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1. Of course you could do all of the following or just register to our cultural scavenger hunt!
2. Take a look to this map of the city, to have a real idea on how it is built and organized.
3. Walk through and stop for a drink in Temple Bar
Temple Bar is the most popular area of the city, filled with a wide array of bars and restaurants. Great places to soak up some local atmosphere and culture, don’t miss some live music, which is performed most evenings. Get Google maps directions>
4. Trinity College
Trinity College is probably the best spot to kick off your Dublin tour. It's at the heart of the capital, packed full of incredible history, and it's the oldest university in Ireland having been founded in 1592 by Queen Elizabeth I. Occupying an enviable 40-acre site, Trinity retains some of its ancient seclusion of cobbled squares, gardens, and parks and is famed throughout the world for its collection of great treasures. These include, on permanent exhibition, the 9th century illuminated manuscript, the Book of Kells, the Books of Durrow and Armagh, and an ancient Irish harp. The priceless artefacts are displayed in the Treasury and the awe-inspiring 18th-century Long Room, which houses more than 200,000 of Trinity's oldest books and hosts regular literary exhibitions.
Trinity is a haven in an otherwise bustling area. Alumni over the centuries include such figures as Jonathan Swift (most famously known as the author of Gulliver's Travels), Oscar Wilde, Bram Stoker (author of Dracula), and playwright Samuel Beckett. Entering through a timber-tiled archway, you are instantly brought back in time. The immaculate green lawns, 18th- and 19th-century buildings, and cobbled pathway are reminiscent of a more gentile age and ooze a sense of hushed academia. It's best to time your visit as buildings open to the public can become crowded during peak season. As well as taking in the must-see sights do make time to relax and simply enjoy the atmosphere. Opposite the college on College Green is the old Irish Parliament building now a branch of the Bank of Ireland.
Hours: Open Monday-Saturday 9:30am-5pm, Sunday (May-September) 9.30am- 4.30pm, Sunday (October-April) 12pm-4.30pm Get Google maps directions>
5. St. Stephens Green
Fusilier's Arch, the main entrance to St. Stephen's Green.
Georgian buildings surround 'the Green' (as it's known locally),
although some sadly fell by the wayside during redevelopment, mainly in
the 1960s, 70s, and 80s. The 22-acre park is a Dublin gem and an oasis
of calm away from the hustle and bustle of downtown city life. When
weather permits, you should do as the locals do and stretch out on the
grass for some rest and relaxation, or grab a picnic lunch. Immaculate
flowerbeds fringe the lawns. Also in the park is an ornate fountain at
its center, a bridge over a duck pond, and a children's playground.
Incidentally, the park was the scene of bitter combat during the 1916
Uprising, however it was agreed by both sides that hostilities should
cease while the park-keeper fed the ducks.
5. St. Stephens Green
Hours: Open all year Mon-Sat 7.30am, Sundays and holidays 9.30am, gardens close according to daylight hours Get Google maps directions>
6. Grafton Street
A short southerly stroll from Trinity College takes you down towards
Dublin's premier shopping location, Grafton Street. A statue of Molly
Malone sits at the bottom of the street, so it's impossible to miss.
This eclectic stretch buzzes morning, noon, and night and is a magnet
for buskers, from classical quartets to traditional fiddle players and
singer-songwriters. Many famed bands and musicians have given impromptu
performances here, including Bono of U2. Aside from buskers, you will
find a broad range of boutiques, jewelers, and department stores
including upmarket Brown Thomas. Many would say that the jewel in the crown is Bewley's Oriental Café,
a Dublin institution at this location since 1927. If on a shopping
spree it's well worth taking a slight diversion to the arty Powerscourt Townhouse Centre with its designer shops and trendy places to eat.
Get Google maps directions>
7. The Little Museum of Dublin
A couple of minutes stroll from Fusilier's Arch, at the top of Dawson Street is a must-see for those interested in how Dublin and its people lived their lives and evolved over the past century. James Joyce once famously said, 'in the particular is contained the universal,' which neatly sums up the ethos of this treasure trove. In the minutiae of people's belongings, history is indeed writ large. Opened in 2011 following an appeal for mementos and artefacts, the museum has gone from strength to strength and now hosts an array of temporary exhibitions and events as well as permanent installations, including a U2 retrospective with exhibits donated by band members. Other treats include the lectern used by John F. Kennedy when he addressed both houses of the Irish Parliament (Oireachtas) in June 1963. Get Google maps directions>
8. The National Gallery of Ireland
Get Google maps directions>
7. The Little Museum of Dublin
A couple of minutes stroll from Fusilier's Arch, at the top of Dawson Street is a must-see for those interested in how Dublin and its people lived their lives and evolved over the past century. James Joyce once famously said, 'in the particular is contained the universal,' which neatly sums up the ethos of this treasure trove. In the minutiae of people's belongings, history is indeed writ large. Opened in 2011 following an appeal for mementos and artefacts, the museum has gone from strength to strength and now hosts an array of temporary exhibitions and events as well as permanent installations, including a U2 retrospective with exhibits donated by band members. Other treats include the lectern used by John F. Kennedy when he addressed both houses of the Irish Parliament (Oireachtas) in June 1963. Get Google maps directions>
8. The National Gallery of Ireland
A right turn at the end of Kildare Street will bring you to the National Gallery of Ireland
with entrances on Clare Street and Merrion Square West. Housing the
finest collection of Irish art in the world alongside an outstanding
collection of European art from the Middle Ages to the present day, this
is a must-see while in the capital. The gallery opened in 1864 with
wings being added in 1903, 1968, and most recently, 2002. Collections
include the Yeats Museum, seven rooms devoted to Irish art, Italian
Painters, the Shaw Room, and Baroque Room. The gallery, which is spread
over four levels, regularly hosts impressive temporary exhibitions, and
there's an excellent café popular with locals and visitors alike. Get Google maps directions>
9. Kildare Street Museums and Houses of Parliament
From the Little Museum of Dublin, a saunter past the legendary Shelbourne Hotel will take you to the top of Kildare Street, home to the Irish Parliament (Dáil Éireann) on the left hand side. The parliament building was once known as Kildare House after James Fitzgerald, the Earl of Kildare, who commissioned its construction in 1745 and set out to create a grand Georgian mansion to reflect his loft social status. When he became Duke of Leinster in 1766, the house was renamed Leinster House. On the opposite side is a branch of the National Museum of Ireland (Archaeology) with outstanding permanent exhibitions including Ireland's Gold, Prehistoric Ireland, the Viking Collection, and the Treasury, including the magnificent Ardagh Chalice. If you're interested in literature you should visit the National Library close by, which has a permanent W.B. Yeats exhibition. Get Google maps directions>
10. Merrion Square
9. Kildare Street Museums and Houses of Parliament
From the Little Museum of Dublin, a saunter past the legendary Shelbourne Hotel will take you to the top of Kildare Street, home to the Irish Parliament (Dáil Éireann) on the left hand side. The parliament building was once known as Kildare House after James Fitzgerald, the Earl of Kildare, who commissioned its construction in 1745 and set out to create a grand Georgian mansion to reflect his loft social status. When he became Duke of Leinster in 1766, the house was renamed Leinster House. On the opposite side is a branch of the National Museum of Ireland (Archaeology) with outstanding permanent exhibitions including Ireland's Gold, Prehistoric Ireland, the Viking Collection, and the Treasury, including the magnificent Ardagh Chalice. If you're interested in literature you should visit the National Library close by, which has a permanent W.B. Yeats exhibition. Get Google maps directions>
10. Merrion Square
Exit the National Gallery's main portal and you're on Merrion Square.
Made up of stately private houses and offices, this is arguably
Dublin's grandest Georgian square and stars in countless images and
postcards of the city. At its center is a pretty park with a vibrant
statue of that most colorful writer and renowned Dublin wit, Oscar Wilde.
An amiable stroll around the square is a journey back in time to the
Georgian era. You may notice that the top windows in many buildings are
smaller than those lower down. This was done in order to create an
optical illusion, that of the houses being taller than they really are.
At weekends, local artists line the perimeter of the park and display
their paintings on the railings. Open daily in daylight hours and free. Get Google maps directions>
11. Christ Church Cathedral
Restored in the 19th century and dominating the surrounding area, Christ Church Cathedral is built on the site of Dublin's first church, which was founded in 1028 and made of timber. The Great Nave has magnificent early gothic arches, and here you can see the 14th-century replica of the tomb of legendary Norman conqueror Strongbow, who is buried elsewhere in the cathedral. The fragment that lies alongside is said to be part of the original tomb and has the nickname, 'Strongbow's son.' Parts of the vast crypt, which runs the length of the building, date from the 13th century.
Get Google maps directions>
12. St. Patrick's Cathedral
An easy 7 minute-walk from Christ Church Cathedral, St. Patrick's Cathedral is the national cathedral of the Church of Ireland. Tradition has it that here, St. Patrick baptized converts to Christianity in AD 450. Like Christchurch, the original edifice was timber. In 1192, another church was founded and constructed of stone. Just over a century later, another reconstruction took place and its status was raised to that of cathedral. Over the centuries, much embellishment has occurred, chiefly in the mid 1700s when the steeple was built, and during the late 1800s when there were substantial renovations. Gulliver's Travels author and satirist Jonathan Swift (1667-1745), who was Dean of St. Patrick's for 35 years, is interred in a tomb to the right of the entrance beside his long time love 'Stella' (Hester Johnson 1681-1728). Get Google maps directions>
13. Dublin Castle and the Chester Beatty Library
Dublin Castle was the site of central administration during 700 years of British rule until 1922. The castle has seen many guises: medieval fortress, vice-regal court, and function of government. In 1534, Irish rebel Silken Thomas (so named for his fine clothes) launched an attack and besieged the castle. Currently, the castle is mainly used for ceremonial occasions, exhibitions, and even concerts. The ornate state apartments are open to visitors and there are a number of museums to explore including the Chester Beatty Library and Gallery.
The museum, founded in 1953 by an American living in Dublin, Chester Beatty, features a fine collection of oriental art and several collections of manuscripts, books, and ancient texts. Among the treasures are French Books of Hours of the 14th and 15th century and a prayer book, which belonged to Philip II of Spain; works of Far Eastern art; Islamic prints; Sanskrit manuscripts (12th-13th century); Indian miniatures; and Babylonian clay tablets (2,500-2,300 BC). There are also European medieval and renaissance manuscripts, Egyptian papyrus texts, and copies of the Qur'an, and the Bible. Buddhist paintings and Turkish and Persian miniatures are also on display, as are woodblock prints from Japan and Chinese dragon robes. Get Google maps directions>
14. The Guinness Storehouse
Guinness Storehouse is arguably one of Dublin’s most iconic attractions and is hugely popular with visitors to the capital. Guinness® is synonymous with Ireland so when you're in Dublin, you can't leave without a trip to Guinness Storehouse®. Learn through the seven-storey experience how the world-famous drink is made and then sample it for yourself at the end in the panoramic Gravity Bar.
Get Google maps directions>
12. St. Patrick's Cathedral
An easy 7 minute-walk from Christ Church Cathedral, St. Patrick's Cathedral is the national cathedral of the Church of Ireland. Tradition has it that here, St. Patrick baptized converts to Christianity in AD 450. Like Christchurch, the original edifice was timber. In 1192, another church was founded and constructed of stone. Just over a century later, another reconstruction took place and its status was raised to that of cathedral. Over the centuries, much embellishment has occurred, chiefly in the mid 1700s when the steeple was built, and during the late 1800s when there were substantial renovations. Gulliver's Travels author and satirist Jonathan Swift (1667-1745), who was Dean of St. Patrick's for 35 years, is interred in a tomb to the right of the entrance beside his long time love 'Stella' (Hester Johnson 1681-1728). Get Google maps directions>
13. Dublin Castle and the Chester Beatty Library
Dublin Castle was the site of central administration during 700 years of British rule until 1922. The castle has seen many guises: medieval fortress, vice-regal court, and function of government. In 1534, Irish rebel Silken Thomas (so named for his fine clothes) launched an attack and besieged the castle. Currently, the castle is mainly used for ceremonial occasions, exhibitions, and even concerts. The ornate state apartments are open to visitors and there are a number of museums to explore including the Chester Beatty Library and Gallery.
The museum, founded in 1953 by an American living in Dublin, Chester Beatty, features a fine collection of oriental art and several collections of manuscripts, books, and ancient texts. Among the treasures are French Books of Hours of the 14th and 15th century and a prayer book, which belonged to Philip II of Spain; works of Far Eastern art; Islamic prints; Sanskrit manuscripts (12th-13th century); Indian miniatures; and Babylonian clay tablets (2,500-2,300 BC). There are also European medieval and renaissance manuscripts, Egyptian papyrus texts, and copies of the Qur'an, and the Bible. Buddhist paintings and Turkish and Persian miniatures are also on display, as are woodblock prints from Japan and Chinese dragon robes. Get Google maps directions>
14. The Guinness Storehouse
Guinness Storehouse is arguably one of Dublin’s most iconic attractions and is hugely popular with visitors to the capital. Guinness® is synonymous with Ireland so when you're in Dublin, you can't leave without a trip to Guinness Storehouse®. Learn through the seven-storey experience how the world-famous drink is made and then sample it for yourself at the end in the panoramic Gravity Bar.
Get Google maps directions>
Maggie is our Dublin local representative,
we asked her what an ideal day of leisure in Dublin could look like,
what she would suggest doing from early morning to late at nigh
Here is what she suggests. Don't hesitate
to
contact Maggie on Twitter @bigcitychase #Dublin #questionforMaggie
if you
have questions for her, we may publish your conversation in this blog if
she thinks it might be useful to other Dublin visitors.Maggie from Dublin for Big City Chase Dublin :
"Hi guys, my name is Maggie
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