The capital of Ireland is definitely a place of beauty! In addition to two short visits, I had a fantastic day-trip experience in Dublin! I really enjoy the train transportation in Ireland because most popular counties and towns are about 1-2 hours from each other, or less. This makes train rides the preferred travel method in Ireland and is convenient for tourists due to how affordable the train prices are to get from place to place quickly. Most train rides from Dublin to a county nearby average at around 13 euro and for counties across the country from Dublin can reach 25 euro. The price varies at each destination depending on where you are going and where you are leaving. Take a look for yourself here.
Once I arrived at the Dublin Heuston Train Station from Carlow I was greeted by a small Café shop named "Brambles Café" that served many refreshments both warm and cool, a breakfast-buffet style, and a variety of snacks which are very handy for tourists to take on-the-go throughout their travels and have limited time for breaks. Of course I had to grab some delicious treats before I set off to explore the city! It was funny to see the hungry pigeons eating scraps off plates after people left their tables.
The famous Guinness factory is one of the main attractions but due to limited time, I had to skip the factory tour. However, it’s hard to miss the Guinness transports driving through Dublin with products fresh from the factory. But I’ll save that tour for my next visit to Dublin in late summer 2023. Instead, I decided to follow the lovely main canal (River Liffey) and briefly visit the side streets such as the famous Temple Bar area. I was in awe at the beauty of the surrounding area, especially how the canal snaked its way through the heart of the capital.
It is easy to get distracted by the street decorations, canal scenery and bustling noise of the capital's traffic. The double decker buses stood out as they transported people around Dublin on different tours to learn about the culture and history. I am hoping to take a ride on a double decker bus for the next time I am in Dublin! I never knew how much I enjoyed looking at swans until I lived in Ireland. Since I rarely see them where I live in Canada, I feel fortunate to be able to admire these beautiful big birds especially as they travel in pairs down the Dublin canal.
One of the spectacular sights of Dublin are the bridges that connect both sides of the canal. Each bridge has a unique architectural design but the “Samuel Beckett” bridge is easily my favorite because it looks like a harp and has a strong resemblance to the Guinness logo.
Around noon, I reached the halfway mark of the canal and decided to explore a little bit of the Dublin streets. The tall metal pole in the middle of the street caught me by surprise because I did not expect to reach O’Connell Street Lower so quickly. When I first arrived in Ireland, a taxi driver told me that “The metal pole is called “The Spire” and it signifies the exact middle of the capital city”. Most people use The Spire as a meetup place or to help guide people as a landmark for directions.
As I made my way back to the canal, the memorial statues added a historical element to the capital that makes Dublin unique! I continued walking on the other side of the canal which offered a new perspective that I might have missed if I stayed on only one side of the canal. Further down the canal, I came across large “Pirate” like ships, some were actually open to the public to explore! I recommend any tourist to make this part of your trip!
Looking for a spot in Dublin to hangout with a group of friends/family? At the end of the canal, you will eventually reach a place called “Brewdog Outpost Dublin”. The restaurant has a large downstairs, first floor outdoor patio, second floor outdoor patio, along with a second floor filled with activities (Pool table, darts, etc.) and casual sitting areas. The eatery is part of the larger “Three locks Square” area which I found to be a nice peaceful spot in Dublin away from most heavy traffic.
I spent the evening of my day trip in Dublin walking back to Dublin Hueston train station. There were endless options of enticing places to have dinner, however, I was craving seafood. “J2 Sushi and Grill” caught my eye and I am glad I chose this restaurant as my place to eat because they had a variety of sushi combo options with good prices! Seafood lovers, I highly recommend this sushi restaurant if you are in Dublin!
The street decorations were incredible throughout the day, however, as the sun set on a beautiful day, the capital lit up. It was an unforgettable sight seeing the buildings lit up, lights floating over the streets, canal ships with eye-catching displays and all bridges sparkled like fireflies hovering over the canal! Sometimes the canal was so still that you can see a mirror reflection off the water that would make Dublin's night lights display a fuller experience.
In conclusion, I have only scratched the surface as to what Dublin has to offer. I cannot wait to return to Ireland and explore the country's capital in depth!
This journey will be continued…