If you’re making your way to the infamous city of Dublin, Ireland you are in for a real treat. You will see a city that has a rich culture and history going back to the 12th Century. The locals will make you feel right at home with their stories, local sing-a-longs, and incredibly funny jokes. The capital of Ireland has plenty of activities in the city to keep you occupied and here are just a few to check out if you are here for a day or two. Add them to your planned itinerary. You’ll be wanting to come back and visit as soon as possible.
1. Take A Walk Through The National Gallery Of Ireland
The National Gallery of Ireland is one of the many free national museums you can visit in Dublin.
Since 1864, the National Gallery of Ireland has been showing off some of the finest pieces of art to the people of Dublin. It began with only 112 paintings, but after millions of euros in investment, the gallery now houses up to 16,000 works of fine art.
Those looking to gain a real insight into the gallery can avail of a free tour. They run every Saturday and Sunday at various times at no added cost. Stroll around and take it all in.
Some of the great pieces of art you should look out for include – Browning’s Sordello and Pierrot.
2. Have A Ride On The DoDublin Hop On Hop Off Tour
The DoDublin Hop On Hop Off Tour is a great way of sightseeing the city.
Visitors will be taken around Dublin city center to various tourist attractions, including Dublin Zoo, the Guinness Storehouse, Trinity College, and much much more. While on your bus tour, you’ll have a driver who has a microphone attached to him, which will give you a fabulous informative insight into what Dublin Irish culture has to offer.
Those who book the tour will also get some freebies, such as tickets to the Little Museum of Dublin and a spot on the Pat Liddy walking tour.
Tickets for the tour cost 27 euros, and for an extra day added on to your tour only costs an extra fiver, which leaves you at 32 euros. What a bargain.
If you’re looking to save even more money, you can purchase the DoDublin Freedom Ticket. With it, you get –
- 72 hours of access to the Dublin Bus Network
- 72 hours of access to the Luas
- 72 hours of access to the DART
- 72 hours of access to the Go-Ahead public buses of Dublin
- 48 hours of access to the DoDubin’s Hop On Hop Off Tour
3. Nurse A Pint At The Guinness Storehouse
Another great thing to do is take a tour of the Guinness Storehouse and swallow a proper pint of the mother’s milk.
The Guinness Storehouse is located at St. James Gate, which is exactly where the great liquid is brewed. It’s a fascinating building with a total of seven floors. Each has a variety of exhibitions for visitors to enjoy. A tour of the Guinness Brewery takes you through the story behind Guinness and how it was created. You’ll be given a deep insight into the work that goes into creating one of Ireland’s most successful exports.
Once your self-guided tour is completed, make your way to the storehouse’s state-of-the-art Gravity Bar, where you’ll be given a complimentary pint of Guinness with your ticket. Grab yourself a seat close to the window, so you can get a fantastic panoramic view of Dublin’s city center.
4. Take A Look At The Colorful Georgian Doors At Merrion Square
The colorful Georgian doors of Dublin City are an emblem of the great metropolis, to say the least.
At one of Dublin’s popular parks, Merrion Square, you can catch a glimpse of the many unique doors that are attached to the houses around the area, but where did this craze come from? Well, during the 18th and 19th centuries, Dublin was undergoing a bit of architectural change. It was known as the Georgian Period. During these times, there was some sort of building mandates where all houses had to look the same, so the owners decided to paint their doors all sorts of colors to know where they were living. And the tradition still lives on to this very day.
Finding the doors themselves isn’t difficult. Once you head in the direction of Merrion Square, it won’t be long before their alluring designs catch your eye and drag you in. You can take a long walking tour of your own just enjoying the vibrant colors.
5. Explore The Phoenix Park
Phoenix Park is one of the largest city parks in the whole of Europe, stretching over 1752 acres and more than 3 centuries old. This land that sits just outside of Dublin city center is a must-stop for anyone visiting. Any city tour you take will have this place as one of its top stops.
Visitors are given fields upon fields of green blades of grass to explore. You’re guaranteed a surprise or two around every corner. There’s an abundance of things to do in the Phoenix Park. You can stop and have a nice picnic at the Wellington Monument or stop and visit the animals at the Dublin Zoo. There might even be an opportunity of getting up close and personal with herds of wild deer. Who knows, you may even see the president of Ireland’s home, Áras an Uachtaráin
You can enter the grounds of Phoenix Park 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. More than half of the entrances stay open, as it’s a gateway to the city center for a lot of people.
6. Get Spooked At Dublin’s Hellfire Club
The Hellfire Club is a place for those looking for a supernatural hideaway embedded in the Dublin Mountains.
This abandoned house sits on the top of Montpelier Hill, overlooking the whole city of Dublin. It’s said that the Hellfire Club was originally a club of members who got up to some seedy acts and used this house as a meeting point. There was a story going around that an unfamiliar man ended up in the presence of the club one day, and he was invited to play cards with them in the house. As the game commenced, one of the members let a card fall on the ground, and the newbie knelt to pick it up, and he spotted one of the members with hooves where his feet were supposed to be. Quite creepy, right?
Besides the paranormal activity that has been seen at this place, there are two great walking trails up to the house which visitors can enjoy. As soon as you reach the top, not only will you have sight of the spooky house, but you’ll also have a spectacular scenic view of the whole of Dublin.
A popular thing to do amongst visitors is to wait until it gets dark and then take on the trail. Those brave enough to take on the challenge should be mindful that the gates of the Hellfire Club close after a certain time, so if you’re heading there in the evening it’s best you either park on the road beside the entrance or head up the road and find some parking elsewhere. The last thing you want is fine. After that head back to temple bar to enjoy the Dublin nightlife.
So there you have it. Enjoy your trip to Dublin and what it has to offer. Don’t be shy to try somewhere new off the beaten path of the tourist. You might find yourself somewhere amazing in this Irish paradise that will make fond memories for years to come. Find a local guide or even just ask a person on the street somewhere they would recommend. Make this place your own when you come to this wonderful country.
