Dublin Travel Guide

Dublin might be small for a capital, but what it lacks in size it makes up for in character. History buffs and culture vultures are well catered for. This almost living museum will take you on a journey through time starting with the remnants of medieval castles, towering Gothic cathedrals, rows of splendid Georgian townhouses and glassy contemporary structures. Don’t expect a stuffy city though. The capital is known for its hedonistic nightlife with live Irish music emanating from the old pubs and more clubs than you can shake your glow sticks at. Don’t confine yourself to the city. If you’ve scored a Dublin car rental, you’ll have the freedom explore the Emerald Isle at your own pace.

Dining in Dublin

Dublin may not have the best reputation for its cuisine, but it’s fast becoming one of Europe’s culinary capitals. High end restaurants are popping up all over the city and creating innovative twists on Irish classics using the country’s quality produce. This is a diverse city though and you can find cuisine from all over the world. Mop up authentic curries with wood-fired naans, work your chopsticks over bowls of Cantonese classics or get messy eating American-style BBQ. Alternatively, hop in your Dublin car hire and take a trip out to one of the beautiful country pubs for a pint of Guinness and bowl of homemade Irish stew.

Attractions in Dublin

Dublin isn’t short on things to do. In fact, you’d need years to explore all the galleries, museums and attractions in the city. It’s unthinkable for first-timers not to visit the Guinness Storehouse where you can learn about the process of making the ‘black stuff’. Then there’s the Teelings Distillery, the long-standing museum of Jameson whiskey. For something a little quirkier, you could dive into The Little Museum of Dublin which houses a unique collection of oddities and relics or Trinity College’s Old Library, one of the world’s most beautiful.

Dublin driving routes

It’s hard to tire of the city, but if you prefer to see a little of Ireland’s achingly beautiful countryside, hop in your Dublin car rental and make a dash out of the city. One of the most famous driving routes is the 138-kilometre road from Dublin to Portlaoise via the Wicklow Mountains. Alternatively, you could take the coastal road to Bray passing through Dun Laoghaire, Dalkey and Killiney. Those with more time on their hands could go further afield. Dublin has some of the most scenic coastal and mountain driving routes in Europe.

Dublin car rental

The most convenient place to score a car rental in Dublin is at the international airport. Once you’ve grabbed your keys from the booth in the arrivals hall, the drive down to the city centre shouldn’t take much more than 30 minutes. Whether you’re coming on a romantic break or you’re bringing the kids on an attraction-packed weekend getaway, you’ll always find a rental which fits the bill. It’s worth picking a hotel in Dublin with free spots for your car as parking can be a little tricky (not to mention expensive) in the city centre.