Dublin

So much more than live music, pubs and historic buildings, this UNESCO city of Literature is a Fair City that makes for the ideal short break, says

Day 1: Picasso and a pint

Morning: Start the day with some culture by heading for the free National Gallery of Ireland

(nationalgallery.ie). It has collections from every major European school of painting, with works by Rembrandt, El Greco, Goya and Picasso. Don't forget the Yeats Collection – more than 30 works by the Irish Impressionist. The child-friendly gallery runs regular events, like drawing workshops in the atrium where there is a cheerful café.

The Little Museum of Dublin (littlemuseum.ie)

– something of a misnomer, because it’s not so little – is located in a Georgian townhouse and is crammed to the gills with a happy collection of eclectic knick-knacks. There's a lectern used by JFK on his visit to Ireland in 1963 and an entire room devoted to the history of local boys, U2.

Buy a three-day Dublin pass (dublinpass.ie) for €94 to get free entry to over 30 attractions and retail and restaurant discounts. Afternoon: Fallon & Byrne (fallonandbyrne.com), a food hall, restaurant and basement wine bar in the heart of town, serves delights such as Carlingford Lough oysters and charcuterie boards spilling over with cured hams and salamis, cheese and cornichons. The Old City Temple Bar offers a calm alternative to the bustling city centre. Outdoor cafes and pedestrianised streets offer fashion, food, art and jewellery. Evening: Head for the Guinness Storehouse (guinness-storehouse.com),

Ireland’s most popular tourist attraction at the heart of the brewery district (book online for 10% off). It’s open until 20.00 in summer, 19.00 otherwise. Visit the facility's rooftop Gravity Bar to savour a free glass of the black stuff.

Day 2: Castle and cruise

Morning: After you’ve succumbed to a traditional Irish breakfast (bacon, sausage, black pudding, soda bread) walk off the calories with a tour of Dublin Castle (dublincastle.ie), the historic core of Dublin City. This sprawling complex houses free museums, a Viking-era Undercroft and ornate State Apartments.

Hop on a boat for a stylish cruise on the Liffey (dublindiscovered.ie). See the Georgian quaysides, the Jeanie Johnston tallship on which impoverished emigrants sailed across the Atlantic in hope of a better future, and the state-of-the-art 3 Arena, Ireland’s largest indoor entertainment venue. Lunch/ Afternoon: Skip lunch and experience Dublin differently by climbing onboard a Routemaster for a Vintage Tea Tour

(vintageteatours.ie) while tapping along to a soundtrack of 1950s jazz. The one-and-ahalf hour trip goes past many of Dublin’s sights, including St Patrick’s Cathedral, O’Connell Bridge – the only traffic bridge in Europe that's wider than it is long – and Phoenix Park, one of Europe’s largest and home to deer and the Irish President’s official residence. The tea itself is top class – a generous selection of finger sandwiches, fruit scones and more sweet treats than the average person can handle. They cater for dietary requirements and give a takeaway box for those who don't finish.

Evening: Take in some dramatic delights at the Abbey Theatre

(abbeytheatre.ie) or, if live music’s more your want, head for Whelan’s of Wexford Street (whelanslive.com)

The Leap Visitor Card is a reusable, prepaid smart card for travel on bus, tram and train (Dart) around Dublin. (leapcard.ie) 

“Most attractions in this seaside city are within a relatively compact area, spread either side of the

River Liffey on the Northside or Southside”