If you are looking for a great place to get away to for a weekend, then Dublin could be perfect for you. The Irish capital city has all the charm that you would expect as well as a vibrant nightlife and plenty to keep you entertained – so much so that a weekend is not long enough and you will probably want to come back!
Head to Trinity college to see the stunning library and of course the book of Kells. You can also head down to Grafton Street to do some shopping and wander through the grounds of St Stephens ground, before heading to the well-known Temple bar to enjoy a drink – it has to be a pint of Guinness if you are in Dublin!
The Temple bar also has plenty of cafes and independent shops that you can explore too, so there is a lot to keep you entertained there. In the evening you will be spoilt for choice when it comes to finding places to eat – you have plenty of options when it comes to hearty traditional Irish food, or go for something more international by looking for the best pizza restaurant Dublin //www.forno500.ie/ – where you can enjoy a pizza or pasta.
There are lots of pubs to visit throughout the city which will be lively on a weekend and full of atmosphere. You may even want to find one that has traditional Irish music on.
Before you go, be sure to visit the Guinness storehouse to enjoy a view of the city and of course a pint of Guinness!
Quieter corners of the city
Trinity College, Temple Bar and the Guinness Storehouse draw the crowds, but a weekend leaves time for some lesser known spots. The Little Museum of Dublin is a tiny gem filled with donated objects that tell the city’s 20th century story, while Kilmainham Gaol gives a sobering sense of the struggle for Irish independence. Grangegorman Military Cemetery, with its First World War graves, is quieter than it sounds and peaceful enough for a picnic. For something lighter, there is the National Leprechaun Museum, and U2 fans will want a photo at the fan-decorated U2 Wall.
If you want to get out of the centre, the Forty Foot at the southern tip of Dublin Bay is a famous cold-water swimming spot, close to the James Joyce Tower and Museum where Ulysses opens. The Howth Cliff Walk costs little more than a train fare and on a clear day looks out to Wicklow Head. A hurling or Gaelic football match at Croke Park, or a literary walking tour following Joyce, Swift, Stoker and Wilde, rounds things off.
The River Liffey and the home of Guinness
The River Liffey runs right through the centre of Dublin and out to the mouth of Dublin Bay, and a stroll along its banks is one of the easiest ways to get a feel for the city. Its main tributaries are the Poddle, the Camac and the Dodder. As well as being a striking backdrop, the river supplies most of the city’s water and supports many of Dublin’s recreational activities.
No weekend in Dublin is complete without a pint of the city’s most famous export. Guinness, the dry stout that has become synonymous with Ireland, comes from the brewery founded by Arthur Guinness in 1759 at St James’s Gate. Visiting the place where it all began, then enjoying a cold pint not far from the river, is a fitting way to round off a day exploring the Irish capital.