Dublin
Price €32
Min age 5
Rating 4.50 / 5 [2540 ratings]
Tour supplied by:
Bucket list destination:
Dublin, County Dublin, Ireland
Rich Medieval and literary history meet varied dining and a trendy social scene in the cool urban village that is Dublin.
Cobbled streets and castle walls hug Victorian and Georgian houses, complemented by dramatic modern architecture and artistic design.
Quick-witted, sociable characters fuel traditional Irish pubs as historic theatres showcase literary talent and local ‘musos’ rock live music venues. Prep your palette for a charming cocktail of clubs and culture, history and hospitality, and savour a taste of diverse, delightfully hip Dublin.
The River Liffey separates Dublin into Northside and Southside neighbourhoods – the latter being more upmarket and expensive. Leafy banks hug the Grand and Royal Canals that run east and west.
Easy to navigate by foot, the city is dotted with Georgian squares and Victorian parks, such as Stephen’s Green and Phoenix Park, one of the largest designed landscapes in a European city.
Our selection of the best Viator tours of this destination, plus helpful tickets and transfers
Dublin
Price €32
Min age 5
Rating 4.50 / 5 [2540 ratings]
Tour supplied by:
Dublin
Price €32
Min age 5
Rating 4.05 / 5 [2320 ratings]
Tour supplied by:
Dublin
Price €60
Min age 4
Rating 4.76 / 5 [2088 ratings]
Tour supplied by:
Dublin
Price €19
Min age 18
Rating 4.89 / 5 [1741 ratings]
Tour supplied by:
Dublin
Price €20
Min age 1
Rating 4.84 / 5 [701 ratings]
Tour supplied by:
Dublin’s weather is temperamental but May to August offer the best weather (usually!), during which time outdoors activities are encouraged and locals are at their most sociable. Weekend markets, festivals and coastal villages spring to life during the summer months too.
The busiest weekend is St Patrick’s Festival in March, attracting crowds from around the world. Rugby is a popular sport and national rugby matches feature at weekends from October to March. Arts and cultural events, and Dublin’s hectic nightlife, pack a lively social schedule year-round.
Regular buses run from the airport directly into Dublin, but metered taxi is the fastest (30 minutes) and easiest way to reach the city centre, taking routes that avoid traffic.
Dublin is uniquely compact so the best way to get around and experience the city to the full is to walk. New bike lanes invite you to use a super-convenient Dublin bike scheme, providing cheap-to-rent bikes at 40 stations around the city. There’s also a light rail system, or LUAS, that is the fastest way to travel north and south of the centre. Avoid renting a car as traffic is heavy.
The most exclusive hotels and guest houses are typically located on the more exclusive south side of the River Liffey. Grafton Street, Merrion Row and Baggot Street are dotted with four- and five-star hotels and guest houses, all within walking distance of lively nightlife haunts. Whether you’re a first-time visitor or not, Dublin is such a compact city that these areas form good bases for a complete city experience. Groups congregate in the touristy Temple Bar area and while this is a bustling hub, it’s not where locals hang out.
There are distinct areas for dining and partying. Temple Bar offers round-the-clock fun but it’s touristy, while the network of George’s, Wicklow, Exchequer and South William Streets are where locals prefer to hang out in trendy bars. Grafton and George’s Street and Merrion Row are lined with fine-dining restaurants while Wexford and Leeson Streets offer late-night pubs and clubs – all within walking distance of the city centre.
Grafton and Wicklow Streets are the jewels in Dublin’s shopping crown, lined with upmarket boutiques, cafés and department stores, including Brown Thomas, Westbury and Powerscourt Malls.
Alternative boutiques, vintage shopping and arcades line the side streets between Grafton and George’s Street.
Weekend markets showcase local fashion, crafts and produce in Temple Bar. St Stephen’s Green or Dundrum – a 15-minute LUAS (light rail) trip – both offer a high-street shopping mall experience.
Linen, tweed, Celtic jewellery and hand-made musical instruments are some of the top buys in Dublin.