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Dublin

Dublin (Irish: Baile Átha Cliath, "Town of the Hurdled Ford") is the capital city of Ireland. Its vibrancy, nightlife and tourist attractions are world renowned and it's the most popular entry point for international visitors to Ireland.

As a city, it is disproportionately large for the size of the country with a population of over 2 million in the Greater Dublin Region (2022); nearly half of the Republic's population lives in this metropolitan area. The central sights can be navigated by foot, with a few outlying sights, and suburbs sprawling out for miles.

The climate is mild, making Dublin a year-round destination. It's seldom freezing in winter, cool in summer and frequently has light showers. For more information, see County Dublin weather chart.

History
Dublin is in a low-lying, fertile area, not boggy by Irish standards, and with good sea access. It became the core of the Gaelic kingdom of Leinster, and the Vikings established a large settlement by what is now Dublin castle, until ejected by Brian Boru at the Battle of Clontarf in 1014. This set a pattern that Dublin was fought for, not fought in. The Normans colonised the southwest and Leinster from the 12th century, and further out they battled with the Gaels, but Dublin sat snug within the "Pale" — the defensive palisade. Similarly with the Tudor conquests; then the city fell swiftly to Cromwell so his atrocities were elsewhere, and King William marched in unopposed after the Battle of the Boyne. 18th century Dublin was the second largest city in the British Isles, with a tight little Protestant clique ruling the place to London's liking. Industry and culture flourished, and the city acquired its graceful Georgian streets and squares, but Ireland was ruled as a colony. Britain's other colonies watched with great interest as the independence movement gathered pace.

"The Troubles" of the late 19th and early 20th century involved ethnic conflicts, paramilitary gangs, and savage reprisals by the authorities. The outbreak of the First World War seemed to put a brake on this, with tens of thousands of Irishmen marching away to France and Flanders. Surely one big push on the Somme would win this war - but while the generals were planning this, armed insurrection broke out at Easter 1916. The rebels seized the central Post Office on O'Connell Street, read their proclamation of independence, then were bombarded until they surrendered. Initially they attracted little sympathy or support, especially as they were backed by arch-foe Germany, but the authorities snatched defeat from a quick win by the subsequent court-martials and executions by firing squad. Hundreds were arrested and 15 were shot. This and atrocities such as the Croke Park massacre were fatal to the legitimacy of British rule. By 1921, the Irish tricolour fluttered over a Dublin that was capital of a separate state.

Orientation
Dublin is divided by the River Liffey. North of the Liffey runs O'Connell Street the main thoroughfare, intersected by numerous shopping streets such as Henry Street and Mary Street. On the south bank are Merrion Square, St Stephen's Green, Grafton Street (the main southside shopping area), Trinity College, Christ Church and St Patrick's Cathedrals, the main branches of the National Museum, and many other attractions.

The postal district Dublin 1 is north of the river centred on the Post Office, Dublin 2 is south centred on Trinity College, and so on out to the suburbs. These districts have been incorporated into Eircodes, which cover the whole Republic. Thus D04 followed by four alphanumerics is somewhere around Ballsbridge. These pages state Eircodes wherever possible, as keying them into an online map will drop you onto the exact address. They only apply to addresses that receive mail so a lonely megalithic tomb on a mountainside won't have one, but that's seldom an issue in downtown Dublin.

Visitor info: Several places purport to be tourist information offices, but are simply agencies selling tours. The official source of advice is Visit Dublin, with two walk-in centres:
 * Northside at 14 O'Connell St Upper D01 WP59, 200 yards north of the post office, M-Sa 9AM-5PM;
 * Southside at 3 Palace St D02 T277, next to City Hall west end of Temple Bar, M-Sa 9AM-5PM, Su 10:30AM-3PM.

By plane
Between airport and city: bus and taxi are the options, there's no rail / metro link.

 * Dublin Express runs to city centre and Heuston Station every 10 minutes or so. The last bus to the city is 11PM then the next is 5:30AM.
 * Dublin Express runs to city centre and Heuston Station every 10 minutes or so. The last bus to the city is 11PM then the next is 5:30AM.
 * Local buses by Dublin Bus are much slower — allow an hour — but much cheaper at €2.60 in coins, or €2 if paying with a Leap Card (see "Get around"), and may be more convenient for the suburbs. The two routes are:
 * Bus 16 via Drumcondra railway station, O'Connell St, George's St and out to the southern suburbs of Rathmines and Ballanteer / Kingstown. It runs from morning until late evening.
 * Bus 41 via Drumcondra railway station and O'Connell St, passing near Busáras, to Lower Abbey St. Northbound it runs out to Swords. It runs 24 hours every 20-30 minutes.
 * Stops for the local buses are at Terminal 1 through the car park opposite Arrivals exit and then to the right. Pay with exact coins (bus drivers don't accept cards or banknotes, and don't give change). Alternatively, purchase a prepaid Leap Card (see "Get around") from a convenience store in the terminal or near the bus stops. Luggage space is limited on these local buses, and it's not unknown for drivers to turn away travellers with packs that cannot be stored.

 * Taxis to city centre might cost €34-40 (July 2024), so they are competitive with the Aircoach for a group of three or more. See "Get around" for rules on taxis.

Other destinations: most buses to other Irish cities run via the airport, see individual cities' "Get in". Within County Dublin:
 * Bus 101 runs every 20 min to Balrothery, Balbriggan and Drogheda. This bus runs from Dublin Talbot St via Drumcondra but is not available for journeys just between city, airport and Swords.
 * Bus 102 runs from the airport every 30 min to Swords, Malahide, Portmarnock and Sutton near Howth.
 * Drumcondra (Bus 16 & 41) has trains from Connolly towards Maynooth.
 * Aircoach Bus 700 runs to Leopardstown and Sandyford, 702 to Bray and Greystones, and 703 to Dún Laoghaire, Dalkey and Killiney.

By train
The country's railways converge on the city: see Irish Rail for timetables, fares and online tickets, and see also Rail travel in Ireland.

Allow 45 min if you need to transfer between Heuston and Connolly.

By bus
bus station is just south of Connolly railway station and 300 m east of O'Connell Street. It has Bus Eireann services from most towns in Ireland, such as Belfast (2 hr 30), Cork (4 hr), Limerick (3 hr 30), Galway (4 hr) and Donegal (2 hr 30), all running via the airport. Other operators are Kavanaghs from Limerick and Waterford, and Citylink and GoBus from Galway. Eurolines 871 runs on Saturday evening from London Victoria via Birmingham, Holyhead and the ferry to reach Dublin city centre early Sunday morning; the reverse run leaves Dublin Friday evening. The station has luggage lockers and pay-to-enter toilets in the basement.

Other bus companies don't use this station but leave from stops in the nearby streets.

By boat
has ferries from Holyhead in Wales (Stena and Irish Ferries, 3 hr 30 min), Bootle near Liverpool (P&O, 8 hrs and Douglas, Isle of Man (Isle of Man Ferries, 3 hr 30 min). From Cherbourg in Normandy and  Pembroke in Wales they nowadays only sail to Rosslare and not to Dublin.

The port is 2 km east of the centre; a link bus connects the port to Busáras. The former ferry port of Dún Laoghaire is no longer used. The M50 tunnel (toll) allows motorists to disembark at Dublin and drive straight onto the motorway without getting snarled in city centre traffic.

Another ferry route is the short crossing from Cairnryan in Scotland to Belfast, then by road or rail to Dublin.

By car
If you're visiting just for a day trip, don't bring a car into the congested centre, use a Park & Ride. From the south, use either Sandyford Luas stop, just off junction 15 of M50 on Blackthorn Rd, or Bray DART stop on Bray Rd. From the west, use Red Cow Luas stop, off junction 9 of M50. From the north east, use Howth DART station. Park & Ride spaces cost €4 all day, though you've the tram or train fare to add on.

Get around
You can see much of the city on foot.

By public transport
Public transport in Dublin consists of trains, trams and buses. Unlike many other European capitals, the rail network in Dublin is quite limited, so buses are by far the main mode of public transport. Public transport is not run by a single agency, but by a number of state-contracted operators, and most information is provided separately on each operator's website. Trains are run by Irish Rail and trams by Luas, while most buses are run by Dublin Bus, except some local buses in suburban areas which are run by Go-Ahead Ireland.

Transport for Ireland (TFI) is the umbrella brand for public transport in Ireland, although its website primarily just directs you to the individual operators websites for information. However, the TFI Journey Planner is a good way to plan your journey across different modes, and the Live Departures provides real time information for all rail and bus stops. TFI also provides a number of smartphone apps including a journey planner and real time departures. Note that the journey planner app also provides real time departures, so you don't need to download both. The TFI Journey Planner and Live Departures are also integrated into Google Transit and are available within Google Maps.

Tickets and Leap Card
On trains and trams, tickets can be purchased from ticket vending machines at the station or stop prior to boarding. Train tickets are valid for the day of purchase and are needed to get through the entry and exit turnstiles at stations. Tram tickets do not have to be validated prior to boarding, but must be used within 90 minutes of purchase. On buses, you can pay the fare to the driver when boarding, but you must have the exact amount in coins. Banknotes cannot be taken, and if you overpay in coins, no change is given.

If you plan to use public transport a lot, consider getting a TFI Leap Card, which you can top up with credit and use to pay fares on all public transport in the city, at a 30% discount. Leap Cards can be purchased from most convenience shops at just €5 for adults and €3 for children (this is actually not a charge but a deposit, and if you register your card online, it can later be refunded to an EU bank account or a number of charities). You can check your credit and top up the card at most convenience shops, at train or tram ticket vending machines, and on your phone with the Leap Top-Up App.

To use your Leap Card on trains or trams, you need to tag-on by holding your card against the turnstile or validator before boarding, and then tag-off again at the turnstile or validator at the end of your journey. You will automatically be charged the relevant fare between the tag-on and tag-off locations. To use your Leap Card on buses, you can place the card on the driver's machine, and tell the driver where you are going, and they will deduct the relevant fare. If you know that you are making a longer journey, you can instead hold your card against the other validator on the right hand side of the door, where you will automatically be charged the highest fare. Unlike trains and trams, you don't need to tag-off when you leave the bus. It's important to note that if you don't tag-on before travelling, you don't have a valid ticket, so you could be fined if a ticket inspector boards and checks your card.

Single fares are around 30% cheaper with a Leap Card than with cash. A 90-minute fare applies, meaning that after you tag onto any mode of transport, you can use the same Leap Card to tag onto any other Dublin regional buses, trams or trains within the next 90 minutes without extra cost. The fares are also capped, so once you reach a certain amount within the same day or week (Monday to Sunday), you can continue to travel for free for the remainder of that day or week. For adults, the daily caps are €5.60 for buses or trams, €7.60 for trains and €8 for all modes. The weekly caps are €22 for buses or trams, €29.60 for trains and €32 for all modes. Child caps are much lower, about one third of the adult caps.

A special Leap Visitor Card is also available for tourists, which allows unlimited use of all public transport for 1 day (€8), 3 days (€16), or 7 days (€32), starting from the time of first use. This can be purchased at arrivals in Dublin Airport (WH Smith and Wrights in Terminal 1 and Spar in Terminal 2) in some city centre tourist offices, or ordered online for delivery. Once your chosen time period expires, you can also top it up with additional time periods at most convenience shops in the city.

By train
Inter-city, commuter and DART trains use the same track, but vary in the stops they make. For timetables, route maps and fares, see Irish Rail.
 * DART (Dublin Area Rapid Transit) is a suburban line along the coast, from Howth and Malahide in the north to Bray and Greystones in the south, via Connolly and other city centre stations, Dún Laoghaire and Dalkey. Trains run 6AM-11PM and the core section between Howth Junction and Bray has trains M-F every 10 min and Sa Su every 30 min. North of Howth Junction, alternate trains head either for Malahide or for Howth. South of Bray, every third train extends to Greystones. Change at Bray for inter-city trains to Wicklow, Wexford and Rosslare.
 * Commuter trains fan out to towns within an hour or so of the city.
 * - North from Connolly to Drogheda, along the coast via Portmarnock, Malahide, Donabate, Rush, Skerries and Balbriggan. They're hourly, daily, and rush-hour trains extend to Dundalk. Change at Drogheda for Newry and Belfast.
 * - West from Connolly to Maynooth via Drumcondra, Castleknock, Clonsilla and Leixlip. There's a branch line from Clonsilla to Dunboyne and M3 Parkway, which is the P&R for the Navan and Trim area. They're hourly, daily; change at Maynooth for Mullingar, Longford, Boyle and Sligo. Another branch line connects Grand Canal Dock with Connolly and Drumcondra.
 * - Southwest from Heuston to Portlaoise via Park West & Cherry Orchard, Clondalkin, Adamstown, Hazelhatch & Celbridge, Sallins (for Naas), Newbridge, Kildare, Monasterevin, and Portarlington. They're hourly M-Sa and every two hours on Sunday. The branch line from Grand Canal Dock also connects M-F via Connolly and Drumcondra, bypassing Heuston to join the route at Park West & Cherry Orchard as far as Hazelhatch & Celbridge.

Connolly and Heuston are the principal stations, see Get in. Others that visitors might use are on the DART line south from Connolly:
 * - Tara Street just south of the river for Temple Bar and Trinity College
 * - Pearse for Merrion Square and the National Museums
 * - Grand Canal Dock for southside dockland and the start of the canal
 * - Lansdowne Road for the stadium
 * - Sandymount for Ballsbridge

Fares: The short hop zone covers all DART and commuter rail services as far as Balbriggan, Kilcock, Sallins and Kilcoole. As of 2021, a standard single is €2.25-6.20 adult and €1.25-2.55 child. Paying by TFI Leap Card it's €1.70-4.90 adult and €0.80-1.94 child. Day return, 1 day, 3 day, 7 day and monthly tickets are also available. A family all day ticket is €20, for up to 2 adults and 4 children; it's rail-only and doesn't include tram or bus. (See Rail travel in Ireland for other ticket deals, some of which are thoroughly bad value.) Your ticket is valid for any train so if you were at Bray waiting for the Dart service back to city centre, and the inter-city from Rosslare happened to pull in, you could hop aboard.

By tram
Luas, Irish for "speed", is Dublin's tram system. Trams are modern and reliable, and run frequently from 6AM to midnight. There are two lines:
 * Red line is east-west, from The Point in dockland and Connolly Station to Busáras, Abbey Street, Heuston Station, St James's Hospital, Red Cow P&R then either Tallaght P&R or Cheeverstown P&R and Saggart in the southwest of the city.
 * Green line is north-south, from Broombridge to TU Dublin Grangegorman Campus, Marlborough St southbound / O'Connell St northbound, Trinity College, St Stephen's Green, Dundrum, P&Rs at Balally, Stillorgan and Sandyford, Leopardstown, Carrickmines P&R and Brides Glen in the southeast of the city.

The lines cross in north city centre, with a 100-m walk from the Abbey Street stop on the Red line to the Green lines north or south, a block apart at that point.

You must buy your ticket before boarding: there are machines by all the stops. Visitors are only likely to use the outer sections for the Park & Rides. For the city centre zone, e.g. between Heuston and Connolly, in 2024 it's €1.70 adult standard and €1.30 by Leap Card. Day return, 1 day and 7 day tickets are available.

City network
An extensive network of 150 bus routes serves most parts of the city and its surrounding suburbs. Most buses in the city centre pass through the O'Connell St area (including Mountjoy and Parnell Squares, Eden Quay and Fleet St) and the Trinity College area (including Pearse St, Nassau St, Dame St and College Green). Services vary from high frequency routes running every few minutes all day, to lower frequency routes running every hour or less, to peak-only limited-stop "Xpresso" routes and weekend-only late night "Nitelink" routes.

Confusingly, the bus network in Dublin is run by two separate companies, with timetables listed on two separate websites, and displayed at stops in two different formats. However, both companies share the same fare structure and Leap ticketing system, and all routes are included in the Transport for Ireland Journey Planner and Real Time apps: A detailed map of the entire city network, colour coded by frequency is available here (and for the far outer areas see here).
 * Dublin Bus operate all cross-city routes, and all routes which run to and from the city centre. The timetables displayed at stops refer to the time the bus leaves the terminus, not the time it will be passing that particular stop, so there is a bit of guesswork required.
 * Go-Ahead Ireland operate local routes in the suburbs, as well as orbital routes which avoid the city centre. In contrast to Dublin Bus, all Go-Ahead Ireland timetables displayed at stops refer to the times buses are due to be passing that particular stop.

Cash fares within the city (exact amount in coins only) are €2.15-3.80 adult and €1.00-1.60 child, while if paying with a TFI Leap Card are €1.55-3.00 adult and €0.80-1.26 child. Those paying with a TFI Leap Card can also benefit from a €1 discount if interchanging within 90 minutes, and maximum daily and weekly caps. See Tickets and Leap Card.

At busier stops, an electronic sign lists the next 4 to 6 real-time departures. For all other stops, real-time departures can be checked online or in TFI apps (see By public transport above). All buses display their route number and destination on the front. When you see your bus approaching, hold out your hand to signal to the driver that you want to get on, otherwise they may not stop. If you have a prepaid TFI Leap Card, enter on the right-hand side and tag on by holding your card against the reader. Otherwise enter on the left-hand side to pay the driver.

Inside the bus, small screens display the next stop in both Irish and English, along with an audio announcement in both languages. When you see or hear your stop being announced, press one of the red buttons to signal to the driver that you want to get off.

Principal routes

Cross-city buses are operated by Dublin Bus and ply every 10 minutes M-Sa and 20-30 min on Sundays:
 * Bus 4 from Harristown and Ballymun in the north to Ballsbridge and Blackrock in the southeast.
 * Bus 15 from Clongriffin and Artane in the northeast to Templeogue and Ballycullen in the southwest. It runs 24 hours, every 30 min overnight.
 * Bus 16 from Dublin Airport and Santry in the north to Rathfarnham and Ballinteer in the south.
 * Bus 27 from Clare Hall and Artane in the northeast to Walkinstown and Tallaght in the southwest.
 * Bus 39a from Ongar and Blanchardstown in the northwest to Baggot Street and University College Dublin in the southeast. It runs 24 hours, every 30 min overnight.
 * Bus 40 from Charlestown and Finglas in the northwest to Ballyfermot and Liffey Valley in the west.
 * Bus 41 / 41c operate from Swords, Santry and Drumcondra in the north to Abbey Street in the city centre, with alternate buses (route 41) serving Dublin Airport - this runs 24 hours, every 30 min overnight.
 * Bus 46a from Phoenix Park northwest to University College Dublin, Stillorgan and Dún Laoghaire southeast.
 * Bus 130 from Abbey Street in city centre to Clontarf, Bull Island and St Annes Park to the northeast.
 * Bus 145 from Heuston Station in the inner west to University College Dublin, Stillorgan and Bray in the southeast.
 * Bus C1 / C2 from Adamstown and Lucan to Heuston station, the Quays, Ballsbridge and Sandymount. Together they run 24 hours, every 30 min overnight.
 * Bus G1 / G2 from Spencer Dock to St James Hospital Ballyfermot then either Red Cow tram terminal or Liffey Valley Shopping Centre. Together they run 24 hours, every 30 min overnight.

Several orbital routes skirt the city centre, run by Go Ahead, usually daily every 20-30 min:
 * Bus 17 runs south, from Rialto via Terenure, Rathfarnham and University College Dublin to Blackrock.
 * Bus 17a runs north, from Blanchardstown via Finglas, Ballymun, Santry and Coolock to Kilbarrack.
 * Bus 18 crosses the inner south, from Palmerstown via Ballyfermot, Kylemore, Crumlin, Rathmines, Ranelagh and Ballsbridge to Sandymount.
 * Bus 75 crosses the outer south, from Tallaght via Rathfarnham, Ballinteer, Dundrum and Stillorgan to Dún Laoghaire.
 * Bus 175 takes the same route to Dundrum then heads to University College Dublin.
 * Bus 76 crosses the west, from Tallaght via Clondalkin, Liffey Valley and Ballyfermot to Chapelizod, with a few extending to Blanchardstown.

At night: in summary the 24-hour bus routes are 41 (the only night bus from the airport), 15, 39a, C1 / C2 and G1 / G2. You pay the normal daytime fare for these.

Nitelink buses are extras from midnight Friday and Saturday to 4AM, on 15 routes radiating from D'Olier Street, Westmoreland Street and Aston Quay. They run every hour or two, for instance to Portmarnock, Howth, Balbriggan, Bray and Greystones. You pay a little more for these. Their service is outbound-only then they return to the city empty, so drunks and wastrels can't use them as an overnight doss. As if, in Dublin?

See also individual towns for their overnight services from the city.

By bike
Hiring a bicycle is a handy way to get around if you want to get outside the very centre of the city and are comfortable cycling in traffic. That being said, the city is not very bicycle-friendly, either in terms of quantity & quality of bike paths, pedestrians and drivers honouring the bike paths, road space available where there is no bike path (i.e. numerous narrow roads), or driver attitudes in general.

When cycling in the city centre, be aware that cycle lanes, where they exist, are generally shared with buses, taxis, motorcycles, and parked cars; cyclists should pay particular attention when approaching bus stops where a bus is pulling out. Motorbikes are not allowed to use the cycle lanes, but many still do so. Passing on the left is also allowed only in limited circumstances but is in fact still common. When cycling in Phoenix Park, while there is a dedicated cycle lane on both sides of the main thoroughfare unfortunately pedestrians also use these.

There are bikes to hire in several locations around the city centre with the Dublinbikes scheme. A 3-day pass (which is the only pass available to non-residents) costs €5 and gives you access to the bikes. They are free for the first 30min, up to 1h rentals cost €0.50 and up to 2 hours cost €1.50, so it is a good idea to return the bikes frequently. You can purchase the 3-day pass only at stations which accept credit cards, but once purchased you can use it to rent bikes at any station. Your credit card will be preauthorized with a security deposit of €150, which will be charged in case of theft or if the bike was not returned within 24 hours. Among others, there is a Dublinbikes bike hire place located at the entrance to the Phoenix Park, Dublin 8.

By car
Don't drive if you can realistically avoid it. For instance, if you plan to see Dublin before touring the country, take the bus in from the airport and return there a few days later to hire your car. For a day-trip, use the city edge Park & Rides. If you do venture in, you face traffic congestion (even on Sunday), difficulty parking, confusing one-ways or diversions for road repairs, traffic congestion, drunken revellers and phone-entranced jaywalkers veering into your path, ill-signed but rigidly enforced bus lanes, the silent onrush of trams, and traffic congestion, traffic, traffic....

On-street meter parking is in short supply and only for brief periods, and if you over-stay you're likely to be clamped or towed, for a penalty in excess of €100. For a visit say to a museum you need to seek out a multi-storey car park — plan ahead for those you might use. Check also what the deal is with your accommodation; a central place may not have its own parking.

Dublin's outer road is M50, which starts from the port downtown and tunnels beneath the north city (toll) to the airport perimeter, where M1 continues north towards Belfast while M50 arcs round the western city with access to all arterial routes. There's another toll between Junctions 6 (N3 Blanchardstown) and 7 (N4 Lucan). Tolls are about €3, but in rush hour the tunnel is €10. There are no cash booths, you must pay online either in advance or by 8PM next day, else there's a penalty (to which your hire company and credit card will gleefully add). Hire cars may come with an e-tag.

The Outer Orbital Route, or M45, is a proposed bypass further out, arcing round from Drogheda to Navan, Enfield and Newbridge. The government keeps confirming this plan but nothing has happened; it would carve through important sites such as Hill of Tara. Meanwhile the same name is also used for the Outer and Inner orbital routes within the M50 semicircle. These are just existing streets interconnecting between the radial roads, confusingly signed and with much zigzagging.

By taxi
Taxis in Ireland can be identified by the yellow taxi plate placed on the roof of the vehicle.

Fares are nationally regulated and are required to use the meter. Every taxi in Ireland must accept credit and debit card payments (Visa, Mastercard, American Express) as well as cash – it’s the passenger’s choice. Drivers may not charge surcharges on any card payments. There are a number of ride hailing mobile apps which facilitate ordering a taxi, however this typically will include a surcharge on the side of the App, and an additional prebooking charge (€2.00) added to the taxi fare.

These include FreeNow, Uber, and the Bolt app, available on Android and iOS.

See
Dublin's top attractions sell out in summer. Buy tickets online in advance if you know you want to see something, especially for the Book of Kells where even early arrivals may find all the day's slots are filled.

The Dublin Pass gives you free and fast track entry to thirty-some attractions in Dublin. Adult prices in 2024 are €79 for one day, €109 for two, €129 for three, €154 for four and €164 for five, child prices about half, and days must run consecutively. You'll struggle to break even on this deal as only the Hop-on Hop-off bus tour and the Jameson Distillery and Guinness tours charge over €25; most are way cheaper. The Pass doesn't include the National Museum sites (free anyhow), the Library and Book of Kells at Trinity College, or any public transport.

North of the river

 * O'Connell Street is the broad thoroughfare running north from the river, and the main district for budget accommodation. It was smashed up in the 1916 uprising and subsequent civil war, but rebuilt; then in the 1970s the developers made one sorry mess of it. And their assistants: All along O'Connell Street the pieces flew, up went Nelson, and the pillar too... was the ditty commemorating the 1966 IRA bombing of Nelson's Column. Where it stood, next to the GPO, is now the 121-m pin of the Spire of Dublin; close by on North Earl St is the James Joyce Statue. Northbound trams glide up the street: go a block east for the southbound track. The city council are doing their best to further improve the place but it's a work in progress: pleasant enough by day, but tacky by night.
 * O'Connell Street is the broad thoroughfare running north from the river, and the main district for budget accommodation. It was smashed up in the 1916 uprising and subsequent civil war, but rebuilt; then in the 1970s the developers made one sorry mess of it. And their assistants: All along O'Connell Street the pieces flew, up went Nelson, and the pillar too... was the ditty commemorating the 1966 IRA bombing of Nelson's Column. Where it stood, next to the GPO, is now the 121-m pin of the Spire of Dublin; close by on North Earl St is the James Joyce Statue. Northbound trams glide up the street: go a block east for the southbound track. The city council are doing their best to further improve the place but it's a work in progress: pleasant enough by day, but tacky by night.
 * Parnell Square is the north end of O'Connell St, where it bends and becomes Frederick St. Here are the Rotunda Hospital, Hugh Lane Gallery, James Joyce Centre, Writer's Museum and Garden of Remembrance.
 * Garden of Remembrance across the street from the gallery and museum commemorates those who died in the struggle for Irish independence. Open daily.
 * Saint Saviour is a confident neo-Gothic church on Dominick St Lower, west of the Rotunda. Built in 1853, it's the Priory of the Dominican order, who also worship at St Martin's Chapel on Parnell Square.
 * Saint Saviour is a confident neo-Gothic church on Dominick St Lower, west of the Rotunda. Built in 1853, it's the Priory of the Dominican order, who also worship at St Martin's Chapel on Parnell Square.
 * Saint Saviour is a confident neo-Gothic church on Dominick St Lower, west of the Rotunda. Built in 1853, it's the Priory of the Dominican order, who also worship at St Martin's Chapel on Parnell Square.
 * is the one on all the picture postcards and film locations, a 43 m cast-iron arch spanning the river between Liffey St Lower and Wellington Quay. Officially called the "Liffey Bridge" (Droichead na Life), it was built in 1816 to replace the cross-river ferries, with the right to charge a ha'penny toll for the next century. There were turnstiles at both ends, removed in 1919 after the toll ceased. The bridge was extensively repaired in 2001. Please don't clutter it up with "love-locks" - the last big clean-up removed 300 kg of these, and bear in mind that those repairs were by Harland and Wolff, builders of the Titanic.
 * Downstream from O'Connell Bridge the river broadens into dockland and the open sea, with poignant reminders of the Irish people's relationship with that sea.
 * on Custom House Quay depicts victims of the Great Famine (an Gorta Mór) of 1845-49, when a million died and another million fled the country. Five gaunt figures totter to the docks with their bundles as if to take ship and leave. Or perhaps they hope for scraps from those ships, which during the famine years were briskly exporting food for profit, plenty to feed everyone yet unaffordable to most.
 * , designed by Santiago Calatrava, is a harp-shaped cable-stay road bridge of 120 m. It spans the river between North Wall Quay (in Docklands, north bank) and Sir John Rogerson's Quay (near Grand Canal Square, south bank) and the whole contraption hinges through 90 degrees to let ships pass. Daytime it's busy with traffic and is most scenic when floodlit at night. Calatrava also designed the James Joyce bridge upstream.
 * Royal Canal loops around the north city and is navigable to the Shannon.
 * , designed by Santiago Calatrava, is a harp-shaped cable-stay road bridge of 120 m. It spans the river between North Wall Quay (in Docklands, north bank) and Sir John Rogerson's Quay (near Grand Canal Square, south bank) and the whole contraption hinges through 90 degrees to let ships pass. Daytime it's busy with traffic and is most scenic when floodlit at night. Calatrava also designed the James Joyce bridge upstream.
 * Royal Canal loops around the north city and is navigable to the Shannon.
 * Royal Canal loops around the north city and is navigable to the Shannon.
 * Royal Canal loops around the north city and is navigable to the Shannon.
 * Royal Canal loops around the north city and is navigable to the Shannon.

South of the river

 * Most of Dublin's top sights are a short way south of the river, notably Trinity College, the National Museum archaeology collections, the National Gallery, and the elegant Georgian town through Merrion Square to St Stephen's Green.

 * Douglas Hyde Gallery is within TCD next to the Old Library. It displays modern art and is free, open W-Su noon-5PM. Douglas Hyde (1860-1949) was the first President of Ireland.
 * Bank of Ireland opposite the College has a small display of early banknotes and memorabilia. This fine building was Ireland's parliament until that was abolished in 1800.
 * Listen Now Again within the Bank is a free exhibition of the life and worlds of Seamus Heaney (1939-2013). It's open M-Sa 10AM-4PM and runs to the end of 2025.
 * Listen Now Again within the Bank is a free exhibition of the life and worlds of Seamus Heaney (1939-2013). It's open M-Sa 10AM-4PM and runs to the end of 2025.

 * Temple Bar is the district just west of the College along the riverside, with wall-to-wall pubs and eating places. Its cobbled streets are thronged with merry-makers, and by late afternoon the hen parties and lads' outings are steaming, raucous and upchucking.
 * Irish Rock & Roll Museum is at Curved St, Temple Bar D02 RD26, open daily 10:30AM-4PM, adult €22.
 * Irish Rock & Roll Museum is at Curved St, Temple Bar D02 RD26, open daily 10:30AM-4PM, adult €22.
 * is the subject of a 19th-century music-hall ballad, pushing her wheelbarrow and crying "cockles and mussels alive, alive-oh" before dying of a fever. She's entirely fictional, though Dublin had many such street-hawkers, and she's not to be confused with Mary Mallon of Cookstown, the all-too-real "Typhoid Mary". Her kitsch statue dates to 1988 and was installed on nearby Grafton Street, but moved to its present spot in 2014 to make way for tram tracks. She's often mocked as "The Tart with the Cart" or "The Trollop with the Scallop" and her breasts (above an unhistorical low-cut dress) have been well polished by passing hands. Alas amidst these misogynist tropes and gropes, we forget the sad fate of the cockles and mussels themselves.
 * is a large stately square filled with grassy and shady areas and surrounded by Georgian red-brick houses. At the northwest corner is a life-sized statue of the writer and dramatist Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde (1854-1900), who grew up at No. 1 here. He's depicted sprawled on the embankment, with a lop-sided smirk, as if totally wasted. (As if! And him with the hollowest legs in London!) Two short marble columns are covered in his quotable quotes. On the surrounding buildings, plaques commemorate other notable residents, such as the Duke of Wellington. The fine architecture continues south, along Mount Street Upper and Fitzwilliam Street Lower.
 * is a pleasant Victorian public park, open in daylight hours. The Fusiliers' Arch was erected in 1907 to commemorate the Royal Dublin Fusiliers who fell in the Second Boer War (1899-1902).
 * MoLI the Museum of Literature Ireland is south side of St Stephens, open daily 10:30AM-5:30PM, adult €14.50, conc or child €12.
 * The Mansion House on Dawson Street is the office of the Lord Mayor of Dublin. You can only get in to see it (eg the plush 1821 Round Room) for special events or on occasional open days.
 * Iveagh Gardens are a block south of St Stephens Green: a hidden green space, as they're secluded by buildings.
 * The Grand Canal marks the southern boundary of the inner city; the Royal Canal similarly loops across the northern city. Both were built in the 18th and 19th century to carry passengers and freight between Dublin and the Shannon and Atlantic. The Grand Canal took 47 years to construct: the expense of crossing the Bog of Allen replicated the prehistoric custom of sinking gold into bogs. And indeed Irish waterways go that far back, as the earliest dwellers could barely get about by land. Waterways Ireland website gives information eg on walks, navigability and fishing on this and the other canals.
 * The Grand Canal marks the southern boundary of the inner city; the Royal Canal similarly loops across the northern city. Both were built in the 18th and 19th century to carry passengers and freight between Dublin and the Shannon and Atlantic. The Grand Canal took 47 years to construct: the expense of crossing the Bog of Allen replicated the prehistoric custom of sinking gold into bogs. And indeed Irish waterways go that far back, as the earliest dwellers could barely get about by land. Waterways Ireland website gives information eg on walks, navigability and fishing on this and the other canals.
 * The Grand Canal marks the southern boundary of the inner city; the Royal Canal similarly loops across the northern city. Both were built in the 18th and 19th century to carry passengers and freight between Dublin and the Shannon and Atlantic. The Grand Canal took 47 years to construct: the expense of crossing the Bog of Allen replicated the prehistoric custom of sinking gold into bogs. And indeed Irish waterways go that far back, as the earliest dwellers could barely get about by land. Waterways Ireland website gives information eg on walks, navigability and fishing on this and the other canals.

West city

 * The original Dublin was in this area, at the confluence of the Poddle (now culverted) and the Liffey. Their peaty waters formed a dark pool, in Irish dubh linn.

 * St Audoen's Church on Cornmarket near Christ Church is a 19th century neo-classical church built over 12th-century remains. It's now the RC Polish Chaplaincy for Ireland.
 * St Audoen's Church on Cornmarket near Christ Church is a 19th century neo-classical church built over 12th-century remains. It's now the RC Polish Chaplaincy for Ireland.
 * St Audoen's Church on Cornmarket near Christ Church is a 19th century neo-classical church built over 12th-century remains. It's now the RC Polish Chaplaincy for Ireland.
 * St Audoen's Church on Cornmarket near Christ Church is a 19th century neo-classical church built over 12th-century remains. It's now the RC Polish Chaplaincy for Ireland.
 * St Michan's Church on Church St north of the river was built in 1686 on Viking foundations. It has fine interior woodwork and an organ used by Handel. The main draw is the mummified remains in the vaults: a 400-year old nun, a crusader, and the ancient Earls of Leitrim. See these by guided tour M-Th on the hour 10AM-noon, 2-4PM.
 * Irish National War Memorial park and gardens are dedicated to the 49,500 Irish soldiers who died in the Great War. They're on the riverside just north of Kilmainham Gaol.
 * is the largest enclosed urban park in Europe, 2.5 km by 2 km, and accessible free 24 hours. It includes Dublin Zoo, the residences of the President of Ireland and of the US Ambassador, the Cross commemorating the Pope's visit in 1979, a monument to the 1882 assassinations here, several sports fields, and a herd of fallow deer. Just beyond is Farmleigh mansion. But no phoenix, the name derives from Irish fionn uisce — "clear water". The closest entrance to city centre is 500 m northeast of Heuston station, or take buses 25/26/66/67 to Parkgate St.
 * President's Residence (Áras an Uachtaráin) can be visited by free guided tour on Saturdays. Pick up a ticket from the Phoenix Park visitor centre, no booking.
 * Irish National War Memorial park and gardens are dedicated to the 49,500 Irish soldiers who died in the Great War. They're on the riverside just north of Kilmainham Gaol.
 * is the largest enclosed urban park in Europe, 2.5 km by 2 km, and accessible free 24 hours. It includes Dublin Zoo, the residences of the President of Ireland and of the US Ambassador, the Cross commemorating the Pope's visit in 1979, a monument to the 1882 assassinations here, several sports fields, and a herd of fallow deer. Just beyond is Farmleigh mansion. But no phoenix, the name derives from Irish fionn uisce — "clear water". The closest entrance to city centre is 500 m northeast of Heuston station, or take buses 25/26/66/67 to Parkgate St.
 * President's Residence (Áras an Uachtaráin) can be visited by free guided tour on Saturdays. Pick up a ticket from the Phoenix Park visitor centre, no booking.
 * President's Residence (Áras an Uachtaráin) can be visited by free guided tour on Saturdays. Pick up a ticket from the Phoenix Park visitor centre, no booking.
 * Grangegorman Military Cemetery is a leafy, reflective space on the northeast flank of Phoenix Park, opposite the fish ponds. Most of those here were fighting under the flag of Britain, not Ireland.
 * Farmleigh is an Edwardian mansion off White's Road at the west end of Phoenix Park. It accommodates visiting VIPs but at other times can be seen by guided tour, daily 10AM-4:30PM, adult €8.
 * is the bosky riverside neighbourhood west of Phoenix Park, which as the name implies was market gardens. It's a pleasant area to cycle or stroll, its pubs include Anglers’ Rest, Strawberry Hall and Wren’s Nest.

South suburbs

 * Ballsbridge is Dublin's embassy district and has Ireland's most expensive properties, especially along Shrewsbury Road and Ailesbury Road. The Royal Dublin Society is based here and promotes many cultural events. Get here on Bus 4 or 7, but it really ought to be an embassy limo.
 * Donnybrook is separated from Ballsbridge by Herbert Park and is prosperous rather than opulent. It's best known for Donnybrook Fair, founded in 1204 and lasting until 1855 by which time it was a byword for drunkenness, fighting and hasty marriages. Yes, the bus will do for this area, the 46a.
 * Ranelagh and Dartry are also worth a look. Ranelagh is small but affluent, reached by the Luas Green line and with several well-regarded eateries.
 * Sandymount, a coastal suburb 3 km southeast of the centre, is an affluent area that was the birthplace of WB Yeats, and features prominently in James Joyce's Ulysses. There is a grand walk from Sandymount across the north end of its beach to the South Bull Wall which reaches a finger well out into the Bay.
 * is now a "city-within-a-city" on Belfield Campus.

North suburbs

 * Drumcondra is a relatively affluent Victorian suburb along the valley of the River Tolka (An Tulcha, "the flood", as property owners know to their cost). The Royal Canal bounds it to the south: this has a good towpath and is navigable all the way to the Shannon. (Remarkably, its backers lost even more money than those of the Grand Canal.) On its east side is Croke Park, the centrepoint of Gaelic sports. To the west it runs into Glasnevin, which has the National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin Cemetery and good restaurants. Many bus routes come this way, and commuter trains towards Maynooth stop at Drumcondra.
 * Clontarf is a suburb on the north shore of the Tolka estuary. Here on 23 April 1014 was the battle at which Brian Boru defeated Leinster and their Viking allies but was killed himself. Clontarf has a 4.5-km promenade, traversed by Buses 104, 130 and 32X from the city, so it's a popular seaside outing. (Don't take the train, which runs inland.) St Anne's Park was the estate of the Guinness family home, and has ponds, follies, walks and a Rose Garden. Clontarf Island has disappeared beneath the waves, but in 2004 archaeologists were astounded by a Moai or Easter Island statue that now stands near the pier, until they read in the newspapers that it was a replica gifted by the government of Chile.
 * is reached by two causeways. The South Bull and North Bull were sandbanks, and a confounded nuisance for navigation into Dublin; works to clear them began in the 18th century but the sea always won. In the 19th century a wall was built that funneled the estuary outflow, scouring the channel so the South Bull washed away while the North Bull grew into the present island. So it's not short of sand, and the 5 km Dollymount Strand is Dublin's best beach. The southern half of the island is a birdlife reserve and the north is St Anne's golf course. The south causeway from Clontarf, the "Wooden Bridge", was built in 1819 as a temporary access while the wall was built, but they decided to keep it: it's a single lane, traffic-light controlled. Causeway Road is the broader highway to mid-island.
 * Clontarf is a suburb on the north shore of the Tolka estuary. Here on 23 April 1014 was the battle at which Brian Boru defeated Leinster and their Viking allies but was killed himself. Clontarf has a 4.5-km promenade, traversed by Buses 104, 130 and 32X from the city, so it's a popular seaside outing. (Don't take the train, which runs inland.) St Anne's Park was the estate of the Guinness family home, and has ponds, follies, walks and a Rose Garden. Clontarf Island has disappeared beneath the waves, but in 2004 archaeologists were astounded by a Moai or Easter Island statue that now stands near the pier, until they read in the newspapers that it was a replica gifted by the government of Chile.
 * is reached by two causeways. The South Bull and North Bull were sandbanks, and a confounded nuisance for navigation into Dublin; works to clear them began in the 18th century but the sea always won. In the 19th century a wall was built that funneled the estuary outflow, scouring the channel so the South Bull washed away while the North Bull grew into the present island. So it's not short of sand, and the 5 km Dollymount Strand is Dublin's best beach. The southern half of the island is a birdlife reserve and the north is St Anne's golf course. The south causeway from Clontarf, the "Wooden Bridge", was built in 1819 as a temporary access while the wall was built, but they decided to keep it: it's a single lane, traffic-light controlled. Causeway Road is the broader highway to mid-island.

Do

 * So Padraig comes for a job in construction, and the hiring boss says "So can you tell me, what's the difference between a joist and a girder?"
 * "Sure, everyone knows that. Joist wrote Ulysses and Girder wrote Faust."

Performing Arts

 * International Dublin Gay Theatre Festival is held in May, celebrating the contribution of gay people to theatre, past and present. The event was founded in 2004 to mark the 150th anniversary of the birth of Oscar Wilde in his native city. It has an emphasis on new International and Irish works with a broadly gay theme or relevance.
 * International Dublin Gay Theatre Festival is held in May, celebrating the contribution of gay people to theatre, past and present. The event was founded in 2004 to mark the 150th anniversary of the birth of Oscar Wilde in his native city. It has an emphasis on new International and Irish works with a broadly gay theme or relevance.

Sports

 * Gaelic Games:
 * Rugby union:
 * on Lansdowne Rd D04 W2F3 is Ireland's national stadium, capacity 51,700. International rugby, soccer and other big events are hosted here. It's a mile southeast of the centre, take the DART train to Lansdowne Rd or buses towards Sandymount or Ballsbridge.
 * Football: the soccer season in the Republic is March-November, with games usually on Friday evenings at 7:45PM.
 * Shelbourne FC also play in the Premier Division. Their stadium (capacity 5700) is Tokla Park in Drumcondra, 5 km north of city centre.
 * Shelbourne FC also play in the Premier Division. Their stadium (capacity 5700) is Tokla Park in Drumcondra, 5 km north of city centre.

 * Golf: some two dozen golf courses ring the city. Best known is the Royal Dublin on the links of Bull Island.
 * Cricket: Ireland plays international matches at Malahide, northeast edge of the city.
 * Cricket: Ireland plays international matches at Malahide, northeast edge of the city.

Other

 * Cinema: the most central mainstream cinemas are north side: Savoy on O'Connell St, Cineworld on Parnell St, and Lighthouse by the Jameson Distillery.

Buy
Dublin is not cheap, but visitors from outside the European Union can obtain a refund of VAT on some goods, which in 2024 is 23%. Ask the shop for details: the refund is usually applied at point of sale, or you may be issued a voucher to claim it on leaving the country. Visitors from Great Britain are eligible, but not those from Northern Ireland. More on VAT refunds can be found on the Irish Government website.

South side

 * Grafton Street is the principal shopping street. It courses south from Trinity College (junction with Temple Bar) for a block to the corner of Nassau St, and beyond it's pedestrianised to St Stephen's Green.
 * Nassau Street branches east from Grafton St to form the south boundary of Trinity College. It retails giftware such as Waterford Crystal, Belleek Pottery, Aran sweaters, and other craft items. Easons at #24 is a well-stocked bookstore.
 * Dawson Street branches off Nassau St to run south parallel to Grafton St. It has clothes, music and book shops, restaurants and Mansion House the Lord Mayor's residence.
 * Fresh is a gourmet grocery chain with nine city outlets. The most central south-side are on Grand Canal Square and on Lower Camden St.
 * Temple Bar has small independent shops along Temple Lane, Crow Street and Fownes Street.
 * Markets are held on Saturday on Temple Bar Square and Meetinghouse Square, mostly food items.
 * Cow's Lane Design Market is held on the street on Saturday. It's west edge of Temple Bar approaching Christ Church.
 * Fresh is a gourmet grocery chain with nine city outlets. The most central south-side are on Grand Canal Square and on Lower Camden St.
 * Temple Bar has small independent shops along Temple Lane, Crow Street and Fownes Street.
 * Markets are held on Saturday on Temple Bar Square and Meetinghouse Square, mostly food items.
 * Cow's Lane Design Market is held on the street on Saturday. It's west edge of Temple Bar approaching Christ Church.
 * Cow's Lane Design Market is held on the street on Saturday. It's west edge of Temple Bar approaching Christ Church.

North side
Shopping north of the river is focussed in the quarter bounded by O'Connell Street to the east (for green line trams), Parnell St to the north, Jervis St to the west and Abbey St to the south (for red line trams). Henry Street runs east-west through the quarter, and off it is Moore Street, with a fruit, vegetable and fish market.

 * Talbot Street runs east from this quarter to Connolly railway station. Lots of little nicknack stores.
 * Talbot Street runs east from this quarter to Connolly railway station. Lots of little nicknack stores.
 * Talbot Street runs east from this quarter to Connolly railway station. Lots of little nicknack stores.
 * Talbot Street runs east from this quarter to Connolly railway station. Lots of little nicknack stores.
 * Talbot Street runs east from this quarter to Connolly railway station. Lots of little nicknack stores.

Elsewhere

 * The Liberties are in the west city, with small stores and market stalls around Thomas Street and Meath Street.
 * Further out are edge-of-city malls. The largest are at Blanchardstown (off N3), Liffey Valley (junction of M50 and N4), The Square Tallaght (off N81), and Dundrum Town Centre (south on Luas green line).

Eat
Dublin has a wide range of eating places in all price brackets, though visitors may consider them overpriced by European standards - one factor is VAT of 23%.

Cuisines such as Indian and Chinese were slow to appear as Dublin only had small ethnic communities, but they now have a good presence especially north of the river. Vegetarian, vegan and GF options are also now readily available.

Budget

 * Leo Burdock is a chain of fish & chips takeaways. Central outlets are Crown Alley off Temple Green and Werburgh St by Christ Church Cathedral, open daily 12:30-10:30PM.
 * Leo Burdock is a chain of fish & chips takeaways. Central outlets are Crown Alley off Temple Green and Werburgh St by Christ Church Cathedral, open daily 12:30-10:30PM.
 * Leo Burdock is a chain of fish & chips takeaways. Central outlets are Crown Alley off Temple Green and Werburgh St by Christ Church Cathedral, open daily 12:30-10:30PM.
 * Leo Burdock is a chain of fish & chips takeaways. Central outlets are Crown Alley off Temple Green and Werburgh St by Christ Church Cathedral, open daily 12:30-10:30PM.
 * Leo Burdock is a chain of fish & chips takeaways. Central outlets are Crown Alley off Temple Green and Werburgh St by Christ Church Cathedral, open daily 12:30-10:30PM.

Splurge

 * Purple Sage Restaurant is within Talbot Hotel Stillorgan, see Sleep.
 * Purple Sage Restaurant is within Talbot Hotel Stillorgan, see Sleep.
 * Purple Sage Restaurant is within Talbot Hotel Stillorgan, see Sleep.
 * Purple Sage Restaurant is within Talbot Hotel Stillorgan, see Sleep.
 * Purple Sage Restaurant is within Talbot Hotel Stillorgan, see Sleep.
 * Purple Sage Restaurant is within Talbot Hotel Stillorgan, see Sleep.
 * Purple Sage Restaurant is within Talbot Hotel Stillorgan, see Sleep.

Drink
Water in Dublin is fresh and clean from the Wicklow Mountains. The water of Vartry reservoir at Roundwood is commended in Joyce's Ulysses but the characters go boozing instead. Poulaphouca at Blessington was built later, and Sally Gap is the scenic road between the two catchments.

Pubs: it's reckoned that Dublin has over 600. You can but make a start.

In 2021 you might pay €6 for a pint, glass of wine or measure of spirits, somewhat more in Temple Bar. Pubs are generally open Su-Th to 23:00 and F Sa to 01:00 or later. Hours were curtailed during covid, the plus (which will likely remain) was that pubs increased their food offering, which meant they were "restaurants" and permitted to stay open - "You must try our pizza!" became a legally enforceable invitation. Smoking is illegal within all Irish pubs but many have a beer garden or similar outdoor smoking area.

Temple Bar was named for the sand bar and mud flats along the south bank of the Liffey, reclaimed for building in the 17th century. "Temple" was both the name of the landowners, and of the Temple Bar district in London, with Essex St and Fleet St in the same respective positions. It's nowadays a tourist strip of cobbled alleys, drinking places, restaurants, more drinking places, shops, even more drinking places. . . it's very central so those stag and hen parties are probably just in for a quick one before heading to the Book of Kells or the big museums. Take care, but the sheer number of people on the streets gives you a measure of safety.

Camping

 * Dublin is not well-served for camping or caravaning. The nearest to the city centre is beyond the M50 to the southwest.

Budget

 * There are a huge number of youth hostels, bed & breakfasts and hotels. Cheaper accommodation is north of the river around Busáras the bus station; south of the river is more expensive.

Airport

 * Dublin Airport is north of the city near the town of Swords. Hotels listed here are so close to the airport that you'd travel that way to reach them, even if you weren't flying, and many inter-city buses run via the airport. Those closer to Swords town centre are listed on that page along with other amenities: they're much cheaper than their airport or city centre equivalents.

 * Holiday Inn Express next to the Clayton in 2024 is refugee accommodation.
 * Holiday Inn Express next to the Clayton in 2024 is refugee accommodation.
 * Holiday Inn Express next to the Clayton in 2024 is refugee accommodation.
 * Holiday Inn Express next to the Clayton in 2024 is refugee accommodation.

Stay safe
Dublin is generally a very safe city during the day by American and European standards but can be an intimidating place on weekend nights. As in most other large cities, a few crimes against the person, such as muggings, unprovoked attacks, and robberies, have been known to occur in Dublin. Treat Dublin as you would other Western cities, and be sensible: never walk in poorly-lit areas at night, especially alone. As Dublin centre is relatively compact, be aware that walking a few blocks can take you into some bad areas. Areas where crimes against foreigners have occurred include Rialto and western parts of the North Circular Road. Be especially vigilant or preferably avoid walking around the city centre altogether after bar closing times on weekends (02:30 - 03:00) when very drunk people looking to take advantage of other drunk people roam the streets and when violent behaviour and crime are most likely to occur. Most homicides in the city are gang related.

Never be afraid to approach Gardaí (police officers) to ask for help or directions – it is their job to help. If you do get into trouble somehow and fear for your safety (which is very rare) and cannot find a Garda officer, head to the nearest establishment such as a bar or shop where you will be safe. Call the emergency services on "999" or 112, free from any phone, and ask for the relevant service. If you have no phone, ask anyone working in a shop or bar to call the police for you, and the employee will gladly assist. Also, most doormen and bouncers in pubs will gladly call the police for you if you explain your situation.

LGBTQ+ Travellers
Dublin is generally a very safe city for LGBTQ+ travellers. However 2022 saw a 29% increase nationwide in hate crimes targeting LGBTQ+ people. It is advisable to take sensible precautions, particurarly after dark, paying attention to your surroundings and following the other safety advice here. If you do fall victim to a crime, each Garda (police) station has a Garda Diversity Officer (GDO) on duty as part of their Community Policing Teams. These officers have specialist training which can be of particular help to Trans*, non-binary, and other gender-non-conforming people. Support can also be obtained from Outhouse LGBTQ+ Centre on Capel Street should you encounter any difficulties during your visit.

Area information

 * Avoid the Boardwalk and Lower Abbey Street, as a large number of drug addicts hang around these areas due to nearby drug rehabilitation centres.
 * The area around Temple Bar is an attraction for both tourists and pickpockets. Be aware of your surroundings.
 * Most suburbs on all sides of the city are very safe, but there are a few rough areas, mostly on the Northern and Western peripheries of the city, which are seldom visited by tourists but might warrant some caution. Nonetheless, those interested in urban regeneration may find a visit to Ballymun (home to Ireland's most well known tower-blocks as well as Swedish furniture superstore IKEA) and Tallaght (a historic village that was developed into a 70,000-strong residential suburb) of interest.

People

 * You will see a wide variety of buskers and street performers, these are normal people just plying their trade; they are usually very helpful for directions and appreciate your donations. (Busking and street performance is an old and vibrant part of Irish culture, and there is nothing unusual or unsavory about a person playing an instrument or performing in a public place even in the small hours of the morning. So approach and appreciate these talented and friendly individuals. Be aware that it is considered rude to photograph a street performer without tipping.)
 * If people approach you on the street, they could indeed be people just looking for directions, charity workers looking for donations, or people simply looking for a cigarette lighter. Be aware that Dublin people are usually open and unlike big cities like London or New York, talking to complete strangers is a common and regular occurrence.
 * If someone who appears to be drunk, under the influence of drugs or a habitual drug user, approaches you asking if they can talk to you for a moment, it is wise to keep walking (although expect drunk people to talk to you in a pub as it is common). These people may simply ask you for a cigarette or some money for a bus, but be aware that most Dubliners, even if they have no money, would never ask a stranger for money or cigarettes (although asking for a light for a cigarette is common). There are several scams being used on unaware tourists and locals alike so please be careful and use your judgement. If someone comes to you on the street, touches you, and/or asks you for something, say "no" or "sorry" and walk away. Again, locals will almost never behave like this so avoid people who do.

Traffic

 * When driving, leave nothing valuable visible in your car, and lock doors while driving through slow traffic in the city. There are plenty of taxis at all hours of the day and night, which are safe and usually friendly.
 * Dublin has heavy traffic, and even if several of the locals tend to cross the road without having a green man, it is not recommended to follow this example. Hardly any of the cars slow down in front of zebra-crossings in busy and crowded streets.
 * If you rent a bicycle, ensure you rent full safety wear (helmet and lights) failure to do so can (albeit rarely) result in fines. If possible, travel by foot or public transport is best.
 * Care should also be used when taking some of the "Nitelink" buses that frequent the city as they, while often safe, have seen their fair share of trouble. Sit downstairs if possible, if only to avoid the more raucous singing, shouting, and post-drinking vomiting.
 * Taxis are well regulated in Ireland, but many taxi drivers have been known to take longer routes when tourists are being carried, ask for the quickest route. If staying in a hotel or hostel your host may be able to help you acquire a reputable taxi.
 * Be aware when crossing over roads where pedestrians have an official right of way sign, as these are frequently ignored by Dublin motorists particularly taxis; also beware that unlike a lot of European cities, Dublin cyclists will nonchalantly cycle on footpaths. This often happens even when there is also a cycle lane right beside the path, something that, in turn, is frequently ignored by the Gardai.

Medical
You should only go to the hospital if you're too ill to get there, so to speak. For immediate treatment of minor ailments try one of the Walk-in Medical Centres. The most central are Dame Street Medical at 16 Dame St in Temple Bar, Abbey Street Centre at 71 Middle Abbey St, and 24Doc at North Wall behind the Customs House. They're private so an EHIC / GHIC card won't help. Expect to pay €60 for a consultation, plus the cost of any prescription or other treatment.

Embassies

 * 🇦🇷 Argentina
 * 🇦🇺 Australia
 * 🇦🇹 Austria
 * 🇧🇪 Belgium
 * 🇨🇦 Canada
 * 🇨🇱 Chile
 * 🇨🇳 China
 * 🇨🇺 Cuba
 * 🇩🇰 Denmark
 * 🇫🇮 Finland
 * 🇫🇷 France
 * 🇩🇪 Germany
 * 🇬🇷 Greece
 * 🇭🇺 Hungary
 * 🇮🇳 India
 * 🇮🇱 Israel
 * 🇮🇹 Italy
 * 🇯🇵 Japan
 * 🇲🇽 Mexico
 * 🇳🇱 Netherlands
 * 🇳🇴 Norway
 * 🇵🇰 Pakistan
 * 🇵🇱 Poland
 * 🇵🇹 Portugal
 * 🇷🇴 Romania
 * 🇷🇺 Russia
 * 🇿🇦 South Africa
 * 🇰🇷 South Korea
 * 🇪🇸 Spain
 * 🇨🇭 Switzerland
 * 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
 * 🇺🇸 United States

Connect
As of July 2024, all of the city and its approach roads have 5G from all Irish carriers.

Dublin has over 20 public libraries. These have free wifi and internet access, but you need to register as a user to access. This may be possible for non-residents with extended stays.

Go next
Almost all of Ireland is within 2-3 hours travel from Dublin, and the transport routes converge on the city. People even make day-trips to the Aran Islands out west or Giant's Causeway in the north, a mad way to experience them. Those listed here are all within an hour of the city.
 * County Dublin:
 * - Dun Laoghaire is the city's former harbour, and Dalkey is a prosperous seaside suburb with Riveria architecture.
 * - Howth is a scenic peninsula. Boat trips sail to Ireland's Eye, teeming with bird life.
 * - Malahide has a fine castle. A walk along the coast brings you to Portmarnock beach.

 * County Meath:
 * - Brú Na Bóinne Archaeological Park has the megalithic tombs of Newgrange, Knowth and Dowth.

 * County Wicklow:
 * - Enniskerry has the gardens of Powerscourt and the highest waterfall in Ireland.
 * - Glendalough is a remarkable monastic village in a scenic mountain valley.

title: Dublin


text:
Dublin (California)

Dublin is a city of 65,000 people (2019) on the northern side of Alameda County, in California's East Bay region. It's an expanding city, constantly making its way into the golden-colored foothills of the Diablo Range on its eastern and western sides. While it doesn't have a historic district or any particularly notable tourist destinations, it's a pleasant place to visit, with some important positives that it shares with its neighbors.

Understand
Dublin is in the Tri-Valley and is 35 miles from San Francisco, but nonetheless has a surprisingly different climate than that city. Summers are hot, dry and windy. Dublin is on the Calaveras Fault, which is a minor fault line in the Bay Area that begins near Calaveras Reservoir to the south and travels north through Pleasanton and western Dublin.

The City of Dublin is at the northern end of Alameda County. Its northern boundary is also the boundary with Contra Costa County and is San Ramon's southern boundary.

History
In 1835, José María Amador received over 16,000 acres for his service as a Mexican soldier and in Mission San Jose where he was administrator. The valley where Dublin can be found, the Amador Valley, was named after him. Irish settlers bought land from Amador and founded a town fifteen years later.

The formerly rural community that Irish settlers had founded was transformed into a suburb when, in 1960, the first housing tracts were built in West Dublin. The city grew steadily from the early 1960s onward, and developed as both a residential and retail center. Dublin was incorporated in February 1982.

In the 1990s and 2000s, Dublin was the second fastest-growing city in California, behind only Santa Clarita. The population was about 46,000 at the time of the 2010 census.

Dublin is home to the headquarters for the companies CallidusCloud, Ross Stores, Tria Beauty, Medley Health, Challenge Dairy, and Arlen Ness. It was also formerly home to the headquarters of Sybase, which is now part of SAP SE. There are some historical sites at the junction of Dublin Boulevard and Donlan Way. This was in the past the northernmost segment of the main road to Sunol and Niles Canyon (present-day Foothill Road):

 * The Murray Schoolhouse (established in 1856 with 50 pupils)
 * Green's Store (opened in 1860), current home of the Dublin Church of Christ.
 * The old cemetery was established in 1859, although people had been buried in the churchyard for years before 1859.
 * Old St. Raymond's Church (built 1859), is listed on the National Register of Historic Places

Climate
The region's climate is Mediterranean, similar to that of its neighbors Pleasanton and San Ramon.

By car
I-580 goes along the southern boundary of the City of Dublin, while I-680 goes through the western section. There are also some major boulevards that go around the city; these boulevards mostly connect with Pleasanton roads to the south and with other towns, like San Ramon, to the north.

By BART
There are two BART stations: and. BART connects Dublin with the cities of Hayward, Fremont, Oakland, and San Francisco, along with several smaller cities as well.

By car
Dublin Boulevard, a generally east–west road running just north of Interstate 580, was a part of the Lincoln Highway and later U.S. Route 50. It leads west to Dublin Hills Regional Park and the Shaefer Ranch housing development.

Traveling around the city by car is the most practical method of getting around.

By bus
WHEELS is the local bus service, and it serves Dublin, Pleasanton, and Livermore.

Countryside
Large oak-dotted and grass-covered hills surround Dublin. These hills look green in winter and spring and appear golden in summer and fall. The higher hills in the area are covered with chaparral in places, while parts of the hills are considered to be a desert climate.

There is a lush, wooded canyon near Dublin Hills Regional Park, but most of the hills west and northeast of Dublin are quite dry. To the northeast of Dublin, however, there are some chaparral-covered slopes and Mount Diablo.

City
Because it grew little until the 1960s, Dublin does not have a historic downtown. Most of the amenities are in the numerous shopping malls around the city, and interesting sights are generally in the hills around the city.

Parks
There is one major regional park in Dublin and several city parks.

Buy

Since Dublin started to expand significantly, several shopping malls have appeared in the city. These include The Shops at Waterford, The Shops at Tralee Village, Grafton Station, Fallon Gateway, Persimmon Place, and Hacienda Crossings. Hacienda Crossings has several large stores. Whole Foods Market, Nordstrom Rack, Dick's Sporting Goods, HomeGoods, and a second Target location (in East Dublin), have all opened for business since the 1990s.

Go next

 * Livermore is to the southeast and has a very different culture from Pleasanton, but one that is just as nice in its own way, with many hiking opportunities and wineries.
 * Oakland is a much larger city than Pleasanton and Livermore and is the main city in Alameda County.
 * Pleasanton is just south of Dublin and can be accessed on 680 South and several other local roads. It's only short drive away (on the other side of I-580) and is an interesting place to visit, with a colorful history and downtown.
 * San Ramon and Danville are north of Dublin, and like their neighbors to the south, are separated from Oakland by a range of hills.

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Dublin (California)


text:
Dublin (disambiguation)

There is more than one place called Dublin:

Ireland

 * Dublin - The capital of Ireland; the main and original city with the name "Dublin".

Australia

 * Dublin (South Australia) - A town in South Australia.

United States of America

 * Dublin (California) - A city in the Bay Area of the state of California.
 * Dublin (Georgia) - A town in the state of Georgia.
 * Dublin (Indiana) - A town in the state of Indiana.
 * Dublin (New Hampshire) - A town in the state of New Hampshire.
 * Dublin (North Carolina) - A town in the state of North Carolina.
 * Dublin (Ohio) - A city in the Greater Columbus region of the state of Ohio.
 * Dublin (Pennsylvania) - A town in the state of Pennsylvania.
 * Dublin (Texas) - A town in the state of Texas.
 * Dublin (Virginia) - A town in the state of Virginia.

title: Dublin (disambiguation)


text:
Dublin (Ohio)

Dublin is an upscale suburb in the Greater Columbus area of Ohio that is about northwest of Columbus.

Understand
Dublin is home to more than 49,000 people (2020), and is one of the largest suburban communities in Columbus. Dublin is also the headquarters of Wendy's International and Cardinal Health.

By car
Dublin is connected by US33 and I270 (the Columbus Beltway). Through the beltway, I71 is a short distance away.

Get around
Dublin can roughly be divided into three sections. The historic Downtown is on the west of the Scioto river and has most of Dublin's historic architecture. The Bridge Park neighborhood on the opposite bank of Downtown and is marked by its postmodern architecture. The rest of Dublin is mostly composed of suburbia, strip malls, and indoor malls.

Stay safe
Dublin is a very safe suburb, so crime is not a real threat here.

Go next

 * Cincinnati
 * Columbus

title: Dublin (Ohio)


text:
Dubois

There is more than one place called Dubois:

United States of America

 * Dubois (Idaho)
 * Dubois (Indiana)
 * DuBois (Pennsylvania)
 * Dubois (Wyoming)
 * Du Bois (Illinois)
 * DuBois (Nebraska)

title: Dubois


text:
Dubois (Idaho)

Dubois is a city in Idaho.

Get in

 * Dubois Municipal Airport

Get around

 * Walking is one way to travel, along with driving in your vehicle. Taxis are scarce.

Do

 * Read a book at Clark County Library, Main Street.
 * Get money out of your account or start a new one at East Idaho Credit Union.

Sleep

 * You can stay at the Cottontree Inn in Rexburg.

Connect

 * The Rexburg Police Department #208-359-3008
 * City of Rexburg PD phone #208-359-3000

Go next

 * Go North and you will find the small town of Lima
 * Go South and you will find the small town of Roberts
 * Go West and you will find the small town of Ashton
 * Go East and you will find the small town of Mackay

title: Dubois (Idaho)


text:
Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik is an old city on the Adriatic Sea coast in the extreme south of Croatia. It is one of the most prominent tourist resorts of the Mediterranean, a seaport and the centre of the Dubrovnik-Neretva County. Its population is about 43,000 in 2011. Dubrovnik is nicknamed "Pearl of the Adriatic" and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Understand
The city of Dubrovnik (Latin: Ragusa) was built on maritime trade. In the Middle Ages it became the only city-state in the Adriatic to rival Venice. Supported by its wealth and skilled diplomacy, the city achieved a remarkable level of development during the 15th and 16th centuries. Furthermore, Dubrovnik was one of the centres of the development of the Croatian language and literature, home to many notable poets, playwrights, painters, mathematicians, physicists and other scholars.

Today Dubrovnik is the proudest feather in Croatia's tourist cap, an elite destination, and one of the most beautiful towns in the Mediterranean. Just like many destinations in the Adriatic, it is much more expensive and tourism-centered than other places in Croatia. It has managed to survive many centuries, with constant threats to its territory, particularly from the mighty Ottoman Empire and Venice. As early as the 19th century, it was discovered by celebrities as a place to be seen. George Bernard Shaw once said that "those who seek paradise on Earth should come to Dubrovnik and find it". Royalty, presidents and diplomats have all favored the city. The late Pope John Paul II was a fan of Dubrovnik and was even made an honorary citizen. Of the 23 top luxury hotels in Croatia in 2010, 13 were in Dubrovnik. The city became famous for a new audience in the 2010s as one of the sets of the Game of Thrones television series.

Dubrovnik is steeped in stunning architecture and sculptural detail, and boasts spectacular churches, monasteries, museums, and fountains. A multitude of typical towns and excursions include: the Elaphiti Islands, the attractive town of Cavtat, the Konavle valley, Mljet Island, Korčula Island, Ston and Peljesac Peninsula. The neighbouring towns of Kotor and Perast in Montenegro or Mostar in Bosnia and Herzegovina also make for intriguing day trips.

By plane
The following airlines operate flights to/from Dubrovnik Airport:

Aer Lingus (Dublin-seasonal), Aeroflot (Moscow - seasonal), Air Serbia (Belgrade-seasonal), Austrian Airlines (Vienna), Bmibaby (East Midlands-seasonal), British Airways (London-Gatwick-seasonal), Croatia Airlines (Amsterdam, Athens, Belgrade-seasonal, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, London-Gatwick, Munich, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Pula, Rome-Fiumicino, Split, Tel Aviv, Vienna, Zagreb, Zürich), DanubeWings (Bratislava), EasyJet (Berlin-Schönefeld-seasonal, London Gatwick-seasonal), Geneva-seasonal, Liverpool-seasonal, London Gatwick-seasonal, Milan-Malpensa-seasonal, Paris-Orly-seasonal), Finnair (Helsinki), Eurowings (Berlin-Schönefeld, Cologne/Bonn, Hamburg), Iberia Airlines (Madrid-seasonal), Iberia operated by Air Nostrum (Valencia-seasonal), Israir (Tel Aviv - seasonal), TUIfly Belgium (Brussels-seasonal), Jet2.com (Belfast-seasonal, Edinburgh-seasonal, Leeds-seasonal, Manchester-seasonal), Lufthansa (Munich), Luxair (Luxembourg), Norwegian Air Shuttle (Bergen, Oslo-Gardermoen, Stavanger, Stockholm-Arlanda, Trondheim, Warsaw),Tarom (Bucharest - Henri Coanda, seasonal) Thomson Airways (London Gatwick, London-Luton, Manchester-seasonal), Turkish Airlines (Istanbul-seasonal), Vueling (Barcelona-seasonal), Wizzair (London-Luton-seasonal)

The exact list of destinations and airlines, especially the low-cost ones, changes each year, but there is always a year-round service to/from Zagreb and seasonal scheduled and charter flights to/from many other airports in Europe.

Airport bus transfers
Croatia Airlines operates buses between the airport and the main bus station in Kantafig (, 45 min), which is 2.5 km northwest of the Old Town. Taxis from the airport to the centre will cost. Going to the airport a bus aims to leave the main bus station 2 hr before each international flight, and costs one-way and  return, as of Jan 2024. Departure times are also displayed in the tourist information office at Pile Gate. The bus passes close to the Old Town en route to the airport and you can board this bus at the bus stop on Petra Kresimira 4 just above the Old Town, by the lower cable car station. Make sure you wave furiously otherwise the driver may not stop.

By car
The trip from Split along the coastal road (Jadranska magistrala or D8) is a beautiful scenic journey passing small, quaint villages and other tourist destinations. Just know that in the summer months the trip is likely to take several hours longer than anticipated. What looks like a short trip on a map can take six hours.

A much faster way of simply getting from Split to Dubrovnik by car is to take the A1 highway to Ploče and then continue via Opuzen towards Dubrovnik.

Traditionally, both routes to Dubrovnik required you to briefly cross into Bosnia and Herzegovina. However, the Pelješac Bridge bypassing B&H opened in July 2022. It spans from Komarna to the Pelješac peninsula and is slated to cut an hour off the drive time to Dubrovnik. Unusually for an expensive new megaproject, there are no plans to levy a toll on the bridge. The temporary downside of this option is the connecting roadworks on the peninsula haven't all finished, and so you'll partly be using narrower, older roads until you rejoin the D8 after Ston.

If you choose to stay on the old D8 road (called M2 in Neum), you will need to cross two border checkpoints: from Croatia to B&H, and back into Croatia. B&H is outside the EU, so full customs and immigration checks are carried out and delays are common in summer.

By bus
The main bus station is in Kantafig, near Port Gruz and the Tudjman bridge, 2.5 km northwest of the Old Town. Local bus 7 operates between this station and Babin kuk, and bus 1 serves Old Town.

Direct buses run to/from Zagreb (, 11 hr, 7 daily), Korčula (, 3 hr, 1 daily), Mostar (, 3 hr, 2 daily), Orebic (, 2.5 hr, 1 daily), Rijeka (, 12 hr, 3 daily), Sarajevo (, 5 hr, 1 daily), Split (, 4.5 hr, 14 daily), Zadar (, 8 hr, 7 daily). In the high season, there is also a daily bus leaving at 11:00 going to the Montenegro cities of Herceg Novi, Bar, Kotor, and Budva. And at 15:00 to Prijedor and Banja Luka (10 hr) in Bosnia. A one-way trip to Budva costs. The return tickets are much cheaper and advisable, just look out for the choice of the bus company.

When coming by bus from Split or cities further north, police officers may board the bus and you may be asked for a valid identity document when crossing the Neum corridor which belongs to Bosnia and Herzegovina. While the bus companies list trip duration of approx. 4 hr, be prepared for a ride of closer to 5.5-6 hr, including two lots of border checks.

For the best views, sit on the side of the bus facing the sea; from Split and Bosnia-Herzegovina this is on the right, and from Montenegro and the airport this is on the left.

A departure listing for the international bus station is available at the website of the city bus operator. Further details can be found online.

On all intercity buses you pay a separate fee of to the driver for luggage. So keep some change ready.

By boat

Cruise ships often visit, usually docking at Port Gruz near the main bus station, 2.5 km northwest of Old Town. The easiest way to get downtown is on local buses 1, 1A and 1B, which circulate almost constantly. Some cruise ships anchor offshore and tender passengers directly into the Old Port.

Ferries from Rijeka: Jadrolinija ferries run along the coast, calling at Split, Stari Grad, Korčula and Sobra on the way. Journey time is up to 20 hr, so get a cabin. The restaurant has decent food at reasonable prices. While the journey is scenic there is nothing in the way of entertainment. Come prepared with a good book or just sit on deck and watch the Adriatic Sea go by. This is more than enough entertainment for an afternoon.

Ferries from Bari in Italy: the dull engine vibration or the swaying of the boat from high winds are likely to keep you awake. Cabins are strongly recommended. Although you can sit comfortably enough inside with the cheaper deck pass, interior temperature is 16⁰C or below and makes for a chilly night even in the height of summer.

With your own boat: There are several marinas in Dubrovnik and along the coast, but if you are entering or leaving Croatia you must clear immigration and customs. The year-round facility is Gruž Harbour by the ferry terminal, across the bay from Frapa Marina. It's open 24 hours, call +385 20 772 065 or tune in to the Coastguard frequency and follow instructions. The facility further south at Cavtat is only open in summer.

By bicycle
The Ćiro Trail is a 157-km cycling route from Mostar in Herzegovina. It's a rail trail following the tracks of a dismantled Austro-Hungarian narrow gauge railway, and crosses several 19th-century tunnels and bridges.

Get around

The Old Town can be comparatively difficult to navigate on first appearances, as it really is a warren of little streets. There are however signs at the entrances to many of these streets advertising what businesses, shops, restaurants and accommodation are to be found in that direction.

Some of these signs appear to be either intentionally misleading or woefully out of date. For example, there is no office of any bus company within the Old Town, despite what the signs may say.

The city is completely pedestrianised and easily small enough to get around on foot, some of the streets are a little steep though.

By sea taxi
The sea taxis (like a motorboat) operate from the bay area, and go to the castle, they accommodate about 3-4 people and are a generally good option. Not expensive, but not cheap either. Still, it's a worthwhile choice for families.

By bus
If you are not staying in Old Town, it's relatively simple get there by bus, as just about every one leads to the Old Town. However, it might be advisable to get a timetable just in case. It costs for tickets bought at any kiosk, or  bought on the bus; ticket valid for 1 hr. At selected kiosks (including the international bus station) you can purchase a day pass for. This pass is valid for 24 hr of unlimited travel on the city bus network, starting from the first validation. The easiest way to get from the Main Bus Station to the Old Town is by using the (mostly modern and air-con equipped) buses number 1, 1A and 1B, which circulate almost constantly. These buses can be boarded from the bus stop just outside the Main Bus Station. Apart from this, there is another bus service which comes inside the bus station and drops you directly at the Old Town. Schedules are available at the information counter of the Main Bus Station. Buses in Dubrovnik are operated by Libertas and a map of the bus network can be found in their website.

By car
Not necessary for the city, but handy if you're planning to explore the region. Some car hire companies are:

You will find more online—check their rating.

In Croatia you must always have your headlights on while operating a motor vehicle including all cars, motorbikes and scooters during winter daylight savings time. Headlights are not required during the day in the summer months, although many motorists still leave them turned on.

See
Dubrovnik was heavily bombed in late 1991 during the Croatian War of Independence (part of a series of wars in the region). Almost all of the damage has been repaired; however, if you look closely around the old town, mortar damage in the cobblestone streets and shrapnel marks in the stone houses are visible. The Dubrovnik Pass ( one day, three days,  seven days) is worth considering, as it has the same price as the entry to the City Walls, and includes most of the museums in the Old Town, in addition to unlimited bus rides within the town for the duration of the pass.

City walls
Walk on the walls around the old town, great views. It is highly recommended to visit the walls during the early morning hours or the late afternoon hours during mid-summer months as it can become hot.

Dubrovnik is surrounded by City Walls which are 2 km long and for which it is famous all around the world. Through the history City Walls were protection from the enemy, today Dubrovnik City Walls brings the visitors from the whole world who want to see this city- museum. There are 3 entrances to the City Walls: on Stradun by the Pile gate, by fort Saint John’s and at the Custom’s House gate.

Within the City Walls you will see Fort Minceta and Fort St. John’s on the south-eastern side. Also, within the City Walls are Fort Lawrence at Pile and Fort Revelin at Ploce. The main entrance to the City Walls is by the Inner Pile Gates.

Minceta Fort is one of the most beautiful cultural attractions in Dubrovnik. It is situated on the northwest side of the city inside the City Walls. It was built according to the design of Renaissance builder Juraj Dalmatinac. St. Luke’s Tower you can see walking along the landward side of City Walls up to Ploce Gate. St. Luke’s Tower has protected the entrance to the Dubrovnik harbour throughout the history of the city.

St John’s Fort was constructed in 16th century and it is really worth of visiting- on its ground floor you can visit the Aquarium, and on first and second floor you can visit Maritime Museum. (more about it at the end of the page).

Bokar Fort is situated on the seaward of City Walls. It was designed by Florentine architect Michelozzi in the 15th century.

Hours: 08:00-19:30 summer, 10:00-15:00 winter, daily. Entrance fee to the walls: for adults,  for children (aged 7-18, under 7s are free) and students with a valid student card.

Churches

Beaches

Other

 * Stradun. Take a walk and enjoy a drink at a cafe on the main thoroughfare of the old town.
 * Mount Srđ, For a great view of the city. There is a fortress on top which contains a small museum describing its history. There are several ways up:
 * Walk up the winding footpath to the fortress and large cross on the hilltop 400 m above Dubrovnik. Walking up from the old town takes about 90 min. The path is quite rocky so use suitable footwear.
 * Take the new renovated cable car and you will get from Down station to Mountain Srđ in less than 4 min. Round trip ticket.
 * Go by car via Bosanka village. Follow Jadranska cesta (D8) towards Mlini and drive past Dubrovnik. Turn left to Bosanka village and follow the road up the hill.
 * Visit the Fortress Lovrijenac. It was an essential fortification for defence of the city from both ground and sea attacks. In order to prevent mutiny by the commander of the fortress, the walls facing the city are only 60 cm thick compared to those exposed to enemy fire which were 12 m thick. Above the entrance to the fortress is an inscription that says "Non bene pro toto libertas venditur auro" which translates to "Freedom is not sold for all the gold in the world".

Do

Sailing and boat trips
Dubrovnik is an excellent starting point for exploring southern Adriatic coast primarily Elaphite islands, Korčula, Pelješac and Mljet. There are many charter agencies where you can charter a sailing or motor yacht which are based in Dubrovnik. Majority of them operate from ACI marina Dubrovnik (42°40,3’ N 18°07,6’ E) which is based in Komolac about 2 nautical miles away from the entrance to the port Gruz, and 6 km away from the old town. It is open throughout the whole year.
 * AYachtCharterDubrovnik.com operates from Komolac and offers a unique selection of yachts and other type of sailboats great for a family vacation.

Dubrovnik is characterized by Mediterranean climate and generally light NW winds, making a yacht charter holiday very popular with couples with younger children and less experienced skippers and crews. A strong north wind known as the Bora is more usual during autumn and winter.

When you charter a yacht through charter agency and arrive to designated marina there are a few things that need to be done. The most important thing is the yacht check-in (usually Saturday around 16:00). Take your time doing yacht check in. Familiarise yourself with the chartered yacht and with the yacht equipment.

The rule of thumb is the more time you take for the yacht check in, the less time you will need for the yacht check out. After that you have to do the shopping for the charter vacation.

Don't neglect the grocery shopping because the sea is unpredictable and you don't want to get stuck on the boat without anything to eat or drink. You can do the shopping in a marina however the prices are usually much higher there, or you can order from yacht provisioning services who usually deliver the products to the marina at no extra fee.

 * Marina in Dubrovnik, . The only marina in Dubrovnik (formally in Komolac city) designed for sailing yachts and touristic catamarans, which start cruises in Dubrovnik. It is about 5 km from the city centre of Dubrovnik, in Rijeka Dubrovacka.

 * In Jam Yacht Supply, . Online provisioning catalog where you can order from a large selection of groceries and other products months in advance and everything you order awaits for you in the marina. This is convenient because it takes the load of you and the things you must do when you arrive at the marina for your sailing holiday.

 * Lokrum, Take a ferry to the Island of Lokrum which houses a monastery, a fort with great views of Dubrovnik, botanical gardens and a naturist beach. Preserved as a nature park this small island is reachable in 10 min in boat-time from the old city port. It offers unparalleled serenity, beauty and peace.

Money and ATMs
There are few ATMs outside the Old Town. Avoid Euronet cash machines located in touristy areas since they may charge random extra fees depending on your card. OTP Banka doesn't charge any extra if you choose charging in the local currency.

Shopping
There are many local artisans who specialize in domestic crafts. Popular purchases include: handmade tablecloths, linens and napkins. Many merchants claim that the necktie was invented in Croatia. Another local speciality is little dolls dressed in local garb.

The Pharmacy, at the Franciscan Monastery creates hand creams and other toiletries based on ancient recipes. The pharmacy is one of the oldest in this part of Europe. It has been operating from the time of its foundation to the present day.

While wandering around the Old Town, you will come across many shops that sell Croatian goods such as wine and textiles.

If you have transport there is a Lidl (German discount supermarket) 5 km east of the Old Town near the village of Čibača; this is where the locals shop to avoid steep Dubrovnik prices.
 * You're probably aware of the 2011-2019 TV fantasy series called Game of Thrones. GOT is everywhere in Dubrovnik, and is believed to have added significantly to tourist congestion.
 * You're probably aware of the 2011-2019 TV fantasy series called Game of Thrones. GOT is everywhere in Dubrovnik, and is believed to have added significantly to tourist congestion.

Bicycle parts and service
Somewhat surprisingly, some car parts shops in the Dubrovnik area sell bicycles; they are easy to notice, as new bikes are standing outside in front of the shop. These shops may also carry some bicycle accessories and spare parts, but they don't do any bicycle repair. As of 2014, there was no dedicated bicycle shop in town; there was one person (Tonći Kera, see below) who works as a bicycle mechanic in his spare time, in a shed next to his apartment building, while having a day job elsewhere.

Eat
There is a wide range of restaurants in the Old Town, mostly offering a very similar menu of local seafood and some meat dishes. The cuisine may not be very imaginative, but it is usually of good quality and very fresh.

Restaurants can be crudely separated into (slightly) cheaper tourist-trap places, and more expensive but first class gastronomic restaurants. There are a few pizzerias, mostly wood-fired and quite acceptable. The Kraš chocolate sold at stores is delicious. Dubrovnik, more so than the rest of Croatia, is well aware of its status as a tourist hot-spot. Rents for restaurant premises are high and consequently the prices on the menus reflect this.

Note that in the off peak season of November–March nearly all the top-end restaurants close, leaving only a handful of desperate tourist trap enterprises operating and still charging high prices. You can however still eat well and discounts can be negotiated.

Dubrovnik cuisine is characteristically not very spicy and is famous for traditionalism. Many popular meals are characteristic of Dubrovnik such as zelena menestra (it is the name for many sorts of cabbages and other vegetables with meat), the meat dish pašticada and the famous caramel-based dessert dubrovačka rozata.

Since Dubrovnik restaurants are quite popular, many mid-range and high-end establishments provide the option of online reservation. English-language menus are found everywhere.

Mid-range

Drink
The most popular spirit in Croatia is home made rakija. This is a very strong distilled drink made from a variety of fruits. Examples include šljivovica, made from plums, loza, made from grapes, and orahovica, made with walnuts. All are quite strong.

There are many excellent local wines from both the Pelješac Peninsula and Konavle and it is often less expensive than soft drinks like Coca Cola. However, be careful when purchasing wine from unlicensed dealers. Though the price is very attractive, with some being as low as per litre, it can sometimes be of low quality. Croatian beer is also good and popular, though none is made in the Dubrovnik region.

Cafes
There are numerous cafes throughout the Old Town and the entire city with prices varying according to the location (particularly, those located on the Stradun are by far the most expensive but you are paying for the ambiance and people-watching as well). Most cafes serve a wide variety of drinks all day.

Bars
Walk towards the sea from Stradun near the Ploce gate, and you'll hit a tiny square with outdoor seating by 4 or 5 different pubs, with live music playing, and large cocktail pitchers with very low alcohol content.

Clubs

Sleep
Private rooms are a good option for those on a budget, starting from around per person for comfort and privacy exceeding those of hostels. The downside is that they may be far from the Old Town, so make sure you check the location. Owners letting out these rooms accost buses at the bus station, so you can ask around and even bargain a little.

Budget

Splurge

 * Hotel Uvala, Masarykov put 5A, +385 20 433 608. 4-star hotel of 51 rooms, overlooking the sea and Lapad Bay.
 * Hotel Uvala, Masarykov put 5A, +385 20 433 608. 4-star hotel of 51 rooms, overlooking the sea and Lapad Bay.
 * Hotel Uvala, Masarykov put 5A, +385 20 433 608. 4-star hotel of 51 rooms, overlooking the sea and Lapad Bay.
 * Hotel Uvala, Masarykov put 5A, +385 20 433 608. 4-star hotel of 51 rooms, overlooking the sea and Lapad Bay.
 * Hotel Uvala, Masarykov put 5A, +385 20 433 608. 4-star hotel of 51 rooms, overlooking the sea and Lapad Bay.
 * Hotel Uvala, Masarykov put 5A, +385 20 433 608. 4-star hotel of 51 rooms, overlooking the sea and Lapad Bay.
 * Hotel Uvala, Masarykov put 5A, +385 20 433 608. 4-star hotel of 51 rooms, overlooking the sea and Lapad Bay.

Stay safe

 * Dubrovnik is a very safe city, though the usual precautions should be taken to protect yourself from pick-pocketing.
 * The streets in the old town can be quite slippery as they've been smoothed down for centuries by people walking over them. At night, avoid the smaller old town streets and stick to the more modern ones with street-lighting (Victorian gaslamps on brackets).

Respect

 * Since the summer of 2023, using suitcases with wheels in the old city can lead to a fine of at least.

Connect
Dubrovnik has 4G from all Croatian carriers, which extends all along the coastal highway. As of Sept 2021, 5G has not reached this area. Wifi is widely available in public places.

Laundry
Most private accommodation do not offer laundry facilities. If you are staying awhile and are looking for somewhere to wash your clothes then you might require a self-service laundry

Go next

 * Boat trips ply to the Elaphiti Islands. Koločep, Šipan and Lopud have places to stay, eat or swim; a dozen more are uninhabited. Lokrum is almost within swimming or pedalo-churning distance of the city.
 * The rest of Croatia is much closer since the Pelješac Bridge opened. Along the coast is the resort area of Makarska and historic Split. Even the capital Zagreb will nowadays only take six hours.
 * Trsteno on the road to Ston has a 15th-century summer residence and renaissance garden.
 * Ston is known for oysters and old salt ponds still in use and a 5 km old stone wall.
 * Neum is the place within Herzegovina that you used to have to cross to go north, with tedious border queues. It's still a reasonable route, and remains a low-tax shopping centre.
 * Montenegro is a few km south, with daily buses from Dubrovnik to Herceg Novi, Kotor and Budva.
 * Međugorje on the road to Mostar has a large Catholic shrine.
 * Mostar in Bosnia is about 3 hr away by bus, an easy day-trip. You really feel its Turkish heritage.
 * Sarajevo the capital is a remarkable city, scarred by several centuries of conflict but nowadays safe and friendly.
 * Mljet is a green island with national park, lakes and monasteries.

title: Dubrovnik