund vouchers only on the same day of purchase. More on VAT refund can be found on Irish eGovernment website.

South side [ edit ]

Grafton Street, Dublin, Ireland

The south side of the river (Dublin 2) includes Dublin's most famous shopping street, the pedestrianised Grafton Street, which runs between St. Stephen's Green and Trinity College. It has, along with its surroundings, been classified as an Architectural Conservation Zone. This will involve a re-establishment of the area's rich historic charm and urban character. Alongside the historic Trinity College you will find Nassau Street where there are many shops selling tourist-related items such as Waterford Crystal, Belleek Pottery, Aran sweaters, and other Irish craft items. Dawson Street, parallel to Grafton Street, is home to the official residence of the lord mayor (the Mansion House) as well as several upmarket clothes shops, restaurants and well stocked large bookshops.















The best concentration of shoe shops is found on Grafton Street and the adjoining Wicklow Street.

The Temple Bar area offers some alternative to shopping at the larger chain-stores. Small clothing boutiques, including the city centre's only swap shop, are popping up all around the area (Temple Lane, Crow Street and Fownes Street) with an emphasis on vintage and unique original independent designer pieces. If you can't make it to any of the markets at the weekend, the best can be found here during the week.

Be sure to visit Temple Bar's Temple Bar Square and Meetinghouse Square on a Saturday morning or afternoon for the markets (Dublin 2), which sells all types of foods, from traditional fare to delicious baked goods. Both squares are also home to several very good restaurants. Meetinghouse Square, which lies only about 150 ft (50 m) west of Temple Bar Square, sells much finer fare and more exotic foods than Meetinghouse Square.





North side [ edit ]

There is also an extensive shopping area on the north side of the river, in Dublin 1, centred on O'Connell Street and Henry Street (Ireland's busiest shopping street). Just off Henry Street is Moore Street, which has a fruit, vegetable and fish market. It's worth a stroll if you want to get a slice of life from the less genteel side of Dublin. For a more traditional Dublin shopping experience go to the Liberties area around Thomas street and check out the stalls on Meath street and the liberty market (off Meath Street) on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Also, if you want to find thrifty nicknack shops, then Talbot Street is a good start - like any city, if you look hard enough and don't get caught up in the glitz and glam when shopping, there are great bargains to be found.









Further afield [ edit ]

For those for whom it just would not be a holiday without hanging out at the mall, there are various shopping centres located around Dublin.











There is fairly extensive duty-free shopping at The Loop Duty-Free, Dublin Airport, at prices sometimes cheaper than the rest of the city.

Eat [ edit ]

Interior of St Mary's Pro-Cathedral

Dublin has a wide range of good quality restaurants, most of which are seen as overpriced by European standards. Main course prices range from around €10 at the lower end up to around €40 at the higher end. Wine in restaurants is generally marked up from its already expensive retail price by a factor of at least two and three times retail price would not be uncommon.

There are many excellent value Indian restaurants around the South William Street area, parallel to Grafton Street. These often have reasonable priced lunch and 'early bird' deals, offering three course meals for around €10. Quality is high but not on a par with UK.

A similar multi-cultural hotspot is Parnell Street in Dublin 1 (O'Connell Street-Gardiner Street), which has a dense concentration of Chinese and Asian restaurants extensively frequented by the ex-pat communities.

In Dublin, there has been a rise in Mexican, Indian and ergonomically-designed eateries as restaurants, to reflect the hipster demographic. Many of the Indian and Mexican restaurants are small businesses.

Budget [ edit ]











































Splurge [ edit ]



















Drink [ edit ]

Colorful pubs in Temple Bar

No visit to Dublin would be complete without a visit to one (or ten) of its many pubs (last count says there are over 600 pubs).

Drinking is relatively expensive: a pint of stout costs around €4.50 and up, while lager costs around €4.90 and up. However, the government gave a tax break to microbrewed beer in the December 2004 budget, this had a slight effect on prices in brewpubs. There are pubs in Dublin offering cheaper drinks, if you are willing to go off the beaten trail or ask other patrons for suggestions. Beer tends to be more expensive around the Temple Bar area, due to the increased tourist flow, and will be cheaper in more traditional styled pubs.

Pubs serve drinks until 23:30 with some drinking-up time allowed. Many bars have late licenses allowing them to serve up to 02:30, although this usually means a cover charge or price increases after 23:30.

Smoking has been illegal in Irish pubs (as well as all indoor workplaces) since March 2004. This has had the positive side effect of increasing al fresco facilities.

The Temple Bar that people often speak of is an area that used to be a sand bar, not an actual bar. (Originally, anyway; there is a pub called "The Temple Bar" in Temple Bar.) The Temple Bar district has a mixture of food, drink, shopping and music. It appeals to all ages, but is a hot spot for tourists. The narrow, cobble stoned streets gives it an original feeling within the heart of the city. Its central location also makes it easy to walk to from Dublin's Centre. However, late night revellers tend to make it an unpleasant place to be after dark. It can be taken over by drunken stag and boisterous hen parties, many who travel cheaply from the United Kingdom to avail of Temple Bar's delights.

Traditional Irish pubs [ edit ]



















































Modern [ edit ]

















Micro-breweries and brew-pubs [ edit ]

Messrs Maguire Inside









Bars [ edit ]















Clubs [ edit ]













Sleep [ edit ]

Camping [ edit ]

Dublin is not well-served for camping or caravaning. The nearest to the city centre is beyond the M50 to the southwest.

Budget [ edit ]

There are a huge number of youth hostels (mostly around €20 per night in dorm accommodation), bed & breakfasts (around €45 per person), and hotels (€50+ per room). Cheaper accommodation is to be found around Dublin's main bus station, Busaras. South of the river is more expensive.



































































































Splurge [ edit ]



























Airport [ edit ]

Dublin Airport is north of the city near the town of Swords. Hotels listed here are so close to the airport that you'd travel that way to reach them, even if you weren't flying, and many inter-city buses run via the airport. Those closer to Swords town centre are listed on that page along with other amenities: they're much cheaper than their airport or city centre equivalents.







Maldron Hotel is within the airport complex, B&B double from €150. Not to be confused with the city centre Maldron Hotel.

is within the airport complex, B&B double from €150. Not to be confused with the city centre Maldron Hotel.

Stay safe [ edit ]

Dublin is generally a very safe city during the day by American and European standards but can be an intimidating place on weekend nights. As in most other large cities, a few crimes against the person, such as muggings, unprovoked attacks, and robberies, have been known to occur in Dublin. Treat Dublin as you would other Western cities, and be sensible: never walk in poorly-lit areas at night, especially alone. As Dublin centre is relatively compact, be aware that walking a few blocks can take you into some bad areas. Areas where crimes against foreigners have occurred include Rialto and western parts of the North Circular Road. Be especially vigilant or preferably avoid walking around the city centre altogether after bar closing times on weekends (02:30 - 03:00) when very drunk people looking to take advantage of other drunk people roam the streets and when violent behaviour and crime are most likely to occur. Most homicides in the city are gang related.

Never be afraid to approach Gardaí (police officers) to ask for help or directions – it is their job to help. If you do get into trouble somehow and fear for your safety (which is very rare) and cannot find a Garda officer, head to the nearest establishment such as a bar or shop where you will be safe. Call the emergency services on "999" or 112, free from any phone, and ask for the relevant service. If you have no phone, ask anyone working in a shop or bar to call the police for you, and the employee will gladly assist. Also, most doormen and bouncers in pubs will gladly call the police for you if you explain your situation.

Area information [ edit ]

Avoid the Boardwalk and Lower Abbey Street as a large number of drug addicts hang around these areas due to nearby drug rehabilitation centres.

The area around Temple Bar is both an attraction for tourists and for pickpockets. Be aware of your surroundings.

Most suburbs on all sides of the city are very safe, but there are a few rough areas, mostly on the Northern and Western peripheries of the city, which are seldom visited by tourists but might warrant some caution. Nonetheless, those interested in urban regeneration may find a visit to Ballymun (home to Ireland's most well known tower-blocks as well as Swedish furniture superstore IKEA) and Tallaght (a historic village that was developed into a 70,000-strong residential suburb) of interest.

People [ edit ]

You will see a wide variety of buskers and street performers, these are normal people just plying their trade; they are usually very helpful for directions and appreciate your donations. (Busking and street performance is an old and vibrant part of Irish culture, and there is nothing unusual or unsavory about a person playing an instrument or performing in a public place even in the small hours of the morning. So approach and appreciate these talented and friendly individuals. Be aware that it is considered rude to photograph a street performer without tipping.)

If people approach you on the street, they could indeed be people just looking for directions, charity workers looking for donations, or people simply looking for a cigarette lighter. Be aware that Dublin people are usually open and unlike big cities like London or New York, talking to complete strangers is a common and regular occurrence.

If someone who appears to be drunk, under the influence of drugs or a habitual drug user, approaches you asking if they can talk to you for a moment, it is wise to keep walking (although expect drunk people to talk to you in a pub as it is common). These people may simply ask you for a cigarette or some money for a bus, but be aware that most Dubliners, even if they have no money, would never ask a stranger for money or cigarettes (although asking for a light for a cigarette is common). There are several scams being used on unaware tourists and locals alike so please be careful and use your judgement. If someone comes to you on the street, touches you, and asks you for something, say "no" or "sorry" and walk away. Again, locals will almost never behave like this so avoid people who do.

Traffic [ edit ]

When driving, leave nothing valuable visible in your car, lock doors while driving through slow traffic in the city. There are plenty of taxis at all hours of the day and night, which are safe and usually friendly.

Dublin has heavy traffic, and even if several of the locals tend to cross the road without having a green man, it is not recommended to follow this example. Hardly any of the cars slow down in front of zebra-crossings in busy and crowded streets.

If you rent a bicycle, ensure you rent full safety wear (helmet and lights) failure to do so can (albeit rarely) result in fines. If possible, travel by foot or public transport is best.

Care should also be used when taking some of the "Nitelink" buses that frequent the city as they, while often safe, have seen their fair share of trouble. Sit downstairs if possible, if only to avoid the more raucous singing, shouting, and post-drinking vomiting.

Taxis are well regulated in Ireland, but many taxi drivers have been known to take longer routes when tourists are being carried, ask for the quickest route. If staying in a hotel or hostel your host may be able to help you acquire a reputable taxi.

Be aware when crossing over roads where pedestrians have an official right of way sign, as these are frequently ignored by Dublin motorists particularly taxis, also beware than unlike a lot of European cities, Dublin cyclists will nonchalantly cycle on footpaths. This often happens even when there is also a cycle lane right beside the path, something that, in turn, is frequently ignored by the Gardai.

Cope [ edit ]

Medical [ edit ]

You should only go to the hospital if you're too ill to go there, so to speak. For immediate treatment of minor ailments try one of the Walk-in Medical Centres. The most central are at 16 Dame St (M-F 09:30-18:30, Sa 11:00-17:00, Su 12:00-16:00) and at 71 Middle Abbey St (M-F 10:00-17:00, Sa 10:00-15:00). They're private so an EHIC card won't help. Expect to pay 60 euro for a consultation, plus the cost of any prescription or other treatment.

Embassies [ edit ]































































Connect [ edit ]

Internet [ edit ]





Go next [ edit ]

Howth cliff walk

Almost all of Ireland is within 2-3 hours travel from Dublin, and the transport routes converge on the city. Those listed here are all within two hours and could be done as a day-trip.

County Dublin Dalkey and Killiney — in the south are upmarket neighbourhoods and home to such celebrities as Bono and Enya, among others. A walk up Vico Road to take in the view is a must-do. Killiney Hill is beautiful, offering panoramic views of the surrounding Dublin Mountains. Get here by DART. Blackrock or Dun Laoghaire — in the south and accessible by bus or DART, are also worth a visit. Howth — a peninsula (14km/9 mi from the city centre) very nice for a scenic seaside walk - the whole tour takes about 2–3h. There are boat trips to the island of Ireland's Eye , with gannets, puffins, fulmars, cormorants and a ruined Martello Tower. Malahide and Skerries — are all great seaside locations to spend an afternoon. Malahide has a beautiful Castle (including extra doors for the ghost) in a Park and is a nice little village with harbour, beach, estuary and lots of restaurants. You can also take a 20-30 minute walk along the coast up to Portmarnock beach (a 5 km long beach).

County Meath Brú Na Bóinne Archaeological Park — the megalithic tombs of Newgrange, Knowth and Dowth are the most important archaeological sites in Ireland and are listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage site. The site is located 50 km (30 mi) north of Dublin on the banks of the Boyne.

County Wicklow — Within easy reach to the south of Dublin, is known as 'the garden of Ireland' and has good hill-walking and some of the most spectacular scenery in the country. Enniskerry — for the gardens in the Powerscourt Estate and the highest waterfall in Ireland Glendalough — for the monastic village, round tower and lakes

— Within easy reach to the south of Dublin, is known as 'the garden of Ireland' and has good hill-walking and some of the most spectacular scenery in the country. County Kildare — directly west of Dublin and some of Dublin's outer suburbs are here e.g. Naas and Maynooth. The Curragh racecourse is in County Kildare, south west of Dublin, about 50 km (30 mi) from the city. The K Club in Kildare was the venue for the 2006 Ryder Cup in golf.

— directly west of Dublin and some of Dublin's outer suburbs are here e.g. Naas and Maynooth. The Curragh racecourse is in County Kildare, south west of Dublin, about 50 km (30 mi) from the city. The K Club in Kildare was the venue for the 2006 Ryder Cup in golf. County Carlow — Boasts some fine architecture - with its courthouse from the mid 1800s and its Cathedral which was completed in 1833.

— Boasts some fine architecture - with its courthouse from the mid 1800s and its Cathedral which was completed in 1833. County Laois — Located 1 h southwest of Dublin. The county is dotted with sleepy villages, slow-moving rivers and rolling hills. Port Laoise — has a cobbled main street with independent eateries, Georgian architecture and small pubs Kilkenny — Ireland's medieval capital, is a bustling heritage city with a thriving arts scene. 1 h 40 min by train from Dublin.

— Located 1 h southwest of Dublin. The county is dotted with sleepy villages, slow-moving rivers and rolling hills.

Routes through Dublin

Belfast ← Swords ← N S → merges with merges with ← N S → Bray → Wexford





Routes through Dublin

END ← W E → Douglas END ← W E → Holyhead END ← W E → Liverpool





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