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Holidays

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

your Dublin tips/special places?

39 replies

redmapleleaves1 · 18/08/2024 20:04

Moved house and area a few months ago and really want to get away for a city break, but can't cope with much organisation as feeling fairly overloaded at home. Am excited to have booked 4 nights in Dublin near end of September. I've never been before. What would you advise doing/going? Going on my own, so also keen on your places you'd feel happy alone.

I like museums, theatre, history, bookshops, markets; good food; gardens; walking/scenery; nice bars; wild swimming. Staying in the centre in Portobello area.

Thanks for your suggestions!

OP posts:
Notimeforaname · 18/08/2024 21:29

Dublinia - Viking museum in Christ Church Cathedral)

Botanic Gardens in Glasnevin

The Winding Stair -Bookshop and cafe

MoLi Museum- Literature

Natural History Museum
Plus many more museums including the Leprechaun museum 🤣 just have a google.

The Porterhouse bar is in Temple Bar but it's a nice bar that isn't a tourist trap, many locals drink there.

There are so many bars I'm struggling to pick some to suggest!😅 Again, Google is your friend as I'm not sure what type of vibe you're looking for.

Do take the Dart, a train that runs along the coast of Dublin, for a day trip or two to some seaside towns like Howth, Bray, or Greystones, you'll find little markets out there too.

Royalshyness · 18/08/2024 21:32

Oh I hope you enjoy it

four days is a lot so you can immerse yourself into it. I really like the Avoca cafe - it’s just lovely (nice homewares etc)

you could book theatre/show at Gaiety or Bord Gais theatre

Notimeforaname · 18/08/2024 21:32

Oh also a fantastic day trip is Glendalough!! It's in Wicklow, not too far from Dublin. Stunning scenery and such an interesting place historically.

https://glendalough.ie/

Glendalough, Co. Wicklow, Ireland

Official website.

https://glendalough.ie

FollowingForTheCraic · 18/08/2024 21:38

Talking the DART south to Dalkey and beyond is stunning on a beautiful day - it's nice to walk from Dalkey to Killiney DART station and you can get some amazing views from the top of Killiney hill. You can swim in the sea at Killiney beach, or at a number of other places along the DART line (Seapoint, Dun Laoghaire, Sandycove).

In Dublin, Iveagh Gardens is a lovely hidden park just off St. Stephen's Green - lovely place to hang out for a bit.

As for tourist attractions, I really rate Kilmainham Gaol (close to the Irish Museum of Modern Art), and 14 Henrietta Street (interactive museum telling the story of the house from posh townhouse to slum dwelling).

HighlandCow78 · 18/08/2024 21:38

Howth! Such a lovely little place with stunning scenery

booksunderthebed · 18/08/2024 21:44

something like this? Not sure I did this specific one but definitely did one years ago and loved it.

www.dublinpubcrawl.com/

polkadotclip · 18/08/2024 21:51

Get the dart to Dun Laoghaire. Walk along the seafront past the pier and along to the little cove at sandy cove and you can swim there or around the corner at the 4o foot.

Get chips afterwards.

RandyBentwick · 19/08/2024 18:20

Kilmainham Gaol is excellent but very popular so you'd need to book asap.
14 Henrietta St, Dublin Castle & Chester Beatty Library, Christchurch and St Patricks Cathedrals, Trinity College & Book of Kells.
Maybe a walking tour to get your bearings and get some ideas.
Theatre: check out what's on at the Gaiety, The Gate and Bord Gais. Also inexpensive lunch time theatre at Bewleys Cafe (small theatre upstairs) on Grafton St.
Dart to Howth and/or Malahide (Castle, beach, pretty village)
Plenty of good restaurants on George's, Camden and Aungier St - also nice for a stroll down. Georges St Arcade also worth a look for quirky shops and leads on to Wicklow St/Exchequer St, South William St which have plenty of places to eat/drink.
Pubs: Grogans, The Long Hall, The Stags Head, The Palace, Nearys, Kehoes and so many more
Bookshops https://www.visitdublin.com/guides/bookshops-dublin
Archeology museum and national gallery.

Enjoy!

Explore the Best Bookshops in Dublin with Visit Dublin

Famous as one of the world’s great literary cities, explore Dublin's collection of bookshops and feed the imagination of your inner book lover.

https://www.visitdublin.com/guides/bookshops-dublin

redmapleleaves1 · 19/08/2024 19:31

Oh you lot are marvels. Thank you so much. That all sounds perfect and so much more than I'd have found for myself. I would never have thought of looking outside Dublin, and those walks and swims via the DART and Glendalough look stunning. And a pub crawl! That looks a must. Very very grateful,
Any other tips from anyone else, do keep them coming :)

OP posts:
Meandmouse · 19/08/2024 19:36

Please go to my favourite swimming place (on a good day) the Vico. I love a walk from Glasthule DART station. Go via Sandycove and Forty foot (swimming places) around to Bulloch harbour , then up to Dalkey (great places to eat /drink) down to Coliemore Harbour (swimming place) , up hill towards Killiney and the Vico. If you fancy a longer walk , go up to Killiney Hill. , views all the way to Wicklow. Or continue on to Killiney beach to get DART back. Enjoy yourself.

BocaChica · 19/08/2024 20:00

If its not raining 'n you fancy a longish walk do Howth - Howth Head - Sutton

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=howth+sutton+walk

Tends to be cool on the Howth ( North ) side and much warmer once you are on the South side :)

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=howth+sutton+walk

AdaColeman · 19/08/2024 20:48

Some of my favourite Dublin places....

The National Library of Ireland in Kildare Street, as mentioned in Ulysses, a stunning building. At the moment they have got their wonderful W B Yeats exhibition on, with lots of input from his family, famous Irish celebrities reading his poems (breathtaking).
So worth a visit!

Powerscourt Town House, South William Street, good for a wander around, antique dealers, jewellery designers etc...
And nearby, between South William Street & Clarendon Row, the other end of the scale is Clarendon Market, second hand books etc.

Café en Seine in Dawson Street is a super place to stop for a coffee or a cocktail, the staff are lovely and service perfect.

I absolutely love Dublin, I'm sure you will have a fantastic time.

Moredarkchocolateplease · 19/08/2024 21:11

polkadotclip · 18/08/2024 21:51

Get the dart to Dun Laoghaire. Walk along the seafront past the pier and along to the little cove at sandy cove and you can swim there or around the corner at the 4o foot.

Get chips afterwards.

Chips!? Madness. A Teddies surely?

Moredarkchocolateplease · 19/08/2024 21:12

I third a trip to Dalkey for breakfast in the Corner note cafe which is 5 mins walk from the Dart. Hang around for a pint in Finnegans when it opens!

Ringonrighthand · 19/08/2024 21:14

If you like seafood, Sole restaurant is lovely!

we also really enjoyed the Guinness tour!

lovescats3 · 20/08/2024 13:24

The winding stair

PotterHead1985 · 20/08/2024 13:39

Moredarkchocolateplease · 19/08/2024 21:11

Chips!? Madness. A Teddies surely?

Chips followed by a Teddies!!!!

Moredarkchocolateplease · 20/08/2024 13:40

PotterHead1985 · 20/08/2024 13:39

Chips followed by a Teddies!!!!

Ah yeah, OK, grand.
But only from proper teddies. Not the pier.

OP Teddies is the best ice cream you will ever eat in your whole life.

halava · 20/08/2024 18:56

First off get a visitor LEAP card, you can get one at the airport, it's a handy way to use public transport in and around Dublin, it's similar to Oyster, just tap and go.

Leap Visitor Card - Leap Card

Then do an itinerary for yourself that's not too exhausting, it's easy to wear yourself out and not have the energy for a few scoops (drinks) at night! Please avoid Temple Bar, Dublin people wouldn't be caught dead there. It's nice for a stroll around, but avoid the pubs unless you want to take out another mortgage.

You have four days, so depending on time of arrival day one, stroll around the city or take the open top bus. Great for orienting yourself and you can go back to places that interest you.

Second day, as others have said - take the DART train to either Howth or Malahide (or both!) they are charming seaside towns North of the city. Or you could take the DART outwards all the way to Greystones which is Southwards, it's a lovely journey all along the coast so sit on the left out and right coming back towards the city. On the way back stop at Dalkey for a walk around and a pint in Finnegans, you might see Bono who lives up the road, if he's not on holidays, it's one of his local pubs.

Then day three you can go to the places that interest you like museums galleries, and all that, plenty of them and they are free to enter. Then go shopping. Grafton Street and the St. Stephen's Green Centre are good, but the best REAL Dublin shopping is in Henry Street, that's where the genuine Dubs go!

I was born in Dublin, and am getting very nostalgic now. Will be back there soon enough though. Hope you have a lovely time and stay safe, don't be complacent out and about, it's a big city and the usual safety rules apply. South of the river is very pleasant, Northside not so much (apart from the shopping!), so take care.

Leap Visitor Card - Leap Card

The Leap Visitor Card is a public transport ticket for tourists and visitors to Dublin. Buy it in Dublin airport or online. Valid on Dublin Bus, trams and trains.

https://about.leapcard.ie/leap-visitor-card

Rainallnight · 20/08/2024 20:00

Notimeforaname · 18/08/2024 21:29

Dublinia - Viking museum in Christ Church Cathedral)

Botanic Gardens in Glasnevin

The Winding Stair -Bookshop and cafe

MoLi Museum- Literature

Natural History Museum
Plus many more museums including the Leprechaun museum 🤣 just have a google.

The Porterhouse bar is in Temple Bar but it's a nice bar that isn't a tourist trap, many locals drink there.

There are so many bars I'm struggling to pick some to suggest!😅 Again, Google is your friend as I'm not sure what type of vibe you're looking for.

Do take the Dart, a train that runs along the coast of Dublin, for a day trip or two to some seaside towns like Howth, Bray, or Greystones, you'll find little markets out there too.

NB The Winding Stair is a posh restaurant now and the bookshop is gone

HughsMermaid · 20/08/2024 20:11

You've made me homesick 😭

HughsMermaid · 20/08/2024 20:11

Chester Beatty Museum, National Gallery Ireland

Moredarkchocolateplease · 20/08/2024 20:20

Oh yes to maybe seeing Bono in Finnegans. We used to live in Dalkey, there was barely a week went past where we didn't see someone 'famous', a rugby player, movie star, writer, actor.

Josh Hartnett lived opposite the pub for a while, Daniel Craig was around for a bit while his wife filmed in Kerry, Pierce Brosnan came and went at will, Matt Damon rented a house near the Vico baths during Lockdown 1 (below at the best cafe in town) , Bono, The Edge. And Maeve Binchy lived next to Finnegans before she died.
And so many more. Eddie Jordan often in the Cornernote cafe, Louis Walsh had a place down by the harbour.

But OBVS its not the kind of place to say hi to them!!

Btw op it's not super posh. Sounds it with all the celebs but it's a lovely down to earth seaside village (technically a town).

your Dublin tips/special places?
Shopgirl1 · 20/08/2024 20:31

Go for a long walk in the Phoenix Park, enjoy a scone and coffee in the visitor centre there. Maybe go to Farmleigh.
Walk around Dublin castle, Christchurch, go to Dublinia, then walk down through Temple Bar and on to streets around Grafton St.

HughsMermaid · 20/08/2024 21:57

Moredarkchocolateplease · 20/08/2024 20:20

Oh yes to maybe seeing Bono in Finnegans. We used to live in Dalkey, there was barely a week went past where we didn't see someone 'famous', a rugby player, movie star, writer, actor.

Josh Hartnett lived opposite the pub for a while, Daniel Craig was around for a bit while his wife filmed in Kerry, Pierce Brosnan came and went at will, Matt Damon rented a house near the Vico baths during Lockdown 1 (below at the best cafe in town) , Bono, The Edge. And Maeve Binchy lived next to Finnegans before she died.
And so many more. Eddie Jordan often in the Cornernote cafe, Louis Walsh had a place down by the harbour.

But OBVS its not the kind of place to say hi to them!!

Btw op it's not super posh. Sounds it with all the celebs but it's a lovely down to earth seaside village (technically a town).

I grew up there - we're very proud to call it a town!