5 of the best Dublin city experiences

Dublin, Ireland is one of the most vibrant cities in Europe with an almost palpable energy that must be experienced to be fathomed. At night the characterful pubs are alive with traditional music and dance and by day there is an abundance of museums, parks and cafés to visit. The unique Dublin attractions would include whiskey tasting tours, the Guinness Store House and even a leprechaun museum – here is what I would recommend you do if you have 48 hours in Dublin: Take a private whiskey pub tour Have a local whiskey expert meet you at your hotel and take you for a whole afternoon of discovery or Dublin’s city centre history, people and of course the whiskey. Ireland has a long tradition of whiskey making and to truly experience it for yourself, the local city pub is the best environment. Your guide will take you through the streets stopping at the best pubs, all the while entertaining you with the history of the city, the streets and the golden drink. A visit to the whiskey museum and to the Jameson experience in Smithfield will ensure you finish the day as an expert. Visit Trinity College Not far from the National Museum of Ireland is Trinity College and a must see for any visitor to the city. The prestigious university was established in 1592 and houses the famous medieval texts known as the Book of Kells, Book of Durrow and Book of Howth. To get the most from this visit it’s worth getting a guided tour. The ancient manuscripts are an extremely popular attraction so it’s worth planning in advance and pre-booking your entry ticket online. Experience traditional Irish music After taking in the historic sites of Dublin a well-deserved pint of Guinness is essential and tastes all the better while listening to traditional Irish music. There is a wide variety of pubs to choose from in Dublin, many of which have amazing food and regular as well as impromptu music sessions. My favourite, however, is Whelan’s on Wexford Street. A cosy pub in the front with a larger music venue in the rear of the building, Whelan’s is known as a hub of Irish talent. Visit the parks Dublin has a range of urban outstanding urban parks to choose from. Phoenix Park, to the west of the city is one of the largest walled parks in Europe and is home to the President of Ireland, Dublin Zoo and roaming wild deer, however, it’s the Iveagh Gardens that is favoured by many Dublin residents. The hidden gem is located between Clonmel Street and Upper Hatch Street and on sunny days is often busy with office workers on their lunch breaks. Visit the Epic Ireland Exhibition One of the newest of Dublin’s historical exhibitions is Epic Ireland; an immersive experience, in state of the art galleries showcases what has been described as the unique “global story” of the 10 million Irish people who left Ireland and the impact this diaspora had on the rest of the world. This is a fantastic exhibition for those keen to retrace the steps of their ancestors. You could easily spend a week in Dublin Ireland and still not have enough time to see everything, but with so much else to see in Ireland’s unspoiled countryside and rugged coast it’s worth keeping to a schedule ad experiencing the best of the city. After the hustle and bustle of Dublin you’ll be ready for the salty air of Ireland’s west coast Wild Atlantic Way or maybe a romantic tour of Ireland’s country castles. Ireland is a small country that has it all for the perfect vacation getaway. Naomi Sheehy is CEO of Ireland Luxury Travel. If you would like to be a guest blogger on A Luxury Travel Blog in order to raise your profile, please contact us.