Dublin is the vibrant capital city of the Emerald Isle, bursting with a variety of surprising experiences where city living thrives side by side with the natural outdoors. As a visitor you will discover that although Dublin is always changing and growing, the city manages to combine its metropolitan feel while retaining its rich historical culture, great music and literary tradition. As one of the oldest cities in Europe, Dublin boasts some of the finest attractions including Castles, Stately Homes, Museums, Galleries and an abundance of Grand Buildings. A bustling city with an array of cafes, restaurants and bars to suit every taste, a haven for shoppers and a varied choice of accommodation from homely guesthouses to deluxe hotels. Hailed by TripAdvisor as the friendliest city in Europe, it truly is a city like no other
Climate
They say there are four seasons to every day in Ireland so always pack something for each season! An umbrella and raincoat are a must even in summer.
Local Business Etiquette and Customs
Business attire for meetings and conferences.
Smart casual for dining.
Weekends tend to be a dressy affair in trendy bars and restaurants.
Travel and Transport
Dublin Airport is 10km from the city. It’s located close to the M50 and M1 motorways, and a range of transport options connect directly with the city centre and suburbs. Aircoach, Airlink and Dublin Bus provide bus services from both terminals, and metered taxis are also readily available. There is currently no direct rail link between airport and city. The city is easy to navigate on foot and there are numerous bus routes available between the north and south side of the city. The Dart Service operates in the city and also to the various suburbs.
Dining and Bars
To say there are 100s of bars and restaurants in the city and throughout Dublin is an understatement! From casual bar food to fine dining, you really will be spoiled for choice. Your location will determine your decision.
Fallon & Byrne – Casual Irish – Exchequer Street
Wagamama – Casual Asian – South King Street
The Marker Hotel – Business Hotel with solo diners – Grand Canal Square
Ely Wine Bar – Mediterranean Located in the IFSC and Ely Place
Metro Café – Casual Brunch / coffee – South William Street
Yo Sushi – Japanese – Clarendon Street
Powerscourt Townhouse – Numerous eateries for lunch, early dinner – South William Street
Dunne & Crezsenski – Authentic Italian Rustic Cuisine – South Frederik Street
La Ruelle Wine Bar – French Cuisine – Dawson Street
Chapter One – Fine Dining – Parnell Square
Trocadero – Traditional Old Style – Andrew Street
Women’s Network and Events
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Beauty and Fitness
The most popular areas for shopping in Dublin City Centre are split between the surrounding areas of Henry Street 7 Grafton Street. Henry Street is popular for High Street Brands with Arnotts Department Store offering an abundance of choices over 4 floors. Grafton Street or the ‘Premier Shopping Mile’ also boasts high street brands but is famed for the exclusive Brown Thomas Department Store and its younger BT2 offshoot. Brown Thomas offers the widest selection of luxury designer labels in Dublin while BT2 specialize in upmarket streetwear. Nassau Street which runs alongside Trinity College offers a wide selection of traditional clothes & crafts and boasts the Kilkenny Design Centre. Meandering streets off Henry Street and Grafton Street will take you to various different quarters of the city offering markets and smaller boutiques and stores.
Depending on your location there are hair and beauty salons on almost every corner of the city and a lot of hotels would have their own fitness facilities or are affiliated with local gyms.
Don’t forget within half an hour of the city are mountain walks, stately homes and gardens, numerous golf courses, sandy beaches and fishing villages, all easy accessible by tourist coaches or by dart rail service.
Safety and Emergency Services
Dublin receives millions of visitors each year and is a safe city, however it is always wise to be a safety conscious traveler and be aware of your surroundings. As with any busy city in the world pick pockets can be found in busy areas so always keep your valuables safe, don’t carry too much cash or cards and keep mobiles and expensive cameras safe. Avoid deserted areas especially at night. In an emergency contact the authorities at once. Also get in touch with the tourist support services offered by the embassies. Your first point of contact should be the Gardai (police) who can be reached from any phone by dialing 112 or 999
