Finding your way around a city can be a real adventure. There are the shortcuts you learn over time, the hidden gems you happen upon, and those old familiar routes taken every day on your commute. Our city is a bustling metropolis of constant movement where adventure can be right around any corner.
With this whistle-stop tour of Dublin, we encourage you to put your tourist hat on and discover, or rediscover, the capital through these landmarks.
Leave the stresses of your car behind and liberate yourself: walk, grab a city-bike, jump in a taxi, take the Dart or flag down a bus, whichever is the most efficient way of getting from place to place.
Dublin is a compact city and while we can’t yet boast of an interconnected transport network like the rest of Europe, with a bit of imagination you can get around with relative ease. (Just don’t forget to say thanks as you’re getting off the bus, or be willing to share your life story with a Dublin taxi driver.)
George’s Street Arcade is the oldest purpose built shopping centre in Europe; it dates back to the 1880s, and its curving street façade is one of the finest architectural views the city has to offer. Drop in here for your morning caffeine fix before setting off on your adventure.
While strolling through Temple Bar at night can be treacherous, doing the same during the day is a pleasure. You’ll find a number of food and craft markets on the weekends and plenty of neat spaces showcasing art, photography and theatre.
Cross Dame Street to get to Dublin Castle. This old centre of British rule is an 18th-century garrison which now houses the Chester Beatty Library, the Office of Public Works and some of Ireland’s proudest celebrations, including the historic Marriage Equality Referendum in 2015.
Heading further west – perhaps on a Dublin bike – Kilmainham Gaol provides a real historical treat. It brings alive the characters who played vital roles in The 1916 Rising through letters and a vivid recreation of their final days in the prison.
A brisk walk from the Gaol will bring you to The Irish Museum of Modern Art, home of Ireland’s leading collection of modern and contemporary art. This old hospital, coupled with its surrounding gardens, provides one of the most tranquil spots in the city. On your way out why not take a glance at Bully’s Acre, Dublin’s oldest graveyard, located just off the entranceway.
To give yourself a rest, book a mytaxi because the Hugh Lane Gallery on Parnell Square is the next stop and it’s a bit of a walk. Francis Bacon’s studio is located at the back of the gallery. This messy recreation of his workspace is as striking to see as the best of hi figurative paintings.
Onwards and out to Glasnevin Cemetery. This is Dublin’s version of Pere Lachaise, home to the graves of Daniel O’Connell, Michael Collins, Constance Markievicz and Eamon De Valera, amongst 1.5 million others. Here is where the story of Ireland and its people can be found. This was well captured in the documentary, ‘One Million Dubliners’.
Howth is the northern boundary of Dublin bay. This bustling village has numerous walks around the head, and the lighthouse, with trails and fantastic views out to Lambay Island and Ireland’s Eye. After that climb, you’ll have earned fresh fish and chips from one of the many local pubs and restaurants.
Right around the bay is Dun Laoghaire Pier (easily accessible via the Dart or, if you’re feeling adventurous, a Dublin Bay Cruise) – the kilometre long pier, filled with families and walkers. If the sun is out, join the queue for a world famous Teddy’s ice cream.
If you’re feeling brave, then The Forty Foot in Sandycove isn’t far. Here you can join the hardier locals for a dip in the Irish Sea. After your swim, only a stone’s throw away, sits Martello Tower, the opening setting in James Joyce’s classic ‘Ulysses’. His characters made a similar trip to the one that you’re making, and they squeezed it into one day too!
Making your way back into town, the perfect way to round off your day would be to catch a show at The Abbey Theatre. This is a quintessential Dublin institution, founded in 1904; the theatre is steeped in Irish history and has reflected those events back to its people from the stage.
Phew! Okay, maybe you will need at least a weekend to get all of the above in, but you can pick and choose.
A working transport system thrives when you have the tools to move freely and seamlessly around a city, whether that be access to Dublin-bikes, your Leap card or the new mytaxi app, or even better, all three.
Download the mytaxi app now to help fill in the gaps in how you get around.
download mytaxi app from iTunes
download mytaxi app from Google Play
