Dublin for a couple of days – any recommendations?

off to see a few bands next week at malahide castle, about half hour north of dublin, so we thought we’d book a midweek break and see a bit of the city too.

we’ve already got digs booked in malahide as we thought itd be better to travel into and out of the city at our leisure, rather than thousands leaving a gig at the same time and all wanting the same transport back to the centre.

also bought a 3 day Leap card pass so we can just get on whatever bus/tram/train we want at any time.

what we havent got, is any idea of what to do when we get there.  thoughts are……

day 1 – land at airport (early flight), get bus to digs, drop bags off and straight into dublin for the day and evening.

days 2 is gig day, its an evening jobbie so is there any point to staying in malahide and walking to gig, or dublin centre again for the day and then back to digs late afternoon.

day 3 is an evening flight home, so again we got best part of the day in the centre if so desired.

bit of googling suggests we would probably have enjoyed kilmainham gaol but left it too late for tickets, wifes not a guinness drinker so a tour of either there or jamesons distillery wouldnt really hit the spot.

ive read that grafton st is good for wandering along looking at the buskers, st stephens green for people watching, howth harbour for seal watching, and maybe look for something to eat/drink around ha’penny bridge.  we’re also both fontaines dc fans, so a pint in the liberty belle, visit to the lotts cafe, foggy dew and the workmans club maybe.

we’re not big on museums or history, its more of a decent vibe that we’d enjoy, maybe a bit of local music in a bar in the evening and a decent pint of guinness (for me anyway).  heard all about temple bar and their prices, so not too bothered about drinking there altho we’d probably poke our noses in.

anything else to suggest in either dublin or malahide?

thank you

Darkey Kelly’s, just on the ‘other’ side of Temple Bar was a great find for us. Ticks all the boxes, great beers; Guinesss natch plus a whole other load of interesting stuff on the other side of the bar. Fiddly dee music from later afternoons and not as crazy priced and rammed with ‘merican tourists as Temple Bar proper was. It was great, would recommend.

Another good one as The Celt for later on in the evening, it’s huge.

Get the train out of Dublin and go for a dip in the sea.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forty_Foot

i dont think we’ll be packing our trunks @jacobff brrrrrrr……

thanks @jamesmio, thats exactly the sort of thing we’d be looking for.

any recommendations for eats?  just a decent burger or something, nowt fancy.

cheers

Might be a bit late to book, but the Book of Kells exhibition is quite interesting if you like that kind of thing, plus you see Trinity library.

I’d second Jacobff to some extent – the DART is worth getting on and slowly pottering along to Howth or south towards Monkstown etc. If the weather’s rough the line south is even better, seeing the waves race in to about 3m away from the track.

Malahide is plesant enough, right by the sea.

Ambling around Dublin is amusement itself, it’s not really a city full of ‘things to do’ but just a great atmos, by the Liffey there are quayside walks, or as you say Stephen’s Green for ambling around.

The area around Grafton Street is largely pedestrianised so easy to wander about though usually very busy in that part of the city centre.

Phoenix Park is a lovely wide open space, not far from the main shopping areas, and pick up a Dublin Bike and you’ll soon get around.

Pub recommendation from me is by Connolly Station, the Brew Dock, they do do food as well but I like it for range of different beers and ales from across Ireland… https://galwaybaybrewery.com/brewdock/

Handy for the train too 🙂

IDK if up your street or not – but when I went (ages ago, work trip) we went for dinner at The Brazen Head where the meal was served in a room above the pub and accompanied by an evening of story telling.

It’s more than stories, it’s folklore and it’s also performance, the way the story is told with expression, dropping the volume so you’re leaning in to hear and then BOOM full voice to bring the drama to life. Just fab, it was a brilliant evening.

Looks now post covid they don’t do as a dinner, rather do a bit earlier so you can then go elsewhere.

An Evening of Irish Folklore and Fairies

Pi Pizza. You can’t book though so you’ll have to turn up and try your luck.

Gravediggers for a good pint
Head to ranelagh instead of temple bar (maybe a bit out the wrong way), a lot less touristy and loads of great pubs & atmosphere.
A walk up ticknock (Wicklow mins), and back down to the blue light pub is nice lunchtime stuff.

Haven’t a clue about malahide as it’s scary Northside 😉

There’s a replica tall ship on the river which you can get a guided tour of. It’s linked to Irish famine and exodus to America, we found that very informative.

Hmm, was going to recommend Kilmanham gaol but if no tickets…

You’re right about the Guinness factory though, it’s a tourist attraction,  not worth the entry price.

Chester beaty library at the castle is fascinating