Well now, you do not have to be all that religious for St.Patrick’s church to impress you. There are more than a dozen factors which will magnetically draw you to the church. Here are a few of them, at a glance:
· St. Patrick’s is the largest church in Ireland (also the country’s National Cathedral)(reason enough). The church was erected as a tribute to St.Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland.
· It is believed that it was at this spot, one of the earliest Christian sites in the country, by the “Holy Well” here, that St.Patrick baptized the first local converts from the place.
· Encloses the graves of Jonathan Swift (of “Gulliver fame”)
· The numerous memorial plaques, a door with a hole and the Boyle family tomb add to the pride of the place. The cathedra is so full of mementos that sometimes visitors are baffled wondering as to whether they are at a museum or a chapel. You can look for faces and gargoyles in the impressive stonework.
Opening Times: Admission Euro 4.50
The last admission is 30 minutes before closing.
March - October Daily 09.00 - 17.30
November to February Monday - Saturday 09.00 - 17.00
Situated in the historical heart of the city, the Dublin castle enjoys one of the most favourable locales. The palatial building dates back to the Norman times and the Record Tower (which is visible today and which is the only remains of medieval Dublin) stands proof to this once magnificent piece of architecture. The Upper Castle Yard, Dubhlinn Gardens and the St Patricks Hall are all worth taking a look at.
Other guided tours at the castle include the State Apartments (venue for many prestigious functions), the Chapel Royal (famous for many a thing) including the beautiful craftsmanship of the galleries and the Undercroft. Housing cultural and regional treasures from around the world is the Chester Beatty Library.
Away from the clatter and hubbub of the city, is this lovely green area, you should not miss out on your Dublin city break.The Phoenix Park is fondly known as Dublin’s playground. The park serves as a matter of pride for the entire Dublin city as it is the largest urban enclosed public park (707 hectares-awesome! isn’t it?) in the European continent.
In fact it can also be counted as one among the largest parks in the world. You can gaze at the ornamental gardens, go for long nature trails in the grassland expanse or simply stroll through the long avenues of oak, chestnut, beech, pine and lime trees. Still better, you can entertain yourselves by watching the horses on the fields; deer’s in the wooded areas or simply watch the sight of livestock grazing on the pasture-lands.
The tag the management has gifted this zoo, fits it perfectly- “A world of nature on your doorstep” and yes, indeed it is!
The Dublin Zoo is one of the main visitor attractions of Dublin. The zoo is home to more than 700 species of fauna as well as a wide variety of birds. The Dublin zoo was brought into being way back in the earlier part of the 19th century. The Dublin zoo is the third oldest around the globe.
The Iveagh Gardens might be one among the least known of the Dublin parks yet it is considered by many or almost by all who have visited the place as the finest, a gem-literally a hidden gem. It is much quieter than the other fabled parks of Dublin but has a beauty of its own unparalleled by others. If relaxation is your purpose there is no better place in Dublin which will suit you more perfectly.
A peaceful waterfall, fountains, rose gardens, a grotto, graveled walkways, a maze, wilderness and even woodlands-what more can you probably ask for! The gardens are particularly good in summer- be it for a romantic picnic or a stroll.
Do not leave Dublin if you have not visited the Guinness Store House. This storehouse is in fact one attraction in Ireland which draws the highest number of visitors. This colossal seven-storey building, in the shape of a huge pint of Guinness throws light on the history of the world famous beer. In the limelight of the place, is the Gravity Bar. In addition to the tranquil atmosphere and the terrific views of the Dublin city you can enjoy at the place, visitors are also gifted a complimentary pint.
Guinness Storehouse also provides a lot of facilities to tourists to the place like the Three Bars (Brewery, Source, Gravity), various meeting and events facilities, and even a restaurant and coffee shop.
The Dublinia & The Viking World exhibitions strive to bring alive the medieval and Viking era. This is another one of Dublin’s well-known tourist attractions.
The Malahide castle often turns out to be the highlight of a visit to the city of Dublin. The 250 acres of parkland on which it stands serves as the perfect setting and gifts it a picture-postcard beauty. The castle is sited in Malahide, an appealing seaside town. It remained a private home until 1973.