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General Description of Dublin
Ireland's capital and largest city, Dublin was founded over 1,000 years ago by the Vikings and has since grown to cover 16 mls across. Its central districts are mainly flat, compact and walkable. The once-grand O'Connell Street is more than a tad seedy these days and the main attractions are now on the southern side of the Liffey, within a ¼-ml radius of St Stephen's Green. These include Trinity College, Dublin Castle and the elegant streets of Georgian town houses to the east and southeast. Besides a fine – if fragmented – heritage of 17th- and 18th-century buildings, there are also reminders of Dublin's Viking and medieval past, chiefly around Christ Church Cathedral. But this is a city which impresses more for its human scale and hospitable, easygoing charm than for imposing architecture or grand cityscapes. Literary connections abound and this rich heritage has been recognised by the launch of a "literary pub crawl" and the establishment of the Dublin Writers Museum in a Georgian house on Parnell Square. The Temple Bar district attracts merry crowds of revellers by night but can look somewhat forlorn in the harsh light of day. Regeneration is taking place in many parts of the city such as the docklands but which, in the meantime, gives rise to a certain amount of disruption.
Market/Suitability
Appeals strongly to a youthful, pleasure-seeking market, here mainly for the bars, clubs and music scene who join the stag and hen groups in the Temple Bar area especially at weekends. The city equally attracts a more cultured crowd, seeking out its literary haunts, good restaurants and rich history. With both mountains and coast on its doorstep, Dublin also lends itself to a combined city/country break.
Location/Contact
Location: Near the midpoint of the Republic of Ireland's east coast, facing across Dublin Bay towards the Irish Sea. 105 mls south of Belfast (Northern Ireland). Dublin international airport 7 mls north of centre; ferries arrive at Dublin Port, 1 ml east, and Dun Laoghaire, 6 mls southeast.
Position: On both banks of the River Liffey and bounded to the east by the coastal indentation of Dublin Bay. Inland, the Wicklow Mountains rise immediately to the south while, in the west, the suburbs give way to gently rolling hills.
Dialling Code: 1
Website: www.visitdublin.com
Accommodation
Wide choice in every category from 5-star down to humble (and cheap) hostels. Styles range from traditional to state-of-the-art contemporary. Plentiful small smart B&Bs. Many properties are in the suburbs away from the city's attractions.
Shopping
Main concentration is around Grafton Street and includes the usual high-street stores, Brown Thomas (Dublin's Harrods) and the filigreed halls of St Stephen's Green Shopping Centre. A complex at the western end of Temple Bar accommodates designer boutiques and galleries. More designer and art shops, together with antique and bookshops, are found on the cobbled streets of Temple Bar and along the Liffey Quays. Nassau Street has many stores specialising in traditional Irish knitwear, linen, glassware and ceramics. Large out-of-town developments have appeared including those at Dundrum and Tallaght.
Entertainment
Daytime: top sights include Trinity College and Book of Kells exhibition, Dublinia medieval-history exhibition by Christ Church Cathedral, Guinness Storehouse, James Joyce Museum, Dublin Castle, Old Jameson Distillery and Writer's Museum; Phoenix Park, 1 ml west of the centre, is famous for its zoo and is one of the largest city parks in Europe. Open-topped bus tours (departures every 15 mins) are popular and there are tours by amphibious vehicle.
Nightlife: vibrant – known as Europe's top party town. Temple Bar has a wealth of bars, music venues and street entertainment. Clubs are located here and along the Quays, while the traditional pub scene flourishes off Grafton Street and along Lower Baggot and Leeson Streets. Choice of theatres and cinemas. A blanket smoking ban operates in all pubs, restaurants, nightclubs and some other indoor public venues.
Eating Out
Many varied restaurants in Temple Bar where the atmosphere is cosmopolitan and prices on a par with the UK, although drinks are a little more expensive. The finest restaurants are found in hotels such as Clarence, La Stampa and Shelbourne. Casual cafes abound and many pubs serve hearty meals. Plenty of cuisines from around the world can be found as well as snadwich bars, takeaways and fast-food franchises. Advance bookings usually needed for restaurant meals.
Public Transport
An efficient, inexpensive bus service links all parts of the city (including airport to centre, every 15 mins) and makes private transport unnecessary. The Luas tram lines links the centre with the southern suburbs; other lines are planned. The DART light railway connects the city centre with the coast, north to Howth and south to Greystones. Taxis are plentiful with fares similar to those in the UK.
Local Excursions
Full day: sightseeing tours of villages in Wicklow Mountains including Glendalough (valley with medieval monastic ruins); Boyne Valley (including prehistoric tombs at Newgrange); Powerscourt House and formal garden; seaside locations such as Howth, Sandycove and Dalkey (easily visited by DART).
Serving Airports
Dublin (DUB)
Flight time from the UK: 1 hr
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 ALBUFEIRA, ALGARVE | | BAVENO, ITALY | | BENALMADENA, COSTA DEL SOL | | BENIDORM, COSTA BLANCA | | CALPE, COSTA BLANCA | | COSTA TEGUISE, LANZAROTE | | DUBLIN, IRELAND | | FUENGIROLA, COSTA DEL SOL | | FUNCHAL, MADEIRA | | FURNAS, AZORES | | HAMMAMET, TUNISIA | | IXIA, RHODES | | KALATHOS, RHODES | | KILLARNEY, SOUTH WEST IRELAND | | LA GOMERA, CANARY ISLANDS | | LAGOS, ALGARVE | | LIMASSOL, CYPRUS | | LLORET, COSTA BRAVA | | LOS GIGANTES, TENERIFE | | MACHICO, MADEIRA | | MAGALLUF, MAJORCA | | MARIA ALM, SALZBURGERLAND, AUSTRIA | | PAPHOS, CYPRUS | | PLATJA DE ARO, COSTA BRAVA | | PLAYA BLANCA, LANZAROTE | | PLAYA DE LAS AMERICAS, TENERIFE | | PORT EL KANTAOUI, TUNISIA | | PORT ERIN, ISLE OF MAN | | PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC | | PRAIA DA ROCHA. ALGARVE | | PUERTO DE LA CRUZ, TENERIFE | | PUERTO RICO, GRAN CANARIA | | QAWRA, MALTA | | RIVA DEL GARDA, ITALY | | SALINA BAY, MALTA | | SCHLADMING, AUSTRIA | | SEEFELD, AUSTRIA | | SELVA, ITALY | | SOLL, AUSTRIA | | SOUSSE, TUNISIA | | STRESA, ITALY | | TAVIRA, ALGARVE | | TORREMOLINOS, COSTA DEL SOL |
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