Any tips on what to see/do in Dublin?
Any tips on what to see/do in Dublin?
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princeperch

Original Poster:

8,272 posts

276 months

Tuesday 5th July 2005
quotequote all
Going with the girlfriend in August to Dublin, staying in Harcourt Street. Would appreciate advice on what to see/do when were there, as were only there for 2 nights.

Cheers

vixpy1

42,699 posts

293 months

Tuesday 5th July 2005
quotequote all
Well, the red light district is nice at about 1am..

Whoops

Gulliver

673 posts

263 months

Tuesday 5th July 2005
quotequote all

Go to see the Guiness factory in the city center, great panoramic bar at the end of teh visit.

PM me if you want some bar and restaurant recommandations.

Stay away from Temple Bar in teh evening, it is only for tourists and is full of stag parties......

zippee

14,128 posts

263 months

Tuesday 5th July 2005
quotequote all
Defo go to the Guiness Factory

Temple bar is expensive and pricey but you'll not find a better burger anywhere else than the Elephant and Castle

A fantastic restaurant is Eliza Blues - gets very busy on a Saturday night so booking is advisable.

Take an open top bus tour - the drivers commentaries and sining are normally good fun

titiany

2,122 posts

261 months

Tuesday 5th July 2005
quotequote all
Gulliver said:

Go to see the Guiness factory in the city center, great panoramic bar at the end of teh visit.




And you get a free pint at the end, too!

maxrider

2,481 posts

265 months

Tuesday 5th July 2005
quotequote all
Been twice with g/f and really enjoyed it, would definitely buy a ticket for the tour bus which takes you round all the major sights and you can hop on and off all day to tour the city with never much more than a 10-15 minute wait between.

Did the jamesons distillery and guiness brewery (which wasn't that brill for the price and the best bit was a pint at the top of the building where you can see the whole of the city)

Dublin zoo is fairly decent (if you're into that type of thing) and eating-wise the Hard Rock Cafe is well worth a visit (although we spent the equivalent of £130 there in one night - wouldn't recommend trying the entire cocktail menu! )

tonyhetherington

32,091 posts

279 months

Tuesday 5th July 2005
quotequote all
Agree entirely what every one else has said. Did the guiness facotry which was great - especially the bar at the end (though there wasn't enough tables!). Went to the zoo also which was good fun - always nice to walk around that sort of thing with a partner.

Did an open top bus ride (which dropped you off at the zoo too) and the commentator was very funny and informative. It's very touristy, but is exactly what you need!

Temple bar was good...but I did go on March 17th

stigproducts

1,730 posts

300 months

Tuesday 5th July 2005
quotequote all
Best things have been mentioned, and as far as I recall they are the only things. Not a huge amount to do if you are not into drinking guiness all day (which I was so didn't bother me!)

One more, and this was the highlight of my trip, go to Christchurch Cathedral and see the mummified cat and mouse which were having a good old fashioned chase and got stuck in the organ pipes.

Tank Slapper

7,949 posts

312 months

Tuesday 5th July 2005
quotequote all
Been a few years since I went. As previously suggested, the open topped bus was a laugh.

There is (or was - dunno if it's still there) a great pub on parliament street called the Porter House, which has a brewery in the cellar.

They had some really nice beers there. You could get a small tray of samples to try each one out.

maxrider

2,481 posts

265 months

Tuesday 5th July 2005
quotequote all
princeperch said:
Going with the girlfriend in August to Dublin, staying in Harcourt Street.


Just realised thats where we stayed, not at Russell Court by any chance are you?

Mark Benson

8,264 posts

298 months

Tuesday 5th July 2005
quotequote all
Tank Slapper said:

There is (or was - dunno if it's still there) a great pub on parliament street called the Porter House, which has a brewery in the cellar.



Still was in February when I went with the other half. Even got her to like stout (the oyster stout) thanks to their samples tray.
They had good live music in there too.

up-the-dubs

4,282 posts

258 months

Tuesday 5th July 2005
quotequote all
The Porter House is the only pub you're allowed go to in temple bar. Otherwise avoid.

If you're into sport, take a trip to the Croke Park museum. 3rd or 5th largest stadium in Europe.

Christchurch Cathredral and St. Patricks Cathredral are incredible. Christchurch is regarded by some as next best to Notre Dame.

Go for a walk around Merrion Square/Leeson Street Stephens Green vicinity. All Georgian houses and a nice stroll.

Have lunch in Stephens green (sandwich shop at top of Grafton street). Elegant at worst.

Take a trip on the DART out to Howth on the north of Dublin bay for an afternoon (about 30mins from town). A great place to walk, but also great resteraunts (cheaper than the city), The King Citric at the end of the harbour is one of the best fish resteraunts in the country and priced similarly, but have a look. (I live in sutton beside Howth, and regularly eat there, in howth, not the King citric!) If you get there, have a Guinnes in the Abbey Tavern. I'm a guinness man, and I go out of my way to drink there as often as possible.

Walk around O'Connell St. and play spot the bullitt holes in the statue of O'Connell beside the Liffey and in the walls of the GPO (biggest portico on the street) and consider that the worlds first underground tunnels are beneath where you stand. Touch the Spire and look up, kinda freaky, but I like it as a contrast.

If you want to go for a drive.......

I've just gone back and re-read your post. 2 days!!!! Mail me if you want anything else!!!!! Got a bit carried away.

Edit: Silks casino on Earlsfort Terrace. A haunt of mine. Classy, small, friendly and free wine when the pubs have closed!

>> Edited by up-the-dubs on Tuesday 5th July 17:45

princeperch

Original Poster:

8,272 posts

276 months

Tuesday 5th July 2005
quotequote all
once again the wonderful people of pistonheads rises to the occassion.

Many thanks for all your tips and advise everyone, Ive written them all down on a bit of paper and will try to get through as much as possible.

maxrider: yep it is Russel Court, was the cheapest "decent" looking hotel we could find. If anyone is looking to go/go back to Dublin then price wise now is a good time to do it.

Flying from Stanstead, at afternoon times as well, its cost us £170 for return flights and 2 nights in the hotel, all booked through RyanAir.


Thanks alot for your advice - ill do an update when we get back!

foster3jd

3,773 posts

269 months

Tuesday 5th July 2005
quotequote all
What?.. No one has mentioned the Book of Kells in Trinity College!

Dublin Literary Pub Crawl is quite good fun, but you'd need to check times here... www.dublinpubcrawl.com

If going shopping, venture to the Northside (Henry St and Mary St), it's cheaper than Grafton St... plus, you get to see real Dubs wearing hooped earrings, shell suits, pushing buggies and selling flowers from old prams!


Recommended Restaurants:

Kelly & Ping
Smithfield Village, Dublin 7 (nr Jamesons distillery, Chief O'Neills Hotel)
Thai/Chinese
www.visitdublin.com/restaurants/detail.asp?ID=1435

Tante Zoe'
1a Crow Street, Temple Bar, Dublin 2
Cajun/Creole
www.tantezoes.com

Zaytoon
14/15 Parliament Street, Temple Bar, Dublin 2
Persian (good for a late kebab that won't kill you... defo better than Abrakebabra!!!)
www.visitdublin.com/restaurants/detail.asp?ID=1238


plus, lots and fairly decent Chinese and Italian restaurants.



Recommended Pubs/Bars:

I've only listed pubs/bars that I used the frequent but to be honest, you're never that far from a decent pub... check out www.dublinpubscene.com for more info.


Mulligans
Poolbeg Street, Dublin 2 (Southside, near Tara Street DART)
www.mulligans.ie
Serves one of the best pint of Guinness in Dublin!!!

O'Donoghues
15 Merrion Row, Dublin 2 (Southside, just off St Stephens Green)
www.odonoghues.ie
Still has musicians playing for pints in the windows seat, home of The Dubliners

Porterhouse
Parliament Street, Dublin 2 (Southside, near Temple Bar and Essex Street)
www.dublinpubs.com/themes/porterhouse/inside/html/contents.htm

Cafe en Seine
40 Dawson Street, Dublin 2 (Southside, near St Stephens Green)
www.worldsbestbars.com/city/dublin/cafe-en-seine-dublin.htm

Q Bar
Burgh Quay, Dublin 2
www.dublinpubscene.com/thepubs/qbar.html

Pravda
Lower Liffey Street, Dublin 1 (Northside, oppsite the Halfpenny Bridge)
www.worldsbestbars.com/city/dublin/pravda-dublin.htm

Zanzibar
36 Ormond Quay Lower, Dublin 1 (Northside, just up from the Halfpenny Bridge)
www.worldsbestbars.com/city/dublin/zanzibar-dublin.htm

princeperch

Original Poster:

8,272 posts

276 months

Tuesday 5th July 2005
quotequote all
noted and appreciated mate - thanks for the info, were going to have quite a job sqeezing all this in!

Bomber Denton

8,762 posts

297 months

Tuesday 5th July 2005
quotequote all
Guiness factory - has to be done!

Viking amphibus tour - hilarious!

Zanzibar - great boozer!

foster3jd

3,773 posts

269 months

Tuesday 5th July 2005
quotequote all
ps. avoid SuperMacs and Abrakebabra ... if you want fast food burgers, try Eddie Rocket's american style diners instead and do have the ice cream milkshake

www.eddierockets.ie/home.htm

>> Edited by foster3jd on Tuesday 5th July 19:11

Tango2

428 posts

292 months

Tuesday 5th July 2005
quotequote all
My favourite restaurant's the Pearl Brasserie - must book though. It rivals the Mirabelle!!! Not too OTT either.

Have fun!

mxdi

13,994 posts

278 months

Tuesday 5th July 2005
quotequote all
Just what everyone else said...Open top bus tour, which stops at the Guinness factory- try and get there early though, it gets busy.
Theres a great live music bar- Walk over the bridge from O'Connell street towards Temple bar by the river and its the first bar on the left.
Jamesons supposed to be good too.
Pheonix park also supposed to be good.

>> Edited by mxdi on Tuesday 5th July 20:01

Eric Mc

125,661 posts

294 months

Tuesday 5th July 2005
quotequote all
Phoenix Park is best when they are having their annual motor racing weekend.

I would recommend Howth too. I will be in Dublin in a few weeks - staying in a guest house in Sutton Park so maybe not too far from up-the dubs