The capital city of Ireland, Dublin, is a lively, animated city full of places to explore and things to entertain you. The Irish in general are very welcoming to tourists, and Dublin doesn’t disappoint. Its pedestrianized city centre allows for a pleasant day out, as you cheerfully wander through its historical streets. The River Liffey, Dublin’s main river, provides a great setting for numerous bars, coffee houses and restaurants. Whilst the large array of museums, green parks and shops provides plenty of captivating entertainment.
When planning to visit Dublin, why not consider a car to help you move around the city without having to resort to the local public transport. Auto Europe provides great deals from a large selection of vehicles. Having partnered for over 60 years with numerous local, national and international car rental suppliers, we are able to provide the perfect car rental for Dublin. Our dedicated reservation agents are on-hand to help you plan your next holiday in Dublin.
Dublin roads are well maintained and easy to navigate. Street signs are clear and you shouldn’t have too much trouble finding where you want to go. If you arrive via Dublin Airport, then the fastest way to reach Dublin’s city centre is through the M50 motorway. Although the most direct route, the M50 does however suffer from congestion at times. If you’re heading to Dublin via southern Ireland, then consider taking the M9 from Waterford or M8 from Cork.
To ease congestion and provide relevant information in regards to driving round the Irish capital with comfort, Dublin City Council recommends the following routes for a hassle-free experience. It is also very useful to tune into LiveDrive - 103.2 FM - in your car to obtain up-to-date traffic announcements. Take into consideration that bus lanes exist and are usually in operation from Monday – Saturday, 7am – 7pm. During these times, road lanes are reduced and can cause greater congestion.
Parking in Dublin is primarily only through a pay and display system. The network cost is determined by different zone colours – with yellow being the costliest and orange cheapest. On average parking in the yellow zone will cost you €2.90 per hour, whilst in the orange zone €1 per hour. Tickets must be displayed clearly on your vehicles dashboard. Before parking and leaving your car, make sure you confirm the meters active times – usually on the pay and display machine itself or on a nearby street sign-post. Meters accept coins, but you may also opt for a parking tag. For convenience this allows you to pay for on-street parking using your mobile phone.
Public garages exist throughout the city and are charged on an hourly basis. Often more secure than on-street parking, these garages charge around €2.50 - €3.10 per hour, with the added advantage that many garages are close to tourist attractions and centrally located.
Only 6 miles from Dublin city centre, Dublin Airport is the main entry and exit point into the Republic of Ireland. Being one of the top ten European airports in terms of passenger numbers, Dublin Airport is a modern, high-tech and well facilitated airport. Inaugurated in 1940, the airport now comprises of two runways, two terminals and handles an estimated 25 million passengers yearly. The airport currently serves 33 airlines across 180 routes.
Dublin International Airport (DUB)
Address: Dublin, Ireland
Website: www.dublinairport.com
Telephone: +353 (0) 1 814 1111
E-mail: information.queries@daa.ie
Dublin is an amazing city with an extremely vibrant nightlife, restaurants, authentic pubs and plenty of shopping districts to enjoy. Dublin literally has something for everyone and for those with more time on their hands, exploring both banks of River Liffey will be a pleasure. The Little Museum of Dublin will surely dazzle history lovers, likewise Dublin Castle, St. Patrick’s Cathedral and Kilmainham Gaol. For those looking to unwind amongst lush green surroundings then consider Phoenix Park or St. Stephen’s Green. Both great places to relax and have a picnic in. During the night, consider a traditional Irish folk show, or heading to the Guinness Storehouse.
Game of Thrones Tour: If you love everything Game of Thrones, then it is without doubt that a Game of Thrones tour should be on your itinerary. Either explore the area at your own pace with a car rental from Dublin, or book with a local agency for a guided tour. George R.R. Martin’s book, come series, used this area for some filming scenes. For example, Castle Ward is located only 2 hour’s drive from Dublin and was the scene for Winterfell.
Blarney Castle: The famous Blarney Castle is only a pleasant three hour’s drive south from Dublin city, taking you through picturesque lush countryside, County Tipperary and County Kildare. Blarney Castle contains the legendary Blarney Stone – in which according to legend, a kiss on the stone gives you the gift of the gab. Not far from the castle you can also visit the city of Cork, and enjoy the city’s historical centre, its vibrant shopping districts and grab a bite to eat at the English Market. St. Finn Bar’s Cathedral should also be on your visiting list whilst in Cork.
Moher Cliffs: County Clare is a coastal region well worth visiting. This beautiful region is just two and a half hours drive towards the west coast of Ireland. Enjoy the striking scenery of the cliffs as they rise up from the ocean. Easily reachable from the vibrant city of Galway, these cliffs are perfect for a day trip with the whole family. Take a leisurely stroll along the cliff tops, learn the history and geology of the local area and then head back to Galway for some dinner accompanied by street entertainers. If time permits, consider also exploring the Burren National Park, a great place to unwind and relax.
Located on the eastern coast of the Republic of Ireland, Dublin’s Gaelic name signifies “Black pool” – this is derived from the fact that a Poddle Stream converged with the River Liffey to create a deep pool at Dublin Castle. Dublin is located at the mouth of the River Liffey and incorporates the River Tolka and Royal Canal within the city’s limit. Dublin was originally founded as a Viking settlement and has subsequently come in and out of importance throughout its history.
As the present day capital city of Ireland, Dublin is the country’s central hub for culture, the arts and entertainment. Such attraction’s as Dublin Castle, the Spire of Dublin and the Book of Kells, which is housed in the Trinity College library, lures thousands of tourists per year. As Ireland’s important economic powerhouse, Dublin boast a population of 1.2 million inhabitants. It is also known as one of the greenest European cities, with plenty of large green parks and recreational land.
Dublin has moderate weather conditions, with the hottest months attaining around 16ºC, and the coldest as low as 5ºC. Although rain is common place, August is known as the wettest time of the month, with May having the greatest amount of daily sunshine (6.3 hours).
Like any major European capital city, Dublin has a modern and well integrated public transport network. The public transport not only services Dublin city and its surrounding suburbs, it also allows you to access other parts of Ireland such as Galway and Cork. A cheaper travel card option is available, called a Leap Card. This will allow you to use the public transport network at a greatly reduced price. Simply touch in and out with your Leap Card when entering the transport network.
Bus
A bus network runs within the city and out towards its suburbs. With over 200 bus lines, Dublin bus is the main operator, with additional smaller companies operating shorter lines. Bus fares are based on distance and can be settled using either cash or a Leap Card. Buses operate from 06:30 until 23:30 with a limited night service. For those wishing to head into Dublin city from Dublin Airport, the 41 bus will take you into town for around €3.30.
Train
The train system ushers into town numerous tourists and locals alike. The Dublin Area Rapid Transit system operates along the Irish Coast, whilst the Luas network operates inland services. The Luas operator runs two lines, the red line heads westwards to Saggart, and the green line heads south from Bride’s Glen. Trains are modern and well maintained, providing a quick and efficient service around Dublin and the Republic of Ireland.
Taxis
A taxi service exists in Dublin and is a good way to get around the city and its suburbs. Make sure you confirm the exact cost with the taxi driver before you set off on your journey. A trip from Dublin Airport into Dublin city centre will cost you around €20. You can pick-up a taxi from one of the many taxi ranks spread out throughout the city or by pre-booking.