Dublin is a small European capital with a long and rich history. Not surprisingly, its main attractions are related to the ancient centuries. The city’s center has cathedrals, libraries, and even real castles. In addition, Ireland is proud of its traditions and industries, which can be felt in the local pubs and museums dedicated to beer and whiskey. Also, don’t forget to visit Dublin’s casinos to experience the atmosphere of classic gambling establishments. Otherwise, you can also check the best online casino sites if you are not in Dublin yet. On the other hand, Dublin is a modern, developing city with a rich cultural and social life, where it is impossible to get bored.
The Irish capital is an excellent place for recreation excursionists. In the city, there are a lot of monuments of history and architecture. For guests, Dublin organizes sightseeing and thematic tours of the city attractions, libraries, museums, and the curious objects of all Leinster. If you are not into historical monuments, you can always check the best online betting sites before a beer tour of local pubs. Thanks to many restaurants and cafes, which offer visitors a wide variety of Irish and international dishes, gastronomic tourism in Dublin is well developed.
Fans of shopping will find boutique boutiques, large shopping centers, and outlets in the city.
The city’s paragliding and skydiving clubs will allow fans of extreme tourism to get new vivid impressions. Active tourists can devote time to kiting, surfing and windsurfing, diving and snorkeling, fishing, rafting, and trekking in the countryside.
A trip to Dublin will give followers of event tourism a chance to visit one of the many concerts, holidays, and festivals in the capital.
When to go
The moderately maritime climate brings mild weather to Dublin in winter and relatively cool in summer. It is recommended that tourists and their traveling companions choose the time to visit the Irish capital depending on the purpose of the visit. The most comfortable period is summer when the average air temperature reaches +20 ° C. In winter, the air cools to +10 ° C, but sometimes the temperature can drop to -8 ° C. The windy off-season is perfect for surfing and windsurfing.
The capital’s St Patrick’s Day festival is popular with event tourism enthusiasts. Every year on March 17, Dublin hosts parades and street shows. For a whole week, from March 16, visitors are offered hiking tours of the city, along with fairs and concerts of Irish traditional music.
Dublin also hosts Pub Music Fest in the first half of July, National Heritage Week in late August, and the Dublin Animation Film Festival in Autumn.
Sightseeing
The most interesting monuments of history and architecture on vacation in Dublin are in the Historic City of Dublin, a World Heritage Site. On a walking tour in this part of town, holidaymakers can see the famous Dublin castle, which was built in the XII century. A castle wall with watchtowers surrounds the building. The castle’s main rooms were made in different styles and had the royal luxury. There are guided group tours through the rooms and dungeons of the building.
Dublin Castle
One of the most significant sights of Ireland and its capital, which is worth a visit, is Dublin Castle. It was built in the XII century, but after numerous reconstructions, the current building can be dated to the XVIII century. For many centuries Dublin Castle was used as a royal residence. It also housed parliament, courts, location for inaugurations, and place of presidents. In the 21st century, government receptions and banquets are held here. Tourists can visit the castle to see the state apartments and the Viking dungeon, go inside the chapel, and stroll through the gardens.
The castle is open to visitors on days when no visits are scheduled. The itinerary of the excursion includes:
- The Viking Excavation – elements of the original medieval castle and settlement of the Vikings were brought to the surface during excavations;
- The Medieval Tower – is one of the oldest preserved Dublin buildings. Nowadays, it is closed for restoration;
- The State Apartments – bays, where they receive heads of foreign countries and official delegations;
- The Chapel Royal – a chapel built probably in 1242. It received its name after King George IV attended a church service. Nowadays, concerts are held there, and you can visit them anytime.
For the pilgrims who spend their vacations in the Irish capital, it is worth visiting Saint Patrick’s cathedral, the largest cathedral in the country. The cathedral was built supposedly in the XIII century in neo-Gothic style. The interior is decorated with heraldic banners over the choir, elegant tiles, and columns.
The Christ Church, Church of Saints Augustine and John All Saints Church, Saint Andrew’s church, Saint Mark’s Church, and Saint Mar’s chapel of Ease are worth seeing.
Samuel Beckett Bridge
Original Image: pexels
In 2009 a cable-stayed Samuel Beckett Bridge opened in Dublin, connecting the banks of the River Liffey. It is named after the famous Irish writer and Nobel Prize winner. The structure stands out for its white color and harp-like shape. The bridge is used by both cars and pedestrians.
The National Botanic Gardens, which occupy an area of 25 hectares, are recommended to connoisseurs of ecological tourism during a trip to Dublin. In the collection of the garden, there are about 20 000 different plants.
The capital’s guests are offered such thematic excursions as Dublin ghosts and Art therapy. You can also take a boat trip and visit the Guinness and Jameson distilleries.
For an educational experience, tourists and travel companions should visit the National Maritime Museum of Ireland, Dublinia, Irish Jewish museum, State heraldic museum, and National Gallery of Ireland. Tours to Celtic Boyne valley, Cliffs of Moher, and hiking in Giant’s causeway are available.
Museum Dublinia
This is perhaps the most exciting museum dedicated to the history of Ireland. Visitors here are not passive observers but active participants in an exciting journey into the past.
It includes three expositions:
- Viking Dublin. You can get to Dublin in Viking times: learn how it was on board warships, visit the houses, try on clothes, try to remember the runic alphabet, hear sagas and myths;
- Medieval Dublin. Go back in time and find out what Dublin was like in the Middle Ages. You will be told about wars, high-profile crimes and punishments, epidemics, and the life of residents;
- History Hunters. The exhibition is dedicated to the work of archaeologists who are working to recreate the look of old Dublin. Among the exhibits are skeletons of a Viking and a woman who lived in the Middle Ages. There are also ancient maps and information about the languages used in the past by the inhabitants of Dublin.
According to legends, the museum is located on the hill where the city began to be built long ago. It is located next to Christ Church Cathedral and is connected to it by a separate passage. Be sure to climb the reconstructed tower of the XVII century on 96 stairs to admire Dublin.
Shopping and entertainment
A trip to Dublin will allow shopping lovers to buy branded clothes and shoes in boutiques Christian Louboutin, Ermenegildo Zegna, and Gucci.
There are shopping malls in the city:
- Ilac,
- Dundrum,
- Powerscourt,
- Saint Stephen’s,
- Green Jervis.
No less popular among shoppers is Mother Redcap’s market, which offers antiques, shoes, clothes, food, and souvenirs.
Temple Bar
Ireland is closely associated with the alcoholic beverages produced here. It is not surprising that Temple Bar is one of the most popular areas for tourists. People come here to enjoy a pint in a pub, have lunch in a cafe, buy craft goods in the shops and view art in the galleries. It is home to Ireland’s oldest drinking establishment, The Brazen Head pub, and in the evening, Temple Bar’s streets become very lively, with folk music blasting from every door. Locals tend to avoid this quarter, preferring quieter and more authentic establishments.
North Dublin is home to the Playland Casino, where you can try your luck at poker, online games, roulette, and blackjack tables.
The Sporting Emporium casino
The renowned Sporting Emporium is located in Dublin’s city center, off Grafton Street. This hip location tops the list of the best casinos in Dublin for many reasons. This bustling casino generates a terrific atmosphere that everyone is guaranteed to love by giving free drinks to all gamblers. The location’s overall aesthetic is classic, blending a vintage casino vibe with a laid-back sports bar vibe and being a Soho gambling institution. Modern games technology does not stand aside, you can choose your game from a selection of roulette, blackjack, poker, baccarat, and more at the largest gaming floor in Ireland, so you’ll be inundated with options when picking where to put your chips.
We recommend tourists who come on holiday with children to visit the city zoo Dublin Zoo, whose enclosures are designed in the style of animals’ natural habitat. After the tour, visitors will have the opportunity to be photographed with the animals.
Head to Dublin Bay beach if you want to get some shore leave. There are surfing and diving schools in the area for active guests.
Elmgreen Golf Course & Centre is a short drive from the center of the Irish capital, offering entertainment and a chance to improve your golfing skills during your trip. The 18-hole course is set in a picturesque setting surrounded by greenery.
Jameson Distillery Bow St.
Jameson is one of Ireland’s most famous drinks. No wonder the old distillery, where this whiskey was bottled until 1971, is so popular with tourists and highly recommended to visit. During the tour, visitors are introduced to the process of distilling the drink and participating in a tasting. In the end, a certificate is issued, confirming the obtained knowledge. In addition, anyone can learn how to make cocktails based on whiskey and buy a bottle for their collection. You can also buy souvenirs and clothes with the Jameson logo in the brand store.
Food
For a taste of traditional Irish cuisine, fans of gastronomic tourism should visit Vintage Kitchen, Mulberry Garden, and Queen of Tart’s restaurants. Indian dishes are served at Veda restaurant, and you can enjoy European dishes at Old Punch Bowl. Many foodies and fellow travelers are attracted to Dublin’s famous Irish pubs. Porterhouse and Long Hall Pub are very popular. The vibrant and vivid nightlife of the city takes place at Copper Face Jack’s, Krystle, Lost Society, Pygmalion, and Academy.
