Last month Dan and I went to Dublin, the first time in Ireland for both of us. We spent 3 nights there and had a great time - it's an amazing city with a great vibe and lots to see and do (and drink!). Here are my brief highlights...
Kilmainham Gaol
The jail held prisoners throughout the fight for Irish independence, as well as the famous potato famine. The gaol can only be visited as part of a guided tour, which I'm not usually a fan of. However, this one - which took around an hour and 15 minutes - was great value for money at six euro, and interesting and informative as well as being run by a really fun and entertaining guide, Kieran. He showed us around the gaol and told us many stories about prisoners of the past and the history of the gaol, which has also been used for the filming of several films. We also enjoyed browsing the museum, and a nice cuppa and cake in the cafe. Definitely recommended.
Guinness Storehouse
We did this on the same day at the gaol, and in hindsight should have done them separately as it was pretty knackering! Guinness is obviously very famous, and the
storehouse experience is a tourist "must do." I did enjoy it, it's a very well laid out museum with lots to see and do, and the bar at the top (claim your "free" pint of the black stuff, part of the ticket price) has great views of Dublin city. I had an enjoyable afternoon at the storehouse and am glad I went, but if (when!) I go back to Dublin I won't be making a return visit - it's a once only experience for me. Plus, I still can't bear the stuff - yuck!
Temple Bar and the Ha'penny Bridge
My favourite area of Dublin. The bridge is known for the many "love locks" adorning it - signed by love struck couples who chain them to the bridge then throw the keys in the Liffey to signify their never-ending love. So famous, they featured in an episode of Hollyoaks! I thought this was really cute and spent quite a while looking at the different locks and wondering about the stories behind the couples they belong to. Just across the road is the entrance to Temple Bar - full of cobbled streets, arty types and pubs galore. Traditional Irish music is easy to find (we enjoyed listening to a man play guitar and sing traditional songs in
Oliver St John Gogartys pub) and it's the ideal place for a night out, as well as a wander during the day - especially the weekends, when there's a quirky book market to enjoy.
St Stephen's Green
The main park in Dublin, and a lovely contrast to the busy city. We enjoyed walking through the park looking at the fountains and statues throughout, as well and lazing on the grass people watching. A nice way to break up a busy day.
Tourist-tastic
We couldn't resist the open top bus tour, as I love a good sightseeing sesh and the 2 day ticket allowed me to indulge myself. It stops off at all the main attractions and is a great way to get a feel for the city before heading back to places you want to explore in more detail. We passed through (and hopped off at) many places including Christ Church Cathedral, the GPO, Trinity College, Dublin Castle, Molly Malone's statue and Dublin's smallest pub. The ticket cost 18 euro which I thought was great for 2 days unlimited travel, and the guides were fun and informative too. Plus, save your tickets and you get 10% off any future
City Sightseeing tours in other locations (I just used mine in Glasgow!)
To sum up: Dublin is an amazing city, and we have a lovely few days. Plenty to go back for though, and I can't wait to enjoy the craic again soon!
