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Dublin, love it or hate it? please tell me why

Dublin, love it or hate it? please tell me why

Old Dec 22nd, 2014, 04:55 AM
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Dublin, love it or hate it? please tell me why

Hello all
I have a chance to go to either Dublin or Edinburgh for a week in April. I've already been to Edinburgh and absolutely loved it. I am inclined to go to Dublin to see a place I haven't seen before (I love cities). I have read a bit on the city and browsed the forums and it seems that most people are at one extreme or the other, they either love it or hate it.
I am interested in literary and cultural connections, architecture, food, and music. I love walking around and exploring cities on foot if possible, one of the reasons I loved Edinburgh.
I would love to hear your opinion/experience re Dublin.

Thanks
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Old Dec 22nd, 2014, 06:03 AM
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Some years ago we spent time in Dublin with another couple and really enjoyed it. We did lots of walking with major sights being Trinity College/Book of Kells, St. Stephens Green, Christ Church incl. Evensong, Dublin Castle, Kilmainham Jail, Irish Writers Museum, National Gallery, Guinness brewery. Last mentioned optional I would say. Also a stop in the Post Office site of 1916 uprising and visiting Temple Bar area pubs for music and grub. And we went to two plays: Gate Theatre and Abbey Theatre.

Also from Dublin you can do day trips south to Glendalough and north to Newgrange. Some feel there isn't time for Dublin and while there is much to see in Ireland I'd say enjoy what time permits in Dublin.
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Old Dec 22nd, 2014, 06:17 AM
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Dublin is an either love or hate spot for a couple of reasons. Firstly there is Dublin and then there is Ireland outside the M50 ring. Its expensive as is Edinburgh. It is UK Georgian/Edwardian/Victorian in architecture so hardly spectacular in general although there are good points. You are also handy for Belfast which ticks the city box but again hardly great on a European scale.

Then what do I know being a Culchie born and raised why would I see Dublin any different than Manchester, Liverpool or Leeds in the north of England. You would hate Ireland its all country laid back and friendly not a bit like Dublin.
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Old Dec 22nd, 2014, 07:05 AM
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I don't hate Dublin. It is a nice city. But 2 or 3 days there is plenty IMO/IME. I much prefer Edinburgh.

If you want to visit someplace new, I'd go to Dublin but also visit another part of Ireland for a couple of days or maybe head up to Belfast for a couple of days.
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Old Dec 22nd, 2014, 08:26 AM
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Dublin is a charming small city and has plenty to keep you busy for 3 or 4 days.

A number of good museums, Trinity and the Book of Kells, the Castle and good music and theater scenes. Try to see something by one of the Irish playwrights: Shaw, Wilde, O'Casey, etc.

There are also a number of sights for easy day trips - including Newgrange - an amazing stone age site.
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Old Dec 22nd, 2014, 08:41 AM
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I love both Dublin and Edinburgh. They are beautiful, "do-able" cities for a short break and both have nearby day trips to fill more than a few days outside the city.

I've always felt that they are very similar in that they don't feel as remote or distant as larger cities like London do. It feels more personal and I always have a better time talking to people in Dublin and Edinburgh than I do elsewhere.

I just returned to Dublin for the first time in 9 years after spending a lot of the 90s and early 2000s there, and it took not more than an hour to remember why I love it. I took my sister, who'd never been, and after three days in London (which she felt was too unwieldy for a short break) felt that Dublin was the perfect escape for her. She had a good handle on the city and getting around it easily and saw most of what she wanted to in her time there. She's not a history buff, so we didn't do much of that, but if you do go in April and they are available (and you're interested), the Rebellion of 1916 walking tours are brilliant.
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Old Dec 22nd, 2014, 09:02 AM
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Thank you all for sharing your opinions and experiences. Sounds like Dublin is good option after all. What about an informal place where I can catch some live Irish music?

Thanks again
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Old Dec 22nd, 2014, 09:53 AM
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Oh yes, that was a major interest for us and you'll find many in the Temple Bar area including one just so named. I'm sure some will name a few.
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Old Dec 22nd, 2014, 10:24 AM
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^^ I saw signs for plenty of places that had live music different nights of the week, I don't remember specific names but we were primarily around Trinity College over through Temple Bar, so Ozarks' right on the money there.
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Old Dec 22nd, 2014, 10:41 AM
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For years I've been asked why Ireland is me favorite country...my one word answer......p-e-o-p-l-e.

For years I have been asked why I love Dublin...my one word answer...
p-e-o-p-l-e.
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Old Dec 22nd, 2014, 11:06 AM
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Did not hate it but have no desire to go back.

Enjoyed small places along the Bay...(one can easily visit for an afternoon):
Howth, Sandycove, Monkstown ..
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Old Dec 22nd, 2014, 11:37 AM
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Edinburgh > Dublin. Not close. And definitely wouldn't call Dublin beautiful. Not sure I'd say that about Edinburgh either, but it does have the iconic Castle and great vantage points at Calton Hill and Arthur's Seat.
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Old Dec 22nd, 2014, 11:53 AM
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I didn't love it or hate it, I imagine lots of people feel that way. It's a pleasant enough city in its way with some interesting things, and I love the Irish. I don't know why one would hate it exactly. I enjoyed the Georgian architecture, see Trinity, and I did a day trip to some interesting old castle just outside but I can't recall it's name.
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Old Dec 22nd, 2014, 12:42 PM
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What nytraveler wrote.. nice city that will keep you busy for a couple of days.
Many pubs, great museums (National Museum, Nat. Gallery, for example), nice folks.
Maybe a bit rough on the edges in some parts of the city.
Many nice pubs, many nice people..
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Old Dec 22nd, 2014, 01:18 PM
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Both cities are inhabited by extremely nice people. I was interested in the literary heritage in Dublin and my wife the scientific contributions in Edinburgh. I think Edinburgh, is a tad more interesting.
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Old Dec 22nd, 2014, 03:05 PM
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I love it and have been five times. Still have not made it to Kilmainham Jail or to St Michan's Church. I love history and literature so there is so much to see and do.
http://www.bewleyscafetheatre.com/ on my next trip list.
I love Edinburgh also but Dublin is my favorite.
Easy day trips.
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Old Dec 22nd, 2014, 03:14 PM
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http://www.gatetheatre.ie/ Also check out Trinity college walking tours. They are always very interesting and a bit off the wall.
Great food and pubs, a bit touristy but Oliver St. John Gogarty upstairs pub always has good music. Try getting a table before the evening set.
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Old Dec 24th, 2014, 06:29 AM
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I've visited both and enjoyed my time there, but I have only ever RETURNED to Dublin. And, while it is the charms of the non-Dublin countryside that draw us back every year, visiting the city is NEVER done begrudgingly.
It's a city, albeit, a relatively small and compact one. While Ireland's rail service is less than ideal for touring the Island's rural charms, the 'Spoke and Hub'(utilizing Dublin as THE hub) makes Dublin an excellent touring base to 'branch out' from, should the city's charms cease to delight.

A really old thread concerning Dublin:

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...f-time.cfm#top
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Old Dec 24th, 2014, 07:45 AM
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>>but I have only ever RETURNED to Dublin.
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Old Dec 24th, 2014, 08:28 AM
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We visited Dublin for the first time this past summer. I had no desire at all to go to Ireland. Yes,, I had heard the people are nice.. and the scenery is lovely, but frankly I have that at home( and our "mountains" are actually mountains.. not those bumps over there.. lol )

However.. my mate really wanted to go to Ireland. I was the trip planner, 28 days in Europe, I fit in a 5 night 4 day visit to Dublin ( with the cheap flights its easy to jump from country to country ) .

Glad I did..

The people are awesome.. but surprisingly I found the museums fascinating ( previously what I knew about Irish history I had gleaned from a few movies) .. seeing the Bog Mummies, the Broighter Hoard at the Archaeology Museum, learning more about the "troubles " at Collins Barracks.. we spent two afternoons enjoying both museums..
We also did a wonderful daytrip to Howth.. walked the cliffs there ( very easy walking.. but quite a drop!) now that was spectacular .. and had the best mussels ever at a place on the docks at Howth( called "The Deep")

We also did a daytour to Newgrange and Hill of Tara, excellent tour.. I knew nothing about prehistoric Ireland either!

And lastly .. a fun day /night out was the Rural Pub Tour we took,, smaller group, and off we went into the country to visit some very old, and dare I say "quaint" pubs.. we enjoyed that way more then the very commercial very expensive and very crowded Temple Bar area.

The people we met were charming and so kind, one time I was just standing outside a shop waiting for hubby( what a switch eh,, I hate shopping) and a lady just approached me and asked if I was lost and needed help!

I would like to visit Edinburgh one day ,, but no, Dublin was not a waste of time at all.
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