Visiting Dublin - Suggestions Welcome

cupcake83

It's just me coming to Dublin for two weeks. I am an American, 30, and I'm not really wanting to do tourist type of things unless there is something that I just shouldn't live without doing and you have suggestions. So I guess I am interested in doing what the locals do. Eating where they eat and shopping too. I'm just hoping to have laid back fun. I appreciate any suggestions and ideas. Thank you! :-)

Celly Smunt

Will you have a car during your trip?

cupcake83

I'd like to get one, yes hopefully.

Celly Smunt

cupcake83 wrote: »

I'd like to get one, yes hopefully.

Well if you get a car it'll be worth your while going off the beaten track outside of the city centre,you'll have a better time,try the likes of the Dublin/wicklow mountains,Glendalough etc,since Ireland is such a small place you can almost hop from Dublin to anywhere as a day trip (within reason of course).

cupcake83

Thank you for the advice. I'm going to totally take it and get outside of the city! I know I will regret it if I don't! I am really looking forward to it.

fermanagh_man

Go to the horse racing at Leopardstown, they have a bulmers live festival every Thursday for the next few weeks!
€15 for entry to races and concert is great value

John_Rambo

Stick a post up in the Dublin forum, plenty of locals with creative, hidden gems plus some unusual and enjoyable non-touristy things to do.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=474

kerry4sam

Hi there cupcake83,

I'm moving your thread over into the Dublin City forum where it may be better suited as it is localised.
The local mod's may move it to another Dublin forum though

Thanks & I Hope you Enjoy your time in our Capital,
kerry4sam

SebBerkovich

If you're gonna be around for two weeks, i would suggest spending about 4 days of that in Dublin.
Depending on what weeks you're going to be around there's bound to be some sort of low key festival knocking around dublin.

If you wanna leave dublin to experience something completely different go to Achill Island. I think it's about 4 hour drive from dublin, but it really is a great spot.

cupcake83

Thank you, to all of you. I really appreciate it.

JuliusCaesar

Dublin is really a city for walking around and using public transport/Dublin Bikes. I'd hate to have to cope with the traffic chaos in the city centre if I was unfamiliar with it, by car. You'll also get around quicker and more cheaply on foot bike. Parking can be very expensive. I'd only have a car for trips outside Dublin.

Lawrence1895

I always take my parents to Bray and Howth on the DART, it's a nice journey down the coast and a lovely scenery.

And I would recommend Glasnevin Cemetery, some historic graves and tombstones over there.

schemingbohemia

Lecool often have interesting events highlighted

http://dublin.lecool.com/dublin/en/current_issue

as do Totally Dublin

http://totallydublin.ie/

Would be worth checking them out.

John_Rambo

cupcake83 wrote: »

Eating where they eat and shopping too.

For good Irish food try The Pigs Ear, ask for a window seat if you're alone. Shopping is a mixed bag, North of the Liffey for bargains, South of the Liffey for high end stuff. There's a shop called Kilkenny that does decent Irish crafts and designers. Market Bar is a good place for food and drink too, very popular with Dubliner's. The Hairy Lemon is a good thirty something place to meet up people. The price of a pint is slightly dearer than other places, but if you're not drinking ten pints you will be fine.

Avoca is amazing for breakfast.

http://www.avoca.ie/home/explore/stores/?id=1
http://www.marketbar.ie/
http://www.thepigsear.com/
http://www.kilkennyshop.com/?gclid=COaarYm57rcCFUob4QodF2sApg
http://www.thehairylemon.ie/

If you'd like to expand more on what you are interested in doing please do so and I'm sure people would be willing to help.

Academic

It would help if you told us what brings you to Ireland, and what you're interested in. History? Literature? Scenery? Architecture? Music? Sports? ??????

I agree with the general suggestion that since you'll be here long enough that you should get out of Dublin. But where I might suggest that you go depends on your interests, not mine.

Cheers,

Ac

hfallada

I wouldnt bother getting a car for the city. Its a bit of a nightmare finding a car space and buses are faster. Unlike in most American cities, buses here are clean and modern. Chester Beatty library in Dublin castle is impressive. Kavanaghs in Glasnevin which is about 20 mins from the city is good for a genuine non tourist Irish bar.

West Cork is scenic but its a long journey from Dublin.

endacl

Hi OP! Word of warning. We don't call them 'cupcakes' over here. There called 'buns'. Leads to linguistic confusion. If somebody compliments your 'buns' over here, they don't mean your bum*, they mean your cupcakes.

Enjoy your visit!







* 'Bum' means buns, not homeless.

cupcake83

I am coming to Ireland for holiday. I enjoy museums, night life and sight seeing. I am somewhat spontaneous and will be open to changing my plans if something comes up. Not really into rigid scheduled tours but do not mind a few. I will happily take public trans and walk too! Thank you all again, I hope that helps about me and what I want.

WoollyRedHat

Hi.. what kinda nightclubs do you like? (music etc.)

cupcake83

WoollyRedHat wrote: »

Hi.. what kinda nightclubs do you like? (music etc.)

I enjoy most music honestly. I don't really love gangsta. Rap or country but everything else is fair game for me.

WoollyRedHat

cupcake83 wrote: »

I enjoy most music honestly. I don't really love gangsta. Rap or country but everything else is fair game for me.

Gangsta haha, don't think there's any clubs like that around anyway.. if you don't mind the usual commercial, chart type music there's a whole host of clubs out there including Diceys, D2, Dandelions, etc. Club Nassua is a specialized club serving up 70s, 80s and 90s type music, never been myself but might be your scene

If you're into House/ Electro etc. then places like Lost Society/ Twisted Pepper can be good.

Off the top of my head, I'd recommend Sweeney's, The Workman's Club and The Grand Social. Whelans can be good for live music too.

For pubs, try The Porterhouse either opposite Trinity College or near Temple Bar, it's a really nice place, with good food and they make their own brews, so worth a visit.

As someone else mentioned, Lecool Dublin is good for general events in the city, Nialler9 for nights, and another one worth a look at is www.dublineventguide.com

Look at this too:http://totallydublin.ie/more/200-reasons-not-to-leave-dublin/

cupcake83

WoollyRedHat wrote: »

Gangsta haha, don't think there's any clubs like that around anyway.. if you don't mind the usual commercial, chart type music there's a whole host of clubs out there including Diceys, D2, Dandelions, etc. Club Nassua is a specialized club serving up 70s, 80s and 90s type music, never been myself but might be you're scene

If you're into House/ Electro etc. then places like Lost Society/ Twisted Pepper can be good.

Off the top of my head, I'd recommend Sweeney's, The Workman's Club and The Grand Social. Whelans can be good for live music too.

Haha, well I kind of figured Ireland wasn't on that bandwagon but mentioned it just in case. I'm willing to try or tolerate anything once .

WoollyRedHat

You won't be short of choice, it's just a matter of looking out for them.

I like threads like this, as it reminds me how much there is to do in Dublin, and discover places and things I've never heard of before, i.e didn't know there was a flea market in The Grand Social during the day, must have a look!

Found a couple of links wirth a look if you're either visiting or even living here recommending things to do/ places of interest, worth a look.
Trip Advisor is always a good place to start.

http://www.tripadvisor.ie/Attractions-g186605-Activities-Dublin_County_Dublin.html#TtD

http://www.visitdublin.com/pdf/100-Free-2013.pdf

This is a nice little site I stumbled on for a general overview of Dublin
http://lovindublin.com/

http://blog.hostelbookers.com/travel/budget-travel/things-to-do-in-dublin/
Things on the cheap

http://www.timeout.com/dublin/features/47/20-great-things-to-do-in-dublin

Hope these help.

Dick Turnip

Hi OP, when will you be in Dublin/Ireland? We could point you in the direction of some festivals or major events to go to if we knew when you're going to be here.

Academic

Two thoughts come to mind immediately.

(1) You can get all that other music anywhere on the planet. If you’re in Dublin, why not listen to some traditional music? Try the Cobblestone pub in Smithfield, which has free trad sessions in the front room most nights, and the pints are good and cheaper than at most pubs in the city centre.

http://www.cobblestonepub.ie/

(2) For lunch, go to Sheridan’s Cheesemongers, buy a sandwich, and have a picnic in St. Stephen’s Green, a couple of blocks south.

http://www.sheridanscheesemongers.com/index.php/our-shops/dublinshop
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Stephen%27s_Green

Don’t just sit there, walk around and see the park. It’s lovely, and the various monuments provide a who’s-who of Dublin politics and literature. This will make you thirsty, so return to Anne Street South and have a pint at Kehoe’s.
http://www.dublininformation.com/attractions/kehoes-pub/

There are dozens of terrific pubs in this area; I mention Kehoes because having found Sheridan’s you’ll know how to find Kehoes—they’re a couple doors away from each other.

Pubs are perfect places for lunch, by the way, and have always been at the heart of Dublin social life. And remember: YOU DON’T NEED TO DRINK ALCOHOL IN A PUB! In fact, if you drink soft drinks you’ll be the publican’s best friend, since their profit margin on these is much greater than on stout or beer. Oh, *never ever* tip the barman. A smile and a “thank you” are what are called for.

Cheers,

Ac

Layinghen

Take the Dart out to Howth and have a fish lunch. Plenty of fantastic restaurants there and lovely village to walk around.