Dublin has produced many great writers throughout history, including Oscar Wilde (The Importance of Being Ernest), Bram Stoker (Dracula) and James Joyce (Ulysses). Head to Grafton Street to see the famous Sweny’s Pharmacy featured in Joyce’s 1922 novel Ulysses – readings of the text take place every lunchtime and you can even pick up a bar of their famous lemon soap as a souvenir.
Located in the heart of the St James’s Gate Brewery, the Guinness Storehouse is a must-see attraction. Your journey begins at the bottom of the world’s largest pint glass. From there, you’ll find out all about Arthur Guinness himself, the history of the brand’s iconic advertising campaigns and even learn how to pull your own pint properly. Finish the experience with a complimentary pint of Guinness in the building’s rooftop Gravity Bar, where you’ll also enjoy panoramic views of the city.
Widely regarded as Ireland’s finest national treasure, The Book of Kells is a beautifully illustrated Christian manuscript produced sometime between the late 6th and early 9th centuries. See this masterwork of Western calligraphy as well as The Long Room at Dublin’s Trinity College Library. While you’re there, be sure to look around you and admire the beauty of The Long Room itself – this 65-metre-long chamber houses more than 200,000 of the library’s oldest books and is lined with marble busts of great philosophers and writers.
Dublin has more green spaces per square kilometre than any other European capital city. The rectangular St Stephen’s Green provides an oasis of calm in the middle of a bustling city. Look out for statues of Arthur Guinness, WB Yeats and James Joyce. Phoenix Park is another lovely place to laze on the grass and relax in the sun. Around four times the size of London’s Hyde Park, Phoenix Park features a polo field and Dublin Zoo.
Inhabited since around 140 AD, Dublin has a long and fascinating history. Situated in a beautiful Georgian townhouse in the heart of the city, The Little Museum of Dublin is a brilliant introduction to the story of the Irish capital. Dublinia, meanwhile, gives you the opportunity to experience Viking and Medieval Dublin. Do also visit Dublin's Kilmainham Gaol, which housed famous political and military leaders until 1924. Literature lovers should also drop by the Writers’ Museum, which celebrates the city’s many writers of international renown.
Which cruise lines sail to Dublin?
