10 ESSENTIAL TIPS FOR TRAVELING TO DUBLIN

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This guide for travel to Dúblin It includes essential tips to make the most of this city full of atmosphere and interesting places.
This European capital is perfect to spend a few days enjoying its historic center, full of historic buildings such as Trinity College, stroll through its well-kept parks and especially live the atmosphere of traditional pubs and taverns.
If you have extra time you can complete the visit with some of the wonders of Ireland and Northern Ireland that are nearby such as the Giant's Causeway, the city of Belfast, the Cliffs of Moher or the landscapes of Wicklow and Glendalough.

Based on the days we spent in the city and in the rest of the country during our trip to Ireland by rental car, we have made this selection of 10 essential tips for traveling to Dublin.We start!

1. What is the best time?

The best time to travel to Dublin It is in summer when temperatures are around 20 degrees and there are more hours of light. However, prices in these months are the highest of the year and there is much more tourism.
Spring and autumn, especially May and October, is also a good time to visit the emerald island with less tourism and still pleasant temperatures.
The winters are cold and sometimes less rainy than the summers, besides the prices and tourism go down a lot, so you don't have to discard these months for a trip to Dublin.

2. Entry requirements and travel insurance

For travel to Dublin, if you are from a European Union country, you will only need to carry your ID or Passport, without the need to pay a visa. If you are not from any European Union country, we recommend you look at the entry requirements on the page of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of your country, to see what kind of agreement you have with Ireland.
Although it is not a mandatory entry requirement, it is highly recommended to bring the European Health Card that covers any health problem.
If you do not have this card or want to go more covered, think that there are situations like a repatriation that does not fit, it is best to take out good travel insurance.

We always travel insured with Mondo, with whom we carry a totally adequate insurance to the needs that we will have on the trip. Hiring your insurance here with Mondo, just for being a Street Travelers reader, you have a 5% discount.

3 How to go from Dublin airport to downtown?

Dublin Airport, located 12 kilometers from the city, is well connected to the center by bus and private transport from its two terminals.
To go from the airport to the center or to your hotel you have these alternatives:

Bus: You have the Aircoach bus, which takes half an hour to reach the center (O'Connell Street and Grafton Street stops) for 7 euros or 12 euros, if you buy round trip. This bus is operational 24 hours a day and has a frequency every 20 minutes.
The 747 line of the Airlink bus also makes the same journey with stops at O'Connell Street and College Green, for the same price from 5 in the morning until 00:30.
Lines 16 or 41 of the Dublin Bus is a cheaper option at a cost of 3.30 euros per ticket, although it does not have space for luggage and makes many intermediate stops that can extend the travel time to one hour.
Direct transfer to the hotel: This is the easiest and most comfortable way to get to the hotel by having a driver that will take you directly from the arrivals terminal to your hotel. You can book it here.
Cab: It costs about 25 euros and takes half an hour, depending on the traffic and the location of the hotel.

In this post you can find all the information on how to go from Dublin airport to downtown.

Dublin taxis

4. Where to sleep?

If you go to travel to Dublin, especially in summer, it is advisable to book several months in advance, to have more affordable prices in the best located hotels in the city.
The best area to stay, if you have a few days, is the Temple Bar neighborhood located in the southern part of the River Liffey. In addition to having nearby the main attractions of the city, such as Trinity College or St. Patrick's Cathedral, you will have a wide range of restaurants and pubs to fully enjoy the city's nightlife.
If you want a quieter and more central area, we recommend O'Connell Street, located in the northern part of the River Liffey.
Although if you prefer a more affordable and less touristy area, the best option is around the St.Stephens Green park, where you can get to know the local life of the city.
We stayed at the Leeson Lodge House, located near the St.Stephens Green and one of the best quality / price ratios in the city. In addition to its location, it is very well connected to the airport using the Aircoach bus, has parking and a very complete breakfast.
If you prefer a more central hotel we recommend the Holiday Inn Express Dublin City Center located on O'Connell Street or the magnificent Temple Bar Hotel located in Temple Bar.
For more information on the best hotels and neighborhoods you can consult this post of where to stay in Dublin.

River Liffey in Dublin

5. How to get around when traveling to Dublin?

To the travel to Dublin You should keep in mind that the historic center of the city is small and can be explored perfectly on foot. This fact is very important in this city, having an expensive and complicated public transport.
The bus is the most common transport to have more than 100 lines and reach all points of the city. One of the aspects that must be taken into account when getting on the bus is to bring the exact amount in currencies, as drivers do not return change and the price also varies from 2 euros to 3.30, depending on the number of stops you make . It is best to tell the final stop to the driver and he will tell you the exact price.

We only recommend taking buses 13 and 40 from O'Connell St. or 69 and 79 from Aston Quayel bus to reach Kilmainham Jail, one of the most interesting places in the city. After visiting the jail you can take bus 13 or 40 again at the Emmett Road stop to reach James's Gate, located near the famous Guinness Storehouse.

The tram is another means of transport in the city, it has two lines and only the red one is worth connecting O'Connell Street, with several points of interest such as the Jameson Distillery.

Another good way to get around the city without wasting a lot of time is to book the tourist bus that stops at all the city's attractions, even the farthest ones like Kilmainham Jail.

Kilmainham prison, a must when traveling to Dublin

6. Places of interest

Prior to travel to Dublin It is important to know all the interesting places and the best experiences that the city offers, to make the most of the time.
Among our favorite places in the city is the impressive library of Trinity College that has in the Book of Kells of the ninth century, its great jewel. Near this university is Grafton Street, one of the most famous streets in the city that will take you to the well-kept park of Saint Stephen's Green.
In the historic center you have other essential buildings such as Dublin Castle, St. Patrick's Cathedral and Christ Church Cathedral, the most beautiful in the city.
If you are well on time you can walk to the Guinness Storehouse, to know the whole process of making the most famous black beer in the world. A good option is to book this skip-the-line ticket that includes a free pint in advance.
For the afternoon you have several options such as a walk along the river bank Liffey to the Church of San Michan or tour O'Connell Street with several monuments and historic buildings.
At sunset it is essential to approach the Temple Bar neighborhood to enjoy the atmosphere and take a good look in one of its pubs. A good option in this area is to book this tour through the best Temple Bar pubs with a guide in Spanish that will tell you the story and that ends with a tasting of 5 different beers.
If you still have time in the city you can go by bus to Kilmainham Prison, the historical place of the fight for the independence of Ireland and where the fantastic film was filmed “In the name of the Father”
A good way to save on tickets is to see if you can buy the Dublin Pass, which includes more than 30 attractions such as the Guinness Storehouse, Dublin Castle, the tourist bus, among others.

One of the best tips for traveling to Dublin It is to complete this list of the 10 essential places to visit in Dublin and this one of the best things to do in Dublin.

7. Itineraries around the city

Dublin is perfect for a weekend or 3 day trip, if you want to take a day trip out of town. Having the most points of interest concentrated in the center it is important to trace the routes well before leaving the hotel so you don't miss anything important, especially if you have little time.

An interesting option, if you want to know better the history of the city, is to book this free tour of Dublin Free! for the most interesting points of the center or this free tour of mysteries and legends to know the black and hidden history of Dublin, both considered two of the best free tours in Dublin with a Spanish guide.

If you go to travel to Dublin and you are still not clear about the best itineraries around the city, we have published three guides optimized according to the days you have:

Temple bar

8. Where to eat in Dublin?

Another one of the best reasons for travel to Dublin It is to taste the local cuisine and its renowned beers. Some of the most typical dishes are:

Irish Stew: Lamb stew with vegetables.
Bacon and Cabbage: two pieces of bacon accompanied by cabbage and potatoes.
Fish and Chips: Breaded fish and chips.
Colcannon: mashed potatoes with cabbage and onion.
Pie Cottage: minced veal pie covered in mashed potatoes.
Irish Breakfast: full breakfast with bacon, sausages, eggs ...

In addition to eating these dishes you cannot leave Dublin without trying some of Ireland's best black beers in traditional places such as The Long Hall, Temple Bar, O'Donoghue's Bar and The Church.

Among the restaurants, located in popular tourist areas to try these delicious dishes, you have: Darkey Kelly's, Bad Bobs Temple Bar, Murray's Pub and Fish Shack Cafe,

Guinness beer

9. Tours and excursions

Once you have made all the Dublin visits, you can complete the trip by taking a day trip to one of the most impressive places to see in Ireland.
The first recommendation would be the visit to the Giant or Giant's Causeway, an impressive landscape of basalt columns located on the north coast of Northern Ireland. On this tour you can include a visit to the city of Belfast and the Carrick-a-Rede suspension bridge.
The second proposal of the trip to Dublin is to reach the famous Cliffs of Moher 200 meters high and located on the Atlantic Ocean.
The last recommendation to consider travel to Dublin It is to visit the county of Wicklow where the Glendalough monastic complex is located, surrounded by green valleys, waterfalls, lakes and high mountains.
All these places can be visited by public transport although you will have to change trains in cities like Galway or Belfast and you will lose a lot of time.

The most comfortable and interesting option, if you do not want to rent a car, is to book one of the best excursions in Dublin with a guide in Spanish:

More tours and excursions in Dublin here

Giant's Causeway

10. More tips for traveling to Dublin

Other of the best tips for traveling to Dublin They are:

Remember that in order not to pay commissions and always have the current change we recommend you use the N26 card to pay and the Bnext and Revolut cards to get money at the ATMs. They are the ones we use, They are free and will save you a lot. You can find more information in this article about the best cards to travel without commissions.
If you travel in March you can match your stay with the parades of the St. Patrick's Festival in Dublin that are held from 14 to 18.
You can learn about the history of Dublin in the interesting interactive exhibition Dublinia.
For shopping or looking for the typical souvenir of a leprechaun, the best streets are: O'Connell Street and Grafton Street.
If you want to take a picture of the famous statue of Molly Malone, you have to go to Suffolk Street. I used to be on Grafton Street.
Consult this list of essential tips for traveling to Ireland.
See if you find it profitable to buy the DoDublin Card, which includes Airlink service, 72 hours of access to tourist buses and discounts at the main attractions of the city.

Molly Malone

Do you want to organize a trip to Dublin?
Get it here:
The best deals on flights to Dublin here
The best hotels at the best prices in Dublin here
Book the best tours and excursions in Dublin in Spanish here
Rent your car in Ireland at the best price here
Book your travel insurance with a 5% discount here