Dublin Sights

Full Dublin Travel Guide »    Dublin Interactive Map »    Print This Article »

A carving in the crypt at Christ Church Cathedral

Trinity College

The National Museum, National Library and National Gallery are located very close to one another, near Government buildings in Dublin 2. All three are worth a visit, not least because they are free of charge! Also worth a visit is Buswells Hotel www.buswells.ie, a spot popular with local politicians and celebrities alike.

In the summer peak season, Dublin's top attractions can get packed. Show up early to beat the crowds.

• National Museum of Ireland - Archaeology, Kildare Street, Dublin 2, ☎ +353 1 6777444 (marketing@museum.ie, fax: +353 1 6777450), www.museum.ie. Tu-Sa 10AM-5PM; Su 2PM-5PM, closed Mon, Christmas Day and Good Friday. Archaeology and History. Other locations: Decorative Arts & History at Collins Barrack, Benburb Street, Dublin 7. Natural History at Merrion Street, Dublin 2. Please note, the Natural History Collection is currently closed to the public. Free entrance.
• The National Gallery of Ireland, Merrion Square West & Clare Street, Dublin 2 (DART Pearse Station will get you to within five minutes from the Gallery.), ☎ +353 1 6615133 (info@ngi.ie, fax: +353 1 6615372), www.nationalgallery.ie. Mon-Sat 9:30AM-5:30PM (till 8:30PM on Thurs) and Sun 12PM-5:30PM. Closed Good Friday and Dec 24-26. National collection of Irish and European Art. Free entrance.
• Irish Museum of Modern Art, Military Rd, Kilmainham, Dublin 8, ☎ +353 1 6129900 (info@imma.ie, fax: +353 1 612 9999), www.modernart.ie. Tu-Sa 10AM-5:30PM (opens 10:30AM on Wed), 12PM-5:30PM on Su and Bank Holidays. Closed on Mon. Summer Late Opening until 8.00PM on Thursdays from 5 June – 18 September.. Modern & contemporary art, formal gardens & cafe. Free entrance..
• Old Library at Trinity College & Book of Kells, College Green, Dublin 2, ☎ +353 1 896 2320 (adiffley@tcd.ie, fax: +353 1 896 2690), www.tcd.ie/Library/heritage/index.php. M-Sa 9:30AM-5PM, Sun (May-Sept) 9:30AM (12PM Oct-Apr)-5:30PM. Closed Dec 23 - Jan 1.. The gorgeously illustrated original manuscript of the Book of Kells is the main draw here, but the massive Long Hall of the Old library itself is equally if not even more impressive. Adults €9, +€2 for optional guided tour. Students & seniors €8, children under 12 free. Family admission €18..
• Dublin Castle, Dublin 2, ☎ +353 1 677 7129 (info@dublincastle.ie, fax: +353 679 7831), www.dublincastle.ie. Mon-Fri 10AM-5:45PM. Sat, Sun & Holidays. Former seat of British rule in Ireland. Guided Tour Prices Adults: €4.50, students €3.50, children €2, alternative Tour of Chapel Royal & Undercroft €3.50.
• Chester Beatty Library, Dublin Castle, Dublin 2, ☎ +353 1 407 0750 (info@cbl.ie, fax: +353 1 407 0760), www.cbl.ie. Sa 11AM-5PM, Su 1PM-5PM, Mon-Fri 10AM-5PM (Closed on Mon from Oct-Apr). Contains a wide selection of early books and manuscripts, including sacred texts and manuscripts. European Museum of the Year 2002. Free entry.
• The Bram Stoker Museum, Clontarf Rd, Dublin 3 (Take the DART to Clontarf station, this will leave you beside the museum. Enter via Bar Code.), ☎ +353 1 805 7824 (info@thebramstokerdraculaexperience.com), www.thebramstokerdraculaexperience.com. Fri 4PM-10PM, Sat,Sun 12PM-10PM. A frightening tour through the life of Bram Stoker, the author of Dracula. €7 for adults, €4 for children and €5 for students and OAPs.
• Christ Church Cathedral, Christ Church Place, Dublin 2, ☎ +353 1 677 8099 (email@cccdub.ie), www.cccdub.ie. June-Aug 9AM-6PM, Sept-May 9:45 - 5 or 6PM. dating back to the 11th century, is the oldest building in Dublin, though it underwent a massive restoration in the 19th century. Particularly interesting is the crypt, which predates the cathedral. Adults €6, students €4, children with parent free.
• Dublinia & the Viking World, St. Michael's Hill, Christchurch, Dublin 2, ☎ +353 1 679 4611 (info@dublinia.ie), www.dublinia.ie. March-Sept 10am-5pm, Oct-Feb 10am-4.15pm. a heritage centre, located in central Dublin, at the heart of the medieval city. The exhibitions at Dublinia explore life as it was in the medieval city and the world of the Vikings. Discounted admission to the Christ Church Cathedral available. Adults €6.25, children €3.75, student €5.25..
• Kilmainham Gaol, Inchicore Road, Kilmainham, Dublin 8, ☎ 353 1 4535984, www.heritageireland.ie/en/Dublin/KilmainhamGaol. Apr-Sep every day 9:30AM-6PM (last admission 5PM); Oct-Mar M-Sa 9:30AM-5:30PM (last admission 4PM), Su 10AM-6PM (last admission 5PM). The prison where the rebels from the 1916 Easter Rising were executed. It is located slightly outside the city centre and can be reached by local bus (78a). Access is limited to guided tours, which leave every 30 minutes and are very interesting. It is well worth a visit if you are in any way interested in history. Adults: €6, senior and groups: €4, children and students: €2, family €14.
• Phoenix Park, Phoenix Park, Dublin 8, ☎ +353 1 677 0095 (phoenixparkvisitorcentre@duchas.ie, fax: +353 1 672 6454). The largest enclosed urban park in Europe. Includes a polo field and Dublin Zoo. The residences of the President of Ireland and the US Ambassador are situated in the park, but are not open to the public. If you're lucky, you may catch a glimpse of the herd of wild fallow deer that inhabit the park! Free.
• Glasnevin Cemetery, Finglas Road, Dublin 11 (Bus 13a 19 19a O'connell St or 40 40a 40b 40c Parnell St), ☎ +353 01 8301133, www.glasnevin-cemetery.ie. Tours (Daily:March to September) (Wed and Fri:October to February) at 2:30PM. Situated just two miles from the city centre, Glasnevin Cemetery is currently running a series of walking tours. These tours give a valuable insight into the final resting place of the men and women who have helped shape Ireland's past and present. The walking tour last one and a half hours and visits the graves of Daniel O'Connell, Charles Stewart Parnell, Michael Collins, Eamonn De Valera and many other graves of architectural and cultural interest. Adults €5 U12 Free.
• Dublin Zoo, Welington/Zoo road, ☎ 353 1 4748900, www.dublinzoo.ie. M-Sa 9:30AM-4PM in winter and 6.30PM in summer. Located in Phoenix Park and dating to 1830, the Dublin Zoo is the largest in Ireland, and notable for its role in wildlife conservation efforts. Adults: €15, students €12.50, Senior Citizens €12, children €10.50, family from €43.50 for 4 to €52 for 6.
• National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin, Dublin 9, ☎ +353 1 804 0300 (botanicgardens@opw.ie, fax: +353 1 836 0080), www.botanicgardens.ie. Daily Nov-Jan 9AM-4:30PM and Feb-Oct 9AM-6PM.
• Leopardstown racecourse, Leopardstown, Dublin 18 (From Dublin city centre, follow the N11 south, turn right into the R113 (Leopardstown Road), the racecourse will be on your left), ☎ +353 1 289 0500 (info@leopardstown.com, fax: +353 1 289 2634), www.leopardstown.com. Located in the southern suburb of Leopardstown/Foxrock, there are regular meetings throughout the year. There is a "Pay as you Play" golf course within the racecourse grounds, as well as bars, restaurants and a nightclub (Club 92). €12.55, with reductions for students and OAPs.
• Dublin Writers Museum, 18 Parnell Square, ☎ 353 1 872 2077, www.writersmuseum.com. Mon-Sat 10AM-5PM, open until 6PM June-Aug. Sun and holidays 11AM-5PM. Located in an 18th century house, the museum is dedicated to Irish literature and the lives of individual Irish writers such as Shaw, Joyce, Yeats & Pearse. Adults €7.25, children €4.55, family tickets €21.

Suburbia

Dublin has many fine and quite affluent suburbs.Seeing them is a good way to get a real feel for the City,it's culture and identity. A walk around some them on a nice day is well worth your time as many are home to some of Ireland's finest Victorian architecture. Some are easily navigated by foot and are dotted with many fine upmarket delicatessans and boutiques. Examples include Donnybrook and Ballsbridge - the 46A bus goes through Donnybrook and the 7 through Ballsbridge, and both routes have several stops in the north and south city centre. Ballsbridge is Dublin's embassy district and is home to two of Ireland's most expensive roads, 'Ailesbury Road' and 'Shrewsbury Road' which is the 6th most expensive residential road in the world.

Ballsbridge is also home to The Royal Dublin Society (RDS) which promotes and develops agriculture, arts, industry and science in Ireland. It hosts many concerts and also showcases the annual Show Jumping Competition, a major entertainment event. You can approach Ballsbridge via 'Herbert park' opposite Donnybrook Village and vice-versa.

Dalkey and Killiney proper which lie on the southern most tip of Dublin are two other upmarket neighbourhoods. Dalkey (which is often jokingly referred to as 'bel-eire') is home to such celebrities as Bono, Lisa Stansfield and Enya. A walk up Vico Road to take in the view is a must-do.Killiney Hill is very beautiful, offering panoramic views of the surrounding Dublin Mountains. These areas are best approached by the DART, which runs along the coast and has three main stops in the city centre.

Blackrock, accessible by the bus and DART, is worth a visit. This village is home to many great restaurants and cafes, but don't be put off the dated and service orientated Temple Road. From the Village walk across Temple Road to get to The UCD (University College Dublin) Blackrock campus. The area is surrounded by some lovely leafy roads including Avoca Avenue and a stroll around Carrysfort park with a coffee is a good way to relax. Blackrock can also be approached by foot from Newtown Park Avenue on White's Cross, Foxrock. This tree-covered residential hill offers (on a nice day) beautiful views across Howth Head.

Ranelagh and Dartry are also worth visiting, and is accessible by the Green Luas Line. It is a short walk from Donnybrook village so any buses serving Donnybrook will leave you close to Ranelagh. The village is small but affluent and has several critically acclaimed eateries.

Foxrock,arguably Dublin's most affluent suburb,is another well to do leafy enclave that is well worth a visit. It's grascious tree lined avenues and roads make it one of the chociest areas in town and is home to handful of Irish celebrities and socialites. 'Westminster','Brighton' and 'torquay' are the 3 main roads and these are situated just behind and adjacent to the N11 dual carriageway though there are many other charming roads and cul de sacs besides. But it is 'Brennastown Road' that is one of Dublin's finest roads home to hansome Victorian piles and lots.

Sandymount, a coastal suburb no more than 2 miles south of the City Centre, is another quite affluent area with a tiny park and some ok restaurants. It is the birthplace of W.B. Yeats. The suburb and its strand appear prominently in James Joyce's Ulysses.

Be sure to go north of The Liffey to Malahide and Howth. The latter is home to a handful of Irish celebrities including Gay Byrne and Dolores O'Riordan. Climbing the Ben of Howth, a 171m high hill on Howth Head, on a fine day is well worth your time.