Guide to Ireland
There are many sites to see and things to do in Dublin, but I'd say the most popular pastime in this city is DRINKING! Day drinking, whiskey sipping, and Irish dancing all have one thing in common: alcohol! Dublin is one for the books, but if you're not careful will knock you on your ass! Here is my guide of how to navigate Dublin with a day trip outside the city center!
First let's start with what to do in the city! It's easy to start out here since this is most likely where you'll be flying in. During the daytime, I'd suggest visiting the Guinness Storehouse, open 7 days a week with last entry at 5 pm. The multilevel museum is built around how Guinness is brewed. Now if you've ever been to a brewery, you pretty much get how beer is made - water, hops, grain and yeast. However, this tour is honestly a spectacle. They have done such a good job making it fun to learn, tour and drink at the same time.
I would suggest purchasing your ticket (about $20) prior to arriving to avoid lines. We waited about 30 minutes, but online tickets bypassed the lines immediately. If you don't want to buy tickets ahead of time, the lines aren't outrageous, but time is limited when traveling so you want to get every last drop... of time....and beer! Your ticket gets you one drink voucher. Be sure to look at the levels to see where you want to use your ticket. My favorite was the Gravity Bar - a glass room with a 360 view of the city. Here you can enjoy a pint, but only in exchange for a ticket. On other levels of the Storehouse you can purchase beers OR use your voucher, whereas on the 7th Floor you can't buy a pint, so we saved our voucher for the top and purchased on other levels.
In other areas of the Storehouse you can eat, drink, watch tap dancing and even learn how to pour the perfect Guinness at the "Academy" on the 4th Floor. Options are endless here and so are the beers - cheers!
Temple Bar
In the city center there is a pub on every corner - hell the whole downtown area is basically a pub so pop into one and have a drink....then find another!
Head towards the Temple Bar, which is one of the most famous pubs in Dublin. It has over 450 Irish Whiskeys, Scotch and Bourbons and live Irish music 7 nights a week {it's literally a bar that never sleeps!} While the bar is iconic, there are hundreds - literally 800 in Dublin - of pubs to venture into. The Temple Bar is packed, so be prepared for tight quarters and drinks to be spilled. However, if you're looking for a good time, you've found the right place!
While you might be nursing an Irish hangover the next day, keep the tradition alive with the Hair of the Dog method: Keep drinking! Pop on over the Jameson Whiskey Distillery on Bow Street to experience the full monty.
Here you'll learn and taste several different kinds of whiskey and scotch. You'll also receive a voucher with your tour to pick from a traditional Whiskey Neat or Whiskey Sour {or for a slight up-charge you can try one of their seasonal or specialty cocktails}! The diva and non-whiskey drinker in me opted for a Tart Cherry & Orange Whiskey Sour and I actually LOVED it!
After your bellies are full of whiskey, it's time to fill up on some mussels. Dublin is also known for phenomenal seafood, specifically mussels. Head to Jonnie Fox's for yet another pint and some food! Jonnie's is one of the oldest and most traditional Irish Pubs in Dublin, sitting at the highest point in the city.
Cliffs of Moher
If you have more time to spare in Ireland and are looking to venture out of the city center, I'd suggest day tripping to the Cliffs of Moher, about 170 miles outside of Dublin. The roughly three hour drive will bring you to sea cliffs along the Atlantic Ocean where you can experience castles and greenery like you've never seen.
Since I only stayed in Dublin during my trip to Ireland, I had some friends send me pictures and tips from outside the city center. She made some great points about safety I wanted to call out. Her suggestion was to stop at the visitor center on the way to learn a little before heading to the cliffs. Though the climb seems intimidating, she said it wasn't bad at all. There are two routes to take:
RIGHT from the visitor center is maintained by the government and is well-groomed with a clear path for stairs, fences and telescopes. A safer and easier route to take!
LEFT from the visitor center is not maintained by the government and is a more natural route. They are very clear that Ireland has no liability if you chose the left side. Here you'll want to stay super alert as it is slippery and you can get closer to the edges. **Again - safety first - she mentioned that the day after they visited a student fell off and died while trying to take a picture. In her words, "NO picture is worth your life, so safe safe!"**
The Blarney Stone & Castles
Next, head towards The Blarney Stone located about 2 hours away from the Cliffs of Moher near Cork, Ireland. The Blarney Stone is famous for bringing that Irish Luck. These Castles are beautiful to walk through and though there isn't a guided tour, you can walk through the room of the castle and make your way up to the stone. {Quick Tip: Lines can get up to 2 hours long, so plan accordingly & try to go earlier in the day!}
[photo credit of Cliffs of Moher, Blarney Stone & Castles: @Hayley Downs & @Brittany Shields]
Comments