A few weeks back I took a little city break to Dublin, and after just three days I wanted to stay!
This city was perfect for our budget and lifestyle, we love cosy pubs, quirky cafes and breathtaking scenery and Dublin has it all. It is full of culture and life. My Boyfriend, Tom and I spent days wandering the cobbled streets before warming up with a Guinness in lively pubs.
Although we weren't there long enough to have tried everywhere we were recommended by friends, we did make some discoveries ourselves and here's what we loved...
Where to stay
We stayed at The Croke Park Hotel, which was just opposite the Croke Stadium in Dublin. This was such a good choice for us, it was a handy 10 minute walk into the centre and in a quiet area which meant less noise at night and a cheaper price than more expensive central hotels.
The rooms were modern and clean and the staff were super friendly, we eat in the restaurant one night and the food was not only amazing but really good value too. We got 3 courses for around 20 euros.
Where to eat
KAPH
31 Drury St.
Drury street was one of my favourite places in Dublin, fully of quirky spots to eat and independent shops. We popped into Kaph early one morning before some sightseeing to grab a coffee. I was really impressed to see they sold matcha lattes, so thought I'd to try one. The atmosphere was chilled and cakes to die for...
Breakfast
We walked past this little cafe on the first day and thought it looked really cool, so made a note to come back the next day for breakfast.
42 Drury St
This stylish cafe had a great selection of healthy breakfasts and lunches, aswell as fresh coffee and alternative teas. I sometimes find cafes like this can be over priced but Considered was really affordable and had good portion sizes. I chose a granola pot and fruit tea and tom had Irish sausage on rye bread and we were both stuffed after. I loved the fact the shop was incorporated around the cafe, and you could browse carefully chosen home wares whilst you dined.
Lunch
O'Connell St.
We stopped at this place on the way into town and grabbed a coffee and snack. I was really impressed with the fresh selection of salads, sandwiches and cakes, not to mention the colourful interiors!
Dinner
South Great George's Street
We stumbled across this place after we were hunting for somewhere to eat on our last night and were running low on euros. The relaxed, cosy environment and quirky decor was right up our street and the food was delicious! We shared tapas, a few beers and a dessert all for around 40 euros which I though was really great value. We were served fast even when it was busy and there was no need to book.
What to see and do
Trinity College grounds
Although you have to pay to enter the famous library, Trinity College grounds are free to wander and on a sunny day are picturesque.
St. Stephens Green Park
One of my favourite spots in Dublin was St. Stephen's green. It is perfect f you need a little break from the bustling high street.
I'm not gonna lie we love a good brewery tour. Sometimes we choose our city breaks based on whether there is a brewery tour available... only joking, but a city does get bonus points if it has one!
We got entry tickets, a tour and a pint of Guinness for 18 euros each which I found really reasonable, especially when the pint was served with a skyline view over Dublin. Tom booked our tickets in advance to avoid the queues and we could use them at any time on a certain date.
Temple Bar
This is the most famous area of Dublin. It's where the pubs and bars are and is a tourist hotspot. I loved walking around the streets as the atmosphere was fun and lively. We tried to avoid this area when eating though as it was a little over priced in certain restaurants. We drank in Temple Bar a few times as the pubs were all the same price-wise for beers the atmosphere and people watching made it worth it.
Ha'penny Bridge
A must see. Picturesque coloured building line the river near the Ha'penny bridge making it a Dublin must do, and its free!
I hope you have picked up for handy tips if you are planning to visit Dublin. It is really hard to squeeze it all into one post so I am planning another mini post all about the amazing places to shop in Dublin too, so keep a look out for that.
Thanks again for reading, feel free to ask me any question you have about Dublin too,
Anna
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