Dublin

ucsbledbetter

So I will be traveling to Ireland next week for my honeymoon. We will be spending a few days in Dublin. Is there any really cool, unique stuff to do there?

Thanks

jamie uk

Yeah, go see the Phil Lynott statue. I think it's Henry Street, it's just off Grafton Street, which is the main shopping area. It's the coolest thing there, get a pint then in Bruxells bar right next to the statue.
Oh and the Guiness factory obviously, book online.

Hinny

Sit in a local and watch some Irish sport with a pint of Guinness.

mookie blaylock 10

so much!!! just a few of my own favourites...

st. stephen's green...for relaxation and atmosphere. also not far out of the way.

temple bar district for a maze of pubs and good times...other pubs in other areas, of course, with great music that i actually enjoyed more than the temple bar.

kilmainham gaol - if you're into irish history and the story of the 1916 uprising, this is an absolute must!!! there is a tour that is both emotional and stunning. really an overwhelming experience.

the winding stair book shop and cafe - one of my personal fave places to hang out when i go to dublin. great view of the liffey and the foot traffic on the bridges over it. good place to relax with a tea and people watch out the window.

phoenix park - beautiful and huge! quite a zoo there too...polar bears, giraffes, lions, hippos, etc.

all kinds of day trips from dublin too. so much more i can't think of right now...

enjoy! slainte!

FinsburyParkCarrots

Yep. Obviously explore the pubs for the music (O' Sheas Merchant, and O' Donoghues). Temple Bar can be full of tourists and overpriced, so try some small, out of the way little boozers, too. As for culture, there's the National Gallery, Trinity College Library (where the Book of Kells resides), and some more pubs. Oh, and did I mention the pubs?

And there's Heineken Helen. She's unique.

mookie blaylock 10

jamie uk wrote:

Yeah, go see the Phil Lynott statue. I think it's Henry Street, it's just off Grafton Street, which is the main shopping area. It's the coolest thing there, get a pint then in Bruxells bar right next to the statue.
Oh and the Guiness factory obviously, book online.

+1 to the gunness tour. best pint you'll ever have, after the tour.

mookie blaylock 10

FinsburyParkCarrots wrote:

Yep. Obviously explore the pubs for the music (O' Sheas Merchant, and O' Donoghues). Temple Bar can be full of tourists and overpriced, so try some small, out of the way little boozers, too. As for culture, there's the National Gallery, Trinity College Library (where the Book of Kells resides), and some more pubs. Oh, and did I mention the pubs?

And there's Heineken Helen. She's unique.

i'd have to agree with the out of the way pubs. i had a better time in those places.

...and how could i forget the book of kells at trinity and the library!?!?! MUST see!

good calls.

FinsburyParkCarrots

mookie blaylock 10 wrote:

+1 to the gunness tour. best pint you'll ever have, after the tour.

When did they start handing out full pints in there? Usually they're as stingy as fuck and only give you a half, unless you're sly with it. I contend that the best drop of Guinness in the whole of Ireland is in Cleary's bar, Ballycroy, Co. Mayo. If you put your hand on the counter after a spillage, they'd have to send the fire brigade from Castlebar, forty miles away, to cut your hand free, it's that thick and creamy.

mookie blaylock 10

FinsburyParkCarrots wrote:

When did they start handing out full pints in there? Usually they're as stingy as fuck and only give you a half, unless you're sly with it. I contend that the best drop of Guinness in the whole of Ireland is in Cleary's bar, Ballycroy, Co. Mayo. If you put your hand on the counter after a spillage, they'd have to send the fire brigade from Castlebar, forty miles away, to cut your hand free, it's that thick and creamy.

hahah, nice!

yeah, it was a full one when i did the tour...might have been 5 years ago? really a great pint, but as you said, there are other places that have the quality black stuff. i shall look that one up next time i'm over.

damn i'm craving a guinness now!

jamie uk

The city tour bus was good, about 16 Euros and you get to see most things, and can hop on and off as you like...it goes to the Guiness factory don't worry

Hitch-Hiker

jamie uk wrote:

Yeah, go see the Phil Lynott statue. I think it's Henry Street, it's just off Grafton Street, which is the main shopping area. It's the coolest thing there, get a pint then in Bruxells bar right next to the statue.
Oh and the Guiness factory obviously, book online.

Close - It's Harry Street. The rest you got right

But yeah, plenty to do in Dublin, although most of it revolves around boozin. If you're looking for other stuff to do, maybe get the DART out to Howth and take a walk around Howth head. When I was a kid they used to do boat tours out to Ireland's eye, which is a small island off dun Laoghaire. Not sure if they still do it, but it's a fun day of wandering about.
You should go up to Christ Church Cathedral and sample Burdocks Fish n' Chips too. Dublinia is around there which is historical museum type thingy about Medieval Dublin. It's pretty interesting.
If you're in town, look for the Bankers pub. It's a tiny little place just off Dame Street. It's great.

jamie uk

Hitch-Hiker wrote:

Close - It's Harry Street. The rest you got right
quote]
ha, I remember I made that mistake when I was there, there is a Henry street, I was walking up and down it going "where the fuck is Phil?"...hours later, after I'd given up, I stumbled on him hiding in Harry Street the sneaky Irish focker! Had a great pint, and chat with 'stereotypical friendly' Irishman in Bruxells then
I loved Dublin.

mookie blaylock 10

i rented a bike and went out to howth for the day on one of my times in dublin. beautiful. very nice suggestion. i'll add a +1 to that one too.

Hinny

Temple Bar was fookin' awful- then again, we went there on Paddys weekend. Bruxelles was awesome. Whelans felt like home. This small one a block down from Whelans felt sooooooooo right.

If you're not hearing at least one of the words 'fookin', 'grand', 'fair play' and 'craic' being used like in every other sentence, then you're in a tourist trap and you should walk away.

Hitch-Hiker

Hinny wrote:

Temple Bar was fookin' awful- then again, we went there on Paddys weekend. Bruxelles was awesome. Whelans felt like home. This small one a block down from Whelans felt sooooooooo right.

If you're not hearing at least one of the words 'fookin', 'grand', 'fair play' and 'craic' being used like in every other sentence, then you're in a tourist trap and you should walk away.

With the exception of craic, I use those words on a daily basis

Heineken Helen

mookie blaylock 10 wrote:

so much!!! just a few of my own favourites...

st. stephen's green...for relaxation and atmosphere. also not far out of the way.

temple bar district for a maze of pubs and good times...other pubs in other areas, of course, with great music that i actually enjoyed more than the temple bar.

kilmainham gaol - if you're into irish history and the story of the 1916 uprising, this is an absolute must!!! there is a tour that is both emotional and stunning. really an overwhelming experience.

the winding stair book shop and cafe - one of my personal fave places to hang out when i go to dublin. great view of the liffey and the foot traffic on the bridges over it. good place to relax with a tea and people watch out the window.

phoenix park - beautiful and huge! quite a zoo there too...polar bears, giraffes, lions, hippos, etc.

all kinds of day trips from dublin too. so much more i can't think of right now...

enjoy! slainte!

All great suggestions there... Kilmainham Gaol definitely . The bus tour is excellent... if you're a wee bit hungover one day and it's a nice day, sit on top and let the guide do all the hard work then just decide which, if any stop you wanna get off at.

I'll also agree with getting the dart... but I would suggest going to Bray (the far end of the line... the dart is the train by the way)

Jennytree

A walk around Temple Bar is nice in the evening, there's usually a few buskers and street performers around, and its not too much of a tourist season yet so it should be grand for ye

Howth is a nice place, and if you like, get the DART from there to Bray, tis a nice journey - just don't get out in Bray

Whelans on Wexford St. or Foggy Dew in Temple Bar for a Sunday evening pint. For food, try the Epicurian off Liffey St., The Gin Palace right beside there, Eddie Rockets (can I get a hell yeah?!) for all your thrashy food needs which can be found in various locations around the city. If you're looking to do some shopping, try Henry St., Grafton St., and the surrounding side streets or head out to Blanchardstown or Liffey Valley Centres. Also, take a walk around Smithfield and back into the city centre, its really quiet and lovely there.

Heineken Helen

Jennytree wrote:

A walk around Temple Bar is nice in the evening, there's usually a few buskers and street performers around, and its not too much of a tourist season yet so it should be grand for ye

I like Temple bar at night, especially during the week but yep, I think there's a wonderful atmosphere in there during the afternoon.

There's the market too... and some great, yet overpriced eating places in Temple bar.

Hitch-Hiker

I agree with not getting off at Bray. The place is a kip.

JordyWordy

Hitch-Hiker wrote:

Close - It's Harry Street. The rest you got right

But yeah, plenty to do in Dublin, although most of it revolves around boozin. If you're looking for other stuff to do, maybe get the DART out to Howth and take a walk around Howth head. When I was a kid they used to do boat tours out to Ireland's eye, which is a small island off dun Laoghaire. Not sure if they still do it, but it's a fun day of wandering about.
You should go up to Christ Church Cathedral and sample Burdocks Fish n' Chips too. Dublinia is around there which is historical museum type thingy about Medieval Dublin. It's pretty interesting.
If you're in town, look for the Bankers pub. It's a tiny little place just off Dame Street. It's great.

i LOVE the bankers! great place! right opposite the Central Bank? and not to be confused with "The Bank" pub (massive pretentious place just up the street)!

another good pub is the Old Stand on corner of Wicklow and South Williams Streets.

There's a walking night-time tour that takes you around Dublin Castle, Christchurch, the old CityWalls, and St Aodhans church & graveyard (old writing spot of Bram Stokers apparently)
a trip into the IFI is always decent too.

civ_eng_girl

mookie blaylock 10 wrote:

the winding stair book shop and cafe - one of my personal fave places to hang out when i go to dublin. great view of the liffey and the foot traffic on the bridges over it. good place to relax with a tea and people watch out the window.

this sounds heavenly! seriously... we need to travel togehter more!!