Dublin Things to Do

Ireland’s lively capital never fails to win over visitors with its blend of historic sights and laid-back social scene, but before you plan your itinerary, here are a few things NOT to do in Dublin.

Largely regarded as one of the most quintessentially ‘Irish’ of Ireland’s cities, Galway is the gateway to Western Ireland’s many sights and makes a hugely popular inclusion on any visitor’s travel itinerary.

Around 2.5 hours from Dublin, Galway is well connected to the capital, with daily trains and buses running to the west coast and a wide range of options for day trips and tours from Dublin. Galway’s main attractions lie along the rugged Atlantic coastline of Galway Bay, straddling the border of County Clare and County Galway.

With an abundance of scenic landscapes and historic sights easily reachable from Dublin, there are plenty of options for getting out of the city. Wicklow, known as the ‘Garden of Ireland’ thanks to its diverse and beautiful greenery, makes for a popular day trip and hikers can enjoy the varied terrain of the 132km-long Wicklow Way walking trail that crosses the county. Combine a visit to the town with a look at the 6^th century monastic ruins nearby Glendalough located in the rugged Wicklow Mountains National park, where scenes from Braveheart and, more recently, PS.I Love You, were filmed.

While visitors to Dublin flock to marvel at the historic grounds of Dublin Castle, few take the time to wander the castle gardens, a pocket of tranquility despite their central location, and a popular picnic spot for locals in the know.

In 1908 art collector Hugh Lane left his collection to Ireland, which established Dublin City Gallery The Hugh Lane. This gallery of modern and contemporary art includes works by Monet, Manet, Degas – important Impressionist works. Since then the collection has grown to over two thousand pieces, including such artists as Sean Scully and Joseph Beuys. Scully who was born in Ireland donated seven paintings in 2006. There is also a stained glass room featuring works by Irish artist Harry Clarke.

Every country has its national gallery and usually locates it in its capital city. It’s no surprise to find the National Gallery of Ireland in Dublin. What might be surprising is just what a strong collection of European art it holds: Caravaggio, Titian, Fra Angelico, Vermeer, Picasso, van Gogh, Raphael, Monet, Rembrandt. There is also a major collection of British art, not surprising given the historic ties of the two nations, including 31 watercolours by the master J.M.W. Turner. And naturally in addition there is a significant national collection of Irish art.

Irish history is a history of rebellion. For centuries the people living on this gorgeous island have fought for their independence from British rule. The biggest mistake you can make today is to think that Ireland is part of the United Kingdom; it is not. It is a fiercely proud independent republic, the Republic of Ireland. And its freedom was hard won.

One of the loveliest things about Dublin is its location at the mouth of the River Liffey on Dublin Bay. The city grew from the convenience of the area as a landing place for the Vikings and now stretches around all three sides of the bay.