Dublin is cool. It has a Viking past(which earns the city major cool points), captivating combination of elegant Georgian architecture, medieval and Gothic structures and modern design,rich literary history(the Irish capital earned its UNESCO City of Literature accolade in 2010 – shared only by 27 other cities worldwide) and, for all you foodies, an up-and-coming culinary scene. Not to mention Dublin’s epic, one-of-a-kind, world-class pub culture, which guarantees an excellent night out. So if you are heading there soon (I mean, Saint Patrick’s Day is just around the corner!), or planning to travel there in the future for the first time…
here is how you spend your first weekend in Dublin:
Landed in Dublin? Time for a drink! There’s no better way to start your Dublin weekend than by enjoying a cold pint of Guinness in one of the city’s many, many, many Irish pubs(although in Ireland they are just called “pubs”). Even if you don’t drink at all, have no fear. Pick a place with live music, such as The Merchants Arch, The Cobblestone(whose tagline is “a drinking pub with a music problem) or O’Donoghue’s Pub, and you will end up having a great time, singing along and dancing(or, at least, clapping enthusiastically)to the fun folk tuneswhilst chatting to some of the friendliest people you’ll ever meet. Dublin pubs don’t just guarantee a good night out; a lot of them serve yummy food, from hearty burgers to delicious stews. Visit the Brazen Head(Ireland’s oldest pub, standing proud since 1198!) for their top notch Guinness beef stew or seafood chowder, the Stag’s Head for a mouth-watering pulled pork sandwich and The Dukefor a proper roast.
Don’t want to have to walk far or bother looking for a taxi after your awesome (and maybe tipsy) night out ? No problem! All you need to do is strategically choose a pub that also serves as a hotel(which is exactly what I did when visiting Dublin – thank you, O’Sheas Merchant!). Just remember that staying in such place may be a tad noisy. Good accommodation picksalso include the Clayton Hotel Burlington Road [4*] (~£160/night for a double room), the Roxford Lodge Hotel [3*] (~£150/night for a double room), theClayton HotelBallsbridge [4*] (~£130/night for a double room), East Park Lodge (~£98/night for a studio apartment) and Jacobs Inn Hostel (~£30/night in a 4-bed mixed dorm). And, yes, Dublin is pricey.
• SATURDAY morning
– College & Cathedrals:
Trinity College campusTrinity College campusTrinity College campusTrinity College campusChrist Church cathedralChrist Church cathedral
Having enjoyed your eggs and bacon (or avocado and toast, whatever floats your boat) at one of Dublin’s many fab breakfast joints (I recommend feasting onLovinspoon’sno-nonsense, awesome Irish breakfast), it’s time for sightseeing. Start from Trinity College (also known as Coláiste na Tríonóide in Irish Gaelic),Ireland’s oldest and most prestigious university. Founded in 1592, it not only features a beautifully elegant and green Georgian campus decorated with 18th- and 19th-century buildings and statues, but it also houses the magnificentTrinity College Library(don’t forget to take a picture of the Long Hall) which, in turn, has the historic Book of Kells. A 9th century illuminated Latin manuscript Gospel book containing, amongst others, the four New Testament Gospels and decorated with complex and extravagant iconography.
Continue your Dublin tour by visiting the grandgems of gothic architecture(you know I love a gothic building) that are the Christ Church and St Patrick’scathedrals. Founded in 1030 and 1191, respectively, these beautiful structures played a central role in Dublin’s and Ireland’s religious history. My personal favourite is St Patrick’s cathedral due to its magnitude (it’s Ireland’s tallest and largest church) and the lovely garden surrounding it.
• SATURDAY afternoon
– Castle, Crypts & Parks:
Dublin Castle and gardensSt Patrick’s cathedral garden
Lunch time! Five minutes walking from Christ Church cathedral is the greatFish Shack Café, serving fresh, comfort seafood.Feeling fancy? Get the lobster. Feeling hungry? Get the fish n’ chips. Want a sandwich? Get the shrimp and crayfish one (yum!). Allergic to fish? Get the chicken or cheeseburger. Vegetarian? How does halloumi, avocado, beetroot and blueberry salad sound like?
A short walk from Fish Shack Café (literally, just 3 minutes) isDublin Castle, opened in 1204. I must say, having visited my fair share of castles, this feels more like a mansion tower sort of building. But stillworth a visit (particularly to the luxurious throne room and the beautiful St Patrick Hall), especially if you are a history lover(admission: €7 for adult tickets, €6 for students). Do take the time to wander around the beautifulCastle gardens, especially on a sunny day. Morebeautiful green spaces that you should visit are the romanticSt Stephen’sGreen, which is right in the heart of the city, or PhoenixPark which is home to a herd of wild deer (a bit further away from the city centre though).
Next sightseeing stop is another church. St Michan’s Churchto be exact. What’s so special about it? Its quirky nature. Oh, and its mummies. Yep, you’ve read correctly. The church’s crypt, which is open only on Saturdays, holds manymummified remains, including the bodies of two brothers who fought in the 1798 Irish rebellion against the British rule in Ireland.
I would personally recommend repeating Friday’s evening plan, because there are only so many places in the world that you get to enjoy proper Irish live music and ambiance, and you should absolutely take advantage of Dublin’s splendid pub options. However, if you don’t feel like going to a pub two nights in a row for food and drinks, there are certainly fine alternatives.Dax and Michelin star-awarded Chapter One restaurants will serve you contemporary Irish cuisine with a French twist, whereas you can enjoy delicious Italian meals at Osteria Lucio. Want to drink something other than Guinness? Then visit the Vintage Cocktail Club or the Chelsea Drugstore for cocktails and a more relaxed atmosphere.
• SUNDAYmorning
– Guinness and Jameson:
View from Gravity Bar, Guinness StorehouseBrewer’s Dining Hall, Guinness StorehouseView from Gravity Bar, Guinness Storehouse
Even if you don’t enjoy beer, like myself (yes, I’m the weirdo who orders wine in the pub), there isno way you are leaving Dublin, the birthplace of Guinness, without a visit to Ireland’s national drink’s actual birth place.I am referring to the Guinness Storehouse, which was one of my favourite Dublin experiences and definitely deserves a visit. Not only is the building amazing, spanning over 7 floors and being surrounded by glass that allows the interior to be beautifully illuminated by natural daylight, but the actual exhibition is superb, interactively telling the story of making and advertising this legendary stout. Some of my top moments there included the tour guide teaching us how to use all of our senses to properly enjoy a pint, and having a complementary pint sip of Guinness (I gave the rest to my boyfriend – told you I’m not a beer person) on the storehouse’s amazing top-floor Gravity Bar, surrounded by jaw-dropping views. If you are there during lunchtime, then drop by the 5th floor’s restaurant for a variety of great meals, most of them infused with Guinness (such as my all-time favourite Guinness stew and Guinness bread – yes, they are delicious).
Fun Fact: As a scientist who used this test a gazillion times, I had to share this. William Sealy Gosset, also known by his pen name “Student”, was a chemist hired by Guinness to apply biochemistry and statistics to the beer’s industrial process. In 1908 Gosset published his work on t-test, applied by every single person that uses statistics nowadays, which he devised as a tool to help monitor the stout’s quality.
Of course, Guinness is not the only famous beverage out of Dublin. Jameson Irish whiskey, founded by James Jameson in 1780, was produced in Dublin until 1976 (now produced in Cork, Ireland) and at one point was the best selling whiskey in the world.Dublin’s Bow Street Distillery serves as an awesome attraction, with knowledgable staff and a lot of great whiskey (and whiskey-containing cocktails) served on site.
• SUNDAY evening
– James Joyce and Goodbyes:
Statue of James JoyceHa’penny Bridge and River Liffey
If you love James Joycethen there is no better city for you to be in than his birthplace Dublin. Pay homage to the author by strategically planning your afternoon walk so that you visit some of the iconic spots mentioned in his books, such as Sweny’s Pharmacy from Joyce’s Ulysses,(or take one of the walking tours offered by The James Joyce Centre), and by visiting his statue in the city centre.
At sunset enjoy a walk on Ha’penny Bridge over the River Liffey and take in Dublin’s unique, unconventional beauty one last time. A weekend there is certainly not enough to see all that Dublin has to offer, but it’s certainly a great first taste to the city’s big heart.
Slán.
Have you ever visited Dublin?
Do you have any tips on what to see and do there?
| More “How to spend a Weekend in…” posts here (Ibiza-Spain), here(Kraków-Poland), here (Copenhagen-Denmark), and here (Oban-Scotland).
terrIFIc wanders 