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Dublin Vacations: Why Dublin Should Be Your Next Getaway

Dublin is well known for its nightlife, but this major city has so much to offer its visitors and is a great place to enjoy a winter break, with cheaper hotel rates, short flight times, friendly locals, delicious food and drinks, and loads to do.

Plus, the island of Ireland is part of the Common Travel Area, which is an open borders area that includes the UK, the Republic of Ireland, the Isle of Man, and the Channel Islands. If you are a US citizen with a valid Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) to travel to Ireland, you are able to travel freely between these areas with proper documentation.

Getting there

There are numerous direct flights to Ireland from the US, including cheap flights from Boston to Ireland, Los Angeles to Ireland and New York to Ireland.

Several bus lines and shuttle services will take you to the city center from the airport. The city is really accessible, so you can easily explore on foot or take public transportation, such as buses, bikes, and trains.

🏴‍☠️ Pirate Tip: One of the fastest and easiest ways of getting from the airport to your Dublin hotel is to take an Air coach, which runs every 15 minutes from outside Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 at Dublin Airport. We recommend buying a round-trip ticket to the city center.

🏴‍☠️ Pirate Tip: Leap Card – the best value for Dublin sightseeing, combined with visiting other parts of Ireland, you’ll get discounted unlimited travel for 1, 3, or 7 days on Irish Rail, DART, Luas, Dublin Bus, Airlink airport bus services.

Where to stay

Whether it's a cheap Dublin hostel, a hotel, or a bed and breakfast in Ireland, the possibilities here are almost endless. Accommodation can range in price, depending on what you want to book, and it is always best to book your hotel in Dublin in advance.

For hotels in Dublin, you have loads of choices, from low-budget hotels right to luxurious 5-star hotels. You will also find many chain hotels and choose to stay downtown or on the outskirts of the city. If you want to visit on public holidays, such as St. Patrick's Day, prices often go up quickly, so be quick to book the one you want in plenty of time.

Hostels in Dublin are hugely popular, and many offer a great central location at a great price. Many cheap Dublin hostels give you the choice of staying in a dorm or a private room. You also have the option of renting an Airbnb in Dublin during your stay.

Winter events

Dublin has a great offering of events happening in winter, from Christmas Markets and live music to light events. With all this on top of the already great tourist attractions, you won’t have a second to be bored on a trip to this city.

New Year's Festival Dublin

Celebrate the new year with Festival Dublin, which features exciting countdown events, the Festival Village, and some of Ireland’s greatest talents. You'll be able to rock out across six stages along the North Wall Quay, and a fireworks display will light up the midnight sky.

Christmas at the Castle

What is winter without a visit to a Christmas market? And you will find a few of them in Dublin, you will even have a choice of outdoor and indoor offerings.

Christmas at the Castle is a Christmas market with a stunning location at Dublin Castle. Here, you will find over 30 traditional alpine market stalls, an illuminated woodland trail, fire pits, fairground rides, and performers, and you can even visit Santa at Santa's Grotto.

TradFest

If you are heading to Dublin in the last week of January, you can catch TradFest in Temple Bar - a celebration of Irish music and culture, with lots of live music from over 100 of the best musicians from the island of Ireland. Events take place in many pubs and cool venues, such as St Patrick’s Cathedral, the GPO and the Abbey Theatre.

Attractions in Dublin

If you have decided on a trip to Dublin, it’s a must to visit some of the historical sights. Many museums have free entry, including the National Museum of Ireland, the National Gallery of Ireland, Hugh Lane Gallery and Chester Beatty Library.

St. Patrick's Cathedral

Originally a small wooden chapel, St. Patrick's Cathedral is a well-known Dublin attraction. Ireland's patron saint, St. Patrick, is said to have baptized Christian converts on the site of the church. Built in 1191, the church lay dormant for some time. It is probably thanks to the Guinness family that St Patrick's Cathedral stands today – they donated the money when it needed a major refurbishment in the 1860s.

You can do a tour of St. Patrick’s Cathedral and visit where Jonathan Swift, author of Gulliver's Travels and dean of the cathedral, is buried. Take time to see the Door of Reconciliation, stunning Gothic architecture, and beautiful stained-glass windows.

Trinity College

Trinity College is the oldest and arguably the most famous university on the island of Ireland. Oscar Wilde and Bram Stoker –who wrote Dracula– graduated here, among others. The library of the university is located in the middle and contains around 4.5 million books, plus a huge collection of manuscripts. The Library also owns the Book of Kells.

Dublin Castle

You will find Dublin Castle in the heart of Dublin's Old Town. In the past, it has served as a court, fortress and place of execution. Today, the castle is the scene of important state ceremonies, such as the inauguration of new presidents. You can take part in guided tours on-site.

Guinness Storehouse

The former brewery, which Arthur Guinness leased in 1759 for a period of 9,000 years and an annual rent of less than $50, can be found on the edge of Dublin's city center. On-site, you will learn everything about the history of Guinness and its production. Finally, you can enjoy your Guinness, which is included with admission, in the Sky Bar with a 360-degree view over Dublin’s skyline. The Guinness Storehouse will also host some brilliant events over the winter months.

🏴‍☠️ Pirate tip: Head to the Open Air Art Gallery on Sundays. You will find gorgeous local art dotted around the gates of Merrion Square Park. It’s a great chance to chat with locals and learn how the island of Ireland has inspired their work.

Food and drink in Dublin

There are said to be around 750 pubs in the city. Live music can often be enjoyed in Dublin's pubs, particularly in the downtown area. Food in Dublin goes beyond traditional bar foods, and the foodie scene caters to all.

🏴‍☠️ Pirate tip: Pop into O’Donoghue’s pub, just off St. Stephen’s Green, for a traditional Irish music session.

Temple Bar - The nightlife district in Dublin

Temple Bar is the pub and party district on the south bank of Liffey. The cobbled streets are lined with pubs with live music everywhere.

Here, you'll hear young up-and-coming musicians playing rock music, as well as bands playing traditional Irish music. On Saturdays, you can visit Temple Bar Food Market. In our opinion, a visit to Temple Bar is definitely worth it.

Food in Dublin

Of course, Dublin's pubs often have fantastic food too, along with the many cafés and restaurants in the city. Hearty dishes, such as fish & chips, and classics like Irish stew and coddle are served. Bars open in the morning are also good for Irish breakfasts. Along with the traditional cuisine, you will find many traditional dishes with a modern twist, including dishes made using local ingredients.

Top restaurants

A trip to Dublin wouldn’t be the same without trying some of the cuisines. Here are five restaurants we recommend you try:

  • Ryan’s of Parkgate Street - you will find a bit of everything on the menu, including tapas, steaks, oysters, and delicious beef and Guinness pie.

  • Woollen Mills - the menu has lots to offer, including many great vegetarian options and a wide range of sandwiches, pizzas and cocktails.

  • L. Mulligan Grocer - you will find fish, meat and veggie dishes, as well as sharing boards, such as charcuterie and cheese boards.

  • Griolladh - could this be the best cheese sandwich you have ever tasted? They are made with ingredients from 100% Irish suppliers, there is a vegan option, and they also sell some yummy treat boxes.

  • Glas - discover excellent vegetarian and vegan restaurants with loads of options, from appetizers, mains, desserts and sides.

Another way to find out more about what makes the food of Ireland so great is to join a food tour. You will learn so much in a really fun way. Pack your bags and enjoy your Irish vacation. Why not visit the United Kingom while you're there?

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