Dublin is one of my favorite cities in Europe, and it remains one of the spots that I long to return to most. Because it’s a small city, it’s easy to navigate and if you happen to get lost you can easily ask someone to point you in the right direction—one of the benefits of visiting a country where the locals speak English! Here are some tips that I found helpful when I was in Dublin about a year ago:
Follow the James Joyce trail.
Any student will probably remember reading The Dubliners in high school, and what better way to experience something Joycean than to walk around the city and try and recreate Leopold Bloom’s day in Ulysses? You’ll find several plaques highlighting different scenes from the book—though it’s up to you whether or not you want to read the novel before you go.
Take the Luas.
Although Dublin is small enough to easily walk from one point to another, you might want to consider taking the tram when you need to get from one point of the city to another. You can buy tickets at each stop for 2,50 euro, and it will take you directly to the train station if you need to get out of the city.
Take advantage of the green space.
Dublin has some wonderful places to escape from city life if necessary. Phoenix Park is one of the best places to take a stroll after a few days of being surrounded by cobblestone. It’s 1,750 acres of pristine lawns and gardens. If you’re lucky, you’ll catch a glimpse of some of the local Fallow deer living there. It can take a day to explore the entire park, so if you’re interested, you will want to make sure you set aside some time to do so.
Don’t be afraid to ask questions.
One of the fantastic things about Dublin is that the people there are incredibly accommodating toward tourists. You might not be able to poke your head into a tiny boutique and ask where a certain sight is in Paris or Venice, but you can certainly feel free to in Dublin. In fact, if by some off chance you find yourself without an idea of what to do, asking a local can give you some great options. It will also help you find that hole-in-the-wall restaurant away from some of the expensive establishments.
Have you been to Dublin? Have any tips?