I've just had my flights rearranged by Aer Lingus and it now means I'll be stuck at the airport in Dublin from 9:10am until my next flight leaves at 7:10pm. I'll be returning to Dublin a week later to stay. I'll be a bit woozy from the transatlantic flight but I won't want to sleep until I get to Edinburgh. Any ideas to keep me moving? Any suggestions on what I can see or do in that short (but extended) period of time?<BR>thanks

I wouldn't hang out at the airport. There are some shops and eateries, but not nearly enough to entertain you for 10 hours (unlike Heathrow where I could spend days just shopping). I'd head into Dublin, have a breakfast/lunch, maybe pop into bookstores, music shops, stroll around. Something mindless. Save the heavy sightseeing for your return.

thanks for your reply. I'm assuming they have a baggae check in or locker facility there to stow our baggs until we return, but do you happen to know the best way to get into Dublin from the airport? Fast and cheap of course.<BR>thanks

A different idea � if it is a nice day. Take the Aerdart shuttle bus to Howth Junction and the DART train from there to Howth, 30 to 45 minutes total. Howth is an old fishing and yachting port, nice pubs and restaurants. You can do the cliffside walk, take a boat to the little island in the harbour, small transport museum, Howth Castle ruin, etc.<BR><BR>If this doesn't appeal, the aerdart/DART combo is a cheap way to get into Dublin.

Grafton street in Dublin is always worth a look. Lots of great shops and fun street life. Lovely old Trinity College is right there, as well. Are you going soon? The flowers in St. Stephen's Green may still be in bloom, and that's just at the top (or bottom?) of Grafton.<BR><BR>Maybe it's just because I had never tried to buy duty-free before, but I seem to remember the Dublin airport duty-free shop having a rather nice selection of wine for reasonable prices. <BR><BR>When I was there as a student, we used taxis to get back to the airport from our hostel, but as we crammed 5 people in a taxi, and you sound like you'll be by yourself, that might not be as economical for you.

Yes they do have a baggage check at the airport. see www.dublin-airport.com for information

A city bus runs directly from the airport to downtown Dublin very frequently on a regular city route. Takes less than an hour. <BR>As indicated above, there are many sites and shopping in downtown Dublin.

You can get a fast bus to the central bus station from the airport.You can get a slow bus too which stops all along the way so avoid that.I suggest you take the hop on hop off bus which will give you a flavor of the best things to see in the city over a few hours.

thanks Ron for the Howth recommendation. It would be nice to see something I won't get to see when I return to Dublin a week later. I'm still debating the value of such a long layover after our transatlantic flight. And we're paying more than we would normally to stay in Edinburgh in a castle view room so I may take Ryanair to get to Edinburgh earlier. Has anyone dealt with Ryanair before?

Per your previouas post, I would take the ryanair flight. I have flown to Edinburgh with them several times and all ober europe as well. Just beacuse its cheap does not mean its a crummy airline, just a bit less fluff for the money!<BR><BR>If you do stay in Dublin Howth would be lovely but only if the weather is nice otherwise it could be miserable wandering around in the drizzzle of a small village. Getting a bus/Taxi to Dublin would be nice and have a wander around grafton street and some lunch o5r a walk in St Stephens green to clear the head and then back to the airport

There's an airport bus called AirLink that takes you to O'Connel Street (i.e., you don't have to go to BusAras to catch it coming back to te airport). It runs about every 20-min. If it were me, I would take a short tour and come back to the original Madigan's on lower Earl Street just off O'Connell for dinner around 2M. They put on a very good lunch. Then you could go to Carroll's (on O'Connell St. about a block toward the river) and browse their Souvenirs. Before you know it, it will be time to ead back to the airport.