Dublin Guide 1: Basics
A first sight of Ireland - Dun Laoghaire - Port 11km south of Dublin City Centre.
latest update March 2008
Dublin is the centre of modern go ahead Ireland. It is here that the roar of the Celtic Tiger was heard loudest in the 1990's, drawing Irish expats and young people from around the world to take up the new jobs on offer. The traditional night life of the city was reinvented with clubs joining the traditional bars and the redevelopment of the Temple Bar area where restaurants, bars and the arts are side by side. For British people it became a popular Stag , Hen night and weekend city break destination. An even larger redevelopment of Dublin's docklands at the east end of the city centre is ongoing. Today you can enjoy all the new facilities the last 15 years have brought plus all the traditional things you expect to find in a Capital City: Museums, Art Galleries and Historic Buildings. You can also take advantage of Dublin's relatively small size and location. How many other Capital Cities have a 20km seafront and mountains within 15km of the City Centre? Other places in Ireland are more relaxed, other places give you more insight into what makes the Irish heart beat. It has to be said that other places let you go out for a night and come back with some money in your pocket. But if you want The Big City in Ireland this is where to come.
This page deals with arriving in the city (for many people arriving in Ireland).
Arriving in Dublin
By Air
Dublin Airport is on the north edge of the city 10km from the centre. The M1 leads into town. The Airlink Express Coach 01 870 0000 drops you at Busarus and costs around € 7.00. Normal buses such as the 747 are a slower option. A Taxi will cost you about €20.00. Details of publib transport services here.
By Ferry - Dublin Port
Dublin Port reaches out into Dublin Bay from the City Centre. The Ferry terminals are 4km from the city centre itself. Buses are synchronised with ferry arrivals and departures and go to/from Busarus Ticket €2.50. If you have a car you may find that your journey through Dublin has been speeded by the opening of the Dublin Port Tunnel, but traffic is often slow and even gridlocked on other routes, including directly from the Port to the city centre.
By Ferry/Air to Busarus
If you come by Plane or Coach/Ferry you may well end up here at Busarus - Dublin's Coach Station. Ireland's main transport hub for many backpackers. Bus Eireann coaches depart from here to all areas of Ireland. If you have just touched down your main concern will be accommodation. There are a number of hostel's close by in the Lower Gardiner street area. If you are walking to a hostel further away remember that it takes an hour to walk about 2.5km in central Dublin with a heavy backpack. Some hostels that say they are 15 minutes from Busarus will take 30 to 45 minutes to reach.
By Ferry to Dun Laoghaire
Dun Laoghaire is 11 km south of the City Centre. The 46A bus goes to St Stephen's Green (good for some hostels south of the Liffey), The 7, 7A and 8 buses go to Burgh Quay at the south end of O'Connell Bridge. The Dart rail service is a good way into town if it is running when you arrive (Doesn't run at night - there are some useful night bus services). For car drivers Dun Laoghaire is a good option. It is quicker to get out of town south or west from here than from Dublin Port.
Basics
Get yourself a Street Map. You are going to need it. You will need one to look up the addresses on these Dublin Guide Pages. Some only cover the centre of town Collins Dublin Streetfinder covers the whole area from Howth in the north to Dun Laoghaire in the south and has a good basic guide after the map pages. There is a basic Map of Dublin on site.
Left Luggage At Busarus and Connelly Station.
Tourist Information. The Dublin Tourism Centre in in converted Saint Andrew's Church 2 Suffolk Street 01 605 7700. They do not give out local information over the phone. website Visit Dublin.
Food As is often the case in large towns the locations of supermarkets are not obvious and convenience stores are punishingly expensive. Mind you, if you come from much of the world you will find supermarket prices expensive as well. The two main stores in the centre of town are near each other. The Dunnes supermarket by the Henry Street entrance to the Ilac Centre and a large Supermarket in the basement of the Jervis Centre between Mary Street and Abbey Street. There is also a convenience style Dunnes food store on Talbot street about 50m east of O'Connell Street.
Clothes Washing. Most Irish laundrettes are service wash only. No sitting down watching the drums go round. Laundry Shop 01 872 3541 191 Parnell Street. Launderette 110 Lower Dorset Street. All-American Laundry Company 01 677 2779 40 South Great George Street. Powders Laundrette 42a South Richmond Street.
Post Ireland's main General Post Office is also a place of history and legend. This formidable classical building on O'Connell Street was where the leaders of the 1916 rising made a stand. Even if you have nothing to post its worth going into the main hall to savour the atmosphere of the 1920's that still lives on from the date of its repair.
Chemist O'Connell's 01 873 8427 55 Lower O'Connell Street stay open till 10 pm. No 24 hour chemists in town.
Internet Access Global Internet Cafe Basement 01 878 0295 8 O'Connell Street Lower. Internet Exchange 01 670 3000 3 Cecilia Street
Getting around town
Walking. The central area of town is about 4km north to south and east to west. So if you are willing to burn some shoe leather it can be walked around.
Bus. Dublin Bus (Bus Atha Cliath), Information Office 59 Upper O'Connell Street 01 873 4222 has good coverage of the whole city. Buses run to 11.30 pm. after that there are limited Nitelink buses.
Train. Dart (Dublin Area Rapid Transport) services are great for getting to anywhere on the coast south of the City centre and to Howth north of it. Dublin Light Rail - LUAS - There are now 2 lines open. One links Connolly and Heuston stations along the north side of the Liffey then wends its way to Tallaght. One heads south from Stephen's Green into the suburbs.
Bike. As a way of getting around cycling is good, but there is a high level of bike theft especially in the town centre and absolutely nothing can be left on a bike (Freewheeler once got off the Ferry, went into a bookshop in central Dublin for a few minutes to buy a map and came out to find the bags stolen off his bike). Only leave a bike locked securely to something.
Bike Hire Bike Store 01 872 5399, 58 Lower Gardner Street.
Car. In the centre of town it is quicker to walk.
Taxi These will take you anywhere but are expensive
Can't afford Hostel Prices ?
It has come to something when this has to be included, but they can be expensive - especially for anyone wanting a private room. Although this is a hostelling site we appreciate that some people have destinations elsewhere in Ireland and need somewhere they can afford to stay here.
For couples there are B&B's in some areas that may be cheaper than hostel private rooms. Try Howth, Along the Royal Canal and the Irishtown area to the east of the city centre south of the Liffey. The only other option is camping. The Shankhill Caravan & Camping Park 01 208 0011 is accessible by DART rail. The new Camac Valley Tourist Caravan & Camping Park 01 464 0643 has good facilities to the west of the city centre. In June 2003 I came across a family group (Mother and young adult son and daughter) who had found it cheaper to book in for a night at the Dublin Comfort Inn than at the Dublin International Youth Hostel. Just ring round hostels and are feeling burned? Check out sites like www.expedia.com www.expedia.co.uk etc and look for other Dublin accommodation to compare prices.
