48 hours in DUBLIN
Whether you’re going for the craic or the culture, the stylish shopping or an all-out epicurean experience, Dublin is a great destination for a short break
VIBRANT and cosmopolitan, Ireland’s capital has many charms: from elegant architecture and rich cultural history to chic shops and an exciting bar and restaurant scene, Dublin offers something for everyone. And, with a generous hospitality that embraces all-comers, there are few cities anywhere in the world that offer such a warm welcome to visitors.
So, if you’re keen to experience the craic for yourself, we’ve put together a few suggestions for a short break in this most dynamic of destinations. And, despite its big character, Dublin is compact enough to explore in a couple of days, meaning you can sample the many facets of its beguiling personality in a weekend.
Just a short hop across the Irish Sea, Dublin couldn’t be more convenient for Britons seeking a fun-filled short break. With frequent flights from most UK airports, there’s also an excellent service with Irish Ferries from Holyhead, who offer up to six departures a day for car and foot passengers, plus great ‘rail and sail’ deals from over 2,400 stations around Britain.
GETTING AROUND
IF YOU’VE left the car at home, it’s probably worth buying a 72hr Visitors Leap Card (€19.50) when you arrive in Dublin, and you can use it on most bus services in and around the city, plus trains and trams within the Dublin ‘short hop’ zone. Depending on your interests and plans for your stay, it may also be worth purchasing a one- or two-day Dublin Pass (€65.70 for a two-day adult pass/€36.90 for a two-day child pass, age five to 15, buy online and collect when you arrive, or have it sent to home so you have it before your trip), which offers fast-track free entry to more than 25 of the city’s key attractions and discounted access to a further 20 venues. You can also use it for airport transfers and on the Hop On Hop Off Bus Tour, which will take you to many of the popular sights around the city, including the Guinness Storehouse, Jamesons and Teeling Distilleries, Christ Church Cathedral, Glasnevin Cemetery and St Stephen’s Green.
DISCOVER DUBLIN
AS YOU explore the Irish capital, you’ll rapidly gain a feel for its make-up: you’ll find elegant Georgian architecture, a range of museums and galleries, a fascinating literary heritage, stylish shopping and a thriving bar, café and restaurant scene.
Wherever you choose to make your base, you’ll never be far from a range of sights and activities in this compact city, whether that’s taking a leisurely, windswept stroll along the seafront at Dún Laoghaire to the end of the great East Pier, or immersing yourself in centuries of history at Marsh’s Library, Dublin Castle or Christ Church Cathedral. More than half a million people visit Trinity College each year, many keen to see the ornately decorated Book of Kells, one of the world’s most famous and precious manuscripts, dating back to ad800.
Explore the upmarket stores in Grafton Street and the independent boutiques in Drury Street, or visit Phoenix Park, where there are numerous walking and cycling routes laid out between a variety of stately homes, including the official residency of the President of Ireland, Áras an Uachtaráin, and Dublin Zoo.
EPICUREAN ADVENTURES
SYNONYMOUS with the Irish capital, the Guinness Storehouse is a must-do experience for any visitor to Dublin. With a vast atrium styled in the form of the world’s largest pint glass (it would hold 14.3 million pints of the Black Stuff!), discover the history, heritage and craft of the world-famous drink. Once you’re done, relax and enjoy a complimentary pint in the seventh-storey Gravity Bar, which boasts striking panoramic views across Dublin.
Whether you’re a connoisseur or a tentative taster, Dublin is a great place to learn about and sample Irish whiskey, either at Teelings Distillery or Jamesons, where fascinating tours meander from distilling process to dram.
If you’re looking to enjoy critically acclaimed contemporary cuisine with a typically Irish convivial atmosphere during your stay in Dublin, then make a dinner reservation at Chapter One. Housed in the basement of the Dublin Writers Museum – also once home to George Jameson, the whiskey maker – in the city’s Northside area, chef-patron Ross Lewis was awarded a Michelin star in 2007 for his Irish fare with a modern French twist. His eight-course tasting menu is considered one of the most sublime dining experiences in Ireland, although there are also set-price lunch and pre-theatre menu options.
Though tiny, Cavistons punches above its weight and is renowned for its fish and
seafood and offers three lunch and two dinner sittings, to meet demand for covers.
Or head to The Winding Stair, with its views across the River Liffey, where Elaine Murphy’s mouthwatering menu is like a journey through Ireland’s culinary heritage, with Connemara lamb, Burren smoked fish and regional Irish cheeses and a host of local crews.
The Pig’s Ear, overlooking the playing fields of Trinity College, also serves up a tantalising range of dishes inspired by local flavours and produce, while the pubs around Temple Bar and across town generally offer more affordable, but delicious modern gastro-pub fare.
Dublin is compact enough to explore in a couple of days