I haven’t been personally but am planning on going soon… From what I’ve heard, two nights in Dublin is more than enough (only if you were going to do day trips elsewhere is more time really necessary). So if you got two full days in, I’m sure you’d be fine. That’s what we’re planning on doing.

Maybe some of the more knowlegable on the board can confirm my thoughts or not.

My wife and I are going to be in Dublin for 3 days in about a month. We’re doing a couple of days in Dublin and a day trip somewhere outside the city. From what I’ve read, 2 days is a pretty good amount of time (at least compared to what people truly recommend: getting out and seeing the countryside). Of course if you’re only doing a night, depends exactly on when you arrive and have to leave as to how much actual time you get.

Temble Bar is the main place to get a pint. There a lots of good discussion on Dublin in this forum. Use the search function for Dublin in the favorite places forum and you’ll find a lot more info than I can give you.

I spent one day in Dublin and didn’t particularly want to stay longer. The things we enjoyed most were the Book of Kells (sp?) exhibit at Trinity College and CD shopping in the Temple Bar area.

Daisybell, I know exactly what you mean about going to a pub on my own. But in Dublin more than elsewhere I have found it easy to get talking to people. I went to a pub called The Celt where they played live music including my favourite Irish and other folk songs! You can sit round a big table and chat to people. The only problem there — but a big one — was smoke, but now the pubs are smoke free it should be much more comfortable! If you want to find that pub, it’s just round the corner from the Globetrotters Hostel (which is one of the better ones, and has the best hostel breakfast in the World!), which is not far from the bus station.

Dublin is only "worth it" if you are including it as part of a larger trip to Ireland. If you are just going to Dublin to say that you have been to Ireland and not planning on going any further, then don’t go to Dublin. Spend those 2 days elsewhere because it won’t be worth it.

quote:
Dublin is only "worth it" if you are including it as part of a larger trip to Ireland. If you are just going to Dublin to say that you have been to Ireland and not planning on going any further, then don’t go to Dublin. Spend those 2 days elsewhere because it won’t be worth it.

What if you just want to go to the Guinness brewery?

Its well worth visiting Dublin for a short time, its got great shopping, stunning Georgian architecture in the south of the city, the Guiness brewery is popular as is the Jameson distillery.
I agree that a longer stay is only worth it if you are visiting places nearby like the Wicklow mountains and the coast of Co Dublin.

You will always meet people if you go drinking in the pubs its a real friendly city, Temple Bar however is full of tourists, so if you want to meet locals then drink in the "local" pubs.

Dublin was one of my favourite cities in Europe. I loved the atmosphere in the pubs where you could just go and chat with random people and there was live music everywhere. Temple Bar is touristy but it’s definately the place to go to the pub.

The Guinness Tour was actually very cool; I especially loved the exhibit on the history of Guinness’s advertising. It’s a simple, cheap bus ride to get there from the Temple Bar area, and any hostel will be able to direct you. Once you’re in that area, Kilmainham Jail is nearby and the tour there is very interesting.

We had limited time there as well, so we started off with a two-hour walking tour that met outside Trinity College’s gates and gave a really neat crash course to all the main sites in Dublin, with some history and some humour thrown in for good measure. Trinity College itself was a bit less interesting, though some people enjoy seeing the Book of Kells.

Enjoy!

I spent two days in Dublin and it was great. My favorite pub by far was a place called the porter house in the temple bar district. The people that I met were all very friendly, although I couldn’t understand them always (not sure if it was because I had one too many beers, or because of their accents). The Guiness Tour’s drinking room had a great view of the city.

Huntman’s comment about the difficulty understanding the accents made me smile because, many years ago, my first trip to Europe was to Dublin, where I studied for 3 or 4 months. Once I’d left the airport, and started using local buses, people were very friendly and helpful—- but I couldn’t understand a thing!
During my student days, I’d have afternoons free, and I’d study hard for a couple of hours, and then go for a walk, usually varying the walks, so that I saw quite a bit of Dublin on foot—- and that’s still what I like to do when I go there now.
Obviously I have sentimental attachments to the place, but I’d say that 2 days would be a minimum stay, and I’d be happy with more, especially if you’d like to see places in the immediate vicinity of Dublin, for example Glendalough and the Wicklow mountains.
Central Dublin is very compact, and it’s easy to walk everywhere. If the weather’s good, take DART along the coast south to Bray, or go out to Howth.
One other idea that hasn’t already been mentioned is to go to the theater; Ireland has a rich literary history, and you’ll often find plays by Shaw, Behan, etc.
Don’t worry about meeting people—- it’s almost impossible to not meet people in the pubs or elswhere in Dublin!

Dublin is one of those places that on first impressions you may want to write off, but believe me the place rocks. I spent a weekend in Dublin when I was living in London and I too did not think it was ‘worth it’, per say. Well did I regret thinking I knew it all. After living in London I was sent to Dublin to live, and had the best time of my life. Dublin needs to have the chance to grow on you, it is not so much about the city, or the pubs or the attractions, Dublin is a place of music, history and a fabulous culture. The people of Ireland are a rare species of people who will take you under their fold and give you a warm welcome (generally), a pint of beer and take the time to talk to you and learn about you, aswell as sharing their feeling and thoughts on the country, the world and other!

Many a time I would go to the pub on my own and within 30 mins be sitting with a local(s) having some craic. I lived in Terenure and had the opportunity to feel like a local (although I did talk funny so they would tell me), something I have not felt so much in other countries I have lived. There are good local pubs in Rathmines, Harolds Cross and Terenure. If you can get on a bus travel (16, 16A or any number 156 bus) 20 mins up rathmines Rd you will be a million miles away from Temple Bar, which is not Dublin (we called it DublinLand).

Good point about Templebar which, in my ancient day, was not "yuppiefied". My pub was called the Ritz Bar, at the corner of upper Abbey Street and Jervis Street. The clintele was a mixture of characters from the neighborhood (fishmongers, etc.) and medical students.
Your mention of Harold’s Cross brings back a memory: I stayed there in a B&B that the tourist desk at the airport found for me. After a couple of nights, I’d met some of the other students, who took me to a pub where we had many pints and, to shorten the story, we spent the night in jail! The lady who ran the B&B was frantic with worry when she realized that I hadn’t returned home from my evening out with my new-found friends (several of whom became life-long friends).
So, for me (in spite of a few hours in a cell on, I think, my second night in Dublin), I have many fond memories!

quote: What if you just want to go to the Guinness brewery?

If the Guinness brewery is your only destination in mind, think of how many pints you could have with the money saved by not flying in just to take a one hour tour.

For me Dublin was less than memorable and is really the only place I would skip if I could do it again. I love Guiness but the tour was disappointing, the Jameson tour was put together much better. I agree with one of the other posts, if Dublin is your only stop in Ireland i’d skip it but if you’re going to Galway (thumbs up!) or traveling around then stop for a day or so and see some sights.