Things to Do in Dublin
Dublin, Dublin…First of all, with its almost instantaneously changing weather, I’d call it a bit of a “bipolar” city. The rapidly moving clouds, driven by strong winds, are the main culprit. One minute you’re wandering happily in the sunshine; ten minutes later, a sudden downpour can dampen your spirits as you scramble for shelter. Fortunately, these bursts are usually brief. When the rain starts, just do as the Dubliners do: find a spot to take cover and wait for it to pass.
The unpredictable weather is also reflected in the local fashion. It’s not uncommon to see someone carrying a raincoat or wearing a cardigan while sporting flip-flops or sandals on their feet! 🙂
Dublin was the final stop on our Scotland-Ireland tour. Our expectations were high, even though we didn’t quite know what to await. We hadn’t done thorough research before arriving, which played a big role in our experience—I guess this is what people mean by “going with the flow.
Places to Visit in Dublin
Trinity College
Our first stop was Trinity College, most famous for its stunning library (home to the Book of Kells). You can spot the library’s popularity just by the length of the queue. Between the entrance fee and the long wait, we decided to skip the interior. According to others in our group who did go in, the photos you see online pretty much cover it. While its use as a filming location for Harry Potter boosts interest, I think the college’s history is far more fascinating. Until 1970, it was a Protestant-only institution that banned Catholics; it’s wild to think that 1970 was such a recent date.
Another highlight at Trinity is Arnaldo Pomodoro’s “Sphere Within Sphere” sculpture. The original is in the Vatican. From one angle, it looks perfectly smooth, but on the other, a crack reveals another sphere emerging from within. Interpretations vary, some say it represents the fragility of the world, others say it’s about elites enslaving a fractured planet. Pomodoro himself says the outer layer is Christianity and the inner is the world. Personally, I think art should always be left to the viewer. Just as a songwriter shouldn’t dictate exactly how you feel when you hear a lyric, the same should apply to a sculpture.
I was also moved by a quote I saw here from Emmeline Pankhurst, the leader of the Suffragette movement: “If we win this, the hardest of struggles… it will be much easier in the future for all the women in the world to win their own battles when the time comes.”
Grafton Street
Our next stop was the famous shopping hub, Grafton Street. This area is packed with stores and hidden malls in the side streets. As you might expect, it’s quite crowded but full of energy.
St. Stephen’s Green
At the end of the street lies our favorite spot in Dublin: St. Stephen’s Green. As someone who loves parks, you could leave me here to wander for hours. While it doesn’t quite match the grandeur of London’s parks, it does have a charm reminiscent of St. James’s Park. If you have some food with you and don’t mind a little adventure, try holding out crumbs in your palm—pigeons might land on your arm or even your head! However, with seagulls and other birds joining in, the experience can quickly go from delightful to a bit overwhelming. St. Stephen’s Green is perfect for relaxing, finding peace, and escaping the hustle and bustle of the city.
After leaving St. Stephen’s Green and walking a bit, you’ll come across colorful doors. When Queen Victoria died, it was decided to paint the doors black as a sign of mourning, but the Irish, who didn’t want English rule, decided to paint their doors in bright colors instead. Another popular interpretation is that they painted them this way to easily find their doors when they got drunk.
Temple Bar
The most popular spot for tourists in Dublin is undoubtedly Temple Bar. Everyone outside is searching for a good angle to take a photo. Inside, there’s live music all day long; even if you don’t drink anything, I’d say go in and take a look.
Liffey River
Another enjoyable activity in Dublin is walking along the Liffey River when the sun is shining. Don’t forget to visit the Ha’Penny Bridge, the first bridge built for pedestrians here. Before this bridge, people used to cross by boat, but when the boats got old, the operator Walsh decided to build a bridge instead of repairing the boats. Those crossing the bridge, which replaced the boats, were charged half a penny (Ha’penny). Over time, the name of the bridge became Ha’penny because of the fee.
National Gallery
One of the activities to do during rainy weather is to visit the National Gallery, which has free entry. Inevitably, I compare it with other galleries I’ve visited, and it does fall a bit short, but the mural on the inner wall is worth seeing.
Molly Malone Statue
There’s also the Molly Malone Statue on Suffolk Street. This woman, who was both a fishmonger and a prostitute, was loved by the people, so after she died, a statue was made of her. There are also rumors that touching her breasts brings luck and that her ghost roams the city. There’s even an Irish song about Molly Malone (Cockles and Mussels).
The only place we missed out on in Dublin was Phoenix Park, which is a bit far from the city center and quite large; we were really eager after seeing photos taken with the deer there, but we ran out of time. Fortunately, from what we heard from those who went, it’s not always possible to see deer.
We didn’t want to go and spend money at the Guinness Brewery because I was not a fan of beer at the time. Those who visited loved it, and even if you don’t drink beer, they said you should go, but the decision is yours. Also, as seen in the cover photo, Heineken, despite not being an Irish brand, has tried to make itself stand out in this pub paradise.
Transportation in Dublin
It might be more accurate to name this section “Traffic in Dublin.” I didn’t expect it at all, but there’s a lot of traffic in Dublin, especially during rush hour. The public transportation network isn’t very developed either. The trams are crowded. I’d recommend walking around Dublin.
Also, if you happen to encounter an important event like the Pope’s visit, as we did, some roads might be closed, so it’s good to keep track of these and take precautions accordingly.
You might also want to check out my post “Day Trips from Dublin“.
