Tips for Dublin

[user237428934]

I managed to get a cheap flight to Dublin, so I will stay there next weekend (13./14. June).
Dublin seems to be an overall safe place, but are there areas to avoid at day/night?
Do you have some tips besides the typical tourist spots (e.g. modern architecture, abandoned buildings, decay)

Thank you.

 

[NickTrop]

Tips for Dublin please

1. Take whatever number, and add it to itself. That's it! Easy. 2+2 = 4 dubled!
2. Duble your pleasure, but try not to duble your trouble...

And why does Dublin need our tips for anyway? Did it fall on hard times?
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[charjohncarter]

There is an old prison away from downtown but on the bus route, you have to take the tour but there is plenty of good shots in the building. Also very close (walking) is a modern art museum that didn't really have anything of interest but the early 19th century building is also a good photo oppurtunity.

 

[peter_n]

charjohncarter is probably thinking of Kilmainham Gaol which I think is in Inchicore on the south side of Dublin. While you're south of the city center the James Joyce Museum in a Martello Tower in Sandycove is worth seeing (it's the location for the first chapter in Ulysses). If you're up on the north side Malahide Castle is interesting, also has an amazing model railway sytem there.

Staying in the city center is OK. Find O'Connells Bridge and walk towards Pheonix park on either side of the river - interesting storefronts and streets off the Quays, but stay clear of Temple Bar on the south side of the Liffey. (Also stay away from O'Connells Street at late night - drugs.) On the north side of the river a couple of blocks from the keys is Moore Street, an open market that used to be thriving but now seems to be contracting. It is very near the historic GPO but very interesting characters working the stalls. Lots of nice little narrow streets in and around Grafton Street near Trinity College, and also many street performers on Grafton Street which is a pedestrian thoroughfare. Not too much urban decay I'm afraid, at least in the city center new construction is everwhere, particularly on the quays (see the first pic below).

If you can, go to the theater. Dublin has incredibly high quality theater and probably the two best are the Gate and the Abbey, look up what's on at those two and see if you fancy anything. I think Riverdance is playing at the Gaiety. Also of course you must spend some time in pubs, which are also full of music and singing. Have fun! 🙂 A couple of snaps from Dublin below...

 

[Kevin]

And why does Dublin need our tips for anyway? Did it fall on hard times?

Haven't you heard? Ireland has the worst economic crisis in all of Europe.
However, Mulligan's still has the best Guiness pint.

 

[Colman]

<sigh>

Well, Kilmainham Gaol is in Inchicore, which is on the south side of the city, but far away from the coast.

Temple Bar can be a bit annoying at night time, because it's full of bloody drunken tourists. Other than that, avoid the areas that look like you'd avoid them at home ... even then, you'd be pretty safe unless you're obviously carrying big bags of easily stolen gear, like in any other city.

There isn't a lot of decay these days - we're just at the end of a big boom - maybe around Smithfield, down the quays towards the park, down towards the docks. Basically the places that you'd avoid if you were terribly worried about safety. 🙂

Feel free to ask away though.

 

[hmccabe]

Yes, Dublin is by and large a safe place, and you really don't have to worry much about inadvertently wandering into a bad area by accident. As others mentioned though, O'Connell Street, Temple Bar and so on can be unpleasant and dodgy at night, particularly at the weekends.

I'd say you will find plenty to interest you by just wandering around the environs of the city centre. In general, the northside is a bit grittier and grimier than the south. Smithfield, Moore Street, the beginnings of a Chinatown along Parnell Street, wander along the Liffey down towards the docks ...

There are some websites that you could probably dig up about abandoned buildings around Dublin and Ireland in general. These places do tend to be locked up really thoroughly and you'd be taking a bit of risk trying to get into them ...

Come back in 10 years for the urban decay. There's going to be loads of it!

 

[martin s]

The Porter House, seriously the best pub I've ever been to. Try the Oyster beer, one of the main reasons why I travel there 😉

martin

 

[hmccabe]

Oh yeah ... you could try checking out the Liberties/Coombe area which is on the south side of the river just a little outside the city centre. This is a really old Dublin area, full of character and there's a lot of interesting stuff. You'll get some of your urban decay, you have the Guinness buildings (the official tour is a bit crap but the building itself is really impressive), market stalls, some antique shops, an art college (I think the Graduate exhibition might be on while you are there), and it's fair share of disreputables wandering around. The main street that runs through it is Thomas Street which then turns into James's Street.

In fact, if you walk down Thomas Street from the city centre and continue the length of James's Street, a right turn will bring you to where Kilmainham Gaol and the Irish Museum of Modern Art are situated.

I can forward you a full list of good drinking establishments if you wish also 🙂 For the authentic Dublin boozer experience I would recommend the Palace Bar on the edge of Temple Bar, the Long Hall on Georges Street or Mulligans on Townsend Street.

 

[user237428934]

Thanks a lot for all the tips. I think I won't be bored on my weekend and will find a good place for a beer now 🙂

 

[user237428934]

Come back in 10 years for the urban decay. There's going to be loads of it!

You are quite pessimistic. Hopefully the financial crisis stops beating us hard in a few month.

 

[dwaoka]

The main street that runs through it is Thomas Street which then turns into James's Street.

.

I live in James's St, and I recommend you avoid this area at night time, plenty of drunks and juvenile ready to do something for no reason. Other than that, enjoy you stay 😉

 

[hmccabe]

I live in James's St, and I recommend you avoid this area at night time, plenty of drunks and juvenile ready to do something for no reason. Other than that, enjoy you stay 😉

Hey, we're practially neighbours 🙂

Good advice though ..... best avoided at night.

 

[dwaoka]

😉

Kilmainham last week, hp5+ d-76 1+1

 

[user237428934]

Some snaps of my visit to Dublin. Again thanks for the tips, I enjoyed the stay there very much. Images were taken with M8 and DSLR. Always one of the cameras stayed in the hotel. Guess what: I enjoyed the light package (M8 + Nokton 1.4/35) more.

 

[user237428934]