Dublin

In Dublin’s Fair City…

Dublin is a city with a big heart - the welcome is warm. We know Dublin well - we sail into it every day from Holyhead, past the iconic Poolbeg Chimneys and the red lighthouse perched out to sea on the Great South Wall.

Why not start your visit with a trip to one of Ireland’s most popular tourist attractions - The Guinness Storehouse where you’ll learn the incredible story of the world-famous porter beer. Take it all in and before you know it, you’ll find yourself seven stories up in the Gravity Bar with a panoramic view of Dublin and beyond whilst enjoying a complimentary pint of the “Black Stuff”.

When you travel to Dublin make sure to check out one of the city's newest and most popular museums  - EPIC by name and epic by nature. The Irish emigration museum has been named Europe's Leading Tourist Attraction by the World Travel Awards for three years in a row. Everyone is a little bit Irish (right?) and so there’s something to interest every visitor.

Spend time exploring Trinity College and its stunning Georgian Quarter campus. Student-led tours are available and here, in the Old Library building you’ll find the world’s holiest relic, The Book of Kells. It’s a must-see cultural artefact but as only one page gets turned a week, you’d need to hang around for seven years to see it all! Download a free audio tour for your pre-booked visit to find out all about this incredible manuscript in a fraction of the time. 

A little further south but still in the Georgian Quarter you’ll find Merrion Square – a little oasis in the busy city. Grab a coffee and find a spot to relax, taking your lead from the reclining Oscar Wilde statue. On Sundays, you can browse the incredible contemporary art hung around the park’s railings. 

One of Dublin’s two cathedrals, Christ Church has been a place of pilgrimage for nearly 1,000 years. It’s one of the city’s oldest buildings, home to a 12th century crypt and, if you time it right, you can even catch a concert here. 

If you’re visiting to get your city fix, you’ll find it on Grafton Street. One of the most visited streets in Ireland, it’s alive with street performers, sellers and, of course, the buskers! This is Dublin’s high street and where you’ll find all the big brands along with some local favourites – Bewley’s Café has been here for almost 100 years. We can heartily recommend the breakfast!

On the city’s northside is the Phoenix Park, Europe’s largest enclosed urban park and home to everything from the US Ambassador’s residence to regular polo matches. This is where you’ll also find Dublin Zoo, one of the world’s oldest and most popular zoos and Ireland’s most popular family attraction.

If you’ve got the car or like a scenic walk, you just can’t miss the Wicklow Mountains. They’re on Dublin’s doorstep and are your gateway to Wicklow, the garden of Ireland. It all makes for an incredible car-cation.