The holidays are here, are you ready for takeoff?
Trinity is one of Europe's most esteemed universities. Founded in 1592 by Queen Elizabeth I, it's Ireland's oldest seat of learning and a suitably historic setting from which to begin your Dublin sightseeing tour.
Exploring Trinity will include admiring the fabulous library and its main chamber, the Long Room. Built between 1712 and 1732, it preserves 200,000 of the library's oldest and rarest books.
Among the priceless volumes held in the library is the Book of Kells. This 9th-century illuminated manuscript contains the four Gospels of the New Testament together with various prefatory texts and tables. It's a work of rare beauty and immense historical significance. Among the pages is the oldest extant image of the Virgin Mary in a Western manuscript. Pictured, from Folio 34r, is the Chi Rho monogram. Chi and rho are the first two letters of the word Christ in Greek.
Dublin Castle dates back mostly to the 18th century, though a stronghold has stood on the site since the 13th century and the reign of King John. Up until 1922, the castle was the seat of the British government's administration in Ireland. Today, it provides a regal venue for ceremonial occasions, exhibitions, and the occasional music concert. A tour takes in the plush and ornate state apartments and the Chester Beatty Library.
The Chester Beatty Library, named after American mining magnate Sir Alfred Chester Beatty (1875–1968), is home to one of the most significant collections of Western, Islamic, and East and South East Asian artifacts in the Western world. Among the many treasures are rare books, miniatures, manuscripts, and prints, including this one: 'Funeral of Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent,' from 1579.
Grafton Street is where to indulge in a spot of retail therapy. This is Dublin's premier shopping location, and a statue of Molly Malone greets all those browsing the many shops, boutiques, cafés, and restaurants the precinct is famous for. Grafton is also known for its busking heritage—U2's Bono led a Christmas Eve gig here in 2018 to help raise money for the homeless.
Make sure you find time to enjoy coffee and cake at Bewley's Oriental Café. Bewley's, an Irish hot beverage company, operates several cafés across the country, but Grafton Street is the flagship premises, inaugurated in 1927 and still serving strong.
A few steps away from Grafton Street is the chic and upmarket Powerscourt Townhouse Centre, a smart shopping mall housed in the former Dublin townhouse of a local nobleman. The location's Georgian splendor adds an appealing historical perspective to any visit.
Dublin's verdant oasis, St. Stephen's Green is a garden square and public park set adjacent to Grafton Street and an ideal place to pause and perhaps grab a picnic lunch or feed the swans and ducks that paddle the lake. The park encloses plenty of history. For example, during the Easter Rising of 1916 it was the scene of a violent skirmish between Irish insurgents and the British Army.
Dublin's plethora of fascinating museums includes the quirky Little Museum, which in fact is big on local history given its over 5,000 artifacts and mementos donated or loaned by residents and which help illustrate the city's colorful and fascinating past. Among the permanent exhibits is the lectern US President John F. Kennedy used when he addressed both houses of the Irish Parliament (Oireachtas) in June 1963.
Placing the country's rich history into wider context is the National Museum of Ireland. It has three branches in Dublin: the archaeology (pictured) museum, the natural history museum, and the decorative arts and history museum, housed in a former army barracks.
Among other eye-opening treasures, the National Museum of Ireland– Archaeology on Kildare Street brims with famous examples of early medieval metalwork, exemplified by the Ardagh Chalice, a two-handled silver cup decorated with gold, gilt bronze, brass, lead pewter, and enamel. It's the centerpiece of the Ardagh Hoard of treasure unearthed in 1868.
Art lovers meanwhile can linger over the collections on display in the top-rated National Gallery. Paintings to ponder include 'Ecce Homo' (1558) by Titian, Caravaggio's 'The Taking of Christ '(1602), and 'Interior with Figures' (1628) by Rembrandt.
The house where Dublin-born poet and playwright Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) spent his formative years is open to the public. It's set on Merrion Square across from the park and is where the young Wilde was educated for the first 10 years of his life and where he began to sharpen his wit.
One of Ireland's leading tourist attractions, the Irish Emigration Museum chronicles the mass exodus of Irish citizens over the centuries, many of whom landed on the East coast of the United States. Using state-of-the-art interactive displays, it tells the stories of Irish emigrants who became scientists, politicians, poets, artists, and even outlaws all over the world.
Peer closely at the Neoclassical facade of this landmark building and you'll notice weathered bullet holes pocking its surface, evidence of the 1916 Easter Uprising that began here outside the general post office (GPO) and which is now a superb museum facility. Besides recalling the fateful events of 1916, the museum also details modern Irish history.
The revered Irish poet and novelist James Joyce (1882–1941) was born in Dublin. He is best known for 'Ulysses' (1922), a copy of which is displayed on a table in the James Joyce Centre, a museum dedicated to all things Joycean.
The former Collins Barracks serves as the Decorative Arts and History Museum. Linger here to appreciate an extensive collection of valuable vintage and contemporary silver, ceramics, jewelry, furniture, and Irish haute couture fashion. In keeping with the location, there are also exhibitions that explore Ireland's military history.
Among the most popular residents of Dublin's historic zoo is a family of gorgeous orangutans. But the tigers are equally appealing, as are the rhinos. In fact, why not spend a day here and get to know them all?
Dublin's Kilmainham Gaol stands as a notorious reminder of the fate that befell many Irish revolutionaries, including the leaders of the 1916 Easter Rising, who were imprisoned and executed here for acts that were regarded as high treason by the British authorities. Wandering its corridors and treading the infamous Stonebreaker's Yard where so many met their grisly fate is a humbling and chilling experience. Now a museum, the prison is also a favorite movie location—'The Italian Job' (1969), 'Michael Collins' (1996), and 'The Wind That Shakes the Barley' (2006) are among the films that have used Kilmainham as a stage.
The Great Nave of this handsome cathedral is where you can admire a replica of the tomb of legendary Norman conqueror Richard de Clare (1130–1176), better known as Strongbow. The fragment that lies alongside is said to be part of the original tomb, though this is disputed as Strongbow's actual burial location has been lost in time.
Founded in 1191, this is the national cathedral of the Church of Ireland. It's long believed that St. Patrick himself baptized converts to Christianity here in 450 CE.
Take time to explore the cathedral's interior, especially the magnificent choir (pictured). Literary buffs should note that 'Gulliver's Travels' author Jonathan Swift (1667–1745), who was Dean of St. Patrick's for 32 years, is interred in a tomb to the right of the cathedral's entrance.
Ireland's foremost collections of modern and contemporary art are housed rather incongruously in a former late 17th-century hospital building. The centuries-old walls, however, perfectly complement the new-fashioned works, pieces that include canvases by Joseph Cornell, Louis le Brocquy, and Roy Lichtenstein.
Ireland enjoys a long association with music representing all sorts of genres. This museum will strike a chord with rock fans where U2, Thin Lizzy, and Rory Gallagher are among the homegrown artists paid homage to.
Work off your hangover with an excursion to Dalkey, a picturesque seaside resort located southeast of the city. Nearby Dalkey island (pictured) can be reached by sightseeing boats.
A little further south of Dalkey lies Killiney. Another super scenic location, Killiney's coastline in places resembles that of the southern Mediterranean, a fact reflected in road names such as Sorrento and Capri.
Sources: (University College Cork) (The Independent) (Ireland Reaching Out) (History) (Guinness Storehouse)
See also: Ireland, forever the "Emerald Isle"
After exploring the city, Dublin's Temple Bar neighborhood is where to relax and unwind over a (another) Guinness or two and reflect on the day. Order your first pint at The Temple Bar pub, which has been quenching thirsts since 1840.
After Irish-born British figurative painter Francis Bacon's death in 1992, his entire London studio was acquired by the Hugh Lane Gallery in Dublin and dismantled and reassembled in the Irish capital as a permanent exhibit. It's a mess, but totally intriguing.
Get to know Ireland's most iconic alcoholic drink—and one of the most successful beer brands in the world— by joining a guided tour of the St. James's Gate Brewery, home to Guinness. And yes, a visit includes a pint afterwards.
Dublin's intoxicating mix of heritage and hedonism places the Irish capital among Europe's favorite city-break destinations. Blending a proud history with a progressive vibe, Dublin never disappoints. Home to a world-renowned university, first-class museums, a cutting-edge music scene, and one of the planet's favorite beers, the city is as inviting as it is exciting. And it's your to explore!
Click through and delve into Dublin.
Delving into Dublin, the impressive Irish capital
This is what Dublin can do for you
TRAVEL Ireland
Dublin's intoxicating mix of heritage and hedonism places the Irish capital among Europe's favorite city-break destinations. Blending a proud history with a progressive vibe, Dublin never disappoints. Home to a world-renowned university, first-class museums, a cutting-edge music scene, and one of the planet's favorite beers, the city is as inviting as it is exciting. And it's your to explore!
Click through and delve into Dublin.