We will be staying in Dublin for 9 days over Xmas and New Year's and don't have a clue what we are going to do. Any feedback on daytrips or must-see's would be greatly appreciated. Also any hotel preferences would be welcomed. We are willing to spend the money to have a great time. Thanks for the feedback!

I'll be in Dublin as well at the end of the year. If I see someone wandering aimlessly around the streets, I'll know it's you.

From the look of the prices in Dublin, you won't have much choice but to spend plenty of money. If you're an American, the sinking dollar will make it even worse.

We're staying at the Townhouse of Dublin. I've never been there before but it was mentioned in several guidebooks. I hope it's as good as it looks on the website.

Have fun...
Jerry

I stayed at the Town House on Lower Gardiner Street about 3 years ago.


It is very central - halfway between Busarus and O'Connell Street - about 5 minutes walk to each.

It was clean and tidy and the room was well presented.

Can't comment about breakfast as I had to leave at 6am for an early flight and the didn't do breakfast until later.

I hope this helps.

Dublin on Christmas Eve is a lot of fun, because it's almost empty. All the people who live there but are from the countryside go home, so the city is left to the Dubliners. Your best bet would be to go to a real Dublin pub - my recommendation would be Mulligan's of Poolbeg Street, the Long Hall in George's Street or Neary's off Grafton Street. Try a hot whiskey. On Christmas Day everything closes - pubs, shops, everything and there's no public transport. Go to Mass in the Pro-Cathedral or C of I service in ChristChurch or St. Patrick's and listen to the lovely choirs. Make sure that whatever hotel you stay in serves dinner or organises a dinner for you in another hotel - otherwise you could be really stuck. On St. Stephen's day the town starts to wake up again - pubs and restaurants are open and there is some limited public transport. Again, make sure you book somewhere to eat if you are leaving your hotel. Go to the races in Leopardstown - very popular if a bit chilly. Be warned that St. Stephen's Day in the city can be a bumper day for petty theft and bag snatching so keep a close watch on your valuables. Think about going to the pantomime - traditional Christmas entertainment - but again needs to booked in advance. The Christmas sales start on Dec 27th - bring plenty of money and sharp elbows! Book a restaurant NOW for New Year's Eve - there'll be quite a few people ahead of you - try One Pico, the Unicorn, Patrick Guilbaud's for a classy treat. As for hotels - if you're willing to push the boat out then the Merrion on Merrion Square is probably the best, with the Westin on Westmoreland Street also pretty good. If your're looking for something a bit more intimate, then try the Morgan or the Clarence in Temple Bar.

ter2000, is there public transit on New Year's day? I've got to get out to the airport to pick up a rental car, the downtown office will be closed.

Yes there is limited public transport, so give yourselves plenty of time. See
http://www.dublinbus.ie/your_journey...t_services.asp
or www.aircoach.ie for timetables. There will also be taxis available, but be warned - they're quite expensive and are even more expensive on Sundays and Bank Holidays - grrrr!!

I will also be in Dublin for New Year's - what type of festivities are there? What do Dubliners do to celebrate? Do they have a Times Square/First night equivilent event? Is NYE celebrated there as it is in the states? I would assume so from ter2000's recommendation about restaurant reservations, but haven't found any real information!

We're staying at the Clifden Guesthouse on Lower Gardiner, location and price were right, I didn't find any reviews so I hope we are not disappointed.

Jerry, great question about the transportation, we are also flying out the 1st!

Please and thanks for any info - Kristy

Although Lower Gardiner Street is quite central, it's kind of a rough neighbourhood, so keep your valuables hidden when you go out and about.

At Midnight on New Year's Eve a lot of people congregate outside ChristChurch on High Street to hear the bells ring in the New Year. However be warned, it can get a bit drunken and messy. If you find a cozy seat in a nice restaurant or pub, then I'd be inclined to stay there!

One more recommendation - the Smithfield Ice-Rink which is running from the end of November until January. There is a Christmas Market and some food stalls. And it's right beside Dublin's best pub for traditional music sessions - the Cobblestone - a real market pub (i.e. no frills) with the best amateur musicians in Dublin (and which might not be a bad place to spend New Year's Eve!). See more details here -
http://www.dublincityonice.ie/live/icerink.asp

Hey Kristy, maybe I'll run into you looking for the bus on Lower Gardiner on New Year's day. Just be sure to give me some kind of sign so I'll know it's you and not one of the low-lifes we've been warned about in that part of town.

I checked with the Dublin bus company and they will be running on Jan. 1 with their Sunday schedule.

Have a great trip.
Jerry

Hi all back after a long few months! Here is my 2 cents. Ususally on Xmas eve we meet in town for drinks late afternoon. everyone is out for 1 after work on the way home. Keoghs is a fun pub. If the weather is warmer people will be drinking and socialising outside in the street in front (thats where I was 2 years ago. Town gets quiet after fice and I am not sure but I think many places shut early in the city as most people are outside Dublin in the suburbs or country for Xmas. I would reccommend an early dinner or late lunch. A new place has opened Called Pablos (SP?) on Stephens green close to La Mere Zou (Another good restaurant). Check out adlib.ie for restaurants and reviews as well as some menus.

Everything is closed christmas bar a few hotels that do dinner for christmas day so it is a quiet day most people spend with family. St Stephens day (26th) is a dead day as well. I think the shops are still closed but the cinemas are packed and most people go out to their local pub/bar to meet up with friends home for a visit.

Shopping is great after christmas and I would go early morning as it gets mobbed off Grafton St. and Henry street by the afternoon.

For New Years You can go up to Christ Church Cathedral and listen to the bells with the other revellers. May be a bit chilly but fun. I would find a nice pub/bar and stick to it if it is cold. Taxis are impossible to get on New Years so keep this in mind where you go.

Smithfield has an Ice Rink someone mentioed earliere and is fun. They added a small market with some French items as well (Bakery/sweets/baskets etc.) Its no more that 10 euro for an hour skating. Nearby is a church called St. Michens that has 3 mummified bodies on view. SOunds gross but its fascinating as one was a crusader. Its on Church street beside Smithfield. Also I second vote the cobblestone pub in smithfield. Its a great pub for music and beside the ice rink. There is another ice rink outdoors on the southside in Ballsbridge in the RDS that has a cover over it and maybe better for the rain.

Overall its a quiet time of the year and some museums will be closed for a few days so check the websites. Its a good time to wander the city though and soak up the atmosphere. Have fun.


P.S. Iam not mad about Gardiner street either. Be careful if you walk back at night.

Okay, everyone here agrees that Lower Gardiner is not the best part of town, but just how bad is it?

I'm staying at a guesthouse on Gardiner that looks like it's about one, maybe two blocks north of the river.

When I visited New Orleans, I was warned that if I had to walk one block on a dark street, I should take a cab instead.

Are we talking life threatening? Our 18 year old daughter will be with us and she may not want to hang out in the same pub as we do.

By the way, I took no cabs in New Orleans although I did try to avoid dark streets.

Ok I would not let an 18 year old off by herself in the area. Please forgive me if I offend any North Dubliners! Technically I live northside as well in Dublin. It's better at the bottom of Gardiner that towards Mountjoy square but I feel at night you risk getting mugged. There is a heroin problem in Dublin and I would be concerned about the area and junkies at night. Also Girls do not go to pubs by themselves over here and I would make sure your daughter goes with someone. use the same street sense you use at home. I also think you are better located southside in an area like Jurys Christchurch. You are closer to the main attractions etc. You can't compare New Orleans and Dublin, They are different. Hey Better safe than sorry. I personally would not place my friends there as I knowI can do better for the price. Let us know what you decide.

Havce a good trip

Thanks for the tips, Siobhan. I didn't mean to imply that we were such reckless parents that we would have our daughter roaming the streets late at night by herself. She just doesn't want to be "stuck" with us all the time.

We are paying what averages out to €178/night for two rooms, a single and a double plus breakfast. I mention average because the night of the 30th and 31st are considerably more expensive than the earlier nights.

I'd appreciate any of your recommendations for a guesthouse where we could get two rooms for about the same price. I've heard a lot about Jurys Christchurch here. We'd rather be at something smaller. And two rooms for those dates would cost €320/night for a pull-out couch (that sounds like something less than a bed).

I know we could save some € by booking a triple room, but getting two rooms is part of what helps with the "stuck with parents" problem.

Thanks for any suggestions.
BoH

Jurys is closed on the 26th but their prices are different from what you have listed. I called them just now and asked for rates for a double room on the 27-28th Dec and the rate is 119 euro B& B or 109 euro for just the room. There are also apartments avialable off Stephens Green that may be more suitible for the three of you at a good price. Do a search for Stephens Hall apartments as some Fodorite have stayed here and I know there is info on this. These are located on Leeson Street beside St Stephens green and I hear they are reasonable. I feel the rates you are quoted are quite high for the area its in. Unfortunately sometimes there are different prices for tourists compared to Irish people calling from my experience.

SiobhanP, you're right about different prices for locals. The hotel in my town offers discounts to locals. In Hawaii there is an entirely different price structure for hotels, transportation and entertainment - the "kama'aina" rate - for locals.

The price I got from Jurys was on their website. When looking at a date other than at the holiday, it was only €103/night.

There must be quite an influx of people for New Year's eve since the prices really jump for a few nights. The price for a double where we're staying is €110 for New Year's eve and that's consistent with the price listed on their website.

After thinking more about the location near the Custom House, it at least seems convenient for returning after a night at the Abbey Theatre.

As many places seem to be already booked for New Year's, we'll likely just stay with what we've got and be better prepared for our next visit to Dublin.

Dublin is the first stop of our trip and given the time change, we're not likely to be staying up too late anyway. By the time we end up in Edinburgh three weeks later it may be a different story.

I appreciate your helpful comments.
BoH