Please help with Dublin visitor advice

[Fiderer]

I can't, as always stay with family. Mum of favourite student of mine is visiting Dublin in May. Am in Forrin (Germany), he's doing a work placement thingy (it's all a bit different here) at my school and asked for tips/hotels/what to see.

For his mum & friends - 50 plus, mix of culture & getting pissed

Is Maryz still here? Miss her.

[dustarr73]

Well what part of Dublin ,if you narrowed that down.Grafton Street,Dundrum.There are plenty of museums and theatres.What age is the student.
Temple Bar is good for nightlife.

[Fiderer]

Thanks, will ask. Think it's all a bit vague atm & I'm the only Irish person they know

[eurochick]

The Shelbourne is a lovely traditional hotel with a significant place in Irish history. Pricey though.

[TheElephantofSurprise]

Take lots of money.
Bear in mind that whoever you are, someone there knows/knew your parents, even if you're 50+ .
O'Callaghan's Stephens Green is quite acceptable and convenient.
The Museum of Archeology is interesting and even more importantly, has a good café.
I'm going to Dublin twice next month, God willing. How nice for me!

[A1Sharon]

If they like they could get the DART (train) out to Dalkey. It's a lovely coastal route, takes about 20-25 mins. Dalkey is a lovely little town, good independent shops, a lovely little harbour, very good pubs and food. Really recommend it.
Grafton St, afternoon tea in the Shelbourne, Avoca and Kilkenny Design (both near Grafton St) for Irish stuff. Trinity College for a walk, Dublin Castle, gorgeous walks in City Centre along all the Georgian houses. House 29 is a museum on (bought off my Granny by ESB!) which shows what life was like years ago in these big houses.
Davy Byrnes/Doheny and Nesbitt good traditional Irish pubs, again near Grafton St, anyone will show you where.

[Fiderer]

Thanks for that. I remember the DART, visiting my parents' friends who were much taken with it. Hadn't thought of Dalkey, it is lovely.

My grandfather worked for CIE. He told us it stood for "Crush In Everybody" - I believed him for years

My mum used to take us to Bray a lot. Is that still worth a visit? All I remember is the seaside.

[A1Sharon]

We just got the DART out to Bray at the weekend! Although didn't get out went on to Greystones which was lovely. I think Dalkey or Greystones would be nicer than Bray.

[FiveGoMadInDorset]

Kilmainham Jail for history,

[Chiliprepper]

DART out to malahide for the castle (biig avoca) and pottering about. Or to howth for a walk! Agree the gaol for a bit of history. Guinness brewery?

[Fiderer]

Thanks all. It's making me a bit homesick. There is so much on the internet but as I don't live there any more, don't know what is good & what not. Subjective but still, value MNers' opinions more.

There was a hill (prob a mild incline) we'd climb as children & the first to see Howth won.

[Rachel0Greep]

Have a look on TripAdvisor for the top things to do. I do that whenever I am travelling and it's a good way to plan and also to get an idea of where to stay.

[Rachel0Greep]

www.tripadvisor.ie/Attractions-g186605-Activities-Dublin_County_Dublin.html

Some good recommendations here.

[CiderwithBuda]

The Viking Splash tour is good fun.

I'm like you. Been away for so long I'm useless when asked what to do or where to stay.

Malahide is lovely. Old stomping ground of mine as I'm from just up the road. Didn't know there was an Avoca in the Castle though! Must remember that.

Pottering around Grafton Street is always nice. Agree with Shelbourne recommendations. i worked there in the 80s so have a big soft spot for it.

[EightiethElement]

I stayed at the travel l9dge stephen's green. V cheap but room was lovely and clean and bed comfy. Hairdrier, no kettle. Half the price of where my friends stayed.

[Rachel0Greep]

I should add I have visited some of the attractions mentioned in the link, and think it's a very good guide. I loved the hop on hop off bus, Guinness Tour, Glasnevin Cemetery, and plan to visit Kilmainham this year.

Some of the city centre hotels would be very expensive but there are some reasonable enough too. They might also consider staying a little out of the centre but near a Luas or Dart line.

Friends of mine stayed at The Ashling Hotel (near Heuston Station) recently and found it good as a base for sightseeing. The Luas was their link to the centre from there, very convenient.

[angelofthenorthcircular]

The Little Museum of Dublin is brilliant. And the tour busses are a great way to get your bearings while taking the weight off your feet.

[bluebellation]

Weather permitting, I think the hop-on hop-off bus tour is a must, though bear in mind that the city centre is in chaos at the moment with roadworks for the new Luas line, so buses are being re-routed. Unfortunately it doesn't show Dublin at its best! (was there last weekend).

Glasnevin Cemetery/Botanical Gardens is a good day out. If they're interested in art, beware the national gallery is still being refurbished and most areas are closed off, but the Hugh Lane Gallery is fab, as is the Writers Museum next to it.

We always pop into Cafe en Seine for a drink and to marvel at the decor (food's pretty good too). Other good watering holes - Olesya's wine bar on Exchequer Street is a lovely friendly place for anything from a glass of wine to a full 3 course meal. Opposite is Fallon and Byrne, which is a great food store and deli, with a characterful wine bar downstairs and a posh restaurant above.

Other than that, just walk around and see what takes their fancy; we always just head off and see where we end up. Merrion Square, Stephens Green and Iveagh Gardens will give them some greenery and respite from the city noise for a bit.

[Fiderer]

Thank you all so much for the info. Will pass it on. They're planning on going for Mother's Day which is in May here.

I like the sound of May these grey Feb days.

[hollyisalovelyname]

Dun Laoire on the Dart- walk the pier. Have a Teddys ice cream.
Powerscourt - so worth the trip. Driving up the tree lined avenue with Lugnaquilla ( I think) to your left is so beautiful.
Or Avoca in Kilmacanogue or in Avoca itself.
Mount Usher gardens are a lovely trip out too.
The Japanese gardens and National Stud in Kildare.
Viking Splash tour is great fun.
The Ghost bus is brilliant. It goes from Dublin Bus office in O' Connell Street.
If funds permit, afternoon tea in The Merrion- if the weather is fine the patio there is lovely.
Afternoon tea in The Shelbourne.
Or just have a drink in the front bar.
Trinity College/ Book of Kells.
Iveagh Gardens- a little oasis of green entered at the side of the National Concert Hall.
Howth Head.

Tell them be really careful though of their bags, phones etc.

[A1Sharon]

Mmmm, Teddy's.....

[teaorwine]

Howth head, get the bus from town ask the driver to let them out at the summit beside pub of same name. Take the middle path and walk to the end. Pause on the way to take in the view of the city, have a premixed gin and then walk down into Howth village. Admire the harbour and walk towards the dart station, loads of fish restaurants reasonably priced with seats in or out. Dart back into town. Friend used to volunteer to meet visitors, go for a drink with them and give some local information, tourists loved it, as did he. Sharon haven't heard any recent discussions of pick pockets??

[FinallyHere]

We loved winding-stair.com its a bookshop, its a restaurant long before every bookshop opened a cafe. They also do events and act as a giant notice board for other literary and poetry related event.

We started here and the rest of the holiday just got filled up with event after event, hearing about whats on tomorrow, at each event in turn. Brilliant.

Oh, and the Book of Kells, too.

[EightiethElement]

Love the winding stair. I went there one evening and it looked like quite an expensive restaurant. The Georgian Town House is a lovely museum about how the Georgians lived

[A1Sharon]

Was that for me Tea? I didn't actually mention pick pockets, someone else did. I e never heard anyone mention pickpockets or anything like that, so that come t surprised me too.
My mum had her bag stolen in M Donald's in Dun Laoghaire, around 1983...we still talk about it!

[hollyisalovelyname]

Not pickpockets.
Bl**dy handbag/ phone snatchers.
Like any other city.
Beware.
Quite a few drug addicts around.
And professional beggars.
I have seen them being dropped off to go to their positions.