Travel facts

GETTING THERE

Fly direct from Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne or Perth to Dublin via Dubai with Qantas/Emirates or via Abu Dhabi with Etihad/Virgin Australia.

• emirates.com; qantas.com; etihad.com; virginaustralia.com

WHEN TO GO

Each season has its own charm – summer sees Dubliners spill onto the terraces at any opportunity, autumn offers some great cultural festivals, winter is an excuse to cosy up with rib-sticking food and spring sees a grand stretch come back into the evenings. Although It’s worth noting that Dublin can, and often does, enjoy four seasons in a day, so it hardly matters when you visit.

GETTING AROUND

Dublin is really a glorified village, as any native can tell you, so walking is the best way to experience its compact city centre, aided by short hops on the LUAS (tram), spins on a rented Dublin Bike or cab trips for rainy days (download the MyTaxi app or just hail one on the street). A day-trip on the DART (light rail) to a coastal suburb is a must-do for the bay views.

WHERE TO EAT

• Bastible, 111 South Circular Road, Dublin 8: bastible.com • Forest & Marcy, 126 Leeson Street Upper, Dublin 4:

forestandmarcy.ie

• L Mulligan Grocer, 18 Stoneybatter, Dublin 7:

lmulligangrocer.com

• The Legal Eagle, Chancery Place, Inns Quay, Dublin 1:

thelegaleagle.ie

• Brother Hubbard, 153 Capel St, North City, Dublin 1:

brotherhubbard.ie

• Chapter One, 18 Parnell Square North, Dublin 1:

chapteronerestaurant.com

• Heron & Grey, Blackrock Market, Blackrock, Co. Dublin:

heronandgrey.com

• Veginity, Richmond Place South, Dublin 2: veginity.com • Luna, Unit 2–3 Drury St, Dublin, 2: lunarestaurant.ie

• Hang Dai, 20 Camden Street, Dublin 2:

hangdaichinese.com

• Urchin, 22 St. Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2: urchin.ie

WHERE TO STAY

• The Westbury Hotel is well-placed for high-street, designer and boutique shopping, and its recently refurbed Wilde Restaurant is the perfect place to show off your new threads. doylecollection.com

• The Cliff Townhouse offers well-priced bed and breakfast deals in one of Georgian Dublin’s most central addresses, with a smart in-house restaurant and Urchin bar. clifftownhouse.ie

• L Mulligan Grocer; rent the homely apartment above their gastropub in Stoneybatter, a neighbourhood described as Dublin’s Williamsburg. lmulligangrocer.com

FURTHER INFORMATION • ireland.com