My Dublin Experience
Drinking a freshly brewed Guinness in a classic Irish pub should be plenty of incentive to visit Dublin. However, if the notorious beer isn't compelling enough, Ireland is home to breathtaking countryside views and festive culture.
While imagining my trip to Ireland, I was picturing scenes from Leap Year - little houses, green grass, and sheep aimlessly walking around. When I arrived in Dublin it didn’t feel any different from other cities in the States. I obviously knew Dublin wasn’t going to have sheep walking around the city, but I was disappointed with how little it differed from the States. However, the more time I spent in Dublin the more I realized just how different it really is.
EVERYTHING DUBLIN HAS TO OFFER
THINGS TO DO
1. I highly suggest simply walking around and exploring the city for an entire day. Wandering up and down O’Connell street was enlightening and made me feel like I was living like a real Dubliner. In its simplicity, it gave me a good sense of Dublin aside from all the tourist attractions. You can also walk around the Dublin Castle as it is central to O'Connell Street.
2. Grafton Street is a great place for picking up souvenirs and enjoying a lively stroll. This central pedestrian strip is made up of mainly mass-market stores and restaurants. Nonetheless, Grafton Street has plenty of little alleyways where you can find more authentic merchandise and delicious foods. After being surrounded by the hustle and bustle of Grafton Street, take a slight detour to St. Stephen’s Green. This is a small park just a short walking distance from Grafton Street. This little park takes no more than 20 minutes to walk through and is a nice step back from all the city life.
3. Go to a classic Irish Pub! Going to any local pub will do the trick, but some fan favorites include The Stag's Head, O'Donoghue's, and Temple Bar. Temple bar is more of a tourist bar, but it is still fun to go in and enjoy the energetic atmosphere.
4. If you are looking to hang out with a younger crowd, I would suggest going to the Workerman’s Club. Most people that go to this club range from 16 to 25 years old. The club had three floors, each one with a few different rooms that had their own style and ambiance.
5. Visit the Guinness Brewery and take a tour. Not visiting the Guinness Brewery is one of my biggest regrets from Dublin. I would have loved to watch the making of this iconic beer and finish it off with a fresh Guinness and a panoramic view of Dublin from the top floor of the brewery.
6. The Book of Kells Exhibition and the Old Library were quite disappointing for me. I was never all that interested in seeing the book of Kells but read so many reviews gushing over the Old Library that my expectations were set high. It was appealing but nothing that I would rave about or pay €11 for.
TIPS
1. They don’t patricianly like Americans and will kick you out of the club for being American. However, I found this to mostly only be true in Dublin and less in the countryside.
2. If you hear people talking about “good craic”, don’t be alarmed. “Craic” is an Irish term used to signify a good time.
3. They say “cheers” to almost everything. In my experience, it was used commonly to replace “thank you” and “your welcome”.
4. In Dublin, there are almost as many bikers as there are cars. With that being said, make sure to check for bikers before crossing the street.
FOOD AND STAY
Abigal’s Hostel is the worst hostel I have stayed in so far, but it is also the cheapest one. It wasn’t disgusting or unbearable and if you are looking to stay somewhere with no simple luxuries, this is your place. They also have free breakfast which includes hard-boiled eggs, bread, and a few selections of cereal.
My favorite place for breakfast and lunch was Mochaland Cafe. It was inexpensive and everything I ate was so fresh and simple. If you are willing to splurge on a great meal and a unique setting, The Church had an array of traditional Irish dishes that all sounded heavenly. I ended up ordering the half roasted chicken and scarfed down every last bit. Just to top it off, you get to enjoy your meal while sitting inside a historic church and admiring all its beauty.
EXPERIENCING THE COUNTRYSIDE
I truly enjoyed my time spent in Dublin, but my favorite day of the trip was visiting the Cliffs of Moher. The drive from Dublin to Cliffs of Moher was stunning and made me feel like I was really in Ireland. Just as Bora Bora is known for their piercing blue waters, Ireland’s acres of vibrant green grass is just as remarkable. The ride alone had me constantly gazing out my window in awe. Once we reached the Cliffs of Moher, I was practically star struck by Ireland’s landscape.
Before we reached the Cliffs of Moher we stopped in the well-known town of Galway. It was fun to walk around the little town and learn about the history of Galway through our tour guide. We then had an hour to get lunch or walk around. Haley and I opted for lunch and went to a little bakery called Griffin’s Cafe. When you first walk into the cafe there are locals buying pastries, bread, ect., but if you head up the stairs there is a quaint restaurant with the best sandwiches I have ever had. They are apparently famous for their Rye bread and after eating there I can attest to this proclamation.
We took this day trip through a tour company called Wild Rover Tours. Click here for more information on the company and their Cliffs of Moher day trip.
GALLERY
