Welcome to Dublin
Dublin is the largest city and capital of the Republic of Ireland. It has a compact city centre that is easily navigable by foot, with a much larger metropolitan area with many suburbs surrounding the city. The city is divided in two by the River Liffey, and Dubliners typically identify as either 'Northsiders' or 'Southsiders'. There are many famous and fantastic attractions in and around Dublin. The list below offers a small snapshot of the innumerable options for sightseeing. Consult a travel book or visit the one of the Discover Ireland Centres for advice and information.
Enjoying Dublin
The most famous attractions in Dublin can be reached within a ten-minute walk from O’Connell Bridge in the city centre, including Trinity College, Christchurch Cathedral, and Temple Bar, among many other sites. The main UCD campus is four kilometres south of the city centre in Belfield, Dublin 4, and the graduate school of business campus is in Blackrock, Co. Dublin, two kilometres southeast of the Belfield campus.
Guinness Storehouse
St James's Gate, Dublin 8
Buses: Number 40 towards Liffey Valley Shopping Centre or 123 towards Walkinstown
Phone: +353 (0)1 4084800
Hours: Daily 9:30 – 17:00. For holidays and extended hours, see the Guinness website.
Tickets: €17.50 adults (discounts available online)
This interesting and self-guided exhibition retells the story of Dublin's most famous drink. Price of entry includes a complementary pint at the seventh floor Gravity Bar, which has great views over Dublin and forms the architectural head of the giant pint of Guinness formed by the atrium.
Temple Bar District
City Centre – south of the River Liffey, between Westmoreland St. and Parliament St.
This district is famous for its narrow, cobbled streets, shopping and restaurants, and late-night revelry. There are a great deal of bars, cafés, shops, and restaurants to enjoy, and though many can be pricey and swamped with tourists in the summer months, the district is an experience in and of itself. Make sure not to miss the weekend market in Meetinghouse Square and the Wall of Fame.
National Museums
National Museum of Ireland: Archaeology
Kildare St., Dublin 2
National Museum of Ireland: Natural History
Merrion St., Dublin 2
National Museum of Ireland: Decorative Arts and History
Collins Barracks, Benburb St., Dublin 7
T: +353 (0)1 677 7444
W: www.museum.ie
Hours: Tues-Sat 10:00–17:00; Sun 14:00–17:00
Price: Free
The three National Museums of Ireland located in Dublin offer three different perspectives on the history and heritage of the country. The Archaeology and Natural History museums are located next door to each other and adjacent to the Leinster House, the location of the Irish Parliament, an architectural marvel not to be missed. The Decorative Arts and History museum is further west of the city centre, close to the Guinness Storehouse.
Howth Head Cliff Walk
Howth Peninsula, Co. Dublin
DART: Train from Dublin City Centre to Howth Station
A beautiful walk along the cliffs of Howth affords wondrous views of the Irish Sea and Dublin Bay along the seafront. A 15km well-travelled trail loop with moderate inclines can be completed in 2-3 hours. The path is clearly marked, and the village of Howth offers many post-hike restaurants and respites, including a small market on weekends.
Phoenix Park and Dublin Zoo
W: www.dublinzoo.ie
Zoo Hours: Daily 09:30–18:00
Price: €16 adults, €12.50 students
Phoenix Park is the largest enclosed urban park in Europe and contains a host of wonders for a day outside. The park grounds contain residence of the President of Ireland, several lawns and gardens, the 17th Century Magazine Fort, a herd of wild Fallow deer, and the Dublin Zoo. The zoo itself is the largest in Ireland and exhibits all kinds of animals, from tigers and leopards to meerkats and apes.
Chester Beatty Library and Dublin Castle
2 Palace St, Dublin 2
T: +353 (0)1 677 7129
Hours: Mon-Sat 10:00–16:45, Sun 14:00–16:45
Price: Free
Dublin Castle has played a prominent role in the history of Ireland in its 800 year history. The State Apartments, Dubhlinn (dark pool) Gardens, and Norman Tower (home of the Garda Museum) provide unique perspectives on Dublin and Ireland. Of particular note is the Chester Beatty Library, home to a wide variety of artistic treasures.
Contact Global Partnerships
The UCD Global partnerships team supports the development of bilateral and multilateral partnerships, securing external funding where possible. For a list of our current university partners, please search our directory here.
Please email global.partnerships@ucd.ie if you are interested in partnering with UCD.