Dublin’s top 10 activities combining city and coast
Clients are promised a warm welcome and enriching holiday filled with city sights and seafaring adventures when they choose to Press the Green Button and book a short break in Dublin
Dublin, a city so easily reachable it’s less than an hour’s flight from London, has a surplus of surprises awaiting visitors. City breakers can enjoy the best of both worlds here, where lively and culture-rich urban neighbourhoods awash with friendly locals are just a stone’s throw from the thrills of a dramatic and diverse shoreline. Plus, with Ireland being part of the Common Travel Area, UK-based clients can journey there and back without a passport or visa (although, some airlines require photo ID so always check). Here are 10 top activities to recommend to travellers seeking both city and coast from their next short break.
1. TAKING THE DUBLIN COASTAL TRAIL
The new Dublin Coastal Trail, which runs from Skerries to Killiney, is best explored by train on the Dublin Area Rapid Transit rail line. The scenic route passes quintessential villages, breathtaking beaches and history-rich docklands, showcasing how the Irish capital provides the best of city and coast. Highlights include embarking on coastal hikes from Malahide, taking a deep dive into the destination’s heritage at Epic the Irish Emigration Museum and blowing away the cobwebs during sea swimming at Sandycove Beach, where Caviston’s Seafood Restaurant serves up fresh fare.
2. EXPLORING IRELAND’S EYE
Recommend travelling just 20 minutes out of Dublin city centre to hop onboard with Island Ferries and learn about Dublin Bay’s flora and fauna. The 45-minute boat trip sails seafarers from Howth Harbour to Ireland’s Eye, which is a rocky outcrop just offshore teeming with birdlife such as puffins. If the weather allows, it’s possible to picnic on the isle’s sandy beach and enjoy a swim, while views of the famous Martello Tower are guaranteed. Remind clients to look out for seals in the bay, too!
3. VISITING THE MEDIEVAL DALKEY CASTLE
During the immersive Living History Experience at Dalkey Castle, which sits south of Dublin, skilled actors bring the ancient way of life to the fore while visitors have the opportunity to explore every corner of an early Christian church and rare medieval castle. Literary fans will love the Writers’ Gallery, where they can find works of 45 creatives, and foodies can learn medieval recipes.
4. HAVING OUTDOOR ADVENTURES IN HOWTH
Recommend city breakers head to Howth for their fix of the Great Outdoors. Shane’s Howth Adventures provides tours on foot, by electric bike or in kayaks, all of which are led by knowledgeable and passionate locals along secret trails and clifftop paths.
5. SETTING SAIL IN DUBLIN BAY
Suggest clients take to the Irish Sea with Dublin Bay Cruises to spot famous landmarks and seek out the coastline’s diverse array of wildlife from the waves. There are five 75-minute trips per day, travelling between the city centre, Dun Laoghaire and Howth.
6. LEARNING ABOUT IRISH HERITAGE
Studying what it was like to journey on a ship during the famine in 1849, exploring the parallels between Irish and African diasporas, and hearing stories that go as far back as the Vikings are all highlights of the Epic The Irish Emigration Museum and Docklands Walking Tour. This heritage-driven discovery takes just an hour-and-a-half, with all visitors coming away inspired by this destination’s enthralling history.
7. CALLING IN AT THE LITTLE MUSEUM
Open every day between 10am and 5pm, The Little Museum of Dublin on the edge of St Stephen’s Green houses artefacts that provide insight into the capital’s 1,000-year history. Visitors can choose to take part in a guided tour, the Big Little Treasure Hunt or walking tour of the green.
8. DISCOVERING CUSTOM HOUSE
From its enriching exhibitions to its regal stonework carvings, Custom House is impressive both on the inside and out. This majestic building has been restored to its former glory after a catastrophic fire in 1921, now holding centuries worth of information in immersive displays in its position on Liffey quays, which was once the starting point for Ireland’s trading routes to faraway shores.
9. MAKING PERSONALISED GIN
Gin fanatics should make a beeline for Pearse Lyons Distillery, which is Dublin’s only independently, family-owned distillery. Here, the Gin School in newly restored 20th-century townhouses allows creatives to craft their own gin, from choosing their favourite botanicals and watching the liquor bubble away in a copper pot to adding a personalised logo to their 70cl bottle of homemade spirit. Whiskey experiences are also available.
10. DINING AROUND DUBLIN
Food on Foot, a walking food tour through the centuries-old Liberties neighbourhood, is the perfect way to savour a taste of Dublin and eat like the locals do. Spanning five spots for street eats, including at least one dessert destination, it’s important participants arrive hungry. Alternatively, Beer on Foot takes in Temple Bar and the city’s best locations for craft ales and lagers.
Learn more about Ireland at trade.ireland.com and ireland.com.
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