Dublin

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two days in Dublin

An August 2002 trip to Dublin by lucia gismondi

Dublin is a nice modern small capital that hasn'tlost its traditions ,despite many shop chains you can find all over the world. You won't find many artistic monuments,but you'll enjoy a typical atmosphere.Two days are enough to get in touch with its soul and see the essential.

  • 15 reviews

two days in DublinBest of IgoUgo

Overview

1. Stroll in the pedestrian area of Grafton Street e Henry street.

2. Enter in as many pubs that you can in Temple Bar. Try all types of beer; chat with other customers. Dubliners are curious about foreigners.

3. Visit the Trinity College, situated in the very center of the town. The exposition of the book of Kells is interesting and very well designed. However, the guided tour is expensive and not worth it if you have children or if you don't understand English.

Quick Tips:

Best Way To Get Around:

From the airport that is only 10 km. from the town center, we took a taxi. Being four people, it was worth the price (15 euros ).

In the center, we always walked because distances are not huge and there are many pedestrian areas or large avenues where you are not bothered by the traffic. On the other hand, traffic didn't appear to us so chaotic as in other big towns. When you are tired,there are no public benches where you can sit and relax, except in the parks (St.Stephen Green and Merrion Park).

Stauntons On The GreenBest of IgoUgo

Hotel | "Staunton on the Green"

We paid 189 euros per night for a big spacious room for four people. The bathroom was new, small, clean, well furnished with smooth towels, hairdryer, soap and bathfoam. The beds were comfortable. First we were given a bigger room on the front; then we were changed on our request into a quieter room on the back garden, which we preferred even if it was somewhat smaller. The position is perfect, just in the center, but out of the confusion. The reception staff was kind, helpful and professional as they booked us taxis and provided us with helpful advice. Breakfast was conventional for Ireland but Huge for our Italian habits. Even if breakfast time began at 8, they had it out at 7:40 without any problem. We werefully satisfied with our choice, except for the price, of course, but everything in Ireland is more expensive than in Italy.
  • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by lucia gismondi on September 9, 2002

Stauntons On The Green
83 ST STEPHENS GREEN Dublin, Ireland
35-31-478-2300

Gallagher's Boxty HouseBest of IgoUgo

Restaurant

This restaurant is well-known for an ancient typical Irish dish: the boxty. It is a sort of omelette made of potato that is stuffed with what you want. The best one seemed to be filled with fish and shells. It is worth trying because it is difficult to find this dish elsewhere. The weak point of the restaurant is the service; as it is always full, the waiters are too busy and forgetful. For example, we ordered a very spicy dish for our ten year old son and the waiter didn't prevent us. Then, we were kindly compelled to eat quickly and leave our table because other people were queuing. But this seems to be the normal habit in Dublin. It is advisable to check the bill and the change. Perhaps it is better to have dinner a bit later--at 9--to eat in peace and relax.
  • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by lucia gismondi on September 10, 2002

Gallagher's Boxty House
20-21 Temple Bar Dublin, Ireland
+353 1 677 2762

Oliver St John GogartyBest of IgoUgo

Restaurant | "Oliver Gogarty"

Downstairs there is a pub with the same name; upstairs you'll find the restaurant. The dining room is nice and typical, it reminded me of a countryside inn with wooden beams and low ceiling. The waiter was quick and efficient. The portions were huge. The cakes were delicious (try the chocolate cheesecake!).
  • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by lucia gismondi on September 10, 2002

Oliver St John Gogarty
58/59 Fleet Street Dublin, Ireland
+353 1 671 1822; +35

Shelbourne Hotel TearoomBest of IgoUgo

Restaurant

We wanted to experience a real English tea with cream, biscuits, scones, muffins, fruitcake, silver teapot and nice china cups, and we found what we were looking for....at a high price. It was 20 euros per person. But there was even the pianist who played "per Elisa" by Beethoven on our request (my daughter's name is Elisa). You can indulge once in the life!
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by lucia gismondi on September 10, 2002

Shelbourne Hotel Tearoom
St. Stephen Geen South Dublin, Ireland

National Wax MuseumBest of IgoUgo

Attraction | "National Museum of Ireland"

Here you will find astonishing gold jewels dating before Christ. We saw big necklaces that could be easily worn nowadays. Jewelery techniques and women's tastes have not much changed over the centuries!
  • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by lucia gismondi on September 9, 2002

National Wax Museum
Granby Row Dublin 1, Ireland
+353 1 872 6340

Number 29Best of IgoUgo

Attraction

Interesting survey of the everyday way of life of a middle class wealthy family during the early nineteenth century. Reconstruction of a typical Georgian home with authentic furniture. Guided visit only in English, with enough time to translate into Italian for the children. Interesting, unsuspected details revealed by the guide explanation. Before the visit a short interesting film is projected, where the first owner of the house introduces herself and her family, addressing the tourists directly like a ghost would do in a haunted mansion. A good idea!
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by lucia gismondi on September 9, 2002

Number 29
29 Lower Fitzwilliam Street Dublin, Ireland

Dublin CastleBest of IgoUgo

Attraction | "Castle of Dublin"

It is not a castle, despite the name, but a palace, still used by the government in official occasions. Nothing is authentic, but everything has been accurately restored to reproduce a rich, Georgian mansion, where the representants of the English monarchy resided and administered the country. It was more interesting for the children than for the adults, for we are accustomed to visiting more impressive masterpieces elsewhere in the world.
  • Member Rating 2 out of 5 by lucia gismondi on September 9, 2002

Dublin Castle
Dublin Castle Dublin, Ireland
+353 1 677 7129

Trinity CollegeBest of IgoUgo

Attraction

If you have children or if you don't understand English, I advise avoiding the guided tour. The price seems too expensive and disproportionate. The only building you can visit is the library filled with an astonishing number of books. Anyway,Coimbra or Salamanca libraries are much richer and more impressive. What struck us was the location of the univertsity, just in the center of the town, and the number of cultural and recreational buildings all dedicated to the well-being of the students (even tennis courts). You cannot find anything of the kind in Italy! The ticket enables you to see the book of Kells, a very ancient copy of four Evangiles copied and preserved by the Irish monks since High Middle Age. Irish are very proud of it because it is a proof of cultural preminency. The explanations about copy techniques are very interesting and the children were not bored.
  • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by lucia gismondi on September 9, 2002

Trinity College
College Green Dublin, Ireland
+353 (1) 608 1000

Porterhouse Brewing CompanyBest of IgoUgo

Attraction | "The Porterhouse Brewing Company"

It is true enough that the main Dubliner attractions are the pubs. They are everywhere, but they are especially concentrated in Temple Bar. This one is peculiar because it sells its own beer and succeeds in resisting the concurrence of powerful Guinness. Normally the entrance is forbidden to children; that is an unconceivable habit for us Italians. Here Daniel and Elisa were admitted, probably because it was so crowded and nobody noticed them. My husband tried a very dark beer, Wrassler xxxx. It was very, very bitter and he didn't like it, but it was worth tasting
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by lucia gismondi on September 10, 2002

Porterhouse Brewing Company
16-18 Parliament Street Dublin, Ireland
+353 1 679 8847

Turk's HeadBest of IgoUgo

Attraction | "the turk's head"

Have a look to the crazy rich kitsch decoration of this outstanding pub, it's completely different from the others. While the others are dark and smoky, this one is shining and sparkling, lighted by art Deco chandeliers and thousands of tiny glasses.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by lucia gismondi on September 10, 2002

Turk's Head
Parliament Street Dublin, Ireland
+353 1 679 9701

Madigan'sBest of IgoUgo

Attraction

This pub represents an old train carriage. Each table is divided by a séparé ,as it were a compartment. The ambiance is very elegant, with the walls covered with dark boiseries and seats made of red velvet. However, the customers are not so posh, being situated near the pedestrian area of Henry street. It provides a calm pause after shopping and is quite unknown by tourists.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by lucia gismondi on September 10, 2002

Madigan's
Earl street Dublin, Ireland

Natural CosmeticsBest of IgoUgo

Attraction

This store is situated in the heart of Dublin, and you'll pass by it hundreds of times. There is a strange exposition of big, solid, regular objects of different colours that look like food (cheese,chocolate bars, cakes, paté, sauces and creams), but they all smell like cosmetics. We bought a hair cream here that promised to make me as blond as Marylin..... our wish has remained a dream and my hair has remained desperately dark blond!!
  • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by lucia gismondi on September 10, 2002

Natural Cosmetics
Almost in front of Trinity College Dublin, Ireland

Henry StreetBest of IgoUgo

Attraction

It's a pedestrian area with many interesting shops, big stores, and famous fashionable designers. There aren't many tourists like on Grafton Street, most of the customers are dubliners. There's also an open air fruit and vegetable market where we saw the only black immigrants of whole Ireland. I liked the shop Moonsoon that sold accessories (hats,scarves,bag).
  • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by lucia gismondi on September 10, 2002

Henry Street
Dublin, Ireland

Frances StreetBest of IgoUgo

Attraction

In Frances street there are many antiques shops where you can freely enter and look about without the least intention of buying. There are many interesting silver and china objects, impressive table sets of 100 pieces, and big, wonderful dinner tables for 20 people probably coming from a castle. It's even better than a museum !
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by lucia gismondi on September 10, 2002

Frances Street
Dublin, Ireland

About the Writer

lucia gismondi
lucia gismondi
SANREMO, Italy

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