Top 5 Things To Do In Dublin

Hello Wonderful People

I love Ireland. Everything about it is just awesome. The people, the countryside, the cities, the food, the drink. Everything. Well, everything except the weather. My friends and I went on a short mini-break last weekend to Dublin, and we had the best time! Ireland is so close to the UK and flights are so cheap, making it the perfect destination for a quick get away. Our holiday didn't get off to the best start, with our flight being delayed for 4 hours (Cheers Ryanair)!! Instead of arriving at 9:20pm, we finally landed at 1:15am and promptly headed straight to a bar. When on holiday, it's never to late for a drink, that's what I say.

Temple Bar
This was my favourite area in Dublin. Yes it can be pretty touristy, but it's a lovely area, right by the river and has a great atmosphere. The cobbled streets are lined with pubs, bars and restaurants so you won't struggle for choice. The drinks prices are pretty high, but I would recommend going to The Temple Bar pub. The places is always rocking, with an Irish band regularly taking to the stage.

Walking Tour
A free walking tour started from our hostel every morning, and as I'm such a huge advocate for walking tours, we obviously joined in! The tour lasted around 3 hours and took us through the streets of Dublin and past some of the cities well known sights. Our guide, Conor, was lovely and really made the tour enjoyable. He even got pooped on by a bird, but this didn't deter from his enthusiasm, and was hilarious for the rest of us. We saw lots of famous landmarks on the tour; Trinity College, Dublin castle and gardens, Dublin cathedral, Temple Bar and many more!

Guinness Storehouse
No trip to Dublin is complete without a sip of the black stuff. And what better place to do it than where it all started? We booked tickets in advance online, which is a great tip as you get to save 10% and jump the queue, which is always a bonus. Tickets work out at about £12, which I think is great value as the whole experience is great. You wander round 7 floors learning about the history of Guinness; they cover everything from the brewing process to advertising. You also learn how to taste Guinness properly in their tasting rooms.  I was extremely sceptical, as the last time I tried Guinness I thought it was hideous, however I was pleasantly surprised this time. It's really quite tasty! On the very top floor of the building is an amazing bar, with panoramic views over Dublin. This is also where you can get your free pint, so make sure you head up there after you've finished your tour. Never turn down a free pint people!

Pub Crawl
I'm not always the biggest fan of organised fun, but you can't beat a good pub crawl! It costs 12 Euros and you get a variety of deals in each bar plus entry to a club. We went to 4 bars/ pubs before heading to the club. There were loads of people doing the pub crawl and it's always a great way to meet new people and travellers. One of the best parts of this one, was going to Irish pubs and watching the bands playing. Irish music is amazing, and just makes you want to dance. Especially after a pint or two. If you fancy a night out in Dublin, but don't know where is best to go, then tagging along on a pub crawl is always a great idea!

Kilmainham Gaol
We queued in the rain for over an hour to get a tour of the jail, but it was worth it. It only costs 4 Euros to get in and you are given a guided tour for an hour around the prison. Now, surprisingly enough, I've never been in a prison before so it was fascinating to see what it was like. The prison was also closely linked to much of the political unrest in Irish history, and several key political activists were held, and killed, behind its walls. If you are a lover of history or fancy doing something a little different in Dublin, I would definitely recommend a visit!