Getting To Know Dublin – Cruise Port Guide
If there’s one thing you will never be when in Dublin it is bored. It’s a city packed with exciting things to see and do for people of all ages. A lot of the things on offer are easily explored on your own, but for the rest, such as the Jameson Distillery, Dublin Castle and Malahide Castle & Gardens, we would recommend that you visit as part of an organised excursion. Let our Dublin cruise port guide help you plan your day during your cruise call.
Dublin is a warm and friendly place and it’s home to Phoenix Park, Europe’s largest enclosed urban park which was opened to the public in 1747. It’s also home to a zoo and in all is 7 miles in perimeter. it’s hugely impressive and certainly worth visiting if you’ve never been before.
So, let us give you a little more background on the city itself. Dublin is of course the capital of Ireland, but it’s also the country’s largest city. The city rapidly expanded from the 17th century and for a short time was the largest city in the British Empire. When Ireland partitioned in 1922, Dublin became the capital of what was then known as the Irish Free State, later becoming what we now know today as Ireland.
The city is bustling with things to see, do, eat and enjoy. It’s a hub for historical and contemporary arts and education and in 2018 was listed by the Globalization and World Cities Research Network as a global city at a ranking of A.
Travel Tips
A shuttle bus service is usually offered from the port into the heart of Dublin city centre. From here, public transport links are easily accessible, including the city tram network.
All of the following things to see and do are FREE: Trinity College, Irish Museum of Modern Art, National Museum of Ireland – Archaeology, Science Gallery, National Gallery, National Botanic Gardens, Temple Bar Food Market, Museum of Natural History, Phoenix Park and Sandeman’s Walking Tour,
Head to the nearest convenience store and buy yourself a Leap Card. These can be used on the city tram, Dublin Area Rapid Transit (DART) and buses. It’s a much cheaper option than taxis and paying per individual journey. You can top up as much as you like.
Key Highlights of Dublin
- Guinness Storehouse
- Temple Bar
- Dublin Castle
- Jameson Distillery
- Malahide Castle & Gardens
- Christ Church Cathedral
- Kilmainham Gaol
- St Stephen’s Green
- Trinity College Library
- Dublin Zoo – Phoenix Park
- Dublin Flea Market
- Botanic Gardens
- St Patrick’s Cathedral
- The National Museum of Ireland
Regular cruise line visitors
- Cunard
- Regent Seven Seas
- Celebrity Cruises
- Royal Caribbean
- Princess Cruises
- Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines
- Saga
- Cunard
- P&O Cruises
- Oceania Cruises
Cruise Expert Insider 🔎 Dublin Cruise Port by Marcus Adams (Sparkx)
I could visit Dublin time and time again, and find something new and exciting each visit. It’s convenient, not only as a cruise destination, but as an international destination in its own right. It’s also very beautiful and incredibly photogenic, so be ready to capture those Instagram moments.
Truth be told, one day isn’t enough to explore the whole of Dublin (believe me I’ve tried), but it’s definitely a walkable city and I recommend trying to get about on foot as much as possible – plus the traffic can be pretty bad at times.
It wouldn’t be a visit to Dublin without a trip to the Guinness Storehouse. Set across seven floors, the Storehouse explains the history of beer through various interactive exhibitions. Arguably, the highlight is on the seventh floor when you enter the Gravity Bar, which affords amazing views over Dublin and where you can enjoy a pint of Guinness (which is included in the price of admission). Not to be missed.
Again, no visit to Dublin is complete without experiencing the world-famous Trinity College Dublin. Trinity is considered one of the most beautiful university campuses in the world and it is worth spending time in and around the grounds. If you can, I recommend visiting the Book of Kells. Known as one of Medieval Europe’s’ greatest treasures, the book is an illuminated Bible created by monks between the 6th and 8th centuries. Set within the Library of Trinity (which itself is stunning), the library displays a different page of the book every day. You can book tours through your cruise line and doing it this way can also include a queue jump, which is ideal as it can become very busy.
If you’re a foodie, like me, then there’s no lack of amazing options available in Dublin. Honestly, take your pick. If you’re out and about during a day-visit to Dublin I recommend George’s Street which has a number of fun offerings. One I really do recommend is Chimac, literally meaning chicken and beer. This fun restaurant brings a taste of Seoul to Dublin, offering Korean fried chicken together with Irish craft beer. It’s honestly out of this world and I cannot recommend it enough.
While you’re in the area, make sure you check out Grafton Street and its surrounding maze of other streets, including George’s Street arcade and Powerscourt Townhouse. Grafton Street is the most expensive street in Ireland, and at one point one of the most expensive in the world. From here you can explore all sorts of parts of the city, including the gorgeous Stephen’s Green Park and Merrion Square, one of Dublin’s five Georgian parks, which includes a statue of Oscar Wilde.
Finally, make sure you check out Dublin Castle and its grounds. The Castle is lovely and has a gorgeous walled garden. If you do visit, make sure you also check out the Chester Beatty Library.