* The covered market in George Street Arcade (1) is good for antiques and clothes, but you’ll find more in the cobblestone lanes of Temple Bar (2), once noted for its brothels.
* Over the Ha’penny Bridge is the Dublin Woollen Company (3) and Ireland’s cheapest Aran sweaters. Compete with the city’s broadest accents in the Moore Street produce markets (4), then admire the impressionist masterpieces in the Gallery of Modern Art (5) in Parnell Square.
* O’Connell Street (6) has many fine buildings and, south of the river, fancy shops and street buskers line pedestrianised Grafton Street (7).

* The peaceful 9-hectare gardens of St Stephen’s Green (1) are a gateway to the Georgian precinct and mask a brutal past of public executions and floggings. Past a delightful 17th century Huguenot Cemetery (2) is Merrion Square (3), home to many fine Georgian buildings.
* Towards the river is Windmill Lane (4) and the original recording studio of Irish rock band, U2. Trinity College (5) was founded in 1592 by Elizabeth I as an alternative to education in England and tours visit the Old Library with its amazing 8th century Book of Kells.
* European and Irish art are well represented in the National Gallery (6), and the displays of priceless neolithic and medieval objects in the National Museum (7) are a highlight.

* Jonathan Swift was dean of 12th century St Patrick’s Cathedral (1) and he is buried here with long-time companion Esther Johnson. In Back Lane at Mother Redcap’s market (2) shop for bargains Friday to Sunday before visiting the Guinness Hop Store (4). You will pass Robert Emmet’s grave (3) in St Catherine’s Church.
* After a pint, cross the river for the "main course" at the Old Jameson Distillery (5). Back across the Liffey in the medieval centre of Dublin is Christ Church Cathedral (6) and the extensive grounds of Dublin Castle (7).

When you arrive at Glendalough you‘ll have about 3 hours to wander around and explore the settlement. As soon as you arrive and go through the gate you‘ll see a fine round tower and a cemetery with two beautifully decorated Celtic crosses. Just below it you‘ll see the oldest building: an oratory or little church called Saint Kevin‘s Kitchen. Continue along the path until it forks: go fist left and see some ruins of nice old churches, then go back and follow the path though the wood and along the lake: here again you‘ll come across other interesting monastic ruins.

If you continue straight on you‘ll come to the end of the lake: stop on the beach and look around; this is where they filmed the famous scene of the hand stretching out of the water in the movie "the lady of the lake". If you continue along the path you‘ll walk around the lake and eventually end up at the entrance gate again. If you have any spare time (quite unlikely) there‘s a cosy pub where you can have a drink before catching the bus back to Dublin

If you have time, however, I would strongly suggest you bring a tent and stay overnight. From the pub, in less than an hour walk, you can follow a path in the forest which leads you past the two lakes to the end of the valley. There you can find the ruins of an old tiny mining town where you can set up camp, and the following morning you can walk up the ridge of the mountains and get compelling views over the two lakes and the surrounding area.

In the afternoon return the the seafront and walk along the paved path as far as Sandycove, which is the village just south of Dun Laoghaire. There‘s a nice round harbour there and a martello Tower. This is where James Joyce lived for a while and where the first 4 chapters of Ulysses take place. The tower has now been turned into a museum which you can visit – and it‘s very interesting even for those who are not so much into literature, as it is possibly the only Martello Tower that you can go inside. When you are finished make your way to the DART station of Glasthule/Sandycove and take your train back to Dublin.