Dublin

[Twinblade]

The new wife and I are going to be heading over to Dublin in a couple of weeks after our wedding. We are staying for a week before heading off for some sandy beaches.

Are there any locals on here who could give us an insight of good places to go/visit during the day, and good places to go out/eat in the evening whilst we are there?

Much appreciated.

 

[Scuzi]

To be completely honest I'd hop on the train at Heuston Station and go to Galway. If that doesn't tickle your fancy there's still plenty to do in Dublin, it just lacks the atmosphere it used to have.

Temple Bar is the tourist trap and is good craic for a night out or two but don't spend your whole time there, it'll cost a bloody fortune and is overrun with English stag parties.

Are you after wild nights out, lock ins with a seisiún on the go or the quiet life?

I haven't been on the drink in Dublin in a while, for good reason too, but there are some members here from Dublin who'll be able to guide you better.

 

[mattpc]

Go visit the Guinness factory. I had a really good time there the other week despite queing for some time.. There's plenty of good bars/resteraunts and shopping to be done. Don't know about the rest of the tourist traps as I only have limited time when I visit.

 

[monkeysmith]

Go visit the Guinness factory.

Haha, sure the OP's wife would love that!

 

[Twinblade]

Thanks for the replies so far.

As this if the first part of our honeymoon, I dont think wild drinking sessions will be the order of the day to be honest. Not wanting to be getting divorced within 1 week.

Ideally looking for a few good places to go in the evening where we could enjoy a nice meal or some entertainment.

We have already been told about the sights of Galway, and we are considering taking a day trip or an overnight stay there.

Any recommendations for good food joints?

 

[Darg]

There's a lovely little Chinese restaurant that me and my gf used to visit called Pan's just below templebar. I'll go find a map of dublin and draw on it.. If you are in templebar then the "Bad Ass cafe" is definitely a nice and quite unique place. Also a hard rock cafe with some nifty accessories but probably the same food as any other HR cafe. If you want you could take the dart down south to Dun Laoghaire (went to college there), Bray or Greystones. All have good seafronts and should have nice cafes or restaurants around.

Dun Laoghaire has a couple of fantastic piers that you can walk out on and see the entire bay from. Very romantic after an evening meal just as the sun is setting and the lights of the city are coming to life

Gonna go find that map for you and mark down anywhere I can think of. As for daytime entertainment I'm not so sure. The Savoy cinema on O'Connell street has two enormous screens from when it used to be a theatre. Very good for those epic movies where the audience involvement is as important as the movie

 

[Darg]

Marked the spots I could think of that you should go see in a red dot.

Fibbers up at the top is a good pub with a good friendly atmosphere. Plays generally rock/goth music though I've heard that it's turned a bit more scumbaggy since I was last there so maybe it's not good anymore

There's not a massive amount to do during the day apart from what's already been mentioned. I'd definitely look around the sites I pointed out. Dublin castle is well preserved if you're into that sort of thing. Trinity is pretty impressive to walk around (unless you're used to oxford ) and stephen's green is lovely in the sunshine. Good for bringing lunch out onto.

Give templebar a try but it does just fill up with hen partys at night. I marked where I think Pans is on the map. Could be anywhere along that bit of road though so keep an eye out for it.

Dublin is pretty famed for it's theatres and performances so if you're interested then take a look at what's on in the Point and other places.

Marked the main two shopping districts though the shops are pretty common. You'd find most of them on any english high street.

I strongly recommend you to come down to galway for a few nights. It has the best nightlife in all of Ireland and is just great craic. Lovely street side restaurants and some good shopping areas. Some nice walks along the river side and even has kayak training if you're into that

Cork is supposedly nice too but I've never been there.

Anyway, map of dublin:

EDIT: Woops sorry, the northern dart station I pointed to is actually the bus station. The actual dart station is further along the green line where those black rail lines split off from it. That's Connolly station where most North-South rail lines are.

EDIT2: Forgot one of the most important places! The zoo is fantastic. Definitely don't miss it! I make a point of visiting every zoo I can whereever I go and the only one that's been better so far is Amsterdam zoo. Oh and that semi-safari type zoo in La Palmere in France.

EDIT3: The zoo is over in the NW corner of the map. Also our president lives beside it

 

[Darg]

And that rail station just south of the zoo is Heuston station where you'd get the train to galway from

 

[Twinblade]

Darg, thank you for the quick guide of Dublin.

Shall print off a copy of the map to make things a little easier. The other half loves the zoo, so will score some brownie points and take her there one day

 

[Darg]

IIRC government buildings are in that block just west of Merrion square. You could have a gander around there. The Natural history museum is next to them and is free (I think). Also worth a look in there.

Our government will probably be dissolved when you come over so doubt you'll get to see anyone wandering around.. Not that you'd really want to anyway. tbh they're all just a bunch of power mad farmers.

 

[Glaucus]

Jamerson and Guinness places are a must, so is a bar where live musicians play, it's very famous, tis a quality pub to waste an afternoon in, someone should be able to tell you the name.

 

[northsider]

Donohues, on Merrion Row.

Also, the Merchant has some Irish Traditional music, if you're into that sort of thing.

 

[Morlan]

Go visit the Guinness factory

A Dhia ár sábháil.

If you want to visit Ireland to experience Irish culture, go to Galway (Conamara) or Cork. Tourists that only visit Dublin are given a false sense of what this country is all about. Whatever you do, don't spend you're whole week in Dublin City.

But if you are going to be in the Dublin area for one week, you should rent a car (many tour buses available too) and visit the next county - Wicklow. It's a stunning place. They call it 'An Ghairdín na hÉireann' - The Garden of Ireland. Mountains, lakes, rivers, waterfalls, you name it. It's a very romantic place. You'd be mad to no even consider going there.