Europe's Famous Hostel
Dublin has a bad rep for being an expensive city – where the price tags rival the expense of London. The truth however is that it doesn't have to cost you an arm and a leg to enjoy the Irish capital. Here are some top tips on how to save, what to see and where to spend.
Story Highlights
- Getting There
- Accommodation
- Money Savers
- What's Worth Paying For
Getting There
If you're flying into Dublin from London, then the cheapest approach is to book a flight with Ryanair and jet out from Stansted Airport. With hand luggage only, a European passport and online check in you can knock the cost down to a mere £20 return, including taxes. Also this combination of tricky online box ticking automatically entitles you to priority boarding, which means those emergency isle seats with extra leg room are yours!
Accommodation
The Avalon House is snappy little hostel where you can make the most of the free Wifi, gorge yourself on the very generous breakfasts and walk into the city centre with the greatest of ease. There's a great communal atmosphere, travellers from every walk of life and some classic architecture to boot. You'll find it at 55 Aunglier Street, just south of the river and the plethora of attractions that make Temple Bar so buzzing.
Money Savers
I was dubious as to whether a global enterprise like the City Sightseeing Bus Tours could offer a unique and enjoyable experience, when the drivers and commentators drive the same route every day and answer the same questions. Cynicism aside the Dublin Tour was an entertaining experience, a great shelter from the mid summer torrential downpours and a fantastic way to get around the city, with the hop on, hop off option. A ticket is valid for 24 hours and will cost your around €15.
What's Worth Paying For
In a nutshell? The Dublin Writers Museum, the Guinness Storehouse, the Old Jameson Distillery, Trinity College (and the Book of Kells) and Christchurch Cathedral. Dublina is a dire experience crammed with irritating, high pitched school children and should be avoided at all costs - if you wish to maintain a shred of sanity. The Writers Museum is crammed with intriguing snippets from the past, including an extensive collection of Oscar Wilde relics and also, some James Joyce masterpieces. The Guinness and Jameson tours involve some superb product sampling and Trinity College covers the city's quirky past, with support from Christchurch.
You can read much more about the where, why and how of Dublin's attractions on the Europe's Famous Hostels Website.
- Rob Savage
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