It’s not easy finding all the information you need in one place on the internet, so here are some top insider tips for your Dublin city break.
Spectacular nights out:
Dublin's central south-city club area, Temple Bar, can be mayhem and very loud at times but you have to experience it at least once on your short city break to Dublin. At night the street gets crowded with people walking from pub to pub and bar to bar, like most city centres keep an eye on your wallet or purse and don’t leave any valuables lying around.
How’s the shopping?
There’s more to Dublin then just bars and Irish pubs, there’s also a great variety of shops you can spend your time and money in. With a compact layout, the best shops in Dublin are all located within walking distance of one other. The two main pedestrianized streets are located either side of the river, the most popular being Grafton Street/Stephen's Green on the Southside centre and Henry Street on the north side.
Show me the money!
The currency in Dublin, as with most of the European Union, is the Euro. As there are no private ATMs in Dublin you will not be charged to withdraw your cash, lowcostholidays.com recommend taking money out of ATM’s as and when you need it for the most cost effective and convenient option.
Don’t forget your umbrella…
With a similar climate to England, it’s all about the rain in Dublin and there’s a lot of it. With the driest month being April, the wettest month is August, but it shouldn’t slow your day down too much. Lowcostholidays.com suggest you take a light rain coat on a day out, one that can be simply scrunched down to fit in the bottom of your bag is ideal for the unpredictable weather conditions in Dublin.
Food…
If you want to experience the traditions of Irish cuisine, make sure you try Dublin’s bacon and cabbage, ‘Boxty’ or the famous Irish stew; although be prepared to pay at least €16 for a good quality main meal without starters or drinks. If you fancy something a little bit more modern, Dublin’s international gastronomy has grown as fast as its contemporary culture.
Try anything from Italian, Indian, French diet, West African food and much more. Restaurants can add a service charge, usually of 10%, therefore no tip is required. If not, generally people tip around 10%.Tipping is common, but is still not expected.
Old enough to drink? Prove it…
The legal age to purchase alcohol in Dublin is 18. Passports, national identity cards and driving licences are acceptable for proof of age. Bouncers are known to be very strict and often ask people who obviously look over 18, so make sure you bring I.D.
How do I get around?
The cheapest way of getting around the city is public transport as taxi fares can be quite pricey, with some exceptions at night.
lowcostholidays.com recommend buying a bus pass at the airport, if you don’t get a chance don’t panic, there are automatic ticket machines at most Dublin bus stops. A day pass ticket will cost you €6 and is valid on the 747 and 748 express buses. As a single fare on average will set you back €6 anyway, you cannot go wrong with a day pass that you can use on other buses all day long. Be sure to keep some change with you as some ticket machines do not accept large notes.
Hidden Gems:
Take a break from the touristy areas and visit some of the more unknown Irish pubs; be sure to experience something different and see real Dubliners in action.
Situated in the Dublin Mountains, Johnnie Fox's Pub is slightly out of the way, but is one of Dublin's chief renowned pubs. With great diverse types of live music, it’s without doubt worth a visit on your Dublin City break. It’s likely to cost you around €25 in a taxi from the city centre. As one of the best traditional pubs in Dublin, be prepared to pay for the most expensive pint in Ireland, drink prices start at around €4 for a pint of beer and €3 for a spirit and mixer. However, stout never tastes the same anywhere else in the world. Don't leave Ireland without trying stout or an Irish whiskey.
Useful Tips:
- Dublin locals regularly use an informal name for a street or road such as "George Street" If you can't find it in an index, try putting a "Saint" or "St." before it.
- UK nationals do not need a passport to travel to Dublin; however lowcostholidays.com suggest you take one, simply for circumstances that require ID, like hiring a car or exchanging traveller’s cheques etc.
- There’s nothing better than a free attraction; Dublin’s wall of fame is located in Temple Bar, giving acknowledgement of Irish musical talent, it’s a charming little piece of entertainment and best off all it won’t cost you a cent.
- Remember to look left and right when crossing the road. Traffic may approach you from a direction you are not used to; the traffic instructions painted on the floor can come in very useful.
- If you’re planning on taking your car or hiring one in Dublin, all speed restriction signs will be displayed in kilometres instead of miles. Be aware as there are penalties for speeding, with the result probably being a fine.
- The 112 number applies throughout the EU; in case of an emergency in Dublin call 112 for police, ambulance or fire services.
- Can I drink the water? In a big urban city like Dublin, feel safe to drink the tap water. If you really feel worried to do so, there’s an abundance of local convenient stores where you can purchase water along with other amenities.
- Shall I learn the local lingo? Don’t worry about learning Gaelic, as an international city, there are many languages spoken in the city, with English being the main language spoken in Dublin and in Ireland.
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