A holiday in Dublin can be a relaxing getaway, an intellectual excursion through history, or an artful blend of both as the city is known for its cathedrals, its pubs, its museums, and its literary figures.
This Irish city is home to Guinness Storehouse, where Guinness is brewed and the fabled beer’s story is told. The atrium is shaped like a giant pint glass and serves as the starting point for the brewery tour. Naturally there are pubs, including Gravity Bar with its 360 degree view of Dublin. This provides a great vantage point from which to plan the rest of a Dublin holiday.
The Irish are understandably proud of their nation’s rich literary heritage and so among the many things to do in Dublin are visits to libraries such as (Archbishop) Chester Beatty Library, which is also an art museum, and Marsh’s Library, which was founded in 1701 and is just behind St. Patrick’s Cathedral. That cathedral itself is on the “must-see” list for travelers, as is Christ Church Cathedral. Both of these Catholic places of worship are renowned for their history and architecture. St. Patrick’s is known for its boys choir and link to Ireland’s patron saint while Christ Church is famed for its ancient crypt, Dublin’s oldest surviving structure, now home to a shop and cafe’ as well as memorials.
Dublin - credit to Frieze Magazine
There is many types of Dublin tours, walking, cycling, Segway, and bus tours are all available and provide background information to the city’s destinations. These can help first-time visitors in particular get a feel for the city and all it offers. Some focus on a particular theme, such as the 1916 Uprising. After a tour, visitors can decide which Dublin’s landmark museums they want to examine more closely.
The National Museum of Ireland has three branches in Dublin, devoted respectively to archaeology, decorative arts and history, and natural history. Admission is free. The National Gallery of Ireland features 15,000 works of art from Ireland and throughout Europe from the 13th Century to the present. Other Dublin museums include Kilmainham Gaol (jail) Historical Museum, where visitors can learn more about Irish political history and the harsh treatment of prisoners in the 19th Century. A bit more light-hearted is the National Leprechaun Museum, which showcases Irish folklore and myth.
All that sightseeing is bound to leave a visitor hungry and thirsty. Not to worry. Pubs abound. Some are known for their links to famous writers like James Joyce. Celtic music and Irish cuisine also lend a distinctive charm to Irish pubs.
