So this week we're excited to be exploring Dublin and we're planning to spend an entire
week here.
This video is going to highlight 25 things to do around the city.
Dublin is where most trips in Ireland begin, so before seeing the rest of the country,
Audrey and I spent a whole week getting to know the capital.
When the weather cooperated we walked around the city, toured Trinity College, and visited
the botanical gardens, and when it poured rain as it often does in this part of the
world, we just popped into a pub for some Irish stew and a pint of Guinness.
The following video will show you a few of the different things to do in Dublin, Ireland.
Enjoy!
So today we are back on University grounds.
Thankfully not as students.
We are just visiting Trinity College Dublin but the real name of it.
Listen to this - it's College of the Holy and undivided trinity of Queen Elizabeth near
Dublin.
Quite the mouthful, right?
So we've signed up to take a tour.
We're going to be visiting the grounds, the library and also setting eyes on the Book
of Kells.
Trinity College was founded in 1592 and it is the oldest university in Ireland.
The campus is open to visitors interested in touring the grounds, and you'll also get
to hear some fascinating stories of famous students, including the likes of Oscar Wilde,
Jonathan Swift, and Bram Stoker.
So we came all the way out to Phoenix Park on the west end of Dublin because we were
told that you can see wild deer here.
And we were lucky enough to spot one.
So we're like quietly tiptoeing towards it and we were able to see it and it was so cool.
I've been really enjoying this park.
It is a great place to get outside the city center and it is massive.
We've only explored a mere fraction of it.
Easily one of the most popular attractions here in Dublin is the Guinness Storehouse.
And I've had a friend who has visited here and told me about the experience.
And it really is basically just like an experience.
You go in and it is almost like a museum.
You have all of these different interactive rooms, there is interactive multimedia and
at the very top there is a bar where you get a complimentary pint and you have really good
panoramic views of the city.
The Guinness Storehouse is Dublin's most popular attraction, and it's a must-visit for beer
lovers.
The Storehouse covers seven floors surrounding a glass atrium shaped like a pint of Guinness.
Inside you'll also find a copy of the 9,000 year lease signed by Arthur Guinness on the
brewery site - they won't be going anywhere for a while!
Grafton Street is one of the main shopping areas in Dublin.
You're likely to find lots of musicians, buskers, and performers along here, plus you get a
good vantage point of The Spire.
So this afternoon we're doing a battle of the drinks.
We are ordering two different spiked coffees.
Sam is getting the Irish Coffee and I'm getting the Baileys Coffee.
And we're going to see which one is the tastiest.
What is in your Irish Whiskey?
Tell us.
Alright, so if you take a look over here you'll notice that there is cream on the top.
And then this is normal coffee which has been enhanced with sugar.
And the secret ingredient here is Jameson Whiskey.
Oh, yeah!
That must be good because you're chugging it.
That is so good.
I mean I got a big gulp of cream because it is the first sip but I also really tasted
a lot of the whiskey and of course there is a really strong coffee flavor.
And the sugar.
It is like basically having a dessert.
So I got a bit more of a feminine drink instead of whisky.
This one has Baileys cream liqueur.
So let's try it.
Ooh, you can definitely still taste the alcohol in that.
Mmmmm.
Yeah, this is nice.
And it is really sweet.
Like Sam said about his it is almost like a dessert in a cup.
And it is really nice on a cold day.
So I'm just going to keep sipping.
So I guess it is time for me to try yours.
I have a feeling I'm not going to like it as much because I'm not a big whiskey fan.
But here we go.
You have cream on your lips.
I like mine better for sure.
Mine is sweeter.
This one is a lot stronger.
It's got a kick to it.
And I feel like if I drank this whole thing I would tumbling by the time I walked out.
So Baileys for the win?
Baileys for the win.
So we're here visiting the Botanical Gardens, which is a great green escape, and what we're
really loving about it is because it is slightly outside of the city centre there is hardly
anyone and it is also a free attraction.
The National Botanic Gardens are located a few kilometers north of the city center, and
you'll find it's a very tranquil place.
The gardens were founded in 1795 and today they hold over 20,000 living plants.
Prior to the establishment of Glasnevin Cemetery, Irish Catholics had no place of their own
to bury their dead.
This burial ground gave both Irish Catholics and Protestants a place where they could give
their dead dignified burial, and it has since become the resting place for people of all
religions and non religions.
Experience Gaelic Games is a place where you can come and try traditional Irish sports
like hurling and Gaelic football.
It's a fun and unique way to take part in an integral part of Irish culture, and they
have programs that cater to groups or independent travelers looking to join a team for the day.
So you can't visit Oscar Wilde's former home because it is being used by the American college
Dublin but you can come to the park right across the street and see him here for yourself.
Number One Merrion Square is the former home of Oscar Wilde, and if you walk over to the
park right across the street you'll be able to see a statue of Wilde himself.
Right now I'm visiting Jameson Distillery.
And what is cool about this place is that you can go inside and there is tours of the
distillery.
There is also a really cool gift shop, there is a bar, there is a restaurant.
So there is a lot to do for just about anyone who is interested in learning about whisky.
The Old Jameson Distillery is the original site where Jameson Irish Whiskey was distilled
until 1971.
It is now a visitor centre that offers both guided tours and whiskey tastings.
We are here in Dublin and it is lunchtime so we've tracked down the oldest pub in the
whole country.
We are here at the Brazen Head which apparently dates back to 1198.
That's like what 900 hundred years or so that this place has been around.
But I mean obviously not the whole structure is authentic.
It is probably just a few bricks and stones.
But anyways it is the oldest in the country and we're here for lunch.
So you've gone for something a little bit more hearty.
Yeah, like this burger is enormous.
It's one of the biggest looking burgers I've had in a while.
Oh la lah.
And these fries.
These are the thickest cut of fries.
Look they're thicker than my finger.
I hope you're planning to share.
Hahahaha.
I don't know about that.
Well that was a really neat bar.
What kind of makes it unique, aside from it being the oldest pub in all of Ireland of
course, is that there is all of these different kinds of rooms.
You can eat outside, you can eat inside a bar and there is a second level up top.
And so we checked out most of it.
So Sam is exploring his Viking roots.
Not my roots.
I am a Viking!
Nice outfit.
I'm writing my name in a foreign alphabet.
So that's 'A'.
Oh!
A Viking toilet and someone is gassy!
So we are now inside a viking home and this is how people would have lived and stayed
warm.
You've got a little kitchen/stove happening here.
Saint Patrick's was founded in 1191 and it was built in honour of Ireland’s patron
saint.
The Cathedral is open to visitors for a small fee.
So it is museum time.
My favorite time and Sam is tagging along.
So this is the National Museum of Ireland and we're going to go in and check it out.
Temple Bar is an area known for its lively nightlife.
Located on the southbank of the River Liffey, you'll find all sorts of pubs playing live
music once the sun goes down.
There's also one pub in Temple Bar, called The Temple Bar, but don't let that confuse
you.
Hahaha!
So what are we up to tonight?
We're going for some beer.
We're going for a pint.
And this is Audrey's sister Ashley and friend Raakel.
We're going to go out for a pint and see what the nightlife is like in Dublin.
So here is to friends and family in Dublin!
Cheers!
Woo!
I'm really excited about lunch today.
I'm trying something for the first time called Irish Stew.
And that consists of mutton, potatoes and onions.
And it is considered to be sort of a peasant type of meal.
But considering how cold it is outside.
It has been hovering around the 15 degree mark and it has been raining a lot.
This is the perfect kind of food to help warm us up.
So like Sam was saying the main ingredients in an Irish Stew are usually mutton, potatoes
and onions but you can get a little bit fancy with the recipe and start adding different
vegetables.
So what I have here actually has carrots, celery and a few different herbs and spices.
So I can't wait to try that.
I'm really hungry.
Mmmm.
Oh my gosh.
That is really nice.
Like it is actually really cold outside.
It's been raining all day so it is really nice to be inside, sitting in a pub and enjoying
my stew.
The Irish Whiskey Museum covers the story of Irish whiskey through the ages.
You can take a guided tour, or go straight to their bar for a little whiskey sampling
like we did.
Here is the part I've been waiting for.
It's time to try my Irish Whiskey.
That's nice.
Does it burn on the way down?
You better believe it does.
Does it warm you up?
Yes.
Ooh!
St. Stephen's Green is a large park located in Dublin's city centre.
If the weather cooperates, it's a nice place for a picnic.
St. Audeon's Gate is a 13th century gate that sits on one of the remaining stretches of
the city wall.
This would have once been the entrance into the medieval city, and we ended up befriending
a puppy.
Dublin Castle has played many roles over its history, ranging from a defensive fortification
for the Norman city of Dublin, to the setting of presidential inaugurations in modern day
Dublin.
It is also open for tours to visitors.
The Irish Museum of Modern Art is housed in the Royal Hospital Kilmainham which dates
back to the 17th-century.
Its collection focuses on modern and contemporary art.
Kilmainham Gaol is a former prison where many figures involved in the struggle for Irish
independence were held.
If you're in the mood for a scenic walk, we recommend walking along the length of the
River Liffey until you reach the Grand Canal.
We are currently visiting St. Michael's Tower.
There would have been a huge bell all the way up there.
And it would have told to announce mass, funerals, special events but also if there was a really
bad storm and people needed to start praying for their neighbors and anyone who was out
at sea.
So we have come to the end of our time in Dublin.
Tell us, what did you think of the city?
I actually loved it here.
I'm really glad that we gave ourselves eight days to properly explore the city.
It allowed us to travel around nice and slow and to delve deep.
What I really loved about Dublin is that is one of the most walk-able cities I've ever
visited in Europe.
We almost did all of sightseeing on foot and that is just fantastic.
I really enjoyed the pub culture here.
Drinking Guinness.
The people were really friendly - especially at our local pub in Glasnevin.
So my one tip for saving money in Dublin is to get a Leap Card.
It will help you save money on the bus compared to if you're buying individual fares with
cash.
So what did you think of Dublin?
Well, I have to be honest.
I didn't fall in love with the city right away but it is definitely the kind of place
that grows on you over time.
And getting to spend 8 days here, we really got to experience a bit more of the culture
and enjoy the pubs and just visit museums and get to know the city a little bit deeper
than just what you see on the surface.
So we actually had a really great time here and would highly recommend it.
And that's a wrap for our time in Dublin!
We hope you enjoyed this video and that it gave you a few ideas of what the city has
to offer.
As always, if you have any other suggestions of fun things to do in Dublin as a visitor,
feel free to share them in the comments below.
Wishing you happy travels!