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Dublin City Breaks

Reference WW46288
Dublin City Breaks & Holidays

Choose one of our Dublin city breaks and you'll find a destination gushing with personality, Dublin is a city full of life and during your Dublin city break, you'll discover there is plenty to see and do no matter where your interests lie. Wander through Dublin Zoo and gaze at the roaming wildlife, visit the home of Guinness in the giant pint shaped storehouse or head to Trinity College where The Book of Kells is kept for safekeeping.

Temple Bar is one of the cities most popular and charming neighbourhoods, the cobblestone streets are filled with bars, cafés, art galleries and architecture to explore. Dublin offers a variety of excellent nightlife, from traditional Irish pubs to lively bars and nightclubs.

Top 5 things to do
Dublin Castle - a major Irish government complex, conference centre, and tourist attraction.
St Stephen's Green - a popular city centre public park in Dublin.
Guinness Storehouse - Brewery experience telling the tale of Ireland's famous beer.
Ha'penny Bridge - a famous pedestrian bridge built in 1816 over the River Liffey.
Aviva Stadium - A sports stadium in Dublin. It is home to the National rugby team and National football team.
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SHARON BENNETT
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More about what you can expect on your Dublin city break

Cosmopolitan, colourful and over a thousand years old, Dublin presents a fine starting point for visitors to Ireland. This capital city is split in two by the River Liffey, which gives form to the city and has no less than nine bridges spanning it. Central Dublin is easily explored on foot, and presents a wealth of historic landmarks, from ancient cathedrals to gracious Georgian buildings that pay testimony to days gone by. There are many attractions on both sides of the Liffey, ranging from gaols and castles to museums and the birthplaces of famous poets and writers. Dublin is also famous for its nightlife and the Temple Bar area is the highlight for those seeking out a party.

Not far from the city, in County Wicklow, are the Wicklow Mountains, where hills, glens, forests and waterfalls attract weekend walkers and nature-lovers. Dublin Bay, which lies between the mouth of the River Liffey and the Dalkey headland, is the site of several small coastal towns and the ferry port of Dun Laoghaire. County Kildare is a region of rich farmland and a fine reputation for the breeding of thoroughbred horses, while the similar counties of Louth and Meath have evidence of early civilisations and a wealth of castles and monasteries. With all this on Dublin's doorstep, the city is a great base for exploring farther afield.

Dublin has appalling street congestion in the city centre, but the light rail service is known as LUAS (the Gaelic word for 'speed') now offers two lines with numerous stations, many of them giving easy access to the main sights and places of interest. The city also has an extensive bus network, with a limited Nitelink service operating from 1.30 am. This, however, is most useful for commuters to and from the city centre. There is also a rapid transit train (DART) that links the city centre with the suburbs and seaside communities.

Because most public transport stops before midnight, taxis can be hard to find in the city centre after 11 pm, particularly over the weekend. Taxis can be hailed in the street, but it is often easier to find them at taxi ranks or to book ahead by telephone. Renting a car can be impractical and expensive, although they can be essential if visitors want to explore off the beaten track on excursions from Dublin.

One of the most vibrant and youthful cities in Europe, Dublin has a bustling nightlife that has survived the ages. Known for their love of all things that involve drinking, the Irish take their pubs and pints very seriously and it's little wonder traditional old pubs and bars dominate the nightlife scene.

The Temple Bar district is the hub of Dublin's nightlife scene and by far the most popular place to start. Visitors will find around 24 bars and 73 cafes and restaurants to choose from.

The Grafton Street side of things provides a much quieter and more relaxed alternative to the chaos of Temple Bar, attracting a different type of crowd. Wine bars are also becoming a popular addition to the entertainment scene, providing patrons with a wine list and reasonably priced meals. The gay scene in Dublin is taking off too and there are many gay clubs and bars springing up everywhere. Most pubs and bars close early, around 11pm, but some have official permission to stay open late.

On just about every night, visitors can enjoy rock, jazz, blues and traditional Irish folk concerts at theatres, sports stadiums, churches, clubs and castles.

Dublin may be small, with its two main shopping districts located no more than a 20-minute walk away from each other. That said, it offers wonderful opportunities for shopping sprees.

The largest of Dublin's shopping venues is the Jervis Shopping Centre. Located on the north side of the River Liffey, it offers two floors of shopping decadence, while the top floor is a food hall, where shoppers can stop to refuel. The Blanchardstown Centre spans two floors, four wings and a plethora of shops and boutiques that sell just about everything.

On the south side of the river is Grafton Street, where some of Dublin's most expensive shops can be found. The Blackrock Market is popular with tourists looking for locally produced arts, crafts and food. The Temple Bar district also has several markets for books and locally-produced foodstuffs. The House of Ireland on Nassau Street is the place to go to buy some of the finest quality souvenirs Ireland has to offer, from crystal to knitwear and Irish linen, which is still regarded as some of the best in the world. Other popular Dublin souvenirs are the cheap tin whistles found in many shops.

Most shops in Dublin are open from 9 am to 6 pm or 7 pm from Monday to Saturday, while they're only open from 12 pm to 6 pm on Sundays. Value-added tax (VAT) of 21% is levied on most goods and services but non-European visitors can apply for a tax refund on any goods bought that are being exported. Not all Dublin shops participate in the Tax-Free Shopping programme, so tourists are advised to look out for the logo displayed in shops windows.

With such attractions as the Guinness Storehouse, the Old Jameson Distillery and St Patrick's Cathedral, lovers of all things Irish may have problems finding time to see all the world-class sights in this magnificent city. Travellers can enjoy a voyage of discovery from the Arctic to the Plains of Africa via an Indian Rainforest in the city's most popular attraction, the Dublin Zoo, or take a walk down to Phoenix Park, the largest urban park in Europe. There are many fascinating museums to investigate, such as the National Irish Museum of Archaeology. Dublin is also chock full of literary attractions and the bookish will find plenty to occupy their time.

Visitors who are interested in spending a day exploring the sights should buy a Dublin Pass, available from any of Dublin's tourist offices, the arrivals hall at Dublin Airport and at www.dublinpass.com. It entitles visitors to free entry into 27 of Dublin's favourite attractions. The pass allows bearers to be VIPs and skip queues, as well as gain access to many special offers and discounts at some of Dublin's best shops, restaurants, cafés, theatres, entertainment venues and tours. The pass is available for a duration of either one, two, three or five days for both adults and children.

This beautiful, historic and very green city offers plenty of outdoor activities and attractions for children on holiday. With breathtaking scenery, a Viking history and a number of interesting old buildings, castles and cathedrals to explore, Dublin is a sightseeing paradise for visitors of all ages.

On a sunny day, visitors can pack a picnic basket and frisbee, and head down to Phoenix Park for a relaxing day in Europe's largest urban park. St. Stephen's Green is also a great spot to enjoy the sunshine and fresh air. It features playgrounds, gardens and even some resident ducks that love to be fed. For very sunny days, visitors can take the DART to the pebble beach at Killiney, or the National Sea Life Centre in Bray.

Families can spend time with farm animals at one of the city's petting zoos or children's farms, or jump on board one of Dublin's double-decker sightseeing buses. Another original and exciting way to see Dublin's sights is aboard the Viking Splash Tour's amphibious World War II craft, which travels on both land and water.

When the sun hides behind the clouds and outdoor activities are no longer an option, visitors can take children to one of the many indoor playgrounds or museums, or to watch a puppet show at the Lambert Puppet Theatre.

Dublin is a famous destination for nighttime revelry, and good food and drink are vital to this reputation. Dublin's dining scene is booming and has improved considerably over the past few years. Much like other international cuisine hot spots, the city's best culinary experiences can be pricey. Foodies with deep pockets will find many impressive high-end restaurants. For those travelling on a budget, charming eateries and traditional pubs are tremendous options. All varieties of international cuisine are available in the city but visitors must sample the good old home-cooked Irish fare as well.

Irish cuisine consists of simple meat dishes, usually paired with boiled root vegetables such as turnips, carrots, parsnips and an Irish favourite, potatoes. Other popular dishes include mutton and beef stews, often cooked with Guinness, as well as tripe, meat and blood puddings, and sausages. A new trend in Celtic cuisine, known as 'modern Irish', has become increasingly popular and can be described as French cuisine infused with the natural flavours of the Irish countryside and coastal waters.

The cobblestone streets of the Temple Bar district, as well as the Trinity College area, offer a wonderful and eclectic selection of eateries where visitors can whet their appetites.

So what's the weather like in Dublin?

Dublin has a maritime temperate climate, and less rainfall than the rest of the 'Emerald Isle'. However, winters are still very soggy and showers are common all year round. The wettest month, October averages three inches (76mm) of rainfall. Summers are cool and pleasant, with temperatures in July peaking at around 68°F (20°C), and the most sunshine in May and June. Winters, apart from being wet, are mild, with the mercury rarely dropping to freezing point. Snow is unlikely, but a few flurries can occur. Dublin, like the rest of Ireland, experiences few temperature extremes. The best time to visit Ireland is in the warm summer months between May and August. February receives the least rainfall on average but it is almost impossible to avoid some rain in Dublin. The off-peak months are significantly cheaper in Ireland.

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