Ardmore Hotel, Tolka Valley, Dublin

Open-topped bus tours are a great way to familiarise yourself with the city, and you can hop on and off as you please. They leave from various points in the city every 15 minutes or so. The Guinness Hop Store, Jameson’s Distillery, Kilmainham Gaol, Phoenix Park, Dublin races and also Dublinia, the purpose built heritage centre are all worth a visit, or you may wish to just soak up the atmosphere in one of the many pubs.

Dublin has a whole host of evening entertainment on offer to suit everyone. There are three theatres in Dublin, the Abbey, the Gate and the Gaiety, all providing a variety of shows. Two main highlights of the year are Opera season and the Dublin Theatre Festival in September. Dublins club scene is also very varied. Jazz, R&B, Salsa, Trendy or Seventies Disco to name but a few. Leeson Street has a good selection of clubs to suit all tastes, while Temple Bar is the place to go for a huge range of pubs, especially traditional Irish pubs where there may be live music to enjoy. Karaoke bars, comedy clubs and casinos also prove popular. There are lots of venues offering traditional Irish music and dance nights, which are a must when visiting Dublin.

Eating out in Dublin can be as International or Traditional as you like. There is a wide range of cosmopolitan restaurants with American, Italian, Indian, Chinese, Thai, Lebanese, Russian, Japanese and even Transylvanian cuisine! However, no trip to Dublin is complete without sampling some traditional Irish fare. Irish stew, champ, boxty, mussels and stout, soda bread and Guinness cake are all on offer, and a hearty meal can be had in one of the many pubs or cafes. There are also fine restaurants within many of the hotels with Clarence, La Stampa and Shelbourne being among the best.

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