Most of us have a picture in our head of what to expect from a trip to Dublin, and when you descend upon a Dublin city break, you’ll find your expectations exceeded – and that’s not just thanks to the luck of the Irish.
Although a capital city, Dublin is a rare breed in that it manages to retain a small village-like charm. The charming city is filled to the brim with culture, history and entertainment and your travels around the city are followed with beautiful backdrops.
Whether you’re going for the craic or want to immerse yourself in the Irish capital of culture and history, Dublin is a perfect choice for a long weekend city break.
Here are some reasons why you should make Dublin the next city to tick off your bucket list:
Soak up the classic Irish pub atmosphere
A true Irish pub is something that is attempted to be copied around the world but they never come close to the real thing. There are simply hundreds of great Irish pubs throughout Dublin so you’ll never be hard-pressed to find one.
The true magic happens though when a traditional Irish music session breaks out. These sessions are often unplanned with music and singsongs breaking out after musicians decide to huddle over the waiting instruments. Soak it up with a pint of Guinness in hand.
Have a drop of Guinness
Speaking of Guinness, the stout really does taste better here. And as it should, Dublin is the home of the drink. You can’t come to Dublin without sampling a pint, and the best place to try your first might just be the Guinness Storehouse itself.
The iconic attractions and extremely popular with Dublin visitors because of the drinks close associations with Ireland. At the Storehouse, you can take a tour of the seven-storey building to learn how the crafts are made and then sample your own in a panoramic rooftop bar at the end of the tour that boasts stunning views of the city.
Irish greenery
Although Ireland brings thoughts of lush greenery and countryside, Dublin itself is more associated with cobbled streets. That’s not to say that there aren’t places to escape the hustle and bustle of the centre.
In fact, Phoenix Park is one of the largest city-centre parks in the world. The park holds Dublin Zoo, the Irish president’s house, an abandoned military fort and herds of deer! On a rain-free day, this should be your first port of call.
Looking good?
Walk Wicklow Way
If you really want to escape to green surroundings, a short trip to Wicklow Way should be on your list of things to do. Despite lying just south of Dublin, the Wicklow Mountain National Park has plenty of unspoilt trails for exploring the mountains, lakes, glacial valleys, mountain streams and forests.
Experience Gaelic sports
For sports fans, a visit to Croke Park is a must. This mammoth stadium that holds over 82,000 hosts the Gaelic Games and games of Gaelic football and hurling between February to September. The atmosphere conjured up by the crowd for these games is unimaginable but if you’re unable to get your hands on tickets, there are tours available which run all year round.
St Patrick’s Day
The list wouldn’t be complete without a mention of St Patrick’s Day. Thousands of tourists descend upon Dublin for St Patrick’s Day to experience the big festivities that take place. Waves of green, pints of Guinness and memorable parades take over the city centre for this annual event.
It’s really not far
Our final reason for making Dublin your next city break is that it’s really not far to travel. A short hop across the Irish Sea from any number of regional airports will find you in Dublin, capital of the Emerald Isle.
There aren’t any excuses to say you’ve never been to Dublin.
To speak to one of our holiday destinations experts about a Dublin city break, contact your local store here.
