Can anyone give me some tips on having a positive holiday in/around Dublin?

Question

This summer, I'm spending a week in Ireland with two other American teenagers. We're staying on Lower Gardener Street in Dublin, and winging our trip, save for sleeping and flight arrangements. My question is twofold:

1) We're not very interested in doing the tourist thing - we'd like to get a taste for the culture and people - but at the same time, we don't want to do nothing the entire time. Does anyone have recommendations for places to go/things to do in Dublin or a short train/bus ride away? We're all saving for college, so budgets are SUPER limited. Also, do any locals know of economic places to eat around Lower Gardener Street?

2) We want to have a good time and avoid continuing bad impressions of Americans. What cultural differences should we be aware of? (We're not rude people, but I don't know about little differences like tipping and the appropriateness of talking to strangers and whatnot.) Also, are there any slang terms we should know?

Answer 1

hi there!

well first of all im an irish teenager who goes to colleg in dublin so i can definitely understand the shoestring budget thing in dublin!

well id totally recommend going to the main shopping areas of Henry Street (just off O connell street and right opposite the spire) and Grafton Street (just opposite Trinity College).

Grafton Street really is the best shopping area though, even if your just interested in window shopping! but make sure to explore all the trendy shops that are on the side streets as there is much more to the area than just the main street. (actually there is probably more shops all around the area on side streets and trendy back streets!!).

While your on Grafton Street you should also check our St Stephens Green Shopping Centre which is just at the top of the street. And right opposite the shopping centre is the St Stephens Green , which is a lovely big park with nice walks and a lovely big lake (great for picnics).

Kildare Street is very close to Grafton Street as it actually runs parralel to it and is very easily found (just ask any locals in a shop) it is home to our National History Museum and Leinster House (our parliament... political stuff!!) both are open to the public, although iv never actually been to leinster house. however i have been to the museum many times as it is actually  more interesting than anyone would think! and most importantly its FREE in!!! you can take guides around which are very cheap , around 2 euro, or you can just wander around yourself. it is laid our very well and is truely fabulous, my fave area is the Bog Body section where they have the ancient iron age bog bodies (bodies found in the bog but which were murdered in very strange ways and have been preserved because of the minerals in the bog).

I also suggest that you take one of the many tourist rides. i reccommend the viking ship tour which is very fun and it takes you all around dublin and also turns into a boat and takes you down a canal!! its great.

But as your teenagers i also suggest you not to forget about nightlife!! Dublin has many nightclubs which all offer different deals for drinks on different nights so when its closer to the time you should look up all these night clubs on line (google them) and find out what nights will be best for each club!! but the area around O Connel bridge/D'Olier Street is home to Q Bar , Reds and 21. all are great but  I highly recommend 21. The area around Harcourt Street (close to stephens green shopping centre) is home to Tripod, Copper Faced Jacks, and Carnival. (copper faced jacks ... also known as coppers... is famous for its truely irish cultural side and is sooo much fun!!).

oh and even though im a student of UCD and we are famously rivaled against Trinity College, i still reccommend you take a wander around trinity as it is right in the centre for town (just at the end of grafton street) and is home to the book of kells and is free to enter and wander around!

oh and finally, i think you will be surprised at the fact that you may find dublin very similar, culturally, to america :)

Answer 2

Dublin could be tricky with a super limited budget but there are always cheaper versions of everything.The answerer above certainly knows Dublin better than me but whenever i'm there i always head towards the Temple Bar area,which doublees as the artistic quarter and hub of nightlife.Three are some nice Chinese takeaways there and cool vintage shops where u can buy trendy clothing.

Answer 3

Just want to add that you can have a look at Temple |Bar but it is more expensive and it is more full of tourists than us Dubs. It can also get quite rough at night.  If you are here in good weather you can eat your sandwiches or whatever in Stephens Green park at the top of Grafton Street or Merrion Square park which is really nice and not touristy.  The 101 on Talbot St is quite good value for food. There is also the Garden of Remembrance on Parnell Square which is close to the Municipal Art Gallery.  Our principal museums and art galleries are free but the Book of Kells costs a small amount to view these days. However, you can walk around the grounds of Trinity College freely. We have lots of museums so if you only wanted one or had a particular interest you could try the National Museum which has a lot of ancient artifacts or if its Modern stuff you like the the Museum of Modern Art which has nice grounds. You can walk up the Liffey quays to the Collins Barracks museum of Decorative arts which has some really interesting exhibitions and a viking ship there at the moment - it used to be an army barracks.

During the summer there is a viking splash tour on a vehicle which goes from land onto the river and back.  It does cost a bit but it is fun.

Go walking in the Phoenix park and see the population of deer which roams free there (just not on your own). Take a dart (electric train) trip to Howth, Malahide or Bray. Howth is a fishing village where you can see seals in the harbour at any time and there is a nice walk up through Howth castle which is free and gives a great view of Dublin Bay and there is also a dolmen in the grounds (ancient burial place). Malahide is also a village beside the sea, lots of shops, pub lunch here the best value and visit Gibneys where anyone who is anyone goes!!! Bray is on the south side of the city and a beach resort with a great walk up the hill (Bray head). Dart is not too expensive.

You can find pubs with music at night, the people in your hostel will know where to go. You can manage by just buying one drink and nursing it!  When staying in Lr. Gardiner St. dont go up the hill at night, not everyone is bad but there are some nasty people around sometimes.  Dont flash wallets or cameras just like in any big city.

If by some miracle we have a spell of really warm weather Portmarnock Beach (long sandy) is good on a nice day . Its accessible by Dart but with a walk of a mile and a half or by bus to directly opposite the beach.  Malahide also has a beach. Killiney beach on the south side is nice and Bray beach is stoney.

In relation to offending, we get quite a lot of celebrities here.  It is not the done thing to annoy them.  Just smile and go about your business!

Dont be afraid to ask the locals for advice. We are very friendly!! Enjoy and welcome

Good advice re the slang - definitely don't ask for a ride!

Welcome and enjoy

Answer 4

If your budget is super limited, don't eat out.  Dublin is very expensive.  Instead go to Dunne's- a local supermarket you can find in St. Stephen's Green shopping center and the ILAC Center (both places walking distance from hostel, they can give you directions) and cook for yourselves or get sandwiches.  O'Brien's is a pretty cheap sandwich place- there is one on Grafton street and they are all over the city.  Nude on Upper Bagot has nice wraps and paninis (about 5 euros).

In Dublin, make sure to wander around Trinity College (see the Book of Kells), down Grafton and around the side streets, see Christchurch Cathedral and Dublin Castle.  The National Musuem (Archeology) is interesting and free, so is the National Gallery.  The city is very walkable so don't bother will a bus tour.  You probably don't need to get on a bus at all.  Glendalough is a nice day trip, the tourist office arranges bus tours.

Tipping in resturants is not expected the way it is in the US, most people leave a Euro or two at most in resturants.  Bartenders don't expect tip.

Slang

Ride= s*x.  Do not ask for a ride, ask for a lift (doubt it will come up, but don't use ride like this at all)

Craic= good times (pronounced crack) You may hear someone say this

Do not ask for the bathroom, ask for the toliet or loo.  People will laugh at you if you ask for the bathroom in a public place (bathroom= place where you bathe).