Normally when we travel we go places in their summer months even if it’s a bit more expensive. However there really isn’t a good time to go to Ireland. It’s always cool and wet here. That means we needed to pack extra clothes. Clothes we wouldn’t want to lug around to other destinations. So for that reason we decided to do Ireland by itself. It’s also made it into the top 3 most expensive countries in Europe right alongside Iceland and Switzerland. Another reason to do it on its own.
We arrived at 5am on a direct red eye out of Boston. It was so early that nothing was open yet. We took advantage of that fact and enjoyed a 6 hour nap. Once we got up we did our usual routine of wandering aimlessly through the city getting a feel for things and searching for food. Our hotel was just a 5 minute walk from the river and the cities main tourist walking street. We walked along both sides of the river and found a traditional Irish restaurant where we enjoyed 2 dishes on our must try list. Cobbler Pie and Irish Stew. Both were amazing. We then found a shisha lounge and then called it a night.
Day 2 we got an early start. One of our favorite things to do in a new country is take a walking food tour. It not only gives us a chance to learn about the cuisine, culture and history but to meet others and get advice for our trip. We got to try Guinness, fish and chips, Irish stew again, potato pancakes, locally made Irish ice creams and a farmers market. After the tour we explored on our own and ended up at a Turkish restaurant for some Doner and shish kebab before ending our night at the 25th anniversary performance of the Riverdance musical. The music and dancing were amazing and so much fun.
Our third day in the city began with a boat ride along the River Liffey through the heart of Dublin. It was a fun way to see the sites from a different perspective. Next we headed to the emigration museum and learned about Ireland’s people and its history. The museum has been ranked #1 in all of Europe for 4 years in a row and lived up to the hype. It was extremely interactive, interesting and informative. We spent over 2 hours there then walked across town snacking until we arrived at the Guinness storehouse, Dublins top ranked tourist attraction. These people really love to drink. We got the entrance ticket and paid extra to attend the Guinness Academy where they teach you how to pour the perfect pint. It was a self guided tour and it was like being at Willy Wonkas factory but for beer. When we did the Heineken tour in Amsterdam we had a guide who actually took you through the factory but here you just got replicas and movies about the process. The highlight was the Gravity Bar on the top floor. You get free pints and are treated to amazing views from one of Dublins highest buildings. Between that and the free pints at the academy we had a pretty nice buzz going when we left. On the way back we had a few super spicy burritos and ended the night at a hookah lounge where we met 6 other travelers and told stories for hours.
Dublin is small and expensive. There’s plenty of history and lots of good eats. The locals are friendly with funny accents that can be hard to understand after a few pints and the city has lots of character. May not make my top 5 European cities list but it’s definitely worth visiting. If your looking for a social drinking city Dublin is for you. Very walkable too. We had a blast and plan to spend a few more nights here before we leave Ireland. Tomorrow we rent a car and head to Galway!
