Dublin Tourism And Travel Guide

Dublin is the capital city of the charming island nation that is Ireland. The city lies on a bay along the eastern coast of the country; with Howth in the north, Dalkey in the south and the River Liffey that divides Dublin into two. Established by the Gaels sometime around the 7th-century AD, Dublin has been given the honour of being one of four UNESCO Cities of Literature in the world. This is due to some of the biggest names in the literary world like Oscar Wilde, James Joyce and W.B. Yeats who call Dublin home. Moreover, this entirely walkable city has so many nooks and corners waiting to be discovered that even a month-long itinerary will seem too short to enjoy its many treasures. Dublin’s exceptional beauty is evident through its ancient buildings, lovely parks, its museums and art galleries; but that is not all that drives tourism in the city. Check out our travel guide to know all about visiting Dublin.

By Air:

Dublin Airport is located around 10 km from the city centre and has two terminals. Terminal 1 operates most flights to and from within Europe, whereas terminal 2 operates transatlantic connections from around the world. There are no direct flights from India but several international connections can be made to Dublin with one or multiple stopovers. Buses and meter taxis are available from both terminals to the city.

By Rail:

There are two railway stations in Dublin; the Heuston Station operates trains to and from the southern and western part of Ireland, whereas the Connolly Station operates trains from the eastern coast and south-east part of the country. The suburban commuter service DART (Dublin Area Rapid Transit) system also operates from Connolly Station, which can be used to travel to the remote areas of Dublin including small adjoining villages. There are buses and taxis available for the city from both railway stations.

By Boat:

Taking a ferry to Dublin is a great way to travel if you are coming in from Wales or England. The main routes taken by several passenger ferry services that operate to and from Dublin Port are Liverpool-Dublin and Holyhead-Dublin.

By Road:

Reach Dublin via road from anywhere in the country via motorways M1 to M9. There are bus services and taxis available from several cities around Dublin, along with travellers also having the option to drive themselves to the city through private or rented cars. 

Summer (June – August):

Summers are high tourist season in Dublin. Being the warmest time of the year with the highest temperature averaging around 19⁰C, summers are the best time to explore the outdoors and enjoy the attractions of the city. While the afternoons are usually bright and sunny, there’s always chances of rainfall during these months as well. Expect to find high prices in all accommodation options and large crowds at most commercial establishments if you visit in the summers.

Autumn (September – November):

Autumn is a great time to visit if you want to avoid the large tourist crowds and the high accommodation rates, which drop considerably as the city empties out after the receding summers. With average temperatures in the range of 13⁰C-17⁰C, the weather remains pleasant enough during the earlier half of the season to enjoy the outdoors and the vibrant fall colours enhance the beauty of the city.

Winter (December – February):

Winters in Dublin are quite cold, and hence, considered the off-season in the year. The minimum temperature averages around 3⁰C, with January being the coldest month of the season. Tourist crowds are minimal and there are great deals on offer in the hotels, which makes this a great time to visit for budget travellers. Winters are also the rainiest time of the year, but snowfall is uncommon.

Spring (March – May):

Springtime is also a wonderful time to visit Dublin. After the cold winters, the warm weather of spring brings with it a pleasant ambience and colourful blooms all over the city. The month of May gets particularly lively in Dublin when Ireland’s most famous holiday, St. Patrick’s Day, is celebrated here with a lot of enthusiasm by locals and tourists alike.

Attend an Irish Trad Session:

Dublin’s traditional music scene is very prominent in its local bars. Known as trad sessions, these performances are often spontaneous and will truly form the highlight of your trip to Dublin. The city is filled with pubs and bars that feature local musicians almost daily; singing and dancing is often a part of these sessions and the crowd in the pub usually joins the musician as well.  

Enjoy the Buskers on Grafton Street:

The famous Grafton Street in Dublin isn’t just known for being a shopping hub. Buskers, or street musicians, line the street every few blocks and give brilliant live performances every day. Grafton Street has made such a name for itself that well-known names like Bono from U2 have also given impromptu performances here.

DoDublin Bus Tour:

The DoDublin Bus Tour is a great way to enjoy most of the city’s top attractions if you are running low on time. The bus covers Dublin’s best cultural and historical attractions and its charming tour guides offer interesting details about every stop the bus makes. A lot of Dublin’s highlights reference the contributions made by some of the biggest names in the literary world, like Oscar Wilde and W.B. Yeats; and the tour guides certainly make it a point to proudly remind people about what the city has given to the world.

With a city as commercial as Dublin, you won’t be left short of places to shop. Grafton Street is by far the most famous street and the epicentre of shopping in the city, with a bustling ambience and a pedestrian-packed aura that penetrates its numerous boutiques, luxury stores and galleries. The Dundrum Shopping Centre is the prime location for suburban shopping and features a wide range of stores and eateries to keep you busy all day. Moore Street is where you’ll find all the open-air fresh produce markets, while Temple Bar is a tourist hub for its weekend markets that sell varieties of food, literature and music.

The best place to start your culinary journey in Dublin has to be at Chapter One. This Michelin-star fine-dining establishment may seem like it’ll burn a hole in your pocket, but there’s no better place in the city to spend your money on when it comes to food. Glovers Alley and Mulberry Garden are other fine-dining restaurants that serve some of the best food in the city.

With cheap eats, you can’t go wrong with Gerry’s Coffee Shop, Tang Café, Beanhive, and The Gravediggers for delicious Irish pub food that will be easy on your wallet as well. If you get homesick for Indian food, Taza is the best place in town for desi food.