Dublin on my own

[wellstopdoingitthen]

I have an urge to visit Dublin. I've always wanted to go to Ireland but never managed it.

DH has health problems so can't really travel at the moment so I've decided to go on my own.

Does anyone have experience of this? I'm fine going into pubs, restaurants on my own but I've never been on holiday alone. Anything to keep in mind?
Any recommendations of where to stay?
Will the locals think I'm odd for being a lone female?

Age 60+

Thanks

Any reason in particular to choose Dublin? Do you think you want to stay in the centre and do touristy things or would you be happy staying out a bit and enjoying a different part of the city?
I am from Dublin but do not love the centre, it's worth a day visit but not much more. I would stay out a bit, maybe Dun Laoghaire and spend time on the sea front, maybe walking along the coast (so beautiful) and using the DART to go into the city, or even further out along the coast.
If it's the city you're after, you need to be careful of the area where you stay, but beyond that, it's fun and plenty of places to eat and drink, museums, etc to visit.
Bring a big wallet though - it's very expensive.

Ok - do you think you'll be flying in to Dublin Airport or travelling by boat to the Dublin Docklands area?

My first tip would be for you to get yourself a Leap card - it's like an Oyster card and if you have an iPhone, you can download the TFI Leap Top Up app which means you can apply credit to it. This Leap card will allow you top hop on/off Dublin Buses, the Luas (tram) and the Dart and if you wanted to, you could combine a trip in 90 minutes and only pay €2 for it.

If you're thinking of staying in Dublin, you might want to think of the suburbs to stay in rather than right in Dublin city centre. Then decide north side/south side of the city.

Nobody will think it's strange that you're by yourself.

There are plenty of places to eat and visit and things to see.

Hope you have a wonderful time if/when you decide to visit!

I agree. I think there are far far nicer places to visit in Ireland and elsewhere then Dublin, especially as a lone traveller.

Are you especially wedded to Dublin?

Thanks for the suggestions. I don't have to stay in Dublin (though I do want to visit). I own up to not knowing very much about places in Ireland, the coastal area you describe @SomersetBrie sounds lovely. Any place in particular to recommend?

My dad used to travel there for work & described the beautiful landscape- I'm just sad we never got to travel there together. I've recently discovered I'm half Irish so that's sort of stirred up my wish to see for myself.

I'll fly in @LookItsMeAgain & don't fancy driving so the travel tips are really useful, thank you.

If you're flying in to Dublin there are ways to navigate around the city.

Firstly you need to get from the Airport to your hotel (I'm guessing that you're staying in a hotel). I'd recommend the Aircoach. Aircoach | Coach travel, Dublin Airport, Ireland

As I mentioned previously, you would have to do a bit of deciding whether you wanted to stay on the south side of Dublin or the north side (it's split by the river Liffey running through it). Cost of stay might be a deciding factor here.

You might not even want to stay in Dublin, you might decide to stay in Wicklow or other adjoining counties which are a bus ride away from the capital.

There are loads of taxis as well from the airport and buses but you have to have Euro coins on you (if you don't have a Leap card) to pay for your bus ticket as they don't accept notes on board. A taxi from the Airport to the southside of the city could be very expensive.

As you mention you're half Irish, you might enjoy visiting EPIC - EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum | Home | EPIC Museum Dublin, Ireland (epicchq.com)

I would recommend that you walk through Temple Bar (though don't eat/drink there as it is ridiculously expensive and pubs and restaurants nearby don't charge as much).

Aww op I hear you about wishing you could travel with your dad.

whereabouts in Ireland is your Irish family from? I wonder if you could go and visit there?

I've been to China and Australia alone. I've been to Dublin several times alone as well but I live in Ireland. To be honest Dublin is so busy that nobody will really pay any attention to the fact that you are alone. Go and enjoy yourself

we stayed where somersetbree suggested and really liked it. gave us the chance to go along the coast on the train as well as go into central dublin. didnt like the latter that much but loved the coast and the little towns along it. the people were lovely

If you want to see beautiful landscape easily, then south Dublin is the great base. I don't have any specific ideas on accommodation but you could decide hotel or apartment and I am sure the group can help you narrow it down.
I second suggestions of Leapcard and Aircoach, and staying near the DART gives you everything you need to see some lovely places.
When were you thinking of going? Weather definitely better in the summer but you can be lucky/unlucky any time.
When I visit with my family we do Killiney Hill and Bray Head, nowhere finer than the view from Bray Head on a sunny day.

Thank you so much for all your suggestions. I definitely fancy the coastal option. I'm not sure whereabouts the family ties are, I've Just got my dna done & it was quite a surprise (mum was adopted).

I've had a look at the transport cards which look a great option. I would have to go in August as I work term time so I guess it will be busy, though that doesn't bother me.

Torn between a hotel & an Airbnb. Quite excited now! 😬
Just need to cost it all out. 🤔
Flights are really reasonable from London.✈️

We went to Galway and Wicklow (Arklow) on our honeymoon and really liked them. It was 23 years ago so I don't remember specifics. I'm a widow now, otherwise I'd love to have gone back again for our silver wedding. At least I have the lovely memories though. Enjoy your trip

I live in Ireland and in my late 50’s and I’d avoid Dublin like the plague but anywhere else will be grand.

You can’t really go wrong anywhere on the west coast as everywhere is lovely and friendly; Galway, Clare and Cork being my favourites.

If you do stay in Dublin, I'd recommend a few day trips to places like Glendalough or Powerscourt (both south of Dublin) or Newgrange (north of Dublin). You can book day trips at any tourist office.

Or do as other pps have suggested and take the Dart out to coastal villages/towns like Howth (northside), Bray (southside) etc.

I'd be happy to recommend museums, galleries etc. but maybe you'd prefer to go shopping or eat out/visit pubs etc.?

I'd recommend day trips to Powerscourt and Glendalough, the Dart ( overland tube type transport )to Howth, Dun Laoghaire pier walk, the Dart to Bray or Greystones - lovely views.

I would suggest going to Cork instead.

Add a walk around Dalkey/Killiney looking for celebrity houses and an ice cream at Teddy's and you're describing my perfect long weekend.

OP don't be put off by all the posters saying avoid Dublin. I think if you've never been to Ireland & have a desire to do it then by all means do so!

Depending on how long you plan to stay you could stay 2 nights in Dublin & then get the train to Cork or Galway for 2 nights. You could fly into Dublin & fly home from Cork etc.

As for Dublin, again depending on your interests really- there's loads to see & do!

I woul d recommend staying on the southside in the main city centre. Have a look at Brooks Hotel or on booking.com to check out prices.

If you like literature / history there's loads to do for sure!

I recommend The Tenanment Museum on Henrietta St, a once beautiful but still interesting Georgian St. The Little Museum of Dublin on St Stephen's Green is fun & another opportunity to have look inside a beautiful Georgian house..
Epic Museum is an award winning museum looking at emigration

Trinity college is worth a wander & The Long Room library & Book of Kells is fab but book tickets online to avoid queues

For a quirky history experience vist St Michan's Church where you can visit the crypt & see Bram Stoker's resting place

Have a coffee in the historical Bewley's Coffee House & lunch in Davy Byrne's famous literary pub where writers such as James Joyce, Brendan Behan & Patrick Kavanagh hung out.

Book a ticket to see a play in the Olympia Gate or Abbey theatres.

Have a drink in victorian pubs such as The Long Hall, the Stags Head or Neary's

See art & have lunch in The National gallery or the Hugh Lane gallery or The RHA Gallery.

Have a stroll over the ha'penny bridge, through Merchants Arch, up Grafton St, into the Stephen's Green, down Baggot St

Or visit the James Joyce Centre on North Great George's Street & follow one of their walking tours through what's left of Joyce's Dublin.

Visit Dublin Castle & the Chester Beatty museum in there then get fish & chips from traditional chipper Leo Burdocks.
Visit Christchurch & St Patrick's Cathedral & the Irish Museum of Modern Art & the Guiness Factory - all in the same general area

If you'd like similar tips for Cork or Galway just let me know

I don’t see experience of Ireland as city based. I don’t think you will get from Dublin what your Dad described. As others have said I would look to the landscape and coasts.

Galway is a stunning small beautiful mini city (by U.K. standards) on the west coast where you will absorb a more authentic Irish cultural experience - surrounded by stunning scenery.

Or alternatively other small coastal towns like in beautiful settings like Westport, Dingle, Cobh.

As others have said, the city centre of Dublin wouldn't be great. Obviously, it has some things that are worth a visit, but probably for one or two day trips, rather than basing yourself there. Unfortunately, as with so many cities especially since Covid, there is an increase in anti social behaviour, in addition to a serious homeless crisis which has affected the area.
Kilmainham jail is worth a visit, but you will need to book it in advance.
Howth and Dun Laoghaire are nice coastal areas of the city which would be nicer. Wicklow, which is the county adjacent to Dublin is very nice and Glendalough is beautiful. Also, Wexford has some beautiful coastal areas.
Galway city with a trip to Connemara and/or the Burren, the Cliffs of Mother, Westport, Dingle, Slea Head are all beautiful areas of Ireland that would be more like what most people would think of as being typical of Ireland.

*Cliffs of Moher not mother!

I would check with those living in Dublin re places to stay as there have been quite a few hotels built that wouldn't be in safer great areas.
Some of the important tourist sights/sites too are not in the safest parts of town.
Sadly there has been an increase in anti social behaviour over the last while.
As a woman travelling on her own it is important that @wellstopdoingitthen is aware of this.
Brooks Hotel is very central to things.
A bit further out is the Clayton in Ballsbridge- really handy for the city - great public transport links - and day trips on the Dart.
Also nice would be the Sandymount Hotel or the Mespil Hotel on the banks of the canal.
It depends on your budget.
Do try and get to the West coast -all along the western seaboard - it's beautiful.

I'm a Dub and I adore a day in the city alone! I'd stay south of the city, the north is too underfunded and rough around the edges unfortunately.

Start with coffee and cake in The Queen of Tarts in Cows Lane in Temple Bar, then stroll some of the independent shops - best of all The Gutter Bookshop. Cross the road to Dublin Castle and walk across the cobbles to The Chester Beaty Library for a lovely wander around their fabulous collections. Take a stroll down the back streets, South William St, Wicklow St, towards Grafton St area. Then walk through St Stephen's Green to the Irish Writers Museum (another great cafe) and our their back gate into Iveagh Garden, a lovely quiet, secluded park. This leads to the National Concert Hall if there are any concerts on.

You could also reserve a table for afternoon tea in The Shelbourne Hotel facing St Stephen's Green (an historic hotel in Irish history), or if you love art there's the Art Tea in the Merrion Hotel (opposite the art gallery and just off Merrion Square - another lovely walk).

Everything in Dublin is within easy walking distance and like any city it's safe if you stick to the beaten track. There are some wonderful treasures to find if you take your time and soak it up.

Sorry didn't proofread - where I said writers museum, read Museum of Literature Ireland (aka MoLI, pronounced Molly). Though Writers Museum is another option, it's on the northside off O'Connell St.

How long are you planning to stay if /when you visit OP? That will give an indication of what you can stretch your itinerary to!

As others have said, there are so many options. I recommend the Haddington House hotel in Dun Laoghaire (pronounced DunLeary). It has an old world charm and a great restaurant. Short walk to the DART rail service, and across the road from the famous Pier walk, which every Dubliner loves. The train North takes you to Howth, a great fishing port with a lovely cliff walk (take bus to the Summit Inn for tea and scones first and walk back down) and fabulous fish restaurants, again loved by Dubliners. The train South takes you to Killiney and Dalkey as others have mentioned, and further South to Bray which is marmite, have a look on G maps, and Greystones in Wicklow which is delightful.

So much to see, so much to do, and a day shopping and walking around Grafton Street/St Stephen's Green/Merrion Square is one of life's great pleasures.