The A-Z Guide of Dublin
When you think of Dublin, images come to mind of lively pubs, wild nightlife, and plenty of culture, all condensed into one of the smallest capital cities in Europe. This is the reason why so many people choose to call Dublin home: whether it s the famous faces who regularly busk on Grafton Street (e.g. Ed Sheeran), or the breathtaking scenery on the outskirts of the city, you re never too far away from the action. In fact, there s so much going on in the capital that you can fill the entire alphabet with things to see and do, in and around the city (yep we ve even got stuff for Q, X, and Z).
Aviva Stadium AIf Ayou re a sports fan, you re in luck, because Dublin s Aviva Stadium is home to some of the country s most prominent sports teams. Here you can feel a sense of national pride, as fans from all over Ireland come to support their sides. If you re not a local, this is the perfect place to soak in the culture, because this stadium is home to both the national football team and the national rugby team, meaning you ll get to witness almost 50,000 Irish fans cheering for their country together.
Books Dublin has produced some of the most-loved writers of all time. Because of Oscar Wilde and James Joyce, it s no surprise that the city is closely associated with literature, and it forms a huge part of Dublin s heritage. If you head to the Trinity College Library, you ll find a long room where the bookshelves span from the floor to the ceiling. You ll feel like you ve stepped back in time, with high ladders being the only way to reach the topmost books the perfect study spot if you want to feel like you re a character in the Harry Potter series.
Copper Face Jacks If you choose to call Dublin home throughout your studies, then you ll get to know Copper Face Jacks well. It s one of the most Cpopular nightclubs in the city, and it brings a traditional Irish feel to a large space. Open every night of the week, with a mix of cheesy classics and the latest chart music, you can easily lose track of time and end up spending your whole night there.
D Dublin Castle This is a historic site that you should see at least once while you re living in the capital. This early-thirteenth century fort was originally a Viking settlement, and later a key location for the British during colonial rule. It was then handed back to to the Irish government when independence was established, and it still remains a key location for the country s decision-makers the perfect way to see how the city has changed over time.
EElephant and Castle ELocated in the heart of the [in] famous Temple Bar (we ll talk more about that later), Elephant and Castle borrows its name from the famous area in London, and draws inspiration from a New York restaurant of the same name. Expect American cuisine with the atmosphere of an Irish bar, while its bright, modern surroundings make it a popular choice for a younger crowd.
Flea Market Dublin Flea Market takes place on the last Sunday of each month in Newmarket farmers market. With over 70 stalls selling all things vintage, this market is a student s dream, and it s perfect for anyone looking to bag a bargain on some retro merchandise. Due to the large scale of this monthly event, you ll probably find what you re searching for if you look hard enough whether you re a book lover, record enthusiast, or could see yourself wearing a 1920s-style fur coat, Dublin flea market will have something for you.
Guinness Would an A-Z guide of Dublin be complete without reference to its most famous export? Even if you re not a big drinker, you ll have to try a Guinness in Dublin there s a reason why they say it tastes better here than anywhere else in the Gworld. It s readily available virtually anywhere you go, but if you want to take it one step further, you can go to the Guinness Storehouse to see how it s made. You ll get to find out all about the history of the drink, and you ll experience it at its freshest.
H Ha Penny BridgeHridgeH, this anybody who crossed. In 2016, H, this bridge turned 200 years Hld, old, and still remains a popular Hlandmark for locals and visitors Halike. The Ha Penny Bridge connects Hone half of Dublin with the other, and allows pedestrians to cross the River Liffey by foot. The history of the bridge explains its unusual name, with Dubliners previously having to cross the river by rowing boat, until the bridge was installed at a half-penny charge for
Irish Whiskey Museum Ireland is well known for its love of Idark spirits, so it s no surprise that Dublin s Whiskey Museum is such a popular attraction. Here you can Ilearn all about the history behind Ifamous Irish whiskey brands, and Ieven discover some new ones. You ll Iget to find out about the process of Imaking whiskey, and with a 3 ticket Iupgrade you ll get to taste premium Irish blends that have been matured Ifor at least 10 years.
Jameson Speaking of Irish whiskey, did you know that Ireland s most famous spirit also comes from Dublin? As great as Guinness is, it can be quite a filling beverage, so when you hit that wall, it s a good idea to switch over to Ireland s secondfavourite choice of alcohol. As with the Guinness Storehouse, you can take the Jameson experience one step further by visiting the Bow Street distillery, where you can learn all about how the whiskey is blended, find out how to make a few fancy cocktails, and, of course, taste the different Jameson blends.
Kilmainham Gaol KTake an eerie tour around Kilmainham Gaol an 18th-century prison that played an important part in maintaining British power during colonial rule. A visit to this jail is a great way to map the country s progression through time; as you walk through execution rooms and hard-labour yards, you ll get a real sense of the struggle for Irish independence.
Liffey Lfey LfeyLalf Dublin is split in half by its famouslalf famous river: the Liffey. The river played anlhe an important role in making Dublin thelmaking the city that it is today. It offered easyly. easy boat access, which Lh h turned Dublin into a bustling port and generatedlt generated trade which brought wealth to the city. In the native tongue, Liffey translates to life, which signifies the value of the river to the people of Dublin.
Molly Malone Take a stroll down Suffolk Street and you ll find the famous statue Mof Molly Malone. There are many stories as to who Molly Malone was, but, in reality, she s a fictional character from a famous local song of the same name. Despite there being no evidence that Molly was a real person, her statue has become one of Dublin s most recognisable monuments.
Nightlife Dublin is known for its amazing nightlife, which is why it s such a good place to call home throughout your time in college. You ll be spoiled for choice when it comes to finding places to drink, because despite its size it has a huge range of pubs on offer you could probably visit a different pub every week and still not have seen them all by the end of your degree! If the traditional Irish pub isn t for you, then there s a whole range of options, from indie music venues to late-night bars. It s completely up to you. O
O Connell Street If you live in Dublin, you ll know its main shopping street is about as close to the city centre as you can get. You can go here if you re in need of a little retail therapy, but that s not all the street offers. With impressive architecture, numerous monuments, and an upbeat atmosphere, it s the perfect place to soak in the Dublin vibe.
Post POffice If you re wondering Pdering why a postpdering post office has made Pde it onto this list, it s because PDublin s General Post Office, situated O ConnellPtuated O Connell Street, is a significant Pgnificant location in Irish history. It Pserved as the base of operations for the Irish volunteerspthe volunteers in the 1916 Easter Rising, as theypster they attempted to regain political control of the country from the British. You can still see the scars of the Rising, with bullet-holes still visible in the walls, and it still serves as a functioning head office for the Irish Postal Service a sign of resilience if you ve ever seen one.
Q102 We ll be surprised if you don t come into contact with popular Dublin radio Qstation Q102. This station plays a range of music, from local artists right through to classic chart music. It ll be pretty much unavoidable if you listen to the radio in the car, and despite being aimed at a slightly older audience, it will provide you will enough cheesy tunes to get you ready for your night out.
Ronan Keating Another one of Dublin s famous exports: you ll regularly hear Ronan s dulcet tones crooned out through Q102 maybe not the best going-out music, but there s no denying that If Tomorrow Never Comes is a banger in its own right, and a great tune to listen to if you want to cruise around Dublin in your car. S
St. Stephen s Green Famous Dublin author James Joyce once said, crossing Stephen s, that is my green No, we don t really know what he meant by that either, but what we do know is that this Victorian park is a great place to spend the afternoon when the weather picks up in the summer months. Events are sometimes held in this park, bringing the community together, plus you ll be right next to the Stephen s Green Shopping Centre, where there are plenty of options for food and drink.
Temple Tple Bar The notorious Temple Bar is antemple an area near the Ha Penny bridge,te bridge, and it draws in huge numberstin numbers of people looking to experiencetking experience Dublin s nightlife. If you choosetlife. choose to call Dublin home, it s unlikelythome, unlikely that you ll want to spend too muchtt much time here, because this touristtecause tourist trap isn t easy on the wallet. That being said, it s something that you should experience at least once throughout your time in Dublin, especially through the summer when people spill out onto the streets with Guinnesses in hand.
Umi Falafel Popular with local students, Umi Falafel offers affordable-buthealthy dining, with well-presented dishes that are Uperfect for sharing on social media. Located on Dame Street, this is the perfect place to go for lunch once you re done visiting the Molly Malone statue on the nearby Suffolk Street.
Vikings You might not know that Nordic invaders landed on the coast of Ireland in the year 795. From there, they raided coastal towns before heading up the River Liffey and taking control of Dublin as a strategic port for future raids. There are still signs of this period, which you can see by going on a Viking tour, where you can find out even more about the history of the city by boat. W
Wicklow Mountains Just a one-hour drive outside of Dublin, the Wicklow Mountains offer a scenic break from city life. This protected land has some of the best hikes in the country, where you can experience the unspoiled beauty of the Irish countryside, with plenty of opportunity to see deer, bats, and even some reptiles in their natural habitats.
X Xmas Market Dublin has some of the best Christmas markets in the country, making them a popular attraction for both locals and international visitors in fact, people travel from all over Europe to experience the atmosphere of Dublin in the winter. The best part is that if you choose to study in Dublin, it s all on your doorstep, meaning you ll get to see them more than once throughout your studies.
Yamamori Yamamori Noodles is another popular place for students to eat in Dublin. Here you ll experience award-winning Japanese cuisine that fits with the student budget. It s not just a great place to eat either; with great Ybeer, whiskey, and cocktails, you could easily spend an evening here plus you re just a five-minute walk from Temple Bar should you want to take your night a bit further!
Zoo Dublin Zoo is one of the most popular attractions in the country, and it s just on your doorstep. Over 400 animals call this zoo home, and with discounted rates for students, you ll find yourself exploring this 28-hectare park more than once throughout your studies.
Make Sure You re in the Heart of the Action There s so much to see and do in Dublin that it s no surprise thousands of people choose to call it home throughout their studies. For such a small city, there s plenty going on for students; you just need to make sure you put yourself in the heart of the action. Take a look at our brilliant student accommodation, where you ll be able to make the most of life in the city.