Dublin – Ireland’s capital ready to fascinate with many attractions

Dublin, the capital city of Ireland, has transformed massively over the recent years. But this historic city continues to maintain its old world charm and harmoniously blends the modern with the traditional. Dublin with its numerous art galleries, museums and sightseeing opportunities has become a prime European destination for millions of tourists from different parts of the world.

The River Liffey divides Dublin into two parts. The north side of the city is a major haunt for shopaholics. The shopping area is found here. The famous streets worth exploring here include Henry Street, Grafton Street and O’Connell Street. The city’s south side is home to many attractions, art galleries and museums. Another important aspect of Dublin is its relatively small city center which can be easily explored on foot.

Let us get a firsthand knowledge about some of the major attractions that are a must visit during your holidays in Dublin. These prominent places of interest include Guinness Store House, Kilmainham Gaol, Trinity College, Phoenix Park, National Gallery of Ireland, Leinster House, Croke Park, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin Writers Museum, Dublin Castle, Dublin Zoo, National Aquatic Centre, Book of Kells, National Botanic Gardens, Farmleigh House and the Science Gallery.

Exploring some of these important attractions will offer a glimpse into Dublin’s rich history and culture.

Guinness Store House
The Guinness Store House is exquisitely designed building comprising seven floors and resembling a giant print glass. Each floor in this building gives an insight into all that goes into the making of Dublin’s most famous drink “Guinness Beer”. The exhibition here showcases the historical journey of the Guinness Store House. The bar is situated on the 7th floor of this amazing building. The visitors can enjoy spectacular views of the city of Dublin while enjoying their complimentary pint of beer at the Gravity Bar. The entrance fee here is expensive. However, your sightseeing in Dublin will remain incomplete if you don’t visit this prominent attraction.

Trinity College
The Trinity College, also called College Green, is situated at the northern end of Grafton Street. British monarch Queen Elizabeth founded the Trinity College in 1592. A visit to this oldest university in Ireland offers a fascinating glimpse into its rich history. Famous authors such as Beckett, Wilde and Swift are among the prominent students to have studied here. The Trinity College is also home to the Old Library. It was constructed between 1712 and 1732, and presently houses a 9th century manuscript of the gospels called the “Book of Kells”. The Trinity College is great to visit during the summer. You will see students gathering outside the Pavilion Bar for playing a game of cricket.

National Gallery of Ireland
Explore the National Gallery of Ireland to know the rich heritage and culture of this beautiful country. The National Gallery of Ireland is home to a vast collection of 2,500 paintings and nearly 10,000 other forms of works. The works of famous Irish artists such as Louis le Brocquy and Jack B. Yeats are prominently showcased here. The visitors are offered free entry to the museum.

Kilmainham Gaol
History buffs, here’s an interesting place for you to visit in Dublin. Consider visiting the Kilmainham Gaol museum to relive the Irish history. This place stands testimony to the imprisonment of many Irish nationalist leaders over the years and the execution of the leaders of the 1916 Easter Rising. Apart from visiting the Kilmainham Gaol, you can also visit the Irish Museum of Modern Art which is situated nearby.

St. Patrick’s Cathedral
St. Patrick’s Cathedral is the largest church in Ireland situated nearby the city center. This is an essential part of a tourist’s itinerary. Your visit to Dublin will be considered to be rather incomplete if you don’t visit the church. The St. Patrick’s Cathedral was founded in the 12th century and is replete with history. Famous author Jonathan Swift, who wrote “Gulliver’s Travels”, is buried at the cathedral. He was its dean from 1713 to 1745. If you are visiting St. Patrick’s Cathedral, do keep an eye on the choral concerts which are hosted here regularly.

Leinster House
The Leinster House, which is full of Irish history, is a must visit attraction. This magnificent building presently houses the Irish parliament. The visitors are allowed free access to this building. However, foreign tourists visiting Ireland and planning to visit the Leinster House are required to get in touch with their respective embassies or consulates for seeking permission in advance to visit this iconic place.

Phoenix Park
The Phoenix Park is Europe’s largest urban enclosed park. The area of this park is more than twice that of New York’s Central Park. Visitors get a real treat when visiting the park on a good day, particularly when it doesn’t rain. The park also presently houses the President of Ireland’s residence. The Dublin Zoo is also situated here.