Top Dublin Travel Tips From Our Readers
Our readers in Dublin have been generous and friendly in giving advice this week (so friendly that as New Yorkers we fear being tricked). Several readers have posted lengthy guides with all sorts of suggestions; go to the original request post to read them all. We’ve rounded up the highlights below.
Every Monday onHack Your City, we ask readers for the best tips about the city: driving tips, restaurant tips, entertainment, and any other tips for visitors and locals alike. Then, on Thursday, we present the best comments. We work in the USA and around the world.
Bypass
- “The default tea is dark brown in color and similar to the stronger English breakfast tea, often pre-milking, but with some added content. You may be asked how you like tea, that is, how much sugar, whether you want it to be extra strong (perhaps a so-called “building” tea, or strong enough for a mouse to run over it … you probably are not want neither). “- NerdyCraftyFoodie
- “The last exit outside the city will be from 23:00 to 23:30. After that, it’s time for a taxi. No helpful livery, but you can’t miss the big Taxi signs on the doors. You probably won’t be able to tag any of them, so expect a 10 minute wait at rank. ” – PooJavelin (whose detailed manual also says 🙂
- “If you want to stay in the center, look for seats around the canals. You will still be close enough to walk to the city, but away from the noise. If you try AirBnB – which is not as popular as it used to be as the tax collector records the addresses! – look for Fibsboro, Ranelagh, Donnybrook or Ballsbridge, all within easy walking distance. If it’s summer, stop at Trinity . College rents out dorms when students leave and you won’t get a bigger center! “
- “Don’t go to Ireland for Christmas unless you know people (I knew) because literally EVERYTHING is closed and stays closed for days.” – Fiddler on Hot Tin Roof
- “Bring a reusable bag with you because we have a plastic bag fee and most retailers only provide heavy-duty plastic bags that cost more than the fee. Most snack restaurants do not offer takeaway containers, and portions are generally much smaller than in the US. ” – Seaseasea
- “Be careful in the city center,” says Dan . Some people are known to “grab their smartphone out of their hands when you take a picture and run away with it.” Dan also explains the slang: “Okay” means “Hello” and “What kind of crazy?” means “What happened?”
- “Public transport is doing everything it can to gradually phase out cash, and bills have not been accepted for a long time. The bus fare is paid by the driver by inserting coins into the slot. Ideally, get one of the built-in public transit smart cards called Leap. They offer you ~ 20% less travel, will automatically give you free travel as soon as you hit the daily / weekly limit, they are faster than cash and operate on the Dublin bus. ” – NerdyCraftyFoodie
Guinness Brewery Tour
Guinness Vault Tour is the most popular offer. It is open to all ages (kids get soda instead of free beer) and the tasting is open to 18+ visitors. Readers say:
- “Good, at least half a day, but certainly not less.” – Andy Pugh
- “The highlight [is] the panoramic view, with a free pint at the end of the tour at the top of the tower. While you’re there, visit the Kilmainham Gaol (prison), which is associated with much of the Irish struggle for independence, and where they filmed In the Name of the Father with Daniel Day Lewis. “- Matt F.
- “The Guinness Vault is a good tour, even if you don’t see Guinness doing it again ” – csweiner
- “It’s actually a beer museum. You will see the social impacts of beer production in Dublin over the years and economic shifts beyond the brewing process, and you will be able to sip ale during a Guinness tasting with a guide. ” – amg91
Everyone agrees that the Jameson tour is not worth it – commentator Chweiner calls it “very Disney”. And Nornny11 offers another Guinness attraction:
From Thursday to Saturday, Guinness operates a “secret” brewery called the Open Gate Brewery in St. James’s Gate on campus. This is where brewers are experimenting with different flavors and beers, and the results are frankly very good, but always interesting. It never gets too crowded here, you need to book in advance and tourists and locals alike are oblivious to it. There is always Guinness on tap, and the bottling is just as perfect. For € 8, you get admission and flight or a pint. Their selection changes monthly.