Overview

Dublin is part of the Leinster province in Ireland and is both the largest city and the capital of the country. Dublin is located near the midpoint of Ireland's east coast at the mouth of the River Liffey. The city has much to offer in terms of culture and beauty; in fact, the city has inspired many a Nobel laureates. The famous playwright and poet Oscar Wilde and the creator of Dracula Bram Stoker were originally from Dublin. Soccer and rugby are the popular sport in the city. Dublin is the headquarters of almost all the Irish sporting organizations. The most popular sports are Gaelic football, soccer, rugby, and hurling.

Activities & Attractions

Dublin is home to an array of sightseeing attractions that include historic buildings and museums. The Dublin Zoo, Dublinia, Dublin Castle, and Natural History Museum are the most popular places visited by the tourists. Dublin is a shopper's paradise with numerous shopping districts which include Grafton Street, Henry Street, Jervis Shopping Centre, and many more.

You can also experience the wonderful and entertaining nightlife of Dublin. Different seasons have different events to keep up the spirit of the people. If you travel during the winter, you may even get to see some snow. Winter holidays, such as Beer Fest, and so many other exciting events will keep you engaged too.

When in Dublin, you must definitely go around the city for sightseeing in the open top busses. Another interesting activity the brave-hearted can indulge in is the Dublin Ghostbus. It is a one of its kind special theme tour organized by Dublin Bus that takes the tourists to all the haunted sites in the city on a gothic-style theatre bus guided by live story tellers.

Lodging

You can find a variety of lodging and accommodation facilities in Dublin to suit your requirements and taste. There are many low-cost hotels in Dublin which offer a decent quality of service. The prices vary between 35 pounds and 50 pounds per person per night. If you are inclined to spend more, then there are many posh hotels and the list includes the Grand Hotel, the Ariel House, and Days Hotel Park West.

Transportation

The public transportation system offers a choice of busses, trolley cars, intercity trains, and taxis which can get you to every nook and corner of Dublin. In 2004, the state of the art Light Rail transport system, Luas, was also introduced which connects the suburban areas to the city center. It provides a high capacity and high frequency service that is fast and reliable too. With convenient stop locations, easy accessibility, complete safety and supreme comfort, Luas is the ideal alternative to private cars. All these modes of transport pretty much rule out the need for rental cars, which turn out to be quite expensive too.