Dublin has long been a magnet for visitors. Stand still for a few moments on the famous Ha’penny Bridge over the River Liffey and you will see and hear dozens of nationalities.
Most of those people will be making a beeline for the Temple Bar area, a hub for out-of-towners.
Whilst Temple Bar is renowned as “tourist central”, prices reflect that reputation. Many people go there and think they have experienced Dublin and all it has to offer. As good as Temple Bar is, they are really missing out.
© GettyMy advice to anyone visiting a place is to wander around as much as possible and don’t follow the crowd. It was by doing this that I stumbled across “Talking Statues”. The idea is that you approach the statue, swipe the nearby plaque with your smartphone, and whoever the statue represents – whether that be James Joyce, Oscar Wilde or George Bernard Shaw – will call you back and tell you their story.
A wander along the banks of the River Liffey is also a must. I recommend looking at the buildings you pass by, as many are very grand and still show hints of their past use.
Dublin is made up of countless tiny streets and alleyways, many of which are being refreshed with interesting street art and boutique restaurants and coffee shops.
One of my favourite areas is Smithfield and Stoneybatter. Regeneration has taken place in this part of the city, and with that has arrived quite a hip and young vibe, even though I am on the wrong side of 40 to claim to be either!
© GettyThe Generator Hostel is a big draw to the backpacker community, which means this area is a hive of activity. With restaurants like Token – which serves up great food and some cool retro arcade machines – or Pifko – which offers traditional Czech cuisine alongside many others – there is quite a choice for the hungry visitor.
The Jameson Distillery is also part of this area, as well as the Lighthouse Cinema, famous for showing Irish and international films.
Stoneybatter is one of Dublin’s original villages and you can still feel a proud community spirit as, through a period of regeneration, the area has welcomed students and many new businesses.
If you are travelling with younger folk, Dublin Zoo is very popular. Entertainment can also be found at the National Wax Museum Plus at O’Connell Street Bridge. For grown ups, Dublin is home to Guinness Storehouse, one of the country’s most popular attractions.
Nearby, a new interactive experience promises to introduce the whole family to 800 years of Irish history with live actors bringing aspects of Dublin’s story to life at Vaults Live.
© GettyAll types of accommodation are available in Dublin. The recently refurbished North Star Hotel is a gem and is beside the main transport hubs in the city centre.
As events go, St Patrick’s Day on March 17 is probably the highlight of the year in Dublin and all attendees at the parades find their Irish pride swells, even if they aren’t Irish! Street performers, marching bands and giant puppets make this parade spectacular and the majority of the city’s 1,000 pubs will resonate to the sound of music and craic.
Dublin is a tourist magnet and a major international city but there are still many ways
to get off the tourist trail and see the city as a local.
Facts
Visit northstarhotel.ie for the most up-to-date accommodation offers. Aer Lingus and Ryanair fly to Dublin from Glasgow and Edinburgh Airports.
Tourist information can be found at visitdublin.com
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