Serviced Apartments Dublin

Facts About Dublin 

Dublin is the capital of Ireland and the country’s largest city, lying on the bay in the eastern coast. It lies within the Leinster province and is bordered by the Wicklow and Dublin Mountains. There are debates regarding the origination of Dublin with settlements founded prior to or during the 7th century AD courtesy of the Gaels. Another Viking settlement followed this one. Dublin steadily turned into the principal settlement in Ireland after the Norman invasion. The city expanded from the 17th century and was once the second biggest city under the British Empire. Dublin became the capital of the Irish Free State after the 1922 partition and was renamed as Ireland. Here are some interesting facts about Dublin. 

• The name of the city comes from dubh Linn which means Black Pool and indicates the deep pool within Dublin Castle. This is the point of intersection for the River Liffey and Poddle Stream. Vikings usually left their ships here.
• Dublin was Ireland’s most important Viking town, being founded twice by them in 841 AD and 917. 
• Dublin became a wealthy settlement afterwards and subsequently the City of Dublin. 
• The Vikings series has been extensively filmed near the city. 
• Dublin houses Europe’s widest street, namely O’Connell Street that measures 49 meters by way of width. 
• Dublin is known for birthing some of the world’s most famous bands like The Dubliners, The Script, U2 and many others. 
• U2 lead singer and global star Bono is the owner of the iconic Clarence Hotel in Temple Bar. 
• Dublin houses the globally renowned Guinness beer brand, created in 1759 in a brewery at St James Gate by Arthur Guinness. 
• Dublin has its own Tom & Jerry version when a crypt of Christ Church Cathedral was discovered in the 1860s. This had a preserved cast of a cat chasing a rat. They nicknamed it Tom & Jerry thereafter.
• Dublin’s famous Trinity College has illustrious alumni including Jonathan Swift, Oscar Wilde, Jack Gleeson, Bram Stoker and many others.  

Dublin is the economic hub of Ireland and was listed as the world’s fourth richest city in 2009 (purchasing power) and 10th richest (personal income). Mercer’s 2011 index ranked it as the 13th costliest city in the European Union. The Greater Dublin Area provided employment for 874,400 individuals as of the year 2017. Dublin airport is operated and owned by DAA and lies near Swords in the Fingal administrative county. It is headquarters to national carrier Aer Lingus and CityJet along with Ryanair. The airport is the 11th busiest in the EU and catered to 21 million passengers in 2014. 

Cost of Living in Dublin 

A regular restaurant meal will cost around €15 while it will cost approximately €2.50-3.50 for a one-way transportation ticket. A monthly pass will come for €130 approximately while utilities are priced at roughly €158.26 every month. Housing rentals vary between €1,100-4,000 every month. 

Tips for Visiting Dublin 

Here are some handy travel tips for visiting Dublin: 

• The Leap Visitor Card has 1,3 and 7 day increments. You can pick it up on arrival at the airport for using the DART, bus, rail and Luas. The DART takes you quite a distance. 
• Ordering taxis requires you to use a dedicated NRC Taxi App. 
• Strategically use the Hop On and Off Bus Pass for exploring various areas in Dublin. 
• Dublin does not have noticeable street signs and simply use corner pubs and joints as landmarks. 
• Trust the locals and go with the flow while crossing the street. 
• The tourism center at O’Connell Street is a great place to find adapters for international outlets. 
• Buses and Starbucks are great ways to get free Wi-Fi. 
• Get the Heritage Pass which offers access to all Office of Public Works landmarks in the country. 
• The Dublin Pass will give you entry to several major attractions in the city. 

Things to Do in Dublin

Dublin offers a wide variety of things to do and see. Here’s taking a look at some of them: 

Q. What are the most popular things to do in Dublin?

Popular things to do in Dublin include the Book of Kells at Trinity College, the Jeanie Johnston, Guinness Storehouse, Christ Church Cathedral, Phoenix Park, National Botanic Gardens and Dublin Castle. 

Q. What are some free things to do in Dublin? 

Free things to do in Dublin include the Temple Bar Markets, Merrion Square Park, Phoenix Park, National Gallery of Ireland, Dublin Castle, Irish Museum of Modern Art and Chester Beatty Library. 

Q. Does Dublin have many romantic attractions?

Romantic attractions in Dublin include swimming at sunrise in Dun Laoghaire, walking along Croke Park, visiting Kilmainham Gaol and the Glasnevin Cemetery along with checking out the Dead Zoo within the Natural History Museum. 

Q. What are the most family-friendly things to do in Dublin?

Family-friendly things to do in Dublin include visiting the Phoenix Park, Viking Splash Tours, National Concert Hall, The Ark, The Chocolate Warehouse and Dublinia Museum. 

Q. What are the more unusual things to do in Dublin?

Unusual things to do in Dublin include Ulysses readings at Joycean Pharmacy, visiting a haunted library, spotting deer in Phoenix Park, taking the Secret Street tour of Dublin’s Liberties and enjoying the Irish Sea at Forty Foot. 

Places to Visit in Dublin

There are several top places to visit in Dublin including the following: 

• Jameson Distillery Bow St – Jameson crafts the highest-selling whiskey in the world and was established in 1780. Distilling no longer happens here but the interactive tour is more than worth it! There are videos showcasing the founder John Jameson and lab benches showcasing evolution from barley to the final product. A tasting session is the literal icing on the cake! 

• Dublin Castle – Dublin Castle was established in 1204 and has been a British power center for more than 700 years. A fire destroyed the structure in April 1684 and another magnificent Georgian palace came up thereafter. All Ireland Presidents have been inaugurated here at St Patrick’s Hall from 1938 onwards. The guided tour also covers the oldest pub in Dublin, namely The Brazen Head. 

• Christ Church Cathedral – The Christ Church Cathedral was established in 1030 as a charming wooden Viking church. The cathedral was renovated in the Victorian era. The standard ticket covers a self-guided tour of the crypt, cathedral and Treasures of Christ Church exhibition. The Choir has been drawing visitors from 1493 as well. 

Places to Eat in Dublin 

The best places to eat in Dublin include Dax Restaurant, Chapter One, Mr Fox, Damascus Gate, Tang Café, The Stage Door Café and Eatokyo Noodles and Sushi Bar. 

Street Food in Dublin 

Street food favorites in Dublin include Colcannon, Boxty pancakes, Irish stew, soda bread, black and white pudding, Barmbrack and Coddle. 

Shopping in Dublin 

Top shopping destinations in Dublin include Stephen’s Green Shopping Center, Powerscourt Center, Jervis Shopping Center, Blanchardstown Center, Ilac Shopping Center, The Westbury Mall and Moore Street Shopping Mall. 

Transportation in Dublin 

Dublin has 200+ bus routes courtesy of Dublin Bus, Go Ahead Ireland and other smaller entities. The main railway terminals are Heuston and Connolly stations while there are several lines under the Dublin Suburban Rail network. One of the lines is the electrified DART line. The Luas light rail system was launched in 2004. There are ferry services along with the busy Dublin Airport and the nearby Weston Airport which is majorly used by the authorities. 

Weather in Dublin 

Dublin has comfortable summers and cold winters. The best time to visit is between late June and early September.