You will really get to appreciate the beautiful scenery Ireland has to offer and work up an appetite for a hearty dinner later in the evening.

Phoenix Park, Dublin by William Murphy

Start with a day exploring Phoenix Park, just 4 kilometres from Dublin city centre. An 11 kilometre perimeter surrounds 1,750 acres of land and it is one of the largest city parks in Europe. It is also home to a herd of fallow deer and other types of wildlife. It is open 24 hours a day and is full of interesting sights, buildings and monuments, amongst a beautiful landscape. The residence of the President of Ireland, Aras an Uachtarain, is located in the park, as is Dublin Zoo.

Start to head further out of the city with a bracing beach walk from Malahide to Portmarnock. It is one of a series of iWalks, free podcasts audio guides that will educate and entertain you as you pass through areas of interest. Malahide to Portmarnock is a stunning walk along the northern coastline of Dublin Bay. Along the way, you can enjoy views of Lambay Island, Howth and Ireland’s Eye. The longest option is a 7km route.

If you are interested in a more challenging hike, then take a day to walk the Bog of Frogs Loop, a 10 kilometre walk with a 250 metre ascent that is graded as ‘hard’. The start of the Loop is located in Howth village, 15 kilometres north east of Dublin city centre. You can easily take the DART or a bus to the start of the route at Howth.

The Bog of Frogs Loop is well signposted with a purple arrow and takes in some spectacular views and attractions, including Lambay Island, Howth Castle, Martello Tower, Ireland’s Eye and Baily Lighthouse. Ireland’s Eye has a bird sanctuary and you can see a wide variety of birds, such as guillemots, fulmars, razorbills and gannets.

Howth Castle, Ireland by Erzsèbet

Perhaps you would like to try a long distance hike, or maybe tackle a section of the Grand Canal Way, a 114 kilometre long distance trail which begins as Lucan Road Bridge and finishes at Shannon Harbour. If you want to do the whole route, it can be finished in four to five days and as it passes through towns and villages, walkers have plenty of accommodation options each night. As public transport links are good, it is also easy to start and stop along different parts of the route. The Grand Canal Way was designed to connect Dublin with the west, through the midland area and the River Shannon. The area has been largely unaffected by development and agriculture and so is a tantalising glimpse into the past and a haven for plants and wildlife that used to be a common sight throughout Ireland.

Don’t confuse the Grand Canal Way with the Royal Canal Way, another long distance trail, 77 kilometres long, that runs almost parallel with the Grand Canal Way. It was originally constructed to connect Dublin with the Upper River Shannon and was finished in 1817. The route covers grass towpath, gravel and occasional tarmacked canal side roads to the village of Abbeyshrule in County Longford.

Again, it is easy to find accommodation along sections of the route and excellent public transport links make it easy to walk a section and return to your starting point. These are just a few of the walking and hiking options available to you from a Dublin base. You can head off on a long distance trail for a week or take short day trips and return to the city at night to enjoy the craic!

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Trinity College is one of the most important buildings of Dublin, which was founded in 1592 by Queen Elizabeth I. The culture and traditions are the important aspects in ancient buildings of Dublin.

St Patrick’s Cathedral is another pleasing sight for the visitors. It is considered the largest church not only in the city of Dublin but throughout entire Ireland. It was founded in 1191.

Saint Patrick’s Cathedral – Dublin, Ireland by William Murphy

O’Connell street is very impressive for the tourists and the general post office is situated in this street. The building has a majestic look and it is a wonderful sight to see. The street is completely covered with statues and monuments and that is the reason for the popularity of this street.

There are three National Museums of Ireland in Dublin and the tourists should never miss a visit to these museums, since they have both traditional and historical value. One is situated on Kildare Street – Archaeology Museum, another one can be found on Benburb Street – Decorative Arts & History Museum and the last one is located at Merrion Street related to Natural History.

Temple bar is another area, which can be interesting for the tourists. It is full of entertainment, art and culinary attractions. It is a home to many cultural institutions of Ireland and one of the best Dublin’s nightlife scenes.

Merrion Square is very popular for the National Gallery which has more than five hundred art works from great artists such as Monet, El Greco, Hogarth, Poussin and others.

Dublin Castle is originally a Viking fortress which you shouldn’t miss once you are in Dublin. There are many special aspects in this Castle. Rebuilding and renovation works are being performed regularly and at present, it looks beautifully. A massive tower and the Royal Chapel are built in medieval style while all administrative buildings are built in more modern styles.

Dublin Castle, Ireland by William Murphy

Phoenix Park is situated 3 km northwest of the city center and with the area of 712 hectares it is one of the largest walled parks in Europe. This place has a long history. There are huge alleys, grassy areas and wetlands which are home to more than 350 plant species.

Apart from these, there are many more sights and attractions to see in Dublin. You can also visit a Zoo, there are numerous parks and gardens, and since the city is situated at the cost, you can even relax on its beaches. However the main advantage of your staying in this city it its events. You can find more info about Dublin at the official site visitdublin.com.

Getting There

You have two options to get to Dublin and that’s either flying or taking the ferry. Aer Lingus and RyanAir are amongst a number of airlines that offer great value flights to Dublin but if you want to explore more of Ireland you will then need to hire a car. Alternatively you could take your own car and catch a ferry. Ferryonline compare ferries to Dublin providing all options with Stena and P&O Ferries. All you need to do is choose which port to cross from, Holyhead, Liverpool or Fishguard.

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