Dublin Holidays 2012

Ireland's Capital

Dublin is not only Ireland’s capital city; it is also the most populous city in the country with over 1.8 million residents. Dublin, or Dubh Lihn in Irish, literally means “black pool”. At present, Dublin is ranked among the top 30 cities in the world. Dublin is also considered Ireland’s historical, cultural, educational, administrative, artistic, economical and industrial centre.

Tourist Spots in Dublin

Some of the famous tourist spots in Dublin include the Guinness Storehouse (where you can find out more about the 250-year-old history of Guinness), Trinity College, Dublinia, Kilmainham Gaol (Europe’s largest disused prison), Dublin Castle, and Temple Bar (Dublin’s cultural quarter). Popular shopping districts in Dublin include Grafton Street and Henry Street. Wicklow Street, Dawson Street and South Great Georges Street are also equally interesting shopping areas to visit.

Dublin Food and Drink

When it comes to local cuisine, food in Dublin does not differ much from standard Irish fare. The introduction of potatoes in the latter part of the 16th century continues to heavily influence Irish fare today. Irish stew, colcannon, bacon and cabbage, coodle and boxty are also some dishes that are representative of Irish cuisine. Notably, the Irish are known for being notoriously heavy drinkers. Alcoholic drinks are a staple part of the Irish menu. Some traditional Irish beverages include Irish breakfast tea, Irish coffee, Irish cream, whiskey, Guinness, mead and poitin.

When to Visit

The question of the best time to visit Dublin is not an easy one to answer. No matter what time of year you go, it is almost always guaranteed that there will be a slight chance of rain. Having said that, May and September are recommended months to visit Dublin. If you wish to get with the crowds, then the summer months are the best months to go (June-August). Due to climate change, summer months in Dublin (or Ireland in general) have been significantly warmer than usual.

Dublin Nightlife

Let’s talk about nightlife. For younger crowds, some places frequented for pub crawls are The Pav, Long Stone, Peadar Kearneys, Dawson Lounge, The Mezz, Twisted Pepper, Frank Ryan’s, The Gaiety, Stag’s Head, Le Cirk, The Porterhouse, The Foggy Dew, Bruxelles, Sin e, Karma and The Pod. For more “mature” or “seasoned” tourists, Temple Bar is extremely popular for nightlife activities. These narrow, cobbled streets are lined with some of Dublin’s classiest and most unusual night spots, shops and restaurants. There is something here for everyone. Temple Bar is also the location of the Children’s Cultural Centre.