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Modern buildings by River Liffey and Samuel Beckett Bridge.
Modern buildings by River Liffey and Samuel Beckett Bridge.

Dublin

Published: 27 October 2023, 14:00

The Heart of the Emerald Isle

Dublin is a city full of energy with modern office towers, historic buildings, trendy nightlife districts and more than 800 pubs where you can have a good chat with the locals over a pint of Guinness. Declared a City of Literature by UNESCO, literary heritage radiates from several corners of the Irish capital and famous writers such as James Joyce and Oscar Wilde are commemorated. Centuries of history are encountered at every turn on the streets of Ireland. A visit to Trinity College, St. Patrick’s Cathedral or Christ Church Cathedral is like a trip back in time.

Dublin is a bilingual city: have you ever heard of “Baile Atha Cliath”? These almost unpronounceable words are the Irish Gaelic name of Dublin. Bilingual signs and street names run through the city, which is divided into north and south sides by the River Liffey and has both historical and modern sights to offer.

Numbers, data, facts

  • Time difference: - 1 hour
  • Population: 590,000
  • Official language: English and Irish (Gaeilge)
  • Currency: Euro (EUR)

Historic Dublin, modern places

Dublin highlights

Three-arched stone bridge crossing river in Dublin.
The banks of the Liffey are a great place for a walk. The three-arched Mellows Bridge is considered the oldest bridge in Dublin. © Leonid Andronov/stock.adobe.com
Green area with benches in front of round tower of Dublin Castle.
More than 800 years old: Dublin Castle is the heart of historic Dublin and one of the most important buildings. © Yuplex/stock.adobe.com
St. Patrick’s Cathedral with tall spire and lawn in front.
A Gothic masterpiece: completed in 1270, St Patrick’s Cathedral is the largest cathedral in Dublin. © borisb17/stock.adobe.com
Grey stone Christ Church Cathedral with tall central tower.
The thousand-year-old Christ Church Cathedral is impressive both inside and out. © Frank Lambert/stock.adobe.com
Trinity College bell tower with walkway and trees.
Trinity College was founded in 1592, making it Ireland’s oldest university –graduates include Oscar Wilde and Samuel Becket. © stifos/stock.adobe.com
Interior of Long Room Library with wooden arched ceiling.
The library at Trinity College houses more than four million books, including the famous “Book of Kells”, which is part of UNESCO’s Memory of the World Programme. © jon_chica/stock.adobe.com
Red facade of the festively decorated Temple Bar.
Temple Bar is Dublin’s famous trendy nightlife district, which comes alive at night. The Temple Bar itself is a cult pub with live music. © yuplex/stock.adobe.com
Samuel Beckett Bridge in daylight with modern skyline.
On a walk along the Liffey, visitors will see not only historic buildings but also many modern buildings and office blocks. © tilialucida/stock.adobe.com
Samuel Beckett Bridge at night with illuminated building.
Named after the Irish writer, the Samuel Beckett Bridge is a cable-stayed swing bridge over the Liffey. It resembles a harp – the symbol of Ireland. © Alexander/stock.adobe.com
The Spire monument on Dublin’s O’Connell Street.
Since 2002, a 120-metre-high needle, called “The Spire” or “Monument of Light”, has stood in the middle of Dublin’s pedestrian zone, shining over Dublin at night. © mitifoto/stock.adobe.com

The gateway to the Emerald Isle

Dublin is a popular and exciting city destination. Those spending a few extra days in the Emerald Isle should definitely pay a visit to the Irish capital’s beautiful surrounding countryside. There are plenty of destinations right on the city’s doorstep and some are easy to reach by public transport. This includes wonderful day trips to the Atlantic coast and the islands off it. There are old castles, sophisticated country houses, gardens and pretty fishing villages to discover. Beautiful landscapes and magnificent mountain ranges are a credit to the name the “Emerald Isle” – because Ireland is the land that shines in 40 shades of green.

Getting out of the city: excursions from Dublin

Stone path leading to red lighthouse by the sea.
Hike to the end of Dublin: if you like a good walk, go to Poolbeg Lighthouse at the mouth of the Liffey and take a breath of fresh sea air. © David Soanes/stock.adobe.com
Aerial view of Dublin coast with houses and peninsula.
The Howth peninsula with the fishing village of the same name can be reached directly by train. © Gabriel/stock.adobe.com
Aerial view of Malahide Castle with park and coastline in background.
Just outside Dublin lies the picturesque Malahide Castle. There is a museum in the splendid interior. The castle gardens are a wonderful place to take a walk. © Lucian/stock.adobe.com
Front of Malahide Castle with cypress trees and green lawn.
Not far from Malahide Castle stands the pretty Ardgillan Castle, a sophisticated 18th century country house with antique furniture and a beautiful garden. © borisb17/stock.adobe.com
Rolling Wicklow Mountains with wooden boardwalk trail.
Green, greener, Wicklow: The county and the Wicklow Mountains south of Dublin are among the most beautiful walking destinations in all of Ireland. © Monsieur Olivier/stock.adobe.com

Dublin from BER

Aircraft shortly before touching down on the runway.

Aer Lingus

Ryanair

Dublin Airport (DUB)

Five travel tips for ...

  1. For historical insights: visit Christ Church and St. Patrick’s Cathedral
  2. For diverse impressions: a walk along the Liffey
  3. Have a night out in the trendy Temple Bar district
  4. Go for a stroll and shopping on Henry Street and Grafton Street
  5. Relax and walk in Phoenix Park

  1. Wander through the Temple Bar pub district in the evening
  2. Experience live Irish folk music in one of the local pubs
  3. Learn more about the famous black beer at the Guinness Storehouse
  4. Find out the secrets of whisky at the Jameson Distillery
  5. Prove your singing skills at a karaoke bar

  1. Learn more about the “Ulysses” author at the James Joyce Centre
  2. Take a literary walk and listen to famous poets
  3. Visit Trinity College’s impressive library
  4. View the exhibition on the poet Yeats at the National Library
  5. Take part in a literary pub crawl around Dublin

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© tilialucida/stock.adobe.com

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