ren_mcg

Hello Fellow Travelers!

I am looking for tips/opinions. I will be visiting my sister in Germany from the U.S. for about a week and we would like to take a small trip outside of Germany. We are debating between Amsterdam and Dublin. Suggestions? It will only be a Monday morning to Wednesday afternoon trip, so fairly brief.

A little backstory:
We grew up in Germany and took a lot of little trips as children. We have been to Amsterdam and the surrounding area a few times as children (tulips, windmills, cheese, etc.). We have frequented museums in Europe and the U.S. I enjoy the outdoors (hiking, rock climbing, etc.) and like good food and beer. I am leaning towards Dublin because I've never traveled to Ireland (yay to new things!), however, I feel like they may be more to do in Amsterdam. Or, does anyone have a better suggestion for a quick trip????

Thanks in advance for suggestions!

menachem

Yes, please go to Dublin. Thanks.

Tony2phones

Don't confuse Dublin with Ireland, just because its here doesn't make it Ireland.

Ireland or Amsterdam, I chose Ireland. Dublin or Amsterdam, let the flight times/costs decide.

ren_mcg

Tony, valid point. If we choose Dublin, we will most likely just spend the day in the city and overnight in Longford then Cliffs of Moher.

Tony2phones

"Longford" ?? not in a line between Dublin and the Cliffs? Is Dublin your only airport in/out?

LindaBrinck

I think CLiffs of Moher would be a long drive. Also you might get there and it could be fogged in and the boats won't want to go out.

Amsterdam is a much more vibrant city with a LOT to do. Dublin has some sites but is not very picturesque, unless you get out of the city and head to the Wicklow Mountains - Powerscourt is a nice spot for a day.

I think Shannon would be a better choice than Dublin because it is much prettier once you go into Adare and County Clare - maybe even drive to Dingle round trip on Tuesday. Avoid the Connor Pass into Dingle at night. It gets it's own weather system and is very dark and sheep just pop into the road at any time.

Dublin would be my last choice. I always tell people that it's like visiting Queens (NYC).

If you haven't been to Ireland, head to Shannon.

Macross

I love Dublin, the history, pubs, museums and the dart train can take you to Howth or Dún Laoghaire in under an hour from Connolly station.

Tony2phones

Love it, Cliffs get fogged in, washed out. Other spots on the same coast get all the sunshine. Not sure I live in the west of Ireland sometimes. Fair point though? when are you thinking of coming?

ren_mcg

We would fly into Dublin, yes.
We have family that lives in Longford, which, according to Google, is 1.5 hours drive. The cliffs are 2.5 hours from there.
It would be towards the end of March.

janisj

>> . . . according to Google<<

BIG mistake. Never ever use Google Map for calculating drive times in Ireland/the UK. Ever. Longford is more like a 2 hour drive from Dublin.

Dublin > Longford > the Cliffs is easily 5 hours 'car time' plus stops.

ren_mcg

Janisj, good to know. Thanks for the info.

hetismij2

Neither. Go to somewhere like Krakow instead.

fourfortravel

Timely question. We just returned yesterday from 2.5 days in Dublin on a quick city break, and for our interests, the time was ideal. On our arrival afternoon we toured the Guinness Storehouse. On the second day, because the weather was forecast (and turned out to be) gorgeous, we took the train to Howth for a day of cliff walking; a fresh seafood lunch; and even got to see the harbor seals begging for scraps from the returning fishing boats! Our final day in Dublin (also with gorgeous weather!) was busy with Irish history: Christ Church; St. Patrick's; Trinity College and the Book of Kells; and the GPO Witness Museum.

We have also been to Amsterdam over a six-day holiday, and felt that was sufficient time to enjoy the main sights, take a bicycle ride through Broek-im-Vaterland, and enjoy a day trip to Keukenhof (for tulips).

Having been to both cities, I think I would have left Amsterdam wishing I had had more than two days. With Dublin, we all felt the two days were perfect.

I hope this is helpful!

ren_mcg

hetismij2, been there a few times

ren_mcg

Fourfortravel, thanks! That is helpful.