Pls advise me on a Dublin trip

[RestorativeTravel]

I'm thinking of visiting Dublin and anywhere reasonably accessible from Dublin on a day trip.

I have had some really difficult and sad times recently so this is a fresh start sort of trip. I am looking for a bit of a luxury splurge - 5 star hotel would be nice but only if it is worth it. No real budget as like I said this is a present for me.

Looking for advice about anything and everything - best places to go and what to do. Happy to travel out of Dublin if it can be done in a day or anywhere unmissiable close by. Will be travelling alone if that makes a difference.

What would you suggest?

Recommended hotels? Unmissable experiences? Things to avoid? Tourist traps?

Thought I would start here as likely to get more expert advice but if you think I should ask for this to be moved to travel, pls let me know.

What ridiculous hyperbole.

People are pretty unsuccessful at avoiding the city centre if the packed bars and restaurants are anything to go by.

Here you go @Anewyearanewday : a 66m elevation gain over the 220m between Brown Thomas and the Westbury:

Image didn't post:

@AlphaApple thank you!!!!

@Ilovelowry you are welcome 😁It's bizarre what people lie about on the internet!

I said "Many Dubliners don't go into Temple Bar" and "Dubliners almost always say we don't go there, we don't drink there" - don't let the truth get in the way of your interpretation of what I meant there.

I don't go in to Temple Bar because it is massively over priced. The same drinks/food available in Temple Bar are available in other establishments not a million miles away for less.
I don't go into Temple Bar because it has cobbled streets and having had an accident a few years ago, I struggle to walk on pedestrianised cobbled streets.

You did give your feedback on your recent visit to Dublin and as a Dubliner I'm sorry that you had those experiences. I wouldn't let it put some one off coming though. Just as I wouldn't be put off by the knife crime and issues that make the headlines in London if I was thinking of making a visit.

Lol, we don't avoid anywhere. North city being a no-go area? Absolute bollocks, it's jammers, with some of the best bars and restaurants in the city.

We don't drink in temple bar because it's too expensive, it's for tourists. But we go into it all the time. People talk such shite.

@AlphaApple @Ilovelowry @Taytocrisps @Anewyearanewday

a 66m elevation gain over the 220m between Brown Thomas and the Westbury:

That is practically a cliff in my book.

I genuinely have no idea what Google maps is talking about. There's no hill there

It's about the height of the Cliffs of Moher, no? 🤔😄

We need a Mumsnetter with a fancy sports watch to walk from Brown Thomas to the Westbury and screenshot the elevation gain to the thread.

(I don't think I've ever been so invested in something so trivial...)

Brown Thomas to the Westbury is about 10 minutes and it's practically flat!!

Are we talking about the Westbury off Grafton Street and BT on Grafton?!

I mean the elevation gain might be if you are walking from the basement of Brown Thomas to the penthouse of Westbury?

In reality it's a 2 min walk with no elevation whatsoever. The google maps thing seems to be a total glitch.

I think the suggestions to stay around Stephen’s green/Merrion Square (so Davenport/shelbourne hotels) area are ideal. Lovely part of the city and nice parks, shopping, restaurants, museums etc. Also only a couple of mins walk from Pearse St Dart station which you can then use to travel to the north or south of the county so Howrh to Dunlaoighre (though not a massive amount in either imo).

if you consider driving places like Kildare/Meath etc for the national stud/new grange are all within driving distance. Would also considering splitting your trip and taking a train out west to Galway/Mayo if you could find the time.

On the unsafe comment I don’t think Dublin is any less/more safe than any other capital city. Like I’m sure there’s plenty of areas of say London or Glasgow that people wouldn’t walk around after dark

It's 2 mins if that. You can throw a stone from one to the other. And there's no hill

Having kicked off the Great Grafton Street Debate of 2025, I should probably clarify that I was responding to the OP's question about walking from the Gate Theatre to the Westbury. I said that the last section of that walk is uphill. I was thinking of the stretch from Trinity College to the Westbury. Someone pointed out (quite right too) that Grafton Street isn't an actual hill. That was a bit of an exaggeration on my part. But there's definitely a slope or incline from Trinity College up Grafton Street towards the Westbury.

Then someone else assumed I was talking about the stretch from Brown Thomas to the Westbury......

As for Fitbits, I invested in one during Covid because I was definitely going to do 10K a day and get super fit and healthy. So yeah, it's probably buried in a drawer somewhere. And instead, I'm engaging in arguments on MN. Sure, February is a bit of a dull month. Except for the rugby obviously.

Also, I just had a thought. We could have an Irish MN gathering at the Westbury. And welcome the OP to Dublin in person. We won't argue OP, I promise <crosses fingers behind back> 😀

I remain committed to the debate.

If I stood with my back to M&S looking left and UP Grafton St towards the Westbury, there is both a curve and an incline.

I definitely agree...

Yes Henrietta St. House is really great .
I think Dublin is very safe . We will be in tomorrow evening for food and a show and will walk around safely and happily and get public transportation in and out of town .
No need for scaremongering !
Dublin is amazing - I love it .
I hope you enjoy it too , OP .

Dublin is as safe and unsafe as anywhere else. The same rules apply. Late at night don't veer off the beaten track, don't have your wares on show or wander down unlit alleys. I have lived in Dublin most of my life and luckily for me I have never experienced any crime against me. I lived in London for 8 years I was burgled 3 times and mugged twice but I i would never say London was unsafe it is part and parcel of living in a big city

Temple bar is worth a browse through early in the evening it is buzzing and a good atmosphere, there are also some quirky shops and interesting art galleries. It does though get very crowded and the bars are ridiculously expensive so move on from there up to George's st/ Wexford St area where you'll find more locals and great lively bars and restaurants

To add my dh is English so we host family and friends from UK all the time they all love Dublin and come over loads (too often 😂)

I live 40 minutes from Dublin. It’s not really a nice safe place anymore. Do you have to go there? Would you consider somewhere else?
If you do go avoid Henry Street at all costs. It’s so rough and absolutely filthy. Full of scumbags. We saw a man squat down and take a shit outside one of the shopping centres recently. Full of addicts, it’s like a zombie film.
Temple bar used to be a popular tourist spot but now it’s just a dump. I wouldn’t go near it. Avoid the river, the boardwalk especially. Don’t go near Talbot Street or Parnell street. If you’re unfamiliar you might wander to these but please don’t. Maybe stay up Grafton street end? It’s a bit better. Or go a bit out and stay in Ballsbridge or I dunno maybe DunLaoghaire. Or consider Galway or Kilkenny for a nicer break.

It's perfectly safe and Henry street is just fine. Please do stay in the suburbs and polish your pearls, but stop talking utter bollocks about our city.

Everyone else, ignore this post entirely, it's bullshit.

This is the top of Grafton Street as per Google Earth (so up by St. Stephen's Green Shopping Centre and St. Stephen's Green Park) and this is the view from the bottom of Grafton Street (near Trinity College and Dame Street).

(I hope those links work).

It's not close to being The Cliffs of Moher, nor is it Mount Everest. There may be a slight gradient in the road but it's nowhere near being considered to be hilly.