Dublin has been voted the friendliest city in Europe and it’s true to say that the biggest draw to the Irish capital is its people. Dubliners may not be the chicest of Europeans (especially not on a Friday night after too many pints of Guinness!) but they are, in general, genuinely warm, witty people who love to socialise and make foreigners feel welcome. You may not see what is so special about this less than glamorous city on first sight with its grey climate and run down jumbled architecture, but after a few days here you too will have fallen in love with Dublin for its laid-back, fun-loving, unpretentious vibe. A fairly recent influx of foreigners and foreign money has given the place a face lift and it can now add modern and multi-cultural to the list of positive adjectives that describe it.
Here is my very brief guide to visiting Dublin on a budget:
When booking your accommodation in Dublin you have a wide range of hotels, hostels, self-catering apartments at your disposal. My advice would be to look for a cheap B&B in Dublin and enjoy staying somewhere smaller than a hotel, with a homely feel and breakfast included in the price.
The local bus and train networks are pretty efficient and cheap to use although they stop running fairly early, so you have to rely on taxis to get home after a night out. This can be quite a drain on your funds, so booking centrally-located accommodation is always best.
Make the most of the many tourist attractions, including the National Museum, the Natural History Museum and the Hugh Lane Municipal Gallery of Modern Art. These places are great if it’s a rainy day but as soon as the sun comes out you should head to one of the beautiful landscaped parks such as St. Stephen’s Green which is considered one of the city’s top attractions. Merrion Square is an equally attractive green area of the city with a park area lined with Georgian townhouses.
For cheap eats head to one of the city’s most popular budget eateries such as the Bangkok Café on Parnell Street which is tiny (best to book a table) but serves up delicious Thai food at reasonable rates, Belgo – a great little Belgian restaurant serving up the classic Moules Frites and delicious Belgian beers or Milano if you prefer Italian food.
A trip to Dublin doesn’t have to be an expensive affair; a little careful planning can make a small budget go a long way and hopefully these money saving tips will leave you with enough cash to enjoy a pint or two; a national pastime in Ireland.
