Best Western's Travel Blog - You Must Be Trippin'

Things To Do in Dublin

February 8 2010 by Julie Drossos

Dublin - the largest city and capital of Ireland - is one of the most charming and lively places in the world: full of character, history and a vibrant night life, it is home to quite possibly the friendliest most welcoming people in the world. Whether you're looking for a short getaway or an extended vacation, you will not run out of things to do, places to raise a pint (of Guinness of course) or friends to make in happy Dublin. Here are a few must-sees while you're visiting Dublin.

Temple Bar District
Cost: Dependent on your hunger and thirst
In North America what often comes to mind when you think of Dublin and the Irish is Irish Pubs filled with lively social gatherings, peppy and uplifting Irish music and a whole lot of beer.

The world famous Temple Bar district has a number of lively establishments that are all about just that - Good music, comforting food, music, friends and laughter. Some of the more famous bars are the Porterhouse Bar, the Foggy Dew and the Temple Bar. Wherever you go, you can bet that you will have a great time. The best part about the bars in this area is that anyone and everyone no matter what your age or profession will feel welcome and at home. You'll see young college students singing and dancing (and of course, drinking) alongside grandfathers. If you want to get a good spot and sit down to eat, it's best to get out to the pubs as early as possible... after 6pm you'll find that many pubs already have their seats reserved. If you want a full snapshot of Dublin's pub culture, it might make sense to take part in a pub crawl tour which will allow you to enjoy a number of spots and also provide the advantage of reserved seating and VIP access at some of the stops.

On a non-drinking note, on Wednesday and Saturday mornings, you should definitely stop in at the Temple Bar market which boasts some of Dublin's finest gourmet cuisine

Dublin Bus Tour
Cost: $15 Euros (Approximately ~$21 US)
Tip - if you book online there are often discounted rates!
The Dublin Bus Tour is an excellent option if you don't have an extensive amount of time in Dublin and want to take in as much as you possibly can. It's a double-decker tour bus that takes you on a tour lasting 75-90 minutes and features stops at some of Dublin's most famous attractions. The beauty of this option is that you can spend as little or as much time as you like at the individual attractions and just hop on another bus when you're ready to move to the next spot. Some of the highlights include Trinity College, Dublin Castle, St. Patrick's Cathedral and The Guinness Storehouse (more about that later!) For something a little less traditional, you might be into the Dublin GhostBus which is decorated in a "dark", gothic style and is somewhat of a mobile theater that recounts the origins of Dracula (did you know that Bram Stoker, inventor of Dracula was from Dublin?) and makes a number of stops at "spooky sites" throughout the city.

Guinness Storehouse
Cost: $15 Euros (Approximately ~$21 US)
I've clearly saved the best for last! Guinness is pretty much iconic when one thinks of Ireland. Even if you're not a beer lover or a beer drinker, you definitely are familiar with the Guinness name. Not surprisingly, the Guinness Storehouse is Dublin's #1 tourist destination (fun fact - the building is in the shape of a pint of Guinness!). A beer lover's dream, it gives tourists the opportunity to learn about the history of Guinness beer and, more importantly, taste it in unforgettable surroundings! If you're lazy and want to head straight to the bar, enjoy the ride to the top in their specially designed glass elevator. During your visit you'll learn more than you could even imagine you could learn about one particular beer. Everything from the ingredients, the founder - Arthur Guinness - the brewing process, the iconic Guinness brand, the history of the Guinness storehouse (constructed in 1904 and "re-born" in 2000), and you'll even be given the chance to explore some of your own drinking habits and identify dangerous drinking patterns (something you may or may not want to do!).

The extensive tour and history of Guinness will be well worth your time, as after you work your way up from the bottom floor to the top (5 levels!) you'll get to sit back and enjoy a tall cold pint of Guinness and a stunning 360 degree view of the city from Gravity Bar. Enjoy....

Lastly, for a lovely hotel with a hard-to-beat location (in the heart of the city!), check out the Best Western Premier Academy Plaza Hotel. The hotel is clean, trendy and has beautiful views. Perfect if you're visiting Dublin on business or pleasure. Cheers!

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