Dublin – No strangers here, just friends you haven’t met – Brendan Behan.

Roughly twice as many people visit Ireland each year as live there, and most of them will include a visit to Dublin in their vacation. For good reason. Dublin is a vibrant city with plenty to explore – an intoxicating mix of modern cosmopolitan and traditional heritage. Whichever side of Dublin you choose to explore, the gregarious locals are bound to make your visit a memorable one!

There’s so much to see and do around the city, so ensure you stay well refreshed with frequent stops in the city’s many historic hostelries, an essential part of Dublin’s culture! To start you off, no visit to Dublin is complete without a trip to the Guinness Storehouse – you haven’t tasted Guinness until you’ve tried it on home ground! Tours culminate in the panoramic Gravity bar where you can sample a perfectly poured pint of the black stuff, taking in the views high above Dublin’s historic rooftops.

Duly fortified, you may feel ready for a touch of culture – head for Trinity College where a walk through the cobbled stones will take you back to the 18th century when the magnificent Old Library building was constructed and which displays the Book of Kells, Ireland’s greatest cultural treasure
and the world’s most famous medieval manuscript. The 9th century book is a richly decorated copy of the four Gospels of the life of Jesus Christ.

For some retail therapy, Grafton Street is one Dublin’s main shopping streets, offering high-end to high street. Or try O’Connell Street, one of the main shopping destinations on the North side and Dublin’s main thoroughfare. It’s reputed to be Europe’s widest urban street, with some impressive architecture, including the historic General Post Office. It’s also home to the ‘Spire’ – said to be the world’s tallest piece of (freestanding) sculpture.

Round off the day in Temple Bar, the cultural heart of Dublin on the south bank of the River Liffey. Bursting with pubs, restaurants and live music venues, you’ll understand the true meaning of great Irish ‘craic’!

It’s easy to get around Dublin both on foot and public transport. There’s even a public bike scheme, and should you want a break from the city, the DART (Dublin Area Rapid Transport) provides easy links to some stunning areas around the Dublin Bay.

Less than 30 minutes from Dublin centre, Dún Laoghaire (pronounced Dun leary) is a beautiful seaside town on the southern coast of Dublin Bay. Surrounded by spectacular rolling hills, it is known for its bright granite harbour, its 820 berth marina, its range of Victorian amenities, historic churches and year round festivals.

A little further south is Dalkey, with its rich history including two Norman castles right on the main street, or travel north to Malahide where medieval meets modernity in the picturesque coastal town known as the jewel of Fingal.

Book your stay with us at Birch Management Estates and start your own Dublin story. It’s easy to understand what motivated James Joyce to declare “When I die, Dublin will be written in my heart”.