Taking a quick break? 5 Places you absolutely must visit in Dublin

The capital of Ireland has a rich cultural tapestry that features beautiful historical sites, elegant architecture, and a vibrant atmosphere that is bolstered by the energetic personality of Dubliners. For anyone looking for some last minute deals to travel  for a long weekend or a short vacation, there a few places where you will find the variety and quality of nightlife, museums (including beer and whiskey ones), and musical shows (both private concerts and street performances) that are available in Dublin. So for anyone looking to make the trip across the Irish Sea, here are five places you won’t want to miss.

1. Guinness Brewery and Storehouse

A staple for anyone who visits Dublin, the Guinness Storehouse has been serving up pints of the world’s most famous stout since 1759, and the seven-story building has now been remodelled into the shape of that famous pint glass. A visit here will turn you into a Guinness expert though there are no promises you’ll remember any of the facts after you’ve had a few on the tour.

2. The National Gallery of Ireland

Inside this beautifully designed modern building sit the many masterpieces that are part of the National Gallery of Ireland home collection. These include over 2,500 paintings ranging from modernists to renaissance artists and more. Some of the gallery favourites include works by Vermeer, Caravaggio, Picasso, Van Gogh and Monet.

3. Book of Kells

One of the most important regional documents concerning Christianity, The Book of Kells is a richly textured book of gospels written in Latin around the year 800 AD. It is one of Dublin’s biggest tourist draws, attracting over 500,000 people to the library at Trinity University every year.

4. The Summer of Yeats

This summer Dublin and the National Library of Ireland are celebrating one of the country’s favourite literary sons, with exhibitions on the famed poet William Butler Yeats. The National Concert Hall will also be putting on a variety of shows and musical performances celebrating the work of Yeats.

5. Temple Bar

For anyone looking for a good night out or a chance encounter with a famous musician strumming a few strings for fun along the walking streets, Temple Bar is the place for you. The area next to the River Liffey is packed with pubs, bars, and restaurants, as well as locals and tourists looking for a good pint.

Whatever you’re after for your next vacation, a trip to Dublin will be both a fun time and a trip that won’t break the bank.

If you’ve visited Dublin and are a fan, please tell us your favourite spots in the comments below.

Images by  Doug Kerr and  William Murphy used under the Creative Commons License.