A<\/strong><\/h3>\nAgainst the Grain<\/strong><\/h3>\nBeer geeks will love\u00a0Against the Grain, a\u00a0buzzing craft beer bar just west of St. Stephen’s Green with rows of local and international brews on tap, plus over 80 bottled beers from Ireland and around the world. Owned by the Galway Bay Brewery, drop in to try anything from Galway Hooker to Anchor Steam from San Francisco, as well as a well-chosen selection of ciders and whiskeys.<\/p>\n
![\"Dublin](\"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Dublin-Pub.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
B<\/strong><\/h3>\nThe Bald Barista<\/strong><\/h3>\nThe Bald Barista<\/a>\u00a0– aka owner Buzz Fendall – is regularly tipped as serving the best coffee in Dublin, with beans sourced direct from farmers and freshly ground on-site. Coffee comes with a smile and a picture drawn in foam on top, and there are sandwiches and biscuits to nibble on. Attached to\u00a0Avalon House Hostel<\/a>, this is an awesome spot for grabbing a brew before a day of exploring.<\/p>\n![\"Dublin](\"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Dublin-Bald-Barista.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nImage via\u00a0William Murphy<\/a><\/em><\/p>\nC<\/strong><\/h3>\nCrackbird<\/strong><\/h3>\nWith its fried chicken menu and spritzers served in jam- jars,\u00a0this\u00a0hipster hideout in Temple Bar\u00a0ticks all the ‘2014 restaurant’ boxes… but what really makes it stand out is how good the bird tastes (hence the cheeky name). Choose a whole or half chicken\u00a0fried in Szechuan pepper, soy and garlic or buttermilk batter, and accompany with everything from BBQ staples slaw and chipotle baked beans to sweet potato noodles.<\/p>\n
![\"Dublin](\"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Dublin-bar.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nSpecial C mention: Croke Park Skyline\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\nSee amazing views of Dublin with a rooftop stroll on the Etihad Skyline<\/a> at Croke Park stadium. There are five viewing platforms with different sights to spot at each including Glasnevin Cemetery, Guinness Storehouse and Kilmainham Gaol. If you\u2019ve got a head for heights, you can also brave the walkway suspended above the pitch 17 storeys below.<\/p>\n![\"Dublin](\"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Dublin-Etihad-Skyline-Croke-Park.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nD<\/strong><\/h3>\nDubh Linn Gardens<\/strong><\/h3>\nHidden behind Dublin Castle, Dubh Linn Gardens isn’t usually troubled by anyone but lunch-breaking locals, making it a secret spot of calm in an otherwise touristy part of town. Its circular grassy area sits on the site of the Black Pool – or Dubh Linn in Irish – which was used to moor ships during Viking times, and gave the city its modern name. Today, you can take a break on one of the benches lining the grass.<\/p>\n
![\"Dubh](\"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Dubh-Linn-Gardens.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nE<\/strong><\/h3>\nEpicurean Food Hall<\/strong><\/h3>\nStill\u00a0seen as a bit rough round the edges, the\u00a0Epicurean Food Hall’s now riding the foodie revolution wave and is home to some adventurous new stalls. Head to\u00a0Ugly Duckling for American-style sandwiches like\u00a0po’boys and brisket baguettes (read The Life of Stuffs’\u00a0mouth-watering review<\/a>),\u00a0and wash down with\u00a0coffee from La Corte – another forerunner for the best cup o’ Joe in Dublin. It’s also in\u00a0hopping distance of three Dublin landmarks – Ha’Penny Bridge, the River Liffey and O’Connell Street.<\/p>\n![\"Dublin](\"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Dublin-Epicurean-Food-Hall.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nImage via\u00a0William Murphy\u00a0<\/a><\/em><\/p>\nF<\/strong><\/h3>\nDublin Food Co-Op<\/strong><\/h3>\nSunday markets at Dublin Food Co-Op are where it’s at for vintage- lovers, letting you pick up everything from 90s frocks to 50s record players.<\/p>\n
Market schedule:<\/p>\n
\n- First Sun of month\u00a0<\/strong>Pure Vintage<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0for vintage clothes.<\/li>\n
- Second Sun of month\u00a0<\/strong>Fusion Sundays<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>for stalls from around the world selling handmade goods, arts and crafts, recycled products, jewellery, clothes and food.<\/li>\n
- Third Sun of month\u00a0<\/strong>The Brocante Market<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0for second-hand, refurbished, antique and hand-crafted stuff for your house, kitchen and garden.<\/li>\n
- Last Sun of month\u00a0<\/strong>Dublin Flea Market<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>for vintage clothing, handmade goods, art, jewellery, records.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
From Thursday to Friday, the co-op specialises in stalls selling organic and wholegrain produce.<\/p>\n
![\"Dublin](\"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Dublin-Fusion-Market.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nG<\/strong><\/h3>\nGreen on Red Gallery<\/strong><\/h3>\nVisit the contemporary\u00a0Green on Red Gallery<\/a>\u00a0just north of Trinity College for dynamic and exciting shows from Irish and international artists. Expect a constantly changing schedule: there are 10-11 solo shows a year, as well as two large, thematic exhibitions and a roster of talks and events.<\/p>\nSpecial G mention: Guinness Storehouse\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\nIreland\u2019s most-visited attraction tells the story of Guinness, from how it\u2019s made to its iconic, award-winning advertising, over seven floors of its former St. James\u2019s Gate brewery. See panoramic views of Dublin from the rooftop Gravity Bar, or head to the VIP bar to taste different kinds of the black stuff in the Connoisseur Experience<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"Dublin](\"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Dublin-Guinness-Connoisseur-Experience.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nH<\/strong><\/h3>\nThe Hacienda<\/strong><\/h3>\nQuite simply the best-kept secret in Dublin, you could walk past\u00a0the Hacienda<\/a>\u00a0for years without realising there’s a pub behind its yellow door. To enter, you need to do the rather nerve-wracking thing of ringing the doorbell, but once you’re in it’s all good times, with 80s tunes on the juke box, a pool table, Guinness on tap and pics of the pub’s most famous patron Matthew McConaughey on the walls.<\/p>\n![\"Dublin](\"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Dublin-The-Hacienda.jpg\")
<\/a>Image via the Hacienda on Facebook<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nI<\/strong><\/h3>\nIFI Irish Film Institute<\/strong><\/h3>\nRight in the centre of Dublin\u2019s Temple Bar, the\u00a0IFI<\/a>\u00a0has three cinemas showing new independent films, classics and film festival programs. There\u2019s also a specialist DVD and book store, national film archive and caf\u00e9 bar. The beautifully restored premises are great for a wander – make sure to track down the genuine Oscar statuette that\u2019s on display in the foyer.<\/p>\n![\"Dublin](\"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Dublin-irish-film-institute.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nJ<\/strong><\/h3>\nJeanie Johnston Famine Ship Museum<\/strong><\/h3>\nVisit replica tall ship the\u00a0Jeanie Johnston<\/a>\u00a0to get under the skin of a dark part of Irish history. With famine killing one eighth of the population in the 1840s, millions escaped to America in transport ships like this, in search of a new life. The tour takes you below deck to see the cramped conditions and hear real passengers’ stories. Docked at Custom House Quay in the city centre, you can also see famine memorial statues by artist Rowan Gillespie near the ship.<\/p>\n![\"Dublin](\"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Dublin-Jeanie-Johnston.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nK<\/strong><\/h3>\nKilmainham Gaol<\/strong><\/h3>\nKilmainham Gaol\u00a0is Europe’s largest empty prison, a bleak yet fascinating place that exists now as a monument to\u00a0Ireland’s struggle for\u00a0independence. Nearly all significant Irish rebel leaders were held here during uprisings against English rule between 1798 and 1916, and leaders of the 1916 Easter Rising\u00a0were executed in the prison yard. Today, engrossing tours take you through the history of the prison up to its closure in 1924 and ’60s restoration.\u00a0The jail is a 25 minute bus ride from O’Connell Street in the city centre.<\/p>\n![\"Image](\"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Dublin-Kilmainham_Jail.jpg\")
<\/a>Image via Sean Munson<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nL<\/strong><\/h3>\nThe Little Museum of Dublin<\/strong><\/h3>\nThis definitely isn’t your average dusty old museum – the\u00a0Little Museum<\/a>‘s affectionate and irreverent history of 20th century Dubliners charms everyone who steps through its door. Humorous guides give free hourly tours through the three story Georgian house, where everything from ’70s Aer Lingus posters to WWII gas masks weave together to tell the story of Dublin.<\/p>\n![\"Dublin](\"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Dublin-little-museum.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nM<\/strong><\/h3>\nMusic Festivals<\/strong><\/h3>\nThere are so many festivals for getting your rave\/mosh\/indie shuffle\u00a0on to in Dublin, I’ve\u00a0lumped them into a catch- all\u00a0‘M for Music’ category. Here’s your festie hit-list for getting your groove on over summer…<\/p>\n
\n- Forbidden Fruit<\/a>, Royal Hospital Kilmainham grounds, June bank holiday weekend Multiple stages for big acts and a comedy tent\u00a0in the Eden-like grounds of the\u00a0Irish Museum of Modern Art.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n- Longitude<\/a>, Marlay Park, third weekend of July. Dublin’s biggest festival weekend, with huge acts across all genres but leaning heavily on dance and\u00a0alterna-pop.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n- Electric Picnic<\/a>, Stradbally Estate, County Laois, August bank holiday weekend. A proper three-day camping weekend, a short train or shuttle bus ride away from Dublin. Expect huge global act headliners and up-and-coming artists and DJs across five stages.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n- Hard Working Class Heroes<\/a>, various Dublin venues, first weekend of October: this year\u00a02nd-4th October 2014 A mix of free and ticketed shows from a\u00a0genre-hopping line-up of new Irish acts, in a range of cool venues throughout the city.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
![\"Dublin](\"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Dublin-ElectricPicnic.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nN<\/strong><\/h3>\nNational Museum of Ireland<\/strong><\/h3>\nTo dig in to Irish culture and history for free, head to the\u00a0National Museum of Ireland<\/a>\u00a0which sits across three sites in Dublin. Most Instagrammable is the Natural History Museum<\/a>, known as ‘The Dead Zoo’\u00a0for its\u00a0taxidermy animal exhibits that haven’t changed in over 150 years. It’s a museum of a museum, as popular for being a Victorian curiosity as for its actual content, which includes skeletons of 11,000 year old giant deer, Spoticus the giraffe and whale skeletons suspended from the roof.<\/p>\n![\"Dublin](\"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Dublin-NaturalHistory.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nThe museum of Decorative Arts & History in Collins Barracks has design-related ephemera like thousand year old Irish coins, while the museum of Archaeology on Kildare St displays Iron Age bog bodies and Celtic and Medieval art.<\/p>\n
O<\/strong><\/h3>\nO\u2019Connell Street<\/strong><\/h3>\nYou’ll probably find yourself on O’Connell Street without seeking it out, this being Dublin’s main artery and the widest street in Europe. It’s home to the Spire, a towering silver pin-point that holds claim as the world’s tallest statue, completed in 2003.\u00a0The street\u00a0was also ground zero for the\u00a01916 Easter Rising, an attempt to end British rule by force which paved the way for Irish independence.\u00a0You can still see bullet holes in the\u00a0O’Connell monument statue from the resulting gunfight,\u00a0and the stately GPO (General Post Office) which dominates the street is a restoration – all but the facade was burnt down after being\u00a0taken over as\u00a0rebel headquarters. Still a working post office, the GPO is well worth a look for its symbolic place in\u00a0history, as well as for being one of the most beautiful examples of Georgian architecture in the capital.<\/p>\n
![\"Dublin](\"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Dublin-OConnell.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nP<\/strong><\/h3>\nPallas Projects\/Studios<\/strong><\/h3>\nPallas Projects\/Studios<\/a>\u00a0is a non-profit, artist-run space in a converted school just north of St. Patrick\u2019s Cathedral. Exhibitions and events regularly take place in the gallery space and school yard, making it the best place to discover new art coming out of Dublin\u2019s grassroots scene. See their website and Facebook page for announcements on current and upcoming events.<\/p>\n![\"DublinPallas](\"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/DublinPallas-Projects.jpg\")
<\/a>Image via PP\/S<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nQ<\/strong><\/h3>\nThe Queen of Tarts<\/strong><\/h3>\nIf Cows Lane’s design shops prove a little hard-wearing, get your strength back at the\u00a0Queen of Tarts<\/a>. This cute little bakery and caf\u00e9 will stuff you with treats and tea until your sweet tooth can take no more – try the Bailey’s chocolate chip cheesecake, or their pillowy scones with a fresh pot of Darjeeling. It’s all served on mismatched crockery straight out of your gran’s living room, and there’s a savoury menu of quiches and soups for lunch.<\/p>\n![\"Dublin](\"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Dublin-Queen-of-Tarts.jpg\")
<\/a>Image via the Queen of Tarts on Facebook<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n <\/p>\n
R<\/strong><\/h3>\nRiver Liffey<\/strong><\/h3>\nDividing Dublin into north and south sides, you can’t miss the Liffey. Take a sight-seeing walk along it, or check out\u00a0Dublin’s sights from a whole new angle with\u00a0City Kayaking<\/a>. This is the only company to offer kayaking through central Dublin and is sure to get your adrenaline pumping as you explore.<\/p>\n![\"Dublin](\"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Dublin-City-Kayaking.jpg\")
<\/a>Image via City Kayaking on Facebook<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n <\/p>\n
S<\/strong><\/h3>\nScience Gallery<\/strong><\/h3>\nThe Science Gallery\u00a0in Temple Bar is free to visit, putting on exhibitions around intriguing themes – such as risk, illusion or climate change – through live experiments, expert talks and interactive installations. There’s no permanent collection, so only the caf\u00e9 and shop are open in-between exhibitions – make sure to check the schedule on their site before you go.<\/p>\n
![\"Dublin](\"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Dublin-Science-Gallery.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nT<\/strong><\/h3>\nThe Twisted Pepper<\/strong><\/h3>\nAlongside The Button Factory in Temple Bar,\u00a0the Twisted Pepper\u00a0is Dublin’s best venue for clubbing. A craft beer and cocktail bar in the evening and gig venue\/house and techno club by night, good times roll until the early morning here.<\/p>\n![\"Dublin](\"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Dublin-The-Twisted-Pepper.jpg\")
<\/a>Image via Andy Doyle<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nU<\/strong><\/h3>\nThe U2 Wall and Windmill Studios<\/strong><\/h3>\nThe U2 Wall on Windmill Lane just south of City Quay has real cultural significance – the graffittied lyrics and fan messages covering their ’70s recording studio here display the devotion the band has inspired in their three-decade career. Don’t go thinking you’ll see Bono and co. turn up for a recording sesh, though – Windmill Lane studios has since moved to Ringsend Road.<\/p>\n
![\"Dublin](\"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Dublin-U2-Wall.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nV<\/strong><\/h3>\nViking Splash Tour<\/strong><\/h3>\nThe Viking Splash Tour<\/a>\u00a0is the most fun you can have on four wheels in Dublin. Taking place in an amphibious bus that plunges into the Grand Canal (awesome),\u00a0you’re treated\u00a0to a Viking-themed history of the city from a\u00a0hilarious guide – all while wearing a helmet and shouting “yaaargh!” at passers-by (double awesome).<\/p>\n![\"Dublin](\"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Dublin-Viking-Splash-Tours.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nW<\/strong><\/h3>\nThe Dublin Writers Museum<\/strong><\/h3>\nCelebrating Irish writers James Joyce, Bram Stoker, Jonathan Swift, Oscar Wilde and Nobel Prize winners William Butler Yeats, George Bernard Shaw, Samuel Beckett and Seamus Heaney among others, the\u00a0Dublin Writers Museum<\/a>\u00a0is a must if you love the written word. A free headset audio tour accompanies the exhibition, whose two rooms are split between early writing up to the 19th century, and 20th century literature.<\/p>\n![\"Dublin](\"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Dublin-Writers-Museum.jpg\")
<\/a>Image via Sir James<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nX<\/strong><\/h3>\nTedX Dublin<\/strong><\/h3>\nTalks covering everything from\u00a0‘Work Hacks’ to ‘The Art of Opportunism’ have been on the agenda at previous TEDx Dublin shindigs – and this year’s sold out September 13th event at The Bord G\u00e1is Energy Theatre promises the same diverse mix of speakers and ideas to get you thinking. You can watch this year’s talks at\u00a0tedxdublin.com<\/a>, or attend in person at the September 2015 event next year.<\/p>\n![\"TEDx](\"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/TEDx-Dublin.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nY<\/strong><\/h3>\nYogism Frozen Yogurt<\/strong><\/h3>\nFro-yo is ice cream without the guilt, so nothing should stop you getting down to\u00a0Yogism<\/a>\u00a0in Georges Street Arcade east of Dublin Castle. You pay by weight (and if you guess the weight correctly, it’s free!), and choose between 30 toppings including berries, Smarties chocolate and natural gummy bears.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n![\"Yogism](\"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Yogism-froyo-via-FB.png\")
<\/a>Image via Yogism on Facebook<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nZ<\/strong><\/h3>\nDublin Zoo\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\nDublin Zoo<\/a> in Phoenix Park was founded in 1830, and today puts huge emphasis on endangered animal conservation. Visit now for the added cute-factor of seeing elephant calves and an Asian lion cub. This isn\u2019t the zoo\u2019s most famous feline, though \u2013 that would be Cairbre, the lion that roars at the beginning of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer films. He was born at Dublin Zoo in 1927.<\/p>\n![\"Dublin](\"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Dublin-Zoo.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nFive cool places to stay in Dublin<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Beer geeks will love\u00a0Against the Grain, a\u00a0buzzing craft beer bar just west of St. Stephen’s Green with rows of local and international brews on tap, plus over 80 bottled beers from Ireland and around the world. Owned by the Galway Bay Brewery, drop in to try anything from Galway Hooker to Anchor Steam from San Francisco, as well as a well-chosen selection of ciders and whiskeys.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n The Bald Barista<\/a>\u00a0– aka owner Buzz Fendall – is regularly tipped as serving the best coffee in Dublin, with beans sourced direct from farmers and freshly ground on-site. Coffee comes with a smile and a picture drawn in foam on top, and there are sandwiches and biscuits to nibble on. Attached to\u00a0Avalon House Hostel<\/a>, this is an awesome spot for grabbing a brew before a day of exploring.<\/p>\n Image via\u00a0William Murphy<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n With its fried chicken menu and spritzers served in jam- jars,\u00a0this\u00a0hipster hideout in Temple Bar\u00a0ticks all the ‘2014 restaurant’ boxes… but what really makes it stand out is how good the bird tastes (hence the cheeky name). Choose a whole or half chicken\u00a0fried in Szechuan pepper, soy and garlic or buttermilk batter, and accompany with everything from BBQ staples slaw and chipotle baked beans to sweet potato noodles.<\/p>\n See amazing views of Dublin with a rooftop stroll on the Etihad Skyline<\/a> at Croke Park stadium. There are five viewing platforms with different sights to spot at each including Glasnevin Cemetery, Guinness Storehouse and Kilmainham Gaol. If you\u2019ve got a head for heights, you can also brave the walkway suspended above the pitch 17 storeys below.<\/p>\n Hidden behind Dublin Castle, Dubh Linn Gardens isn’t usually troubled by anyone but lunch-breaking locals, making it a secret spot of calm in an otherwise touristy part of town. Its circular grassy area sits on the site of the Black Pool – or Dubh Linn in Irish – which was used to moor ships during Viking times, and gave the city its modern name. Today, you can take a break on one of the benches lining the grass.<\/p>\n Still\u00a0seen as a bit rough round the edges, the\u00a0Epicurean Food Hall’s now riding the foodie revolution wave and is home to some adventurous new stalls. Head to\u00a0Ugly Duckling for American-style sandwiches like\u00a0po’boys and brisket baguettes (read The Life of Stuffs’\u00a0mouth-watering review<\/a>),\u00a0and wash down with\u00a0coffee from La Corte – another forerunner for the best cup o’ Joe in Dublin. It’s also in\u00a0hopping distance of three Dublin landmarks – Ha’Penny Bridge, the River Liffey and O’Connell Street.<\/p>\n Image via\u00a0William Murphy\u00a0<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n Sunday markets at Dublin Food Co-Op are where it’s at for vintage- lovers, letting you pick up everything from 90s frocks to 50s record players.<\/p>\n Market schedule:<\/p>\n From Thursday to Friday, the co-op specialises in stalls selling organic and wholegrain produce.<\/p>\n Visit the contemporary\u00a0Green on Red Gallery<\/a>\u00a0just north of Trinity College for dynamic and exciting shows from Irish and international artists. Expect a constantly changing schedule: there are 10-11 solo shows a year, as well as two large, thematic exhibitions and a roster of talks and events.<\/p>\n Ireland\u2019s most-visited attraction tells the story of Guinness, from how it\u2019s made to its iconic, award-winning advertising, over seven floors of its former St. James\u2019s Gate brewery. See panoramic views of Dublin from the rooftop Gravity Bar, or head to the VIP bar to taste different kinds of the black stuff in the Connoisseur Experience<\/a>.<\/p>\n Quite simply the best-kept secret in Dublin, you could walk past\u00a0the Hacienda<\/a>\u00a0for years without realising there’s a pub behind its yellow door. To enter, you need to do the rather nerve-wracking thing of ringing the doorbell, but once you’re in it’s all good times, with 80s tunes on the juke box, a pool table, Guinness on tap and pics of the pub’s most famous patron Matthew McConaughey on the walls.<\/p>\n Right in the centre of Dublin\u2019s Temple Bar, the\u00a0IFI<\/a>\u00a0has three cinemas showing new independent films, classics and film festival programs. There\u2019s also a specialist DVD and book store, national film archive and caf\u00e9 bar. The beautifully restored premises are great for a wander – make sure to track down the genuine Oscar statuette that\u2019s on display in the foyer.<\/p>\n Visit replica tall ship the\u00a0Jeanie Johnston<\/a>\u00a0to get under the skin of a dark part of Irish history. With famine killing one eighth of the population in the 1840s, millions escaped to America in transport ships like this, in search of a new life. The tour takes you below deck to see the cramped conditions and hear real passengers’ stories. Docked at Custom House Quay in the city centre, you can also see famine memorial statues by artist Rowan Gillespie near the ship.<\/p>\n Kilmainham Gaol\u00a0is Europe’s largest empty prison, a bleak yet fascinating place that exists now as a monument to\u00a0Ireland’s struggle for\u00a0independence. Nearly all significant Irish rebel leaders were held here during uprisings against English rule between 1798 and 1916, and leaders of the 1916 Easter Rising\u00a0were executed in the prison yard. Today, engrossing tours take you through the history of the prison up to its closure in 1924 and ’60s restoration.\u00a0The jail is a 25 minute bus ride from O’Connell Street in the city centre.<\/p>\n This definitely isn’t your average dusty old museum – the\u00a0Little Museum<\/a>‘s affectionate and irreverent history of 20th century Dubliners charms everyone who steps through its door. Humorous guides give free hourly tours through the three story Georgian house, where everything from ’70s Aer Lingus posters to WWII gas masks weave together to tell the story of Dublin.<\/p>\n There are so many festivals for getting your rave\/mosh\/indie shuffle\u00a0on to in Dublin, I’ve\u00a0lumped them into a catch- all\u00a0‘M for Music’ category. Here’s your festie hit-list for getting your groove on over summer…<\/p>\n To dig in to Irish culture and history for free, head to the\u00a0National Museum of Ireland<\/a>\u00a0which sits across three sites in Dublin. Most Instagrammable is the Natural History Museum<\/a>, known as ‘The Dead Zoo’\u00a0for its\u00a0taxidermy animal exhibits that haven’t changed in over 150 years. It’s a museum of a museum, as popular for being a Victorian curiosity as for its actual content, which includes skeletons of 11,000 year old giant deer, Spoticus the giraffe and whale skeletons suspended from the roof.<\/p>\n The museum of Decorative Arts & History in Collins Barracks has design-related ephemera like thousand year old Irish coins, while the museum of Archaeology on Kildare St displays Iron Age bog bodies and Celtic and Medieval art.<\/p>\n You’ll probably find yourself on O’Connell Street without seeking it out, this being Dublin’s main artery and the widest street in Europe. It’s home to the Spire, a towering silver pin-point that holds claim as the world’s tallest statue, completed in 2003.\u00a0The street\u00a0was also ground zero for the\u00a01916 Easter Rising, an attempt to end British rule by force which paved the way for Irish independence.\u00a0You can still see bullet holes in the\u00a0O’Connell monument statue from the resulting gunfight,\u00a0and the stately GPO (General Post Office) which dominates the street is a restoration – all but the facade was burnt down after being\u00a0taken over as\u00a0rebel headquarters. Still a working post office, the GPO is well worth a look for its symbolic place in\u00a0history, as well as for being one of the most beautiful examples of Georgian architecture in the capital.<\/p>\n Pallas Projects\/Studios<\/a>\u00a0is a non-profit, artist-run space in a converted school just north of St. Patrick\u2019s Cathedral. Exhibitions and events regularly take place in the gallery space and school yard, making it the best place to discover new art coming out of Dublin\u2019s grassroots scene. See their website and Facebook page for announcements on current and upcoming events.<\/p>\n If Cows Lane’s design shops prove a little hard-wearing, get your strength back at the\u00a0Queen of Tarts<\/a>. This cute little bakery and caf\u00e9 will stuff you with treats and tea until your sweet tooth can take no more – try the Bailey’s chocolate chip cheesecake, or their pillowy scones with a fresh pot of Darjeeling. It’s all served on mismatched crockery straight out of your gran’s living room, and there’s a savoury menu of quiches and soups for lunch.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Dividing Dublin into north and south sides, you can’t miss the Liffey. Take a sight-seeing walk along it, or check out\u00a0Dublin’s sights from a whole new angle with\u00a0City Kayaking<\/a>. This is the only company to offer kayaking through central Dublin and is sure to get your adrenaline pumping as you explore.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Science Gallery\u00a0in Temple Bar is free to visit, putting on exhibitions around intriguing themes – such as risk, illusion or climate change – through live experiments, expert talks and interactive installations. There’s no permanent collection, so only the caf\u00e9 and shop are open in-between exhibitions – make sure to check the schedule on their site before you go.<\/p>\n Alongside The Button Factory in Temple Bar,\u00a0the Twisted Pepper\u00a0is Dublin’s best venue for clubbing. A craft beer and cocktail bar in the evening and gig venue\/house and techno club by night, good times roll until the early morning here.<\/p>\n The U2 Wall on Windmill Lane just south of City Quay has real cultural significance – the graffittied lyrics and fan messages covering their ’70s recording studio here display the devotion the band has inspired in their three-decade career. Don’t go thinking you’ll see Bono and co. turn up for a recording sesh, though – Windmill Lane studios has since moved to Ringsend Road.<\/p>\n The Viking Splash Tour<\/a>\u00a0is the most fun you can have on four wheels in Dublin. Taking place in an amphibious bus that plunges into the Grand Canal (awesome),\u00a0you’re treated\u00a0to a Viking-themed history of the city from a\u00a0hilarious guide – all while wearing a helmet and shouting “yaaargh!” at passers-by (double awesome).<\/p>\n Celebrating Irish writers James Joyce, Bram Stoker, Jonathan Swift, Oscar Wilde and Nobel Prize winners William Butler Yeats, George Bernard Shaw, Samuel Beckett and Seamus Heaney among others, the\u00a0Dublin Writers Museum<\/a>\u00a0is a must if you love the written word. A free headset audio tour accompanies the exhibition, whose two rooms are split between early writing up to the 19th century, and 20th century literature.<\/p>\n Talks covering everything from\u00a0‘Work Hacks’ to ‘The Art of Opportunism’ have been on the agenda at previous TEDx Dublin shindigs – and this year’s sold out September 13th event at The Bord G\u00e1is Energy Theatre promises the same diverse mix of speakers and ideas to get you thinking. You can watch this year’s talks at\u00a0tedxdublin.com<\/a>, or attend in person at the September 2015 event next year.<\/p>\n Fro-yo is ice cream without the guilt, so nothing should stop you getting down to\u00a0Yogism<\/a>\u00a0in Georges Street Arcade east of Dublin Castle. You pay by weight (and if you guess the weight correctly, it’s free!), and choose between 30 toppings including berries, Smarties chocolate and natural gummy bears.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Dublin Zoo<\/a> in Phoenix Park was founded in 1830, and today puts huge emphasis on endangered animal conservation. Visit now for the added cute-factor of seeing elephant calves and an Asian lion cub. This isn\u2019t the zoo\u2019s most famous feline, though \u2013 that would be Cairbre, the lion that roars at the beginning of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer films. He was born at Dublin Zoo in 1927.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\nB<\/strong><\/h3>\n
The Bald Barista<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Crackbird<\/strong><\/h3>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nSpecial C mention: Croke Park Skyline\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Dubh Linn Gardens<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Epicurean Food Hall<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Dublin Food Co-Op<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Green on Red Gallery<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Special G mention: Guinness Storehouse\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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The Hacienda<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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IFI Irish Film Institute<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Jeanie Johnston Famine Ship Museum<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Kilmainham Gaol<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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The Little Museum of Dublin<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Music Festivals<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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National Museum of Ireland<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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O\u2019Connell Street<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Pallas Projects\/Studios<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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The Queen of Tarts<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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River Liffey<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Science Gallery<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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The Twisted Pepper<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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The U2 Wall and Windmill Studios<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Viking Splash Tour<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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The Dublin Writers Museum<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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TedX Dublin<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Yogism Frozen Yogurt<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Dublin Zoo\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nFive cool places to stay in Dublin<\/strong><\/h3>\n