On Foot

Dublin is a very walkable city and walking around is the best way to see things off the beaten track. Arm yourself with a good map (available from reception), wear comfy shoes and you are ready to go! The city centre is quite compact and Dubliners are happy to give you directions should you get lost. There are iWalk podcasts available from Dublin Tourism Here which are walking guides to the best spots in the city.

By Bus

Dublin Bus have hundreds of buses going all over Dublin city and county. The bus stops are blue and usually have the bus numbers written on them. Check out timetables and destinations on dublinbus.ie.

You can buy prepaid tickets which you validate at the front of the bus when you get on or you pay the driver by putting the exact change in the box in front of him. He won't give you change but you will get a receipt which can be redeemed at Dublin Bus headquarters on O'Connell Street. Don't use Euro notes on the buses, coins only. Remember, the usual international bus rules apply: give your seat to an old person or someone else who needs it, don't block the aisles and don't talk to the driver while the bus is moving!!

Luas (Tram)

This is the tram which has two lines, one going west and one going south through the city. The red line runs directly outside the hostel and it will bring you to The O2, Dublin Eye, Guinnesss Storehouse, close to Temple Bar, close to Kilmainham and straight through the city! It is very reliable and run approx. every 5 minutes from about 7am. You buy a ticket from the machine at the stop and an inspector will validate it onboard.

DART (Train)

Overland suburban train that goes along the coast from north to south and back again. This is a great way of visiting the Dublin Coastline. The closest stations are Connolly Street and  Tara Street. Both are less than a 5 minute walk and just ask for directions at reception.You can buy tickets at the station from a machine or the ticket desk.

Taxis

There is a taxi rank on Store Street, just beside the hostel. There are always plenty of taxi's in the city. They run on a meter and if you are leaving a tip around 10% is the norm.

Car Hire

If you fancy getting out of the city for a bit of an adventure you can hire a car. You need to be over the age of 25 and have a drivers licence with you.

Try  Budget Car Rental

Guinness Storehouse

No visit to Ireland is complete without a pint of Guinness and no visit to Dublin is complete without visiting the home of Guinness at St James Gate, The Guinness Storehouse. Tickets are €13.50 and include a free pint of Guinness at the end of the tour.

Dublin Bus Tour

This is by far the easiest way to see Dublin City. Get the best seats on the tour by getting on at the start which is just moments from Jacobs Inn. There is live English commentary and pre recorded multilingual commentary in 10 other languages including French, Spanish and German. The tour runs from 09.30 and tickets are valid for 48 hours. You can purchase your tickets directly from Jacobs Inn for just €16, just ask anyone at reception.

Viking Splash Tour

A tour of Dublin in a vehicle which can drive on dry land and in the water! This tour is lots of fun. You are encouraged to shout like a viking at unsuspecting passers by around the city centre as well as hearing about Viking Dublin. The bus then enters the water for a trip around the River Liffey. Ask at reception for more details.

The Jeannie Johnson Famine Ship

The Jeannie Johnson Famine Ship is docked just moments from Isaacs Hostel in the River Liffey in Dublin's Docklands. A guided tour of the Jeanie Johnston Famine Ship Museum gives visitors the opportunity to learn about the experiences of Irish emigrants as they made a daunting transatlantic passage full of hope yet desperate to escape the hardship in Ireland during the Famine years. Tours are at 11.00, 12.00, 14.00, 15.00, 16.00 and prices are from €8.50.

The GPO

The GPO is one of Dublin's most famous landmarks. Located on O'Connell Street it was the headquarters of the men and women who took part in the Easter Rising of April 1916. While that rebellion ended in failure with most Irish people lamenting the death and destruction caused. It led to Irish independence and the creation of a new State.

Shortly before mid-day on Easter Monday, Pearse, standing under the GPO portico, read out the Proclamation declaring Ireland a sovereign independent Republic. Copies were then pasted up on buildings around the city centre.

 An Post's copy is one of the few to have survived the turmoil of Easter Week and the passage of nearly a century.  It is now on public display in the An Post Museum in the G.P.O. Admission is just €2 and the GPO is a five minute walk from Isaacs Hostel.

Dublinia

Dublinia is a exhibition based in Christ Church Cathedral, not far from Temple Bar. There are three exhibitions on at the moment - Life in Medievil Dublin,  Meet the Vikings face to face and History Hunter where you can learn how archaeology works.This exhibition is interactive with characters popping out to entertain you and talk you though ancient times in Ireland. Easily accessed from the Hop on Hop off tour bus and a 20 minute walk from Isaacs Hostel. Entrance fee is €6.95.

Old Jameson Distillery

Located in Smithfield, Dublin and open 7 days a week, a visit to the Old Jameson Distillery is an unforgettable experience. Take the tour and taste some of Irelands’ finest Irish Whiskey. Tour and tasting costs €13.50 per adult and the last tour starts at 16.30.

Trinity College

 
Beautiful, historic city centre campus which houses lots of interesting things other than students including the Book of Kells, a beautifully ornate book hand written by monks in 800AD! On a sunny day, grab a student priced beer from the Pavillion and watch the cricket! A ten minute walk from Isaacs Hostel, towards Grafton Street.

Dublin Castle

 Right in the city centre and originally a viking fortress, Dublin castle is well worth a visit. It houses the lovely and local secret Chester Beatty gardens. You will get some excellent photo ops here. Located just off Dame Street, close to Temple Bar.

Kilmainham Gaol and Museum of Modern Art:

Hop on the red luas which is just outside Isaacs Hostel and this will bring you to Kilmainham which houses both the Museum of Modern Art and the historical Kilmainham Gaol, where the leaders of the rebellions of 1798, 1803, 1848, 1867 and 1916 were detained and executed. 

Theatre in Dublin:

Those of you who are theatre lovers cannot leave Dublin without visiting at least one of our many famous theatres. J.M. Synge, W.B.Yeats and G.B. Shaw were all connected with The Abbey Theatre andOrson Welles, James Mason and Michael Gambon all started their careers in The Gate Theatre. Both theatres are within a couple of minutes walk from Isaacs Hostel. Ask at reception for a list of what's on in the theatres around Dublin.

Dublin is a great shopping city especially for those with a stronger currency! It has all the UK high street shops such as Topshop, Oasis, Miss Selfridge, Debenhams, Marks & Spencers as well as the internationals such as Gap, H&M and Zara to name but a few. Grafton Street and Henry Street are the main shopping areas but there are also great shopping centres outside city centre at Dundrum (Get the luas green line) and Liffey Valley (Get a bus from the city centre).

Clothes Shops:

Carrolls:
www.buy4now.ie/carrolls
Locations all over city. This is place to go to pick up your touristy niknaks that won't weight down your luggage and won't cost the earth!

Penneys:
All over the place too, but main ones on O'Connell Street and Mary Street.
This is the place to go if you forgot to pack anything in your backpack, like socks or shampoo! The Irish version of Primark.

Dunnes Stores:
www.dunnesstores.ie
Again lots of places, but main city centre are Henry Street and Grafton Street/Stephens Green Shopping Centre.
Good cheap fashionable clothes and homeware. Some Dunnes Stores do food also.

Georges Street Arcade:
www.georgesstreetarcade.ie
South Great Georges Street (funnily enough!)
Part market/part trendy hangout with vintage and artisan shops selling everything from clothes to gourmet teas. Well worth a visit. If you are hungry pop into Simons Place for a mug of tea, a sandwich and some funky tunes.

Powerscourt Town Centre:
www.powerscourtcentre.com
South William Street, Dublin 2
Great shopping centre housed in a beautiful historical building. Lots of lovely small boutiques crowned by the Irish Design Centre on the top floor, showcasing Irish designers. Go on, thats what credit cards are for!!

Food Shops:

To feed yourself in your hostel obviously you need to find food. There is a plethora of Spars, Centra, SuperValu, Londis convenience stores on every corner for a handy grab. However if you're looking for a more substantial shop, you are looking for a Tesco, Dunnes Stores, Lidl, Aldi or Marks & Spencer:

Tesco:
Jervis Street Shopping Centre

Dunnes Stores:
Ilac Centre, Dublin 1
Stephens Green Shopping Centre, Dublin 2

Lidl/Aldi:
Parnell Street/Moore Street, Dublin 1

Marks & Spencers:
Mary Street, Dublin

Fallon & Byrne:
Exchequer Street
Fabulous upmarket grocery store with great instore restaurants. Full of stuff you can't buy elsewhere, so those craving some homegrown treat could be in luck.
Fab cheeses/olives etc. This is the place to buy your foccacia and sun blush cherry tomatoes on the weekend!

Temple Bar Food Market:
Meeting House Square
Homegrown organic food market, Saturdays 10-6.

Obviously there hundreds if not thousands of pubs in Dublin. They vary from traditional to very upmarket and yuppy. Standard pub hours are 10.30 to 12.30 but some places have late licences until up to 2.30am. Therefore prices also vary too. Here is ten of the best in no particular order.

Mulligans:
http://www.mulligans.ie
Poolbeg Street
Made famous by James Joyce in Ulysses, it has been said that the best pint of Guinness in Dublin is to be had here. Its a traditional type pub with a mixed clientele, ranging from locals to Trinity students.
View Google Map

The Porterhouse:
http://www.porterhousebrewco.com
Parliament Street
This pub brews all of its own beer from Templebrau to the intriguing Chocolate Stout. The original location is on Parliament Street just on the edge of Temple Bar. There are also locations on Nassau Street and Phibsborough. Live music many nights and always packed with a good atmosphere. Good mix of Dubliners and tourists. Serves food.
View Google Map

The Templebar:
http://www.thetemplebarpubdublin.com
48 Temple Bar
Legendary Irish pub in Temple Bar, full to the brim of both locals and tourists. Serves up typical Irish food to accompany your pint and traditional Irish music to entertain you while you take your refreshment. Super friendly and helpful staff full of tips and tricks of Dublin.
View Google Map

Cafe en Seine:
Dawson Street
One of Dublin's swishist bars. Cafe/Bar during the day serving up posh bar food and at night is a super trendy joint full of Dubliners turned out in designer togs. DJ's most nights til 2.30 and a fab jazz brunch on Sundays with a jaz band.
View Google Map

Doheny & Nesbits:
Merrion Row
This is a politicans/journalists/economists and sport fans pub. Typical old style Dublin pub with lots of snugs and a spacious lounge, this is the place to come to hear political gossip or talk knowledgably about rugby! Very popular with the after work Friday crowd.
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Brazen Head:
Lower Bridge
Essential stop on the tourist pub trail and a handy stop on the trek back from the Guinness storehouse! Oldest pub in Dublin, on this site since 1198! Usual Irish fare on offer and traditional music most nights.
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The Market Bar:
http://www.marketbar.ie
Fade Street
Bar is a huge old market warehouse. The massive room layout leads to a noisy but full of atmosphere pub. Also serves great tapas. Has large heated smoking area at the front.
View Google Map

Hogans:
Georges Street
Just around the corner from the Market Bar is Hogans, one of Dublin's biggest late night drinking pubs. Serves til about 2.30 at weekends, has a dj and great cocktails as well as traditional pints etc. Dubliners usually pass through here (or the Capitol Bar one block up) at some stage on their night out usually at the end.
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The Long Hall:
Georges Street
Just across the road from Hogans. Despite their proximity in location they couldn't be more different. This is another great 'old man's pub' which basically means traditional (but here quite ornate decor, no loud music and a good pint of Guinness. Great place to pick up random chats with wise dubliners, but gets packed on weekends.
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The Ice Bar:
Four Seasons Hotel, Ballsbridge
If you are a celebrity chaser while sipping cocktails and feasting on sushi type of backpacker (or flashpacker maybe!!) this is place to go. The majority of celebs staying in Dublin, stay in the Four Seasons so are spotted on a regular basis. Deck yourself out in your best gear and bring your credit card though!! (Another option if this is your vibe is the U2 owned Clarence Hotel with its Octogan Bar on Wellington Quay).
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Dublin is a very cosmopolitan city for food. It also can be quite expensive for the budget conscious traveller. Like any other major city Dublin is laden with fastfood restaurants for a bargain but not so healthy meal! Also for a meal reminscent of your asian travels try any of the asian restaurants on Moore Street/Parnell Street in Dublin 1.

Fast Food in Dublin:

McDonalds: www.mcdonalds.ie
Burger King: www.burgerking.co.uk
Supermacs: www.supermacs.ie
Subway: www.subway.com
Quiznos: www.quiznos.com

10 Good Eats in Dublin:

Leo Burdocks:
Werburgh Street
For the best fish and chips in Dublin, head to Leo Burdocks on Werburgh Street, just across from Christchurch. Traditionally served in newspaper, they've upgraded in recent years (no doubt for health and safety reasons) to just plain paper. Order up some fish and chips, load on the salt and vinegar and you're away. Best eaten in the open air! A feast will cost you around 8euro. This establishment is take away only. If you need to sit down and eat try the shops in either Phibsborough or Rathmines, but this is the original and best! Madly unhealthy as chips are laden with grease, but sure thats what makes them taste so good!
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Cafe Bar Deli:
www.cafebardeli.ie
Georges St
Dubliners old reliable for good quality food at decent prices with great atmosphere. CafeBarDeli are housed in the old Bewleys Buildings on Georges Street and Grafton Street. Their sheer size means that its nearly always possible to get a table for two no matter what time. Starters from 3 euro, Mains from 10 euro. Mediterranean inspired fare, big filling salads, pizza and pasta with fresh ingredients, yum olives and bread on the side. Beer and wine available.
View Google Map

Nude:
www.nude.ie
Suffolk Street
Healthy version of a health food joint. Divine wraps, homemade soups, salads, bakes and freshly squeezed juices adorn the long tables where you sit beside other diners on long benches. Food with a conscience and tastes damn good too! Open til about 9pm. Approx 5 euro. Other concessions sprinkled around the city. The mexican bean wrap gets two thumbs up!
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Gruel:
67 Dame Street
A Dublin institution amongst savvy city dwellers, this funky cafe serves up freshly made fare from an open kitchen in front of your very eyes. Famous for its roast in a roll and homemade soups, this cafe has a wide and varied menu with something to suit every budget. Tables close together, so its all atmosphere rather than calm dining! Soups, salads, pizzas, roast lamb shanks... you get the picture! Daily specials. From 5 euro for soups/starters up to 11.95 for the lamb, the menu is your oyster, so to speak! Open til about 9.30pm (10.30 on saturdays).
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Epicurean Food Hall:
Lower Liffey Street
This food hall on the corner of Liffey Street and Middle Abbey Street is a kind of posh food court. It has a concession of the aforementioned Leo Burdocks but also lots of choices for the discerning palate as well as wines to wash it all down! From Indian to Italian, real New York Bagels to Mexican Burritos and yummy french pastries, its got it all. Its open during the day and later on Thursdays and Saturdays this is place to go when you can't decide what you want. You can just have an authentice Italian espresso and pastry or a full on biriyani!
Click here for google map

Steps of Rome:
Chatham Street
Tiny pizza place where you can order slices of pizza at the counter to take out or eat in the cramped seating area. From about 3 euro a slice. Reasonably priced house wines to wash it down too! Been full of Italians anytime I've been there, which is surely a good sign. Popular for lunch with Dubliners who grab a slice and go!
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Cornucopia:
www.cornucopia.ie
Wicklow Street
This wholefood vegetarian restaurant has been going for decades and its lunch specials are legendary. It has a student canteen feel and is great value for money. Caters for all the 'free' people, dairy-free, wheat free, coelic etc. Makes all their own bread on the premises every day. Expect to pay about 10 euro for a main meal, but that will be a heaped plate of casserole,bake, etc with a selection of hearty salads. It will do you for hours!
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Yamamori:
www.yamamorinoodles.ie
Georges Street
Japanese fusion restaurant serving great sushi, sashimi, noodles etc on long tables with benches. Very popular though, expect to wait for a table at busy times or else just pop in earlier in the day and book a spot. Sushi selection from about 8 euro. Great miso soup both veggie and not. Have just opened a new sushi spot, north of the river just over the halpenny bridge. Worth a try!
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The Winding Stair:
www.winding-stair.com
Lower Ormond Quay
This restaurant upstairs a cool bookshop was a hang out for writers and artists way back in the 70's. It closed a few years ago to reopen as a more upmarket cafe/restaurant. Plenty of organic Irish fare here... a bit more expensive, but due to the atmosphere, history as well as the gorgeous food, its worth a visit, if you have a few euro in your pocket!
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Fallon & Byrne:
Exchequer Street
This upmarket supermarket has several eating options. A cafe on the ground floor, where you queue at the counter and pay and then try to grab a seat. Delish sambos ranging from Gorgonzola, Rocket, Walnut and Honey to the classic BLT. Also great dishes like morrocan casserole and samosas, all made fresh on the premises. Sandwiches are pricy around 5 euro but well worth it. If you can't get space to sit in the cafe you can bring your food down to the basement to grab a seat in the wine bar. Available in the wine bar (apart from the obvious great selection of wine) is table service for posh open sandwiches like smoked salmon and plates of cheese and meats. Upstairs is the restaurant, which is delicious but certainly WAY outside the backpacker budget!!
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