About Dublin
Dublin takes its name from the Irish Dubh Linn, the "black pool" where the River Poddle met the Liffey and where Vikings founded a trading settlement in 841. Normans, English kings and Georgian builders followed, and the eighteenth century gave the city its elegant squares of red-brick terraces with colourful front doors. In the twentieth century Dublin was the stage for the 1916 Easter Rising and the birth of an independent Irish state; today it is a young, international capital and the European home of many global tech companies.
For visitors, Dublin's appeal is as much about people as places. It is a literary city that has produced four Nobel laureates in literature (Yeats, Shaw, Beckett and Heaney) and the setting of James Joyce's Ulysses, celebrated every 16 June on Bloomsday. It is a city of pubs where traditional music sessions start without ceremony, of the Book of Kells in Trinity College, and of the Guinness Storehouse on the site of the brewery leased by Arthur Guinness in 1759 for 9,000 years. The sea is never far: Howth, Dalkey and the Dublin Mountains are an easy ride away.
Our guides help you choose a neighbourhood, prioritise attractions and plan practicalities including the airport, the Leap card, weather and costs.
Dublin city guides
- Where to stay in Dublin
Dublin's centre is compact and divided by the River Liffey into the Northside and the Southside, a distinction locals still joke about. Hotels are expensive and in high demand, so book early. Most sights are within a 30-minute walk of O'Connell Bridge. Temple Bar is a cobbled, pedestrian-friendly district on the south bank packed with pubs, restaurants and live music. It is where many visitors head for the craic, and it also has cultural venues such as the Irish Film Institute and the Saturday food market at Meeting House Square. Staying here means noise late into the night, especially at weekends and during hen and stag parties, and drinks prices are among the highest in the city. The area around Grafton Street, Dublin's main pedestrian shopping street, and St Stephen's Green park is central, safe and elegant. The historic Shelbourne Hotel, where the Irish Constitution was drafted in 1922, overlooks the green. Trinity College, the National Gallery and the National Museum are steps away. This is one of the best areas for first-time visitors, though prices are high.
- Things to do in Dublin
Dublin is a city of stories, from Viking origins to Ireland's revolution, all best told over a pint. These are the essential experiences. Founded by Queen Elizabeth I in 1592, Trinity College holds the Book of Kells, an illuminated manuscript of the four Gospels created around 800 AD, probably by monks on the Scottish island of Iona. The Long Room, the college's eighteenth-century library hall with 200,000 old books, has been undergoing a conservation project, with some books temporarily removed; an immersive experience complements the visit. Book timed tickets online. Ireland's most popular paid attraction is set in a former fermentation plant at St James's Gate. Seven floors explain brewing, advertising and the history of Guinness, culminating in the Gravity Bar with 360-degree city views and a pint included in the ticket. Book in advance for discounts.
- Practical tips for visiting Dublin
Dublin Airport (DUB) is about 10 kilometres north of the centre. There is no rail link yet (MetroLink is planned), so buses are the main option: Dublin Express and Aircoach run to O'Connell Street and other points, and the Dublin Bus 16 and 41 routes are cheaper but slower. Taxis cost roughly €30 to €40 to the centre. The centre is walkable. The Luas tram has two lines: Red (east-west through Connolly and Heuston stations) and Green (north-south through St Stephen's Green). The DART train runs along the coast. Dublin Bus covers the rest. Use a Leap Visitor Card for unlimited travel for 24, 72 hours or 7 days, including airport express buses, or a regular Leap card for discounted fares; contactless payments are rolling out. Dublinbikes is a public bike sharing scheme. Dublin's climate is mild and often damp; rain is possible every day, but heavy downpours are less common than the reputation suggests. Summer highs are about 18 to 20°C, and winter highs about 8°C. May to September offers the longest days, with daylight until after 22:00 in June. Bring layers and a waterproof jacket in all seasons.
Destination overview · Dublin
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What to see in Dublin
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What to do
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