Dublin travel blog
Stories, tips and inspiration for your Dublin and Ireland adventure
Dublin in spring: why the shoulder season is the best-kept travel secret
April and May in Dublin offer fewer crowds, real spring light, and the full city running normally. Here's why shoulder season beats summer for most
Planning St Patrick's Day 2026 in Dublin: what to expect, what to book, what to skip
St Patrick's Day in Dublin needs planning. What actually happens, what to book months ahead, and what the postcards don't show.
Dublin in 2026: what's new, what's changed, and what finally opened
Dublin has had a busy few years of openings, changes and improvements. Here's what's new in 2026 and what it means for planning a visit this year.
Five Dublin neighbourhoods that most visitors never find
Dublin has neighbourhoods with character, food and local life that most visitors miss. Here are five areas worth exploring beyond the tourist trail.
Giant's Causeway day trip from Dublin: the honest review
The Giant's Causeway is extraordinary but the day trip from Dublin is long. What to expect, what's worth doing, and what the brochures don't say.
The Dublin Pass: I did the maths so you don't have to
The Dublin Pass covers 40+ attractions. I calculated the break-even point for different trip lengths and visitor types to give you a straight answer.
Dublin vs Edinburgh for a weekend: which city wins and for whom
Both cities get compared constantly. Here's a genuine side-by-side: cost, atmosphere, food, culture, pubs and who each is better suited for.
Dublin's whiskey renaissance: four distilleries in one neighbourhood
The Liberties neighbourhood has four working whiskey distilleries within walking distance of each other. Why it happened, what each offers, and where to
The best trad session I stumbled into — and what made it different
Not all trad music in Dublin sounds the same. The night I stumbled into a real session taught me the difference between performance and the actual thing.
Belfast day trip from Dublin: what I learned going twice
Belfast is two hours from Dublin and completely different in character. What's actually worth your time, what the ETA business means, and how to do it
Is Temple Bar really that bad? An honest answer
Temple Bar has a terrible reputation among locals. Is it deserved? Partly. Here's what's actually worth your time there and what to avoid.
Christmas markets in Dublin: the honest guide to what's worth your time
Dublin has several Christmas markets but they vary wildly in quality. Here's what each one is actually like and which to prioritise for festive atmosphere.
Cliffs of Moher without the crowds: what I learned going wrong
How to actually enjoy the Cliffs of Moher rather than shuffle through a crowd. Timing, which section to walk, and what nobody tells you before you book.
Newgrange is older than the pyramids — and I didn't believe it until I stood inside
A first-person account of visiting Newgrange, the 5,200-year-old passage tomb in the Boyne Valley — older than Stonehenge, older than the pyramids.
Dublin on a budget — 2023 update
Dublin is expensive but manageable. Updated 2023 prices, the best free attractions, where food costs less, and which tourist traps cost you the most.
A weekend in Galway from Dublin
Two and a half hours from Dublin and a completely different city. The honest guide to spending a weekend in Galway, with Connemara and the Atlantic coast.
The best day trip I ever took from Dublin
One day trip from Dublin stands out: thirteen hours, the Burren, the Cliffs of Moher, and a drive back in the dark. The honest account of the best day out.
Glendalough in spring
April in Glendalough: monastery ruins against fresh green, clear lakes, no crowds. Why spring is the best time to visit Wicklow's most beautiful valley.
New year Dublin resolutions — the ones worth keeping
Dublin travel intentions specific enough to actually keep: the walk you keep putting off, the pub to find, the day trip that's been on the list for two
Dublin ghost stories for Halloween
Dublin has genuine ghosts: plague pits, executed rebels, medieval monasteries, and Glasnevin's layered dead. The stories worth knowing before a Halloween
Reopening Dublin — what changed and what didn't
Dublin came back from the pandemic with some things changed, some intact, and a few unexpected improvements. An honest account from May 2021 reopening.
Howth cliff walk in late summer
August in Howth: the cliff path in full flower, the harbour loaded with fishing boats, seals on the rocks below, and the best seafood lunch on Dublin's
Dublin in the quiet season
February in Dublin is cold, often wet, and almost completely free of tourist crowds. Here's why it might be the best time to visit the city properly.
A rainy afternoon in Dublin
Rain is Dublin's default setting. How to spend a wet afternoon well: the free museums, the right pubs, covered markets, and unexpected pleasures of bad
Hidden corners of the Liberties
Dublin's oldest neighbourhood and its newest craft-drinks quarter. What most visitors miss when they make a beeline straight for the Guinness Storehouse.
St Patrick's Day as a local — what it's actually like
The parade, the pubs, and the parts tourists never see. What St Patrick's Day in Dublin is really like when you live there and have mixed feelings about
My first pint at the Guinness Storehouse
What the Guinness Storehouse is actually like: the floors, the Gravity Bar pint, the queues, and whether it lives up to the hype. An honest first visit.
Why Dublin still surprises me
Dublin is one of Europe's most visited cities, yet it keeps pulling unexpected moments from its sleeve. Here's why it still catches me off guard.