What do you associate directly with Ireland and Dublin?
Green kobolds, the so-called Leprechaun. Guiness, the untypically dark beer. Shamrocks, which somehow everyone associates with Ireland in addition to being a symbol of luck. And alcohol, lots of alcohol! The Irish are known as a people who like to drink too much and party until late at night.
But does Dublin offer more than that? More than the typical cliché? Or is it exactly this that makes the Irish capital so interesting?
What is striking during the first walk through the streets towards the center is the relatively strict line with the typical architecture. The apartment blocks look almost identical and can hardly be distinguished from each other.
If it were not for the many colorful doors!
Various legends exist here and want to know the real reason for their existence.
Be it that in 1901 after the death of Queen Victoria all were asked to paint the front doors black as a sign of mourning. Since Ireland was not yet independent at that time, they should also participate. However, they would have painted the doors extra colorful out of rebellion.
Another legend says that the Irish women had the front doors painted colorfully, so that the husbands after a night full of Guinness beer and good whiskey can still find their own house between all the very similar looking.
Believe me, it’s a problem even without alcohol! Especially if your sense of direction is not the best. If you ask us, the second theory really makes more sense and is somehow much more awesome. Especially if you’ve spent a few days in Dublin and get a bit of an impression of what Irish people are really like.
Dublin loves its churches and cathedrals! Saint Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin is one of the most important religious sites in the country, as it is the national cathedral of the Church of Ireland. On top of that, it offers a beautiful glimpse of the beautiful Gothic style architecture.
Right in front of St Patrick’s Cathedral is the beautiful St Patrick’s Park. A nice place to enjoy some greenery, flowers and fountains, while looking at the cathedral and get the Dublin vibes.
Dublin Castle is definitely one of the most beautiful buildings in all of Dublin. On site it is hard to fill anything catapulted back to the mediaeval times (Warning: Reference). Today it serves as a government complex and conference center.
The most exciting thing about Dublin Castle is the part that stands out clearly from the actual castle in terms of color and architecture. It is somewhat similar to the Palácio da Pena in Sintra.
The Chapel Royal, as part of Dublin Castle, is a 19th century chapel built in the wonderful Gothic style. However, it has not been used for worship since 1983.
Close to Dublin Castle is also the City Hall. As well as being a beautiful example of 18th century architecture, today it also serves as the formal seat of Dublin City Council.
The beautiful Christ Church Cathedral is another religious site in Dublin that is a must visit. It is the older of the two cathedrals from the medieval period, the other being St Patrick’s Cathedral.
The Temple Bar in Dublin refers to two places in the same area at the same time. One is the historic Temple Bar itself, which is best known for evenings filled with Irish music, beer and whiskey.
On the other hand, Temple Bar also refers to the whole area, where there are numerous other bars in the same style. Depending on the time of day, it can get a little crowded in the original Temple Bar.
In this case, we can recommend strolling through the streets while inhaling the smell of beer in the air and sitting in a nearby Irish pub to the sounds of harps, pipes and bouzoukis.
Have you heard the legend of Molly Malone?
“Molly Malone” is a song based in Dublin, Ireland, and has gained recognition as the unofficial anthem of the city.
The song spins a fictional tale about a fishwife working the streets of Dublin who met an untimely end due to fever. In the late 20th century, a legend cropped up, hinting at a real Molly from the 17th century.
She’s often painted as a street vendor by day and an occasional prostitute by night. On the flip side, some depict her as one of the rare chaste female street vendors of her era.
After all the historical places (yes, even the Temple Bar) you deserve some relaxation.
How about some shopping?
Stephen’s Green Shopping Centre is ideal for that. The large indoor shopping center leaves nothing to be desired.
The shopping center is named after St. Stephen’s Green, the city park across the street. But what makes it so special is the exterior architecture of the building.
The park, which is also the namesake for the shopping center just opposite, is perfect for some nature in the middle of Dublin. The greenery and all the beautiful flowers and plants invite you to linger.
St. Mary’s Chapel of Ease is located just outside the city center, but still very central and definitely worth a visit. Also known as “The Black Church” because it takes on a black hue when wet. This is not a miracle, but rather a result of it being constructed from local limestone.
You can easily discover most of Dublin on foot. In case you don’t want to walk too much, get around Dublin by public transport. The bus network is well developed and perfect for exploring everything around the city centre of Dublin.
Dublin is a good idea all year round. Especially between June and August it is warm (for Ireland anyway) and many events take place. Remember that the city is unfortunately not spared from the big neighbour’s weather and therefore it can rain from time to time.
