Dublin - positives please

[Needadviceagain]

I'm already all booked for me, dh and 3 teens aged between 12-15 to have a few days in Dublin in August. Thought I'd have a search through mn for recommendations for good places to eat, must visits whilst there, etc and everything I've read has been a case of don't go, it's bad in some way!

I've already booked! Apartment refundable, flights not! So, can I hear some positive stories of recent visits to Dublin? We're staying in an apartment in The Liberties. Had planned to visit Dublinia, the Immigration Museum EPIC, maybe the zoo, maybe the castle. Thought about a river boat sightseeing thing on the Liffey. And some general mooching around Phoenix Park and similar. Kids weren't interested in the Natural History Museum as I've already dragged them to the majority of natural history museums in UK.

All I have heard lately is that there's a huge drug/homeless/begging problem and you're better off going to Belfast or Edinburgh. Both of which we've visited.

I live in Edinburgh and I used to do regular work trips to Dublin - so I'm a couple of years out of date. Yes there was homelessness and begging but I wouldn't have said it was worse than Edinburgh. And there's loads to do, I have really missed going (didn't get to do solid sight-seeing as was there for work).

Do the Guinness factory if you can fit it in. Really cool even for teenagers who can't have a Guinness at the end!

Oh, it’s wonderful to visit! Vibrant and interesting! I’d get the dart line out to killiney and walk to dalky, stunning cliff side, beaches, Bono’s house :)… it’s beautiful.
howth head, Northside, also a beautiful walk.
pub o’donahues, on baggot street, music hub for anyone to come along and play a tune
temple bar for a look around, st Stephens green, Phoenix park, all beautiful

yes, it’s got grit, grit, drugs and a load of knackers, just as many cities do :)

Museum of Modern Art? Richmond Barracks? Kilmainham? Coach trip to Wicklow or Boyne Valley?

The literary pub crawl is very good and would be fine for the teenagers too. And you don’t need to know the books/ authors beforehand.

try Islands edge I think it’s better than Guinness. Also go to the Guinness brewery.

EPIC museum is very good - thoughtful and interactive.

I live in Dublin. It's just very expensive and there's a housing and rent crisis that is having an impact on the city. But there are loads of nice things to do. Here are a few I like:

Kilmainham Gaol: this is a very good (and cheap) tour that covers a lot of Irish history (in an accessible way) because it was the main prison. It was the first of its kind in the UK and Ireland so it's interesting in terms of design and how ideas about prison evolved. This is beside the Museum of Modern Art- I'd give this a bit miss unless there's something you want to see.

I liked the EPIC museum but I am Irish so it was interesting to me anyway. I don't know if it would be as interesting to non Irish teens. TripAdvisor reviews might help you there. The Jeannie Johnston famine ship is near there. That's good because you stand in the tiny ship and near about the overcrowded journey and can easily imagine it. The national famine memorial (a dramatic set of sculptures) is near here.

If you/they have any interest in books and literature Dublin is great. The (free) Chester Beatty museum has a collection of early books from different cultures. It's a great museum beside Dublin Castle. I'd go there instead of the Castle. It's not a notable Castle aside from being the home of British rule. Other book related things: The Museum of Literature might have something on aimed at teens. Also theatre is much cheaper than in other countries so you could take them to something. There are lots of small theatres. I like Smock Alley because it has been a theatre since the 1600s. I'd skip the Book of Kella because it's not worth the queue but spend time in Trinity College. Hoggis Figgis bookshop. Sadly this is actually owned by Waterstones but you wouldn't know it because the original name and appearance was retained. If you have any interest in books, it's just a lovely place to browse

Sorry I went off on the literature tangent.. basically there are nice low cost things in Dublin which you need to offset the insane cost of eating out. If the weather is nice it's worth having picnics in the parks: Stephen's Green, Merrion square, Iveagh gardens.

Thank you everyone! That's sounding a bit more positive. There were so many threads making it sound so awful and I definitely panicked. Didn't even consider Guiness storehouse as we have teens with us but will def look into that a but more now. And thank you everyone else for all of the other recommendations. Lots of TripAdvisor studying to do before we go

Have a look at Croke Park and see if there's any events on- hurling, gaelic football, rugby etc are all great fun to watch.

@RubyRoss my non Irish teens loved EPIC. I think the way it was set out was relatable to them and it had the added bonus of being very Instagram friendly too 😉

Dublin is a bit of a dump but that's part of its character, it's not sanitised or Disneyfied and it's great fun. We enjoyed the open top bus tour a lot. We were only there for two nights recently visiting family so we were mostly occupied. We had a great time. I'd say three nights is enough but that's the case with many cities. I don't think the homelessness etc is any worse than other places

@HassallGreen that's good to hear. It's so hard to know what works with museums

If you can take a train to Skerries. At the end of the beach is the Red Island (huge play area), the harbour (seals) and Storm in a Teacup (the best ice cream in Ireland imo). Plus the towns lush to wander around.

I think Croke Park has a skyline walk of some sort? Also there are some good walking tours, the ones you pay for as opposed to free but give a tip are usually better.
Is Viking Splash tour back?

City centre & Liberties not great. Some nice shops and restaurants off Grafton Street eg Powerscourt Centre… yes to Chester Beatty library and quick stroll through Temple Bar…but apart from that…

Dublin’s strengths are the fact that it’s on the sea. Get the Dart southwards to Killiney, walk on Killiney Hill, visit Dalkey Village, kayak to Dalkey Island. Swim at the 40-foot in Sandycove.

Get the Dart north to Howth and walk on the cliffs. Or to Malahide, visit Malahide Castle, Malahide village and the lovely beach.

We're staying at the Christchurch staycity which is just by Dublinia. When you say Liberties isn't great, do you mean in terms of things to do and places to eat? Or from a nice/not nice area point of view?

We're happy to find our way around and explore so if it's just that there's not much stuff around that area, that's totally cool with us.

Or have I got the whole Liberties area really mistaken in my head somehow? I really do appreciate all of your amazing suggestions! I'm (half) working so am googling and bookmarking to properly look at everything later

I’m being a bit mean. The city centre, always grimy, suffered during Covid - the upside for Dubliners is that their local villages and towns away from the centre have become much nicer.

But the centre is fighting back and despite areas of frank dereliction (much complained-about in the media, and keep a close eye on your wallets and avoid dark, lonely areas - but you could say that about anywhere) there’s lots going on. Your location is good and Christchurch and St Patrick’s cathedrals are lovely. You’re a stroll from Trinity, Dublin Castle/Chester Beatty, Temple bar and Grafton Street with the vibrant little streets running off it both sides. The National art gallery on merrion square is worth a visit and the nearby Merrion Hotel is lovely for artworks/afternoon tea/drinks & dinner if you feel like dressing up a bit. Dublin’s restaurants are generally buzzy with good food and the pubs are casual and very lively - sometimes too crowded - some with live music if you ask around.

I would still find time to hop on the Dart to Killiney. The scenery approaching Killiney is exceptional by any standards anywhere. Enjoy your visit!

By “not great” I meant it’s a little grimy in parts with occasional antisocial behaviour - but again, to be fair, that would apply to many places.

If they're into music the Rock and Roll Museum is good

Do not bother with the zoo.

If they want to take some selfies with giant furniture the National Leprechaun Museum is daft but quite funny!

Some great ideas for you here, OP. Hopefully you'll have good weather (never a sure thing!) in August and you can do the parks, coast, etc. You could also bring your swimming togs and go for a free swim - Seapoint, Sandycove, the 40 foot are all popular sea swimming spots and the Dun Laoghaire Baths have just opened after a massive renovation project.

I thought the Liberties was being gentrified? (I am elsewhere in Ireland, so only in Dublin about 3 times a year).
I would have said coffee in Bewleys a few years ago, but it was stupidly expensive the last time I was in. Temple Bar prices are high too.(And I will happily pay extra for fancy cafes).
I feel that none of our cities have fully recovered from covid, and the closures. I haven't been in England for 3 years, so that's maybe a general thing. Parts of Belfast were pretty sad looking early last year.

My dd2 lived the Leprechaun museum when she was a teenager. 😀

All I have heard lately is that there's a huge drug/homeless/begging problem

I live in Dublin. There are elements of this - but similar to many other urban centres, and a lot less than some other cities.

I thought the Liberties was being gentrified?

Not really. It wouldn't be the nicest place to stay (tho I lived there for years & loved it) but it's really central & perfect for accessing a lot of main Dublin tourist venues.