Come along with exchange student, Cami Whitaker, as she explores the vibrant city of Dublin, just a bus ride away from UL! Read her tips on transportation, must-see attractions like Dublin Castle, Guinness Storehouse, and some hidden gems.
Studying abroad in Ireland can be a challenging experience whether it be for learning the culture, academics, making friends, traveling, etc. In this blog, I want to focus on traveling, but specifically traveling to Dublin. The capital city of Ireland, well known all around the world. There are so many things to do and see in Dublin. I will discuss multiple things that are a must in Dublin.
I’ll start with traveling to Dublin from the University of Limerick. Of course there is by car, but most international students don’t have a car while they are here. There are two other main options of transportation: a bus and the train. Let’s start with the bus system. There is an app that is available to download on your phone that is called “Dublin Coach”. They also have a website: https://www.dublincoach.ie/. This is the easiest way to buy a ticket to Dublin. All you must do is go to “book”, and type in all the information of your trip. The best part is that the bus leaves directly from UL. The stop is located right outside of Stables and the Pavillion. There is also a discounted rate for students who have a Leap Card. With the Leap Card, a round trip, to Dublin and back, is €12.50. Here is a little tip if you are taking the bus, make sure to get to your stop at least twenty minutes early. The buses to Dublin often arrive early and leave early. Once your bus comes, you have the driver scan your ticket in the app or from an email, and then you tap your Leap Card to the reader. Then you are on your way! The bus is about two and a half hours so make sure you’re comfortable. It will take you directly to the city center, where you get off at Burgh Quay. This is where you will go to get your bus to return to UL.
The other option of travelling to Dublin is by train. To book tickets, you go to the Irish Rail website: https://www.irishrail.ie/en-ie/. Type in all the information about your trip and search for times. You will be travelling from Limerick (Colbert) to Dublin Heuston. Once you have decided on a time for your train, there are up to three options of tickets to choose from: Low, Semi-Flexible, and Flexible. These determine how much time you will have before your train to change or amend your ticket. Low only allows up to 48 hours in advance, Semi-Flexible 24 hours, and Flexible 60 minutes. Low is the cheapest ticket, and Flexible is the most expensive. Tickets usually range from €14.99 to €25.49 depending on the ticket you select. After choosing your time, it will ask if you want to do manual seat selection or automatic. Either works just fine. Then you pay as usual, and you are all set. On the day of your train, I recommend getting to the station at least 45 minutes before its scheduled time. Sometimes the times of the trains change, and they leave earlier than originally scheduled. It’s always better to be early. The 304A bus will take you directly to Colbert Station from UL, but the 304 will also take you there, but the stop is about a block away from the station. Either bus will work. Once you are at the station, you will go up to one of the ticket machines and press on “pre-booked tickets”. It will ask you for your ticket collection number which you would have gotten in an email. Type it in and hit enter. It will then print your ticket. When it is time to board your train, there will be a person checking tickets before entering where the trains are. They will look at your ticket and sign/stamp it. Some may also ask to see your Leap Card. Then you walk through and find the platform your train is at. Depending on the time you chose for your train, you may have selected a direct train, or one that has one change. For the trains with a change, you will be on a train going to Limerick Junction. This is about a 20-minute train ride. You then get off at the Junction, and quickly get to your next train going to Dublin Heuston. This train is about two hours. Dublin Heuston is a bit outside the City Centre, so when you arrive you can take the tram or a bus to wherever you plan to go in Dublin.
Once in Dublin, there are many things to see and things to do. I have been there multiple times, and I have seen or done something new every time I have been there. Here are some of the best things to do or see in Dublin.
Dublin Castle
Dublin Castle is a large tourist attraction, but it also serves as a major government complex. It is still functioning today, but people are allowed to tour the state apartments of the castle. In the state apartments, there is the drawing room, the throne room, St. Patrick’s Hall, multiple galleries, etc. There are many paintings. old porcelain objects, and sculptures spread throughout the castle that are beautiful to look at. The original throne is still in the throne room as well. My favorite part of visiting Dublin Castle was St. Patrick’s Hall. It is a ceremonial room, but it reminded me of a ballroom. It is a very large room and there are original paintings on the ceiling. It is amazing to see. For the self-guided tour, tickets are €6 for students. The castle is open every day from 9:45am to 5:45pm with the last admission at 5:15pm. It is best to book your ticket online beforehand to make sure you get a ticket. This is the link to buy your tickets: https://www.dublincastle.ie/. When traveling to Dublin, make sure to see Dublin Castle.
Whiskey Distilleries
There are two large whiskey distilleries in Dublin that tourists are able to visit: Jameson Bow St. Distillery and Teeling Whiskey Distillery. Irish whiskey is a large part of Ireland’s history and their economics. Jameson Bow St. Distillery is over 200 years old, and it is monument to Irish Whiskey. It used to be a running factory, but now it is a large destination spot for tourists. Taking a tour of this place is amazing. You learn the history of not only Jameson Whiskey, but of Irish Whiskey in general and how much of an impact it had on the economic state of Ireland. You also learn how Irish whiskey is made, and what sets it apart from other whiskeys. The tour guides are amazing, knowledgeable, and humorous. There are different types of experiences here too. They have cocktail classes, cask draws, etc. which are more expensive than the normal one-hour tour. I recommend starting with the one-hour tour so you can learn about Jameson. This tour is €23 for students and can be booked here: https://www.jamesonwhiskey.com/en-ie/visit-our-distilleries/jameson-bow-street-distillery-tour/.
Teeling Whiskey Distillery is a different experience from Jameson because it opened quite recently, in 2015. It is the first new distillery in Dublin in over 125 years, and it was started by two brothers, Jack and Stephen Teeling. The tour of this distillery is incredible. Not only do you learn about the history of Irish Whiskey in Dublin and how Teeling Whiskey started, but you also get to see the inside of the distillery. They are a working and running distillery, so you can physically see whiskey being made. The tour guides and workers are very friendly and can answer any questions you may have. There are different experiences here as well. The normal tour is €20 and can be booked here: https://teelingdistillery.com/plan-your-visit/.
Guiness Storehouse
The Guiness Storehouse experience is nothing like I have ever seen. It is home to the most iconic beer of Ireland: Guiness. You learn about the history of Guiness through interactive activities, videos, sculptures, images, etc. There is even a whistling clam! It is a self-guided tour through the entire building, which has seven floors. When you get to the top, you get to enjoy the view of Dublin. There is so much to see and do in the Storehouse that you could be there for almost two hours! It is a must see when visiting Dublin. The experience is €17 for students and can be booked here: https://www.guinness-storehouse.com/en/visit.
Temple Bar
Temple Bar is the most famous pub in all of Dublin. It is a wonderful experience with live Irish music 24/7. It has been up and running since 1840 and is well known across the world for its ambiance and energy. There are always people there who have the best of times. It almost seems like it is a rite of passage to visit the pub while in Ireland, and if you do, you are guaranteed to have the best night!
Irish Rock ‘N’ Roll Museum
The Irish Rock ‘N’ Roll Museum is a great experience for everyone, even if you aren’t a huge rock fan. You learn about other music genres as well. They have a Hall of fame with all of the large Irish bands and artists including Thin Lizzy, The Cranberries, U2, The Pogues, Van Morrison, Hozier, etc. This museum is located in a working recording studio, so you will most likely hear some music being played. This is a guided tour, and they will take you into the original recording studio of U2, on stage of the venue right next door, and into an exhibit specifically dedicated to Thin Lizzy. A ten-minute video is also shown during the tour goign over the history of rock music in Ireland. This is an incredible experience for anyone who loves music. Tickets are €19 for students, and they can be booked here: https://irishrocknrollmuseum.com/.
Saint Patrick’s Cathedral
Saint Patrick’s Cathedral is a beautiful piece of architecture and the largest Cathedral in Ireland. It has been the heart of Dublin and Ireland’s history and culture for over 800 years. Even if you are not of the Catholic religion, I recommend visiting because of how beautiful and astounding it is. There are stained-glass windows along the walls. There are sculptures everywhere, and overall, it is a beautiful place to see. They do still hold masses there, so they have specific times they are open for tours. Your tour is self-guided, and you can stay as long as you would like. Tickets are €9 for students, and they can be booked here: https://www.stpatrickscathedral.ie/visit/.
Christ Church Cathedral
Christ Church Cathedral is a large part of the Irish heritage and has stood at the heart of Dublin for over 1,000 years. It is another beautiful piece of architecture that you need to visit. There are many stained-glass windows, sculptures, and they have the crypt. The crypt is Dublin’s oldest working structure. There are many different artifacts in the crypt, but the most famous is their mummified cat and rat. Like Saint Patrick’s Cathedral, this is a working church as well. Self-guided tour tickets are €9.50 for students, and they can be booked here: https://christchurchcathedral.ie/visiting/.
Trinity College Library
Trinity College Library and The Book of Kells Exhibition are wonderful things to see in Dublin. The Old Library was built in the 18th century and the Book of Kells is held there. The Book of Kells is a 9th-century gospel manuscript famous throughout the world. The library is also called The Long Room because it is a very long room with bookshelves all along it. However, many of the books have been taken down recently to try to help preserve them because of how old they are. In the Book of Kells Exhibition, you learn about how it came to Ireland and how important it was to the people of Ireland. It is a great experience. Tickets are €20 for students, and they can be booked here: https://www.visittrinity.ie/book-of-kells-experience/.
Art Museums
There are also many art museums in Dublin including the Hugh Lane Gallery, National Gallery of Ireland, and the Irish Museum of Modern Art. Art galleries and museums are not for everyone, but they are worth trying out. There are amazing pieces of work from multiple famous artists, but some galleries have recent works done by students of Dublin. It is also not just paintings. There are sculptures, videography, photography, interactive pieces, etc. They are all amazing to visit. These three galleries are all free to visit!
There are so many amazing things to do in Dublin. Whether you want to learn about Irish history, see beautiful architecture, see amazing art, or your just along to see Ireland, these are some of the best things to do or see in Dublin.
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