The Irish capital of Dublin offers a variety of plans for its visitors. Founded by Vikings in the ninth century, Dublin combined its Gaelic traditions with the needs of the present. Many of the city´s signs are still in Gaelic language. Literature, history, traditions, monuments, buildings and green areas are some of Dublin´s attractions. The only inconvenient is the cloudy and rainy weather during winter and autumn.

The O’Connell Street is the lung of the city and stretches over O´ Connell Bridge near River Liffey. The wider avenue is always crowded. There you can see some interesting things: The Spire, 120 meter tall and erected in 2003, the Central Post Office symbolizing the first Irish Republic in 1916, and the bronze statue of poet James Joyce with his hat and umbrella.

River Liffey

Strolling over O´ Connell Bridge, you will reach Graffon Street, the main shopping area. Musicians and singers enliven the street which is home to the sculpture of Molly Malone, a woman who sold fish in the morning and her body at night. At the end of Graffon Street, we can walk St Stephens Green, a Victorian layout park with more than 9 hectares. This rectangular green area includes a beautiful pond inhabited by swans and seagulls, surrounded by wooded areas and the use of Pulham rock to recreate landscapes. The park has many figures of Irish characters and many of the plants have inscriptions in Braille for the blind people.

Leprechaun, an Irish symbol

The hop on-hop off Dublin bus is the most convenient option to reach the more remote attractions like Guinness Storehouse. The seven storey building contains different themes: the brewing process of Guinness based on water, barely, hops and yeast; machinery used in the past as the mills, roasters, and giant wooden barrels; the storey where the Guinness distribution is explained and another storey dedicated to Guinness advertising and marketing. On the last floor you can learn how to pull your own Guinness and going up to the gravity bar and enjoy Dublin´s view.

Trinity College is a must see attraction of Dublin. Founded in the sixteenth century by the Queen Elizabeth II, it is the oldest University in Ireland. You can walk the surroundings of the campus but you need to pay to access the old Library and probably face longer waiting times. The Old Library is worth visiting as it offers visitors to see the Book of Kell, a ninth century gospel. Although you can only see a few pages of the book there is a multimedia gallery explaining which materials were used in that time. The 65 meters long chamber is amazing with its ancient wooden shelves, alcoves and arched ceiling. This longest room houses more than 200, 000 of old Trinity books and the oldest harp in Ireland.

Trinity College

After leaving Trinity College take the Lord Edward Street and you will arrive at Dublin Castle. The building was used as a fortress and a residential palace, but today it is used for Ireland receptions. I highlight the royal chapel and some of its luxurious rooms like San Patricio and the ballrooms. The Castle maintains neo-Gothic architecture. Very close is the Christchurch cathedral, which has a peculiar bridge that connects it with the Vikings museum Dublinia. Even if you do not believe in God, I totally recommend you to enter in order to see a twelfth century crypt which is still in a very good state.

Dublin Castle

I cannot end this post without mentioning Temple Bar, a quarter full of bars and pubs offering traditional Irish music and a lot of fun. The area is not only about drinking and parties; there are many cultural galleries and alternative shops there as well. During the morning, there are stands where food and books are sold.

Here you have a gallery of pictures about Dublin and a video. Enjoy