Tours in Dublin 8

Dublin is a river city, and the Liffey splits the centre into a north and a south bank. Its Viking beginnings were dug up at Wood Quay, where the medieval town lies under the modern one. The old centre is small.

Things to do in Dublin start on foot. Most of the centre fits inside a half-hour walk.

South of the river

• Temple Bar. Cobbled lanes of pubs, music venues and street art.
• Trinity College. Home of the Book of Kells, an illuminated manuscript of the 9th century.
• Dublin Castle. A medieval fortress that became the seat of British rule.
• Christ Church and St Patrick's. The two medieval cathedrals, a short walk apart.
• Molly Malone. The statue beside St Andrew's Church.
• St Stephen's Green. The park, with the Fusiliers' Arch at its corner.

North of the river, O'Connell Street is the wide main road. The Spire, some 120 metres tall, stands on it.

Ways to see it

• Guided walk. Two hours of exteriors with a licensed local guide, or three with skip-the-line entry to the Book of Kells. Groups run up to fifty.
• Phone quests. A ghost hunt, a pub trail through Darkey Kelly's and the Brazen Head, and a romance quest by Oscar Wilde House. Each runs 45 minutes to two and a half hours.
• Scavenger hunts. Two self-guided versions of about two to three hours, played at your own pace.

You can pause a quest or hunt and resume the next day.

Beyond the centre

DART trains reach Howth and Dalkey along the coast. The Wicklow Mountains and Glendalough are about an hour away by car.

Practical

• Weather. Winter days reach about 8C and summer days about 20C. Rain falls in every month, so carry a waterproof.
• Getting around. The airport is about 10 km north of the centre. A Leap Card covers buses, the Luas tram and the DART.
• Book of Kells. Timed tickets can sell out in summer, so reserve ahead.
• Pubs. Order at the bar. Nobody expects a tip for a drink, and ten percent is normal for a meal.