Five of Dublin?s Top Tourist Attractions

Five of Dublin?s Top Tourist Attractions

Dublin is considered to be one of Europe’s most friendly, lively and accessible cities and draws a great number of tourists and holiday makers each year. If you are planning a Dublin city break this year, this short guide to five of the Irish Capitals most popular attractions should be of interest.

1. The Guinness Storehouse – It would be difficult to write an article on Dublin without mentioning Guinness, and in a city containing over 1,000 drinking establishments it’s perhaps fitting that Dublin’s most popular tourist attractions is the Guinness storehouse. Here visitors can trace the 250 year history of the black stuff and enjoy a pint in the gravity bar, the highest bar in Ireland. If you are very fortunate, you could be one of the 100 visitors each week selected to start the brewing of the next batch of Guinness.

2. Dublin Castle – Built in the early thirteenth century, Dublin castle is one of the oldest surviving structures in the city. The castle was the centre of English power for over 700 years until it was returned to the new Irish Free State Government in 1922. For those interested in Irish history a tour of the castle is a must. Highlights include the Chapel royal, the undercroft and the state apartments, originally built as the residential and public quarters of the Viceregal Court.

3. Temple Bar – This area of narrow medieval streets located on the south bank of the river Liffey is home to some of the cities best night spots and restaurants and can get extremely lively after dark. During the day tourists on holiday in Dublin can visit the gallery of photography and national photographic archives as well as the Irish film centre and Temple bar gallery. Nighttime in Temple bar is all about eating drinking and having fun and tourists should receive a friendly welcome from the locals.

4. Trinity College – Founded in 1592, Trinity College is Ireland’s oldest university. The university campus has plenty of interesting buildings including the printing house and the dining hall but the College’s main attraction is the book of Kells. The book is an ornate and lavishly decorated manuscript produced by Celtic monks in 800AD containing the four gospels written in Latin.

5. Kilmainham Gaol – Another must see for the tourist wanting to learn more about Dublin’s past. This disused prison is now a museum and has played an important part in Irish history as the leaders of the 1916 Easter rising were held and executed at the prison. Visitors can take a guided tour of the cells and prison yard led by well informed and knowledgeable tour guides.