A Guide to Dublin's Culture and Liquor

Dublin is Ireland’s capital, and its big city charm sticks out like a sore thumb within the scope of the rest of Ireland’s natural beauty and rolling hills. While Ireland as a whole may be fairly laid back, Dublin is where the party is. A great lively city with lots of culture, food and even more beer and whiskey! Because of the popularity of Dublin as tourist destination it is necessary to book your hotels in Dublin as far in advance as possible regardless of what time of year you choose to travel. January and February are quite slow for the tourists and you will be able to find many good deals on hotels in Dublin, but you will also find very chilly temperatures. The most pleasant times to travel are the spring and summer months.

If you are interested in buying food to prepare yourself make sure you don’t miss Dublin’s open air markets selling fresh seafood and produce, the most famous of these markets is the Moore Street Market which is always crowded but loaded with great vegetables. When going out to eat consider that food here can be somewhat expensive but there are plenty of ways to avoid that. Make sure that you find fish and chip shops to taste some of the most popular local cuisine; these are quick places to grab a bite and are relatively inexpensive. Pubs are another great place to get food in Dublin, make sure to indulge in local dishes like Irish stew. Obviously while you’re here don’t drink anything other than water, Guinness and Irish whiskey!

For the most famous sights don’t miss Trinity College, a Mecca of learning. The Guinness Storehouse is a must see for beer lovers, here is where you’ll want to pick up souvenirs for your fellow beer lovers back home; don’t leave before grabbing a pint right from the source. The Irish Museum of Modern Art is a necessary stop for modern art lovers and the Chester Beatty Library is a one of a kind spot highlighting manuscripts, books and calligraphies. St. Patrick’s Cathedral is Ireland’s largest cathedral, dating back to the 12th century. If you are a James Joyce lover, don’t miss the James Joyce Cultural Centre, which reveal deep insights into Joyce’s life and times. Theatres like the Gate Theatre and the Peacock Theatre are always staging work of either classical significance or cutting edge experimental work, respectively.