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Dublin (Irish: Baile Átha Cliath, "Town of the Hurdled Ford") is the capital city of Ireland. Its vibrancy, nightlife, and tourist attractions are world renowned and it's the most popular entry point for international visitors to Ireland.
As a city, it is disproportionately large for the size of the country; nearly half of the Republic's population lives in this metropolitan area. The center is, however, relatively small and can be navigated by foot, with most of the population living in sprawling suburbs.
Founded in 841, Dublin was originally settled by Vikings among a population of Celtic tribes. In the 9th century, the Danes captured Dublin and had control until 1171 when they were expelled by King Henry II of England. By the 14th century, the king of England controlled Dublin and the surrounding area referred to... Read more
Dublin (Irish: Baile Átha Cliath, "Town of the Hurdled Ford") is the capital city of Ireland. Its vibrancy, nightlife, and tourist attractions are world renowned and it's the most popular entry point for international visitors to Ireland.
As a city, it is disproportionately large for the size of the country; nearly half of the Republic's population lives in this metropolitan area. The center is, however, relatively small and can be navigated by foot, with most of the population living in sprawling suburbs.
Founded in 841, Dublin was originally settled by Vikings among a population of Celtic tribes. In the 9th century, the Danes captured Dublin and had control until 1171 when they were expelled by King Henry II of England. By the 14th century, the king of England controlled Dublin and the surrounding area referred to as “the Pale.”
When the English Civil War ended in 1649, Oliver Cromwell took over. Dublin experienced huge growth and development in the 17th century because many Protestant refugees from Europe came to Dublin. By the 17th century, Dublin was the second largest city in the British Isles, only behind London, and a period when great Georgian style buildings were constructed that still stand today. Georgian style architecture was popular from 1720 to 1840 during the times when George I, George II, George III, and George IV of England were ruling.
In 1800, the Act of Union between England and Ireland abolished the Irish Parliament. From this point on, the Irish worked to gain their independence from England, which they finally won in 1922. The Easter rising in 1916 and the War of Independence greatly helped Ireland win their freedom.
A failed attempt to take over the several important buildings, among them, the General Post Office on O'Connell Street, led to the arrest of hundreds and execution of 15, now considered martyrs for the cause. Many believe that this event helped gain sympathy for the fight for independence from Britain.
Dublin is divided by the River Liffey. On the north side of the Liffey is O'Connell Street—the main thoroughfare, which is intersected by numerous shopping streets, including Henry Street and Talbot Street. On the south side are St. Stephen's Green, Grafton Street, Trinity College, Christ Church, St. Patrick's Cathedral, and many other attractions.
Dublin postal districts range from Dublin 1 to Dublin 24. As a rule, odd numbers are given to areas north of the River Liffey, while even numbers are given to areas south of the river (exceptions are Dublin 8 and 20 which span both sides of Liffey). Usually, the lower the district number, the closer to the city center.
If you're already in the city, the main tourist office, located in St. Andrew's Church just off Grafton Street in the city center (Dublin 2), is a good place to start for information. You can book accommodation and tours there, as well as find general information on where to go and what to do.
Although some of Dublin's finest Georgian architecture was demolished in the mid-20th century, a remarkable amount remains. At one point they were considered a reminder of the past British imperialism and many were demolished without regard to their beauty and architectural significance and replaced with modernist or pastiche office blocks, St. Stephen's Green (Dublin 2) being a prime example. Thankfully, attitudes have changed significantly, and Dubliners are now rightly proud of their impressive buildings from all eras.
Being subject to the moderating effects of the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf Stream, Dublin is known for its mild climate.
Contrary to some popular perception, the city is not especially rainy. Its annual rainfall average is only 732.7mm (28.8 in), less than London. However, its precipitation is spread out more evenly so that on many days there can be a light shower.
Winters in Dublin are relatively mild when compared with cities in mainland Europe — daytime temperatures generally hover around 5°C (41°F), but frost is common during the period November through to February when nighttime temperatures dip below 0°C (32°F) freezing point.
Snow does occur, but it is not very common, and most of Dublin's winter precipitation comes in the form of chilly rain and sleet. The lowest recorded temperature in the city is -12°C (10°F). It should also be noted that during the first week of Jan 2010, the city canals froze over for the first time in years — this was a common enough sight back in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. It could be said that Dublin's climate is very comparable to that of the northwest United States and southwest Canada, as well as to much of coastal Western Europe.
Summers in Dublin are also mild. The average maximum temperature is 19°C (66°F) in July and August, far cooler than even most of the coldest American cities. The hottest temperature ever recorded in Dublin is a mere 29°C (85°F), which in many other parts of the world, even at its own latitude, is just a typical summer day. Don't plan on too many hot summertime activities. Thunderstorms also don't happen very often in Dublin, on average only four days a year. Overall, the city's climate is mild but would be considered drier and cooler than western and southern parts of the island of Ireland.
Public transportation has improved massively over the last few years, but it is still worse than in other European cities. This is more of a problem for the commuter than the visitor to Dublin, however, as the city center is easy to get around on foot.
The Luas (a tram/light-rail system) runs frequently and reliably and is handy for getting around the city center. There are two lines: Red - running from Connolly railway station and the Point Theatre to the suburb of Tallaght) and Green - running from Saint Stephen's Green to Bride's Glen in Cherrywood. The lines do not connect. The distance between Abbey Street on the Red line and Saint Stephen's Green, the start of the Green line, is about a 15min walk. Tickets can be bought on the platforms at the machines and do not need to be validated. The fare structure is based on zones, with rides within the central zone. A large further expansion of this network is expected within the next decade. Currently being worked on is the extension to connect both the red and green line luas.
The DART suburban rail service runs along the coast between Greystones in the south and Howth and Malahide in the north. Tickets can be bought in the stations, from a window or a machine. There are four other suburban rail lines servicing areas around Dublin: map. Three of these lines operate from Connolly Station, the other from Heuston Station.
An extensive bus service, operated by the state-controlled Dublin Bus, serves the city and its suburbs, right out to the very outer suburbs. There are around 200 bus routes in Dublin. However, the route numbering system is highly confusing, with numbers having been issued non-sequentially, with suffix letters and alternate destinations. The bus will display its final destination on the front of the bus, but there are no announcements for intermediate stops; therefore, obtaining a route map from Dublin Bus is essential (an online core route map is available).
Here are some other pointers about using bus services:
Hiring a bicycle is a handy way to get around if you want to get outside the very center of the city and are comfortable cycling in traffic. That being said, the city is not very bicycle-friendly, either in terms of quantity & quality of bike paths, pedestrians and drivers honoring the bike paths, road space available where there is no bike path (i.e. numerous narrow roads), or driver attitudes in general.
When cycling in the city center, be aware that cycle lanes, where they exist, are generally shared with buses, taxis, motorcycles, and parked cars; cyclists should pay particular attention when approaching bus stops where a bus is pulling out. Motorbikes are not allowed to use the cycle lanes, but many still do so. Passing on the left is also allowed only in limited circumstances but is in fact still common. When cycling in Phoenix Park, note that while there is a dedicated cycle lane on both sides of the main thoroughfare unfortunately pedestrians also use these.
There are bikes to hire in several locations around the city center with the Dublinbikes scheme.
Taxis were deregulated in 2001 leading to a massive oversupply with Dublin now boasting more taxis than New York. This is bad news for taxi drivers but good news for tourists, as taxis are now extremely easy to come by. They may be ordered by telephone, at ranks, or just on the street. There is a national standardized rate for all taxis.
In the summer peak season, Dublin's top attractions can get packed. Show up early to beat the crowds.
Visit Dublin, the local tourism board, has released a city sightseeing card called Dublin Pass which grants holders free and fast track entry to 33 attractions, museums, and monuments in Dublin.
Dublin has many fine and quite affluent suburbs. Seeing them is a good way to get a real feel for the city's culture and identity. A walk around some them on a nice day is well worth your time as many are home to some of Ireland's finest architecture (Victorian, Georgian, Modern etc.). Some are easily navigated by foot from the city's center and are dotted with many fine upmarket delicatessens and boutiques.
Although the Southside of Dublin is considered to be more affluent than the Northside, there is a wealth of attractions to be enjoyed North of the city center also.
Dublin has a wide range of good quality restaurants, most of which are, however, horribly overpriced by European standards. Wine in restaurants is generally marked up from its already expensive retail price by a factor of at least two and three times retail price would not be uncommon.
There are many excellent value Indian restaurants around the South William Street area, parallel to Grafton Street. These often have reasonably priced lunch and 'early bird' deals. Quality is high but not on a par with the UK.
A similar multi-cultural hotspot is Parnell Street in Dublin 1 (O'Connell Street-Gardiner Street), which has a dense concentration of Chinese and Asian restaurants extensively frequented by the ex-pat communities.
Budget
Mid-range
Splurge
No visit to Dublin would be complete without a visit to one (or ten) of its many pubs (the last count says there are over 600 pubs).
Drinking is relatively expensive. However, the government gave a tax break to microbrewed beer in the December 2004 budget, this had a slight effect on prices in brewpubs. There are pubs in Dublin offering cheaper drinks if you are willing to go off the beaten trail or ask other patrons for suggestions. Beer tends to be more expensive around the Temple Bar area, due to the increased tourist flow and will be cheaper in more traditional styled pubs.
Pubs serve drinks until 23:30 with some drinking-up time allowed. Many bars have late licenses allowing them to serve up to 02:30, although this usually means a cover charge or price increases after 23:30.
Smoking has been illegal in Irish pubs (as well as all indoor workplaces) since March 2004. This has had the positive side effect of increasing al fresco facilities.
The Temple Bar that people often speak of is an area that used to be a sand bar, not an actual bar. (Originally, anyway; there is a pub called "The Temple Bar" in Temple Bar.) The Temple Bar district has a mixture of food, drink, shopping, and music. It appeals to all ages but is a hot spot for tourists. The narrow, cobblestoned streets give it an original feeling within the heart of the city. Its central location also makes it easy to walk to from Dublin's Centre. However, late night revelers tend to make it an unpleasant place to be after dark. It can be taken over by drunken stag and boisterous hen parties, many who travel cheaply from the United Kingdom to avail of Temple Bar's delights.
Dublin is not cheap for general shopping, although visitors from outside the European Union can obtain a refund of VAT (sales tax: 23%) on many of their purchases. Just look for the refund sign and ask in the shop for details. Keep in mind that most stores will issue VAT refund vouchers only on the same day of purchase. More on VAT refund can be found on Irish eGovernment website.
The south side of the river (Dublin 2) includes Dublin's most famous shopping street, the pedestrianized Grafton Street, which runs between St. Stephen's Green and Trinity College. It has recently, along with its surroundings, been classified as an Architectural Conservation Zone. This will involve a re-establishment of the area's rich historic charm and urban character. Alongside the historic Trinity College, you will find Nassau Street where there are many shops selling tourist-related items such as Waterford Crystal, Belleek Pottery, Aran sweaters, and other Irish craft items. Dawson Street, parallel to Grafton Street, is home to the official residence of the lord mayor (the Mansion House) as well as several upmarket clothes shops, restaurants, and well stocked large bookshops.
The Temple Bar area offers some alternative to shopping at the larger chain stores. Small clothing boutiques, including the city center's only swap shop, are popping up all around the area (Temple Lane, Crow Street, and Fownes Street) with an emphasis on vintage and unique original independent designer pieces. If you can't make it to any of the markets at the weekend, the best can be found here during the week.
Be sure to visit Temple Bar's Temple Bar Square and Meetinghouse Square on a Saturday morning or afternoon for the markets (Dublin 2), which sells all types of foods, from traditional fare to delicious baked goods. Both squares are also home to several very good restaurants. Meetinghouse Square, which lies only about 150 ft (50 m) west of Temple Bar Square, sells much finer fare and more exotic foods than Meetinghouse Square.
There is also an extensive shopping area on the north side of the river, in Dublin 1, centered on O'Connell Street and Henry Street (Ireland's busiest shopping street). Just off Henry Street is Moore Street, which has a fruit, vegetable and fish market. It's worth a stroll if you want to get a slice of life from the less genteel side of Dublin. For a more traditional Dublin shopping experience go to the Liberties area around Thomas street and check out the stalls on Meath street and the liberty market (off Meath Street) on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. Also, if you want to find thrifty nicknack shops, then Talbot Street is a good start - like any city if you look hard enough and don't get caught up in the glitz and glam when shopping, there are great bargains to be found.
For those for whom it just would not be a holiday without hanging out at the mall, there are various shopping centers located around Dublin.
Dublin is generally a very safe city during the day by American and European standards but can be an intimidating place on weekend nights. As in most other large cities, a few crimes against the person, such as muggings, unprovoked attacks, and robberies, have been known to occur in Dublin. Treat Dublin as you would other western cities, and be sensible: never walk in poorly-lit areas at night, especially alone; as Dublin center is relatively compact, be aware that walking a few blocks can take you into some bad areas. Areas, where crimes against foreigners have occurred, include Rialto and western parts of the North Circular Road. Be especially vigilant or preferably avoid all together walking around the city center after bar closing times on weekends (02:30-03:00) when very drunk people looking to take advantage of other drunk people roam the streets and when violent behavior and crime are most likely to occur. Most homicides in the city are gang-related.
Never be afraid to approach Gardai (police officers) to ask for help or directions, It is their job to help. If you do get into trouble somehow and fear for your safety (which is very rare) and cannot find a Gardai officer, head to the nearest establishment such as a bar or shop where you will be safe. Call the emergency services on "999" or 112, free from any phone, and ask for the relevant service. If you have no phone, ask anyone working in a shop or bar to call the police for you, and the employee will gladly assist. Also, most doormen and bouncers in pubs will gladly call the police for you if you explain your situation.
LOCAL TIME
6:34 pm
July 2, 2022
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The ship moored at the port of Dublin for two days . We tried local beer and food... It was tasty! You know, what the components of a great cruise are? The calm sea, the proper vessel, and an interesting route. Author: Ehlzhbeta Chegarova Source: prosto-gost.... |