LANGUAGE

English and Gaelic

CURRENCY

Euro

BEST TIME TO VISIT

April to October

NEAREST RAILWAY STATION

Heuston & Connolly Train Stations

NEAREST AIRPORT

Dublin airport (DUB)

EMERGENCY HELPLINE NUMBER

112/ 999

INTERNET ACCESS

Wi-fi and 3G/4G networks are making internet cafes largely redundant (except to gamers); the few that are left will charge around €6 per hour. Most accommodation has wi-fi service, either free or for a daily charge (up to €10 per day).

VISA

Not required for citizens of Australia, New Zealand, the USA or Canada, or citizens of European nations that belong to the European Economic Area (EEA).

If you’re an EEA national, you don’t need a visa to visit (or work in) the Republic of Ireland. Citizens of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa and the US can visit Ireland for up to three months without a visa. They are not allowed to work unless sponsored by an employer. To stay longer in the Republic, contact the local garda station or the Garda National Immigration Bureau.

Although you don’t need an onward or return ticket to enter Ireland, it could help if there’s any doubt that you have sufficient funds to support yourself while in Dublin.

HOTEL

The most convenient and lively places to stay in Dublin are within the city center, where most popular tourist sights are easily reached by foot. Lodgings tend to go down in price in the Sandymount and Ballsbridge districts, just east of the city center, but efficient public transportation, including the DART commuter train, makes them a convenient option. The least expensive lodgings can be found north of the River Liffey, where you are still just a quick bus ride from the city center, and you may enjoy some of the less crowded sights in that part of town, like the National Leprechaun Museum or Phoenix Park in the Arbour Hill neighbourhood.

LUXURY

The Merrion Hotel

Radisson Blu Royal Hotel

Marker Hotel

The Morrison, a DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel

MID-RANGE

Drury Court Hotel

Aberdeen Lodge

Ariel House

Ashling Hotel

BUDGET

Sandymount Hotel

Travelodge Dublin City Center, Rathmines

Dergvale Hotel

Celtic Lodge Guesthouse

COST OF LIVING

During the famous Celtic Tiger boom in Ireland, Dublin quietly became one of the most expensive cities in the world for tourists. If the euro is strong against your currency then things are even worse, although some prices have actually come down in recent years. Hotel bargains are possible and there’s plenty to choose from, including many good hostels with good locations. The tourist area in Dublin is quite compact so be careful of cheap hotels well out of the city or near the airport, as the money you might save likely won’t be worth it.

City tours and some of the more famous attractions are on the expensive side, but things don’t really get out of hand until you start with food and drink. Unlike, say, London, it’s hard to find a simple meal that you’d consider cheap. And even though Dublin now has a reputation as an international party city, be prepared to drain your wallet if you want to participate. Beers here are expensive and everything else is more. Since Dublin’s summers are almost always pleasant, the hotel seasons follow the typical North American pattern. The city’s high season is June through August, while Dublin’s low season is November through February, although during Christmas things can get quite full so it’s best to reserve as far in advance for that period as possible.

Outside of summer it’s usually fairly easy to get a room on the spot, but with prices being what they are it’s not surprising that many of the more popular and cheaper places do book up, especially on the weekends since Dublin has become a popular weekend break for other Europeans lately.