Dublin Guide, Tourist Information, Travel Planning, Tours, Sightseeing, Attractions, Things to Do - 

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Our quick guide to Dublin, which features online booking for Dublin hotels and accommodation in Ireland, serves as a useful resource for planning vacations or business trips to the city. As well as details of local visitor attractions, you'll find an events diary, a dynamic flight finder, plus the ability to create personalised low-cost, high-value "Custom Trips".

To begin exploring our Dublin guide, choose from our main options (above left) or read further background about the city below.

City Overview - Introducing Dublin

With bustling streets, fine museums and art galleries, plus the buzz of pubs with traditional Irish entertainment, Dublin is a fascinating city to visit all year round. Although the excitement of downtown Dublin is what draws many here, within half an hour of the city center you'll find mountain walks, sandy beaches, fishing villages and historic stately homes.

Geographically placed on the mid-point of Ireland's east coast, the city is the country's largest, serving as a powerhouse of the national economy, as well as its administrative and political base. Nestled among hills and lush green mountains, Dublin also boasts a wide-range of open recreational spaces, including Phoenix Park, one of the largest formal gardens on the European continent.

Boasting a population of one and a half million, of which around half are aged under 25, Dublin began life as a Viking trading post called Dubh Linn (Dark Pool), eventually merging with a Celtic settlement by the name of Baile Átha Cliath (Town of the Hurdle Ford). Although very little of the early city remains today, the Georgian period of the eighteenth century gave rise to a large number of architectural delights, with recent restoration of elegant period dwellings managing to give Dublin a strong link with the beauty and grandeur of the past, whilst also embracing modern cultural and social developments.

Efficient local bus and rail services provide a way to discover pleasant countryside walks, historic homes and quaint fishing villages, while popular beaches at Dollymount, Sutton, Portmarnock and Malahide are perfect for active pursuits as well as relaxing family outings.

Steeped in history and tradition, well-known sights are Trinity College, St. Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin Castle and Christchurch Cathedral, while other popular attractions include Dublin Zoo, the Guinness Storehouse, the National Gallery of Ireland and Temple Bar - the latter being a center for culture and nightlife in the city.

Fine museums and art galleries also chart Dublin's long and rich history, while family possibilities including horseback riding, sailing and the thrill of an interactive Dublin Viking adventure - which takes visitors back a thousand years to the sights, sounds and smells of ancient and medieval Dublin.

Of course, since Ireland's entry into the European Community, the country has become famous for having a fast growing "tiger" economy. Along with a dramatic increase in the overall standard of living, Dublin's success has also seen an upsurge in the growth of its population (including a large influx of Polish workers), along with an air of excitement over renovations and improvements to the city's housing, social and service sectors.

In addition, the city has become a center for hi-tech software companies, with more than 100 well-known multinationals now based here. Similarly, as a thriving center for culture, it boasts the likes of Shaw, Yeats, Joyce and Beckett as part of a great literary tradition, while popular musical talent comes courtesy of groups such as Dubliners, Thin Lizzy, The Chieftains and U2.

Arriving in Dublin

By Air - Dublin Airport, which is located 7 miles north of the city, serves over 40 airlines and handles an average of 60,000 passengers per day. Up-to-date terminal services include Internet access, baby changing, religious and left-luggage facilities as well as foreign currency exchange and banking. Upon arrival you'll find taxis on the forecourt at the Arrivals level, while an Aircoach express bus service operates to the city center (from 6am-11:30pm with departures every 20-30 minutes). The cost is €7 for a single, adult ticket, €12 for a return. At present there is no rail link to/from Dublin Airport. Instead, local bus services offer travel to both Heuston and Connolly rail stations.

By Ferry - ferries from the United Kingdom sail into the ports of Dublin and Don Langhaire (nine miles south of the city). On both routes, high speed vessels operate alongside normal ferry services. As fares vary according to the time of year, the day of the week, the length of your car and the number of occupants on board, it's best to check the websites of each operator for the latest pricing details. However, the main routes and ferry services to Ireland are as follows:

Holyhead-Dublin - operated by Irish Ferries and Stena Line. Irish Ferries - ships currently in service on this route are: Ulysses and Dublin Swift. Each day-crossing takes 3 hrs 15 minutes (1 hr 49 minutes by Swift).

Holyhead-Dun Laoghaire - operated by Stena Line, vessel currently in service on this route is the HSS Explorer. Each crossing takes 1 hr 39 minutes by HSS Explorer.

General Information for Dublin

Location: East of Ireland, Lng/Lat 53° 34' N 6° 25' W (Dublin Harbour area)
Population: Greater Dublin Area: 1,661,185, Metropolitan Area: 1,186,159 (2006 census)
Area: 44 square miles
Time Zone: Greenwich Mean Time: 5 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time in New York  (6 hours ahead of central time in Chicago, etc)
Average Temperatures (Month High):

Currency: Euro. Abbreviated as EUR (and identified by the € symbol) the currency has been adopted by a number of other EU Member States, meaning that foreign visitors (and citizens of those countries) can travel the Eurozone without having to convert currencies. Notes (bills) come in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, and 500 euro, with coins of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, and 50 euro cents, and 1 and 2 euro denominations. The official exchange rate against the British pound, US dollar, Canadian dollar and other currencies can be found on the Internet at: www.xe.com.

The use of credit cards is widespread in Dublin, though many establishments still prefer cash. Often the easiest method of securing cash - at the best exchange rate - is to make ATM withdrawals at major banks (including Allied Irish Bank and the Bank of Ireland) using a credit card.

Customs Regulations - in general, for nationals entering the Irish Republic from a Member State of the European Union (Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus*, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain (but not the Canary Islands), Sweden and the UK (but not the Channel Islands)) customs controls no longer apply. However, travellers are subject to spot checks which can be made at any time. Note: Duty-Free purchases are no longer possible for direct flights within the EU.

* Though Cyprus is part of the EU, goods from any area of Cyprus not under effective control of the Government of the Republic of Cyprus are treated as non-EU imports.

Electricity - 220 volt A/C. Most hotels also offer 110V shaver outlets. Plugs have 3 square pins.

Emergency Services - to contact the police (Garda), fire brigade or ambulance service dial 999.

International Dialing Code - to place telephone calls outside Dublin but within Ireland, add '01' to the front of the number. From outside Ireland, use Ireland's international code as a prefix: 353. Dublin's city code is 01. Long distance calling cards are available from news stands and post offices in Ireland (for use from public or private phones). To call the operator dial 1190.

National Holidays:
Jan. 1 New Year's Day
Mar. 17 St. Patrick's Day
Good Friday and Easter Monday (dates vary each year - Mar. or April)
1st Mon. of May May Day holiday
Whit Monday (late May or early June)
1st Mon. of August August holiday
Last Mon. of Oct. October holiday
Dec. 25 Christmas day
Dec. 26 St. Stephen's day

Visitors with disabilities - the Disability Federation of Ireland can assist with suggestions and publications. For further information, Tel: +353 (1) 454 7978 or e-mail: info@disability-federation.ie.

Getting Around - buses are the main form of public transportation in the city. Dublin Bus operates 950 buses on 140 routes from Mon-Sat 6am-11pm and Sunday 10am-11:30pm (exact fares required). Schedules and pre-paid tickets are available at Dublin Bus offices and some news outlets, while further information is available from by calling +353 (1) 873 4222.

Dublin Area Rapid Transit (DART) is a light rail service running from Howth in the north to Bray in the south. Trains run every 15 minutes - every 5 minutes during rush hour.

Dublin is served by two mainline rail stations, namely Connolly Station (in the city 
centre) and Heuston Station in Dublin 8. Connolly Station (which is on the DART and suburban lines) operates services to both Belfast and Sligo, while trains from Heuston head west to Mayo or Galway, or south to Limerick, Cork, or Waterford. Train services in the capital are operated by Iarnród Éireann (Irish Rail). For timetable, ticket and general information, Tel: 1850 366222

Over 40 companies operate in the Greater Dublin area, with taxi stands found outside hotels, train and bus stations. For an up-to-date list of reputable companies offer services in the area visit: www.dublin.ie/disp_list.aspx?catid=52.

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