Dublin

Population:

1.1 Million

Currency:

Euro, 1€ = 100 cent

Opening hours:

Shops are generally open

Mon-Sat, 9.00-17.00 and open

late on Thu to 20.00. Larger

chains also open on Sun,

12.00-18.00.

Internet:

www.visitdublin.com

www.tourist-information-dublin.co

.uk

Newspapers:

Irish Times

Irish Independent

Star

Evening Herald

Emergency numbers:

999 or 112

Tourist information:

Dublin Tourism Centre

Address: Suffolk Street

Tel. +353 1 605 7700

www.visitdublin.com

Call for Tourist Information

Within Ireland - 1850 230 330

Within the U.K. - 0800 039 7000

Any other country - +353 66 979

2083

DUBLIN

The Irish have a reputation as the friendliest people in

Europe. In recent years, Dublin has been transformed into a

trendy city, and possibly the party capital of Europe. It is

also a young city, 50% of its population is under the age of

27.

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THE CITY #THECITY#

©Brian Kelly

Most of what’s fun in Dublin is south of the

River Liffey. The Temple Bar area right by

the river, the shopping around Grafton

Street, and Saint Stephen’s Green. This is

also where you will find the Parliament and

Ireland’s premier seat of education –

Trinity College. Dublin also has some of the

finest examples of Georgian and Victorian

architecture in the British Isles.

North of the Liffey is O’Connell Street with

a charming mix of department stores, busy

markets, reminiscent of 19th century

Dublin, pubs and the General Post Office –

scene of the 1916 Easter uprising. Close by

is George Bernard Shaw’s Abbey Theatre,

founded in 1904.

The best thing about Dublin is that

everything is within walking distance. For

example, it only takes twenty minutes to

get from O’Connell Street to Saint

Stephen’s Green.

More than 2 million

readers per month

Irish Museum of Modern Art

The light and airy exhibition spaces do the

modern art justice. Situated in a 17th

century hospital. Entry is free.

Address: Military Road, Kilmainham

Dublin Literary Pub Crawl

Walk in the footsteps of Wilde, Shaw, and

Joyce while the guide reads excerpts from

these authors’ works. And stop for pints of

Guinness along the way. The tour starts at

18.30 at The Duke Pub.

Address: 9 Duke Street

Phone: +353 1 670 5602

Internet: www.dublinpubcrawl.com

Guinness Storehouse

Dublin’s number one tourist attraction

doesn’t need an introduction.

Address: Saint James’s Gate, Dublin 8

Internet: www.guinness-storehouse.com

Trinity College

Trinity College dates back to 1592, and

most of the country’s historical figures

studied here at one time. The Old Library

holds 200,000 historical volumes. The

famous Book of Kells and other treasures

are shown in the Long Room.

Address: College Street

National Museum of Ireland

Exhibitions here chronicle a wide range of

topics including life in Egypt, the Ireland of

the Vikings, and the country’s fight for

independence. The most spectacular items

are the Irish Bronze Age gold relics.

Address: Kildare Street, Dublin 2

Internet: www.museum.ie

Malahide Castle

Set on 250 acres of park land in the pretty

seaside town of Malahide, was both a

fortress and a private home for nearly 800

years and is an interesting mix of

architectural styles.

Address: Malahide Demesne, Malahide. Co. Dublin

Internet: www.malahidecastle.com

EATING #EATING#

©John Sigler

Dublin’s dining scene is reminiscent of

London’s. The options range from gastro

pubs to tapas bars, American steakhouses

and Lebanese meze eateries, to Thornton’s

and Gilbaud’s – both with two stars in

Guide Rouge. The most satisfying dining

experience is to be had sampling modern

Irish cuisine – traditional fare with a

modern twist.

L´Gueuleton

Troy McGuires is the bad boy of Irish

cooking, and his restaurant is considered

the rising star of the local dining scene. He

serves rustic French fare with a twist, like

Toulouse sausage with sauerkraut and

potatoes à la Lyonnaise.

Address: 1 Fade Street

Phone: +353 1 675 3708

Internet: www.lgueuleton.com

Mermaid Café

One of Dublin’s nicest modern Irish

restaurants. It has a rustic interior and a

laid back atmosphere. The best thing on

the menu is the crab cakes. Make

reservations in advance.

Address: 69–70 Dame Street

Phone: +353 1 670 8236

Internet: www.mermaid.ie

Gruel

This is the more casual sibling of Mermaid

Café. Good for brunch.

Address: 68A Dame Street

Phone: +353 1 670 7119

Bleu Bistro Moderne

It looks like a first-class airport lounge with

its strict lines, black leather and dark

wood. The menu is lively and offers refined

dishes from around the world including

risotto, fish cakes and apflestrudel.

Address: Joshua House, Dawson Street

Phone: +353 1 676 7015

Internet: www.bleu.ie

Chapter One

This organic restaurant is situated in the

Dublin Writers Museum, hence the name.

The menu has its roots in traditional Irish

cooking try the potato and bacon in filo

with pumpkin purée.

Address: 18-19 Parnell Street

Phone: +353 1 873 2266

Internet: www.chapteronerestaurant.com

Aya

Stylish Japanese diner, complete with a

conveyor belt. Most of the dishes are

exquisite. Located behind the Brown

Thomas department store.

Address: Clarendon Street

Phone: +353 1 677 1544

Unicorn Restaurant

Classic Italian eatery that is still among the

best the city has to offer.

Address: 12B Merrion Court, -Merrion Row

Phone: +353 1 6762 182

Internet: www.unicornrestaurant.com

Admiral Restaurant

This is a restaurant with modern elegance

with an interior that reflects the marine.

They have cave walls, ships rigging and an

aquarium with exotic fish. The menu offer

food from traditional Eastern delights to a

more familiar Italian and Western dishes.

Address: Junction of Cathal Brugha & Marlborough Street

Phone: +353 1 873 5472

Internet: www.admiralrestaurant.com

CAFÉS #CAFES#

©Terje Asphaug

Bewley’s Oriental Café

Bewley’s is Dublin’s most famous café, and

afternoon tea destination. The James Joyce

room with its velvet armchairs is an oasis.

Address: 78–79 Grafton Street, Dublin 2

Internet: www.bewleyscafetheatre.com

More than 2 million

readers per month

Avoca

Irish lifestyle company Avoca offers

everything from cookbooks to clothes and

home design accessories. Tucked away in

their flagship store is one of Dublin’s best

cafes, offering a selection of soups and

hearty salads.

Address: 11-13 South Suffolk Street

Queen of Tarts

This is a real gem. Scones, meringues,

cheesecakes, brownies… they are all baked

on the premises. Queen of Tarts is also

great for sturdy breakfasts (including

potato cakes).

Address: 4 Cork Hill, Dame Street

BARS & NIGHTLIFE #BARSANDNIGHTLIFE#

© Hon Lau

Dublin seems to have an unlimited number

of pubs, many of them described as

classics. Either because James Joyce was

thrown out of them, or because Bono and

the rest of U2 would frequent them. Since

the late 1990s, Dublin has seen a rise in

elegant contemporary bars.

Dublin’s nightlife is in a constant stage of

change. Ask in fashion and record stores or

people you think might be in the know.

Morrison Hotel Bar

Morrison’s bar always feels right with its

slender design, great views over the

southern quays of River Liffey and its

urban and conscious clientele.

Address: Lower Ormond Quay

Internet: www.morrisonhotel.ie

Stag’s Head

Old-world pub with a magnificent

mahogany bar that once propped up James

Joyce. Also serves good pub food.

Address: 1 Dame Court

Internet: www.thestagshead.ie

Mulligan’s

Some think it’s a dive, some think it’s a

gem. Either way, when John F. Kennedy

worked as a journalist in Dublin, he was a

regular at this pub. It also featured in the

movie My Left Foot. Many think that the

best Guinness in Dublin is served at

Mulligan’s.

Address: 8 Poolbeg Street

Internet: www.mulligans.ie

SHOPPING #SHOPPING#

©iStock

Shopping in Dublin is equally satisfying

both north and south of the river. Luxury

boutiques and street fashion stores are

centred around Grafton Street. North of

the Liffey, the shopping and the street

scene is more available. This is also where

the Jervis Centre and Ilac Centre shopping

malls are located.

Brown Thomas

The best and most exclusive department

store in Dublin with four floors of exclusive

brands.

Address: 88–95 Grafton Street

Internet: www.brownthomas.com

Design Centre

The latest offerings from Ireland’s young

designers including Louise Kennedy, Sham

Hoey and Karen Millen.

Address: Powercourt Townhouse Centre, South William Street

Avoca

Interiors, cookbooks, toys… Irish Avoca

has something special for every part of the

home. They also have a nice cafe.

Address: 11-13 South Suffolk Street

Cleo

Cleo stocks handmade shawls, blankets,

sweaters, socks, and linen and tweed

fabrics, from all around Ireland.

Address: 18 Kildare Street

Internet: www.irishclothing.ie

Vivien Walsh

Vivian Walsh’s jewellery manages to

combine post-punk roughness with

elegance.

Address: 24 Lower Stephen Street

Internet: www.vivienwalsh.com

Hodges Figgis, Waterstones

This is heaven for book lovers, and not

only because it was mentioned in Joyce’s

Ulysses. It has evolved from a small shop

to a large and well-stocked bookstore.

Chain store Waterstones has a branch

across the street.

Address: 56–58 Dawson Street

Sheridan’s Cheesemongers

Ireland has many small dairies that

produce excellent cheeses. Among them

are Cashel Blue, Coleenely and Durrus.

They can all be bought here together with

bread and other deli products.

Address: 11 South Anne Street

Internet: www.sheridanscheesemongers.com

SLEEPING #SLEEPING#

©Terje Asphaug

EXCLUSIVE

The Clarence

It’s almost 10 years since U2 opened this

hotel, but it is still considered one of

Ireland’s -hippest hotels. Maybe it’s thanks

to its modern but timeless atmosphere.

Address: 6–8 Wellington Quay

Phone: +353 1 407 0800

Internet: www.theclarence.ie

GOOD VALUE

Morrison Hotel

Created by Irish designer John Rocha. The

colour scheme ranges from darkest brown

to light beige.

Address: Lower Ormond Quay

Phone: +353 1 887 2400

Internet: www.morrisonhotel.ie

Mercer Court

A simple but nice and clean hotel. Choose

between regular bed and breakfast type

accommodation on a nightly rate, or rent

an apartment complete with its own

kitchen on a weekly basis. Open

June-September.

Address: Lower Mercer Street

Phone: +353 1 474 4120

Internet: www.mercercourt.ie

BASIC

Avalon House

Popular with backpackers. They even have

a room with twelve beds.

Address: 55 Aungier Street

Phone: +353 1 475 0001

Internet: www.avalon-house.ie

ESSENTIAL INFORMATION

Airport

Six bus companies serve Dublin

International Airport. The 10 kilometers

(6.5 miles) journey takes approximately 30

minutes depending on the traffic situation

and costs €5. Trains from the nearby

station also connect to Dublin and the rest

of Ireland. A taxi to central Dublin is €15.

Internet: www.dublin-airport.com

Public Transport

Dublin’s bus and train network was

recently complemented by the newly built

Luas tram service. Trains only run to

midnight. Fares depend on the number of

stops but are reasonably cheap. A

three-day travel card costs €11.50. For

more information visit www.irishrail.ie. A

small number of bus routes operate during

the night. Timetables, fares and maps are

available at website.

Internet: www.dublinbus.ie

Taxi

Taxis can be hailed on the street at taxi

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stands or booked via telephone. At

weekends it is advisable to book ahead of

time. Here are a few of Dublin’s cab

companies:

Taxi Seven

Phone: +353 1 460 0000

Internet: www.taxiseven.com

Taxi 2000

Phone: +353 1 890 0900

Post

Post offices are open Monday–Friday

9.30-18.00. The General Post Office on

O’Connell Street is open Monday-Friday

10.00-17.00 and Saturday-Sunday

14.00-17.00.

Pharmacy

If you need urgent medical care call; tel:

+353 1 453 9333. They can give you free

medical advice and direct you to the

nearest hospital with 24 hour accident and

emergency departments.

The Temple Bar Pharmacy

Address: 21 East Essex Street

Phone: +353 1 670 9751

Dentist

Dublin Dental School and Hospital. Trinity

College.

Address: Lincoln Place

Phone: +353 1 612 7200

Telephone

Country code: +353

Area code: 01

Electricity

230 V, 50 Hz