Tour overview
Dublin is a warm and welcoming city, known for the friendliness of its people and famous for its craic (“crack”)—that mixture of repartee, humour, intelligence, and acerbic and deflating insight that has attracted writers, intellectuals, and visitors for centuries. It has faded grandeur and a comfortably worn sense.
DUBLIN AIRPORT & HALF DAY CITY TOUR
Dublin Airport Meet & Greet
Meet your Driver in the the Arrivals hall Dublin Airport
EPIC Museum
The Irish Emigration Museum
You won’t find leprechauns or pots of gold here, but you’ll discover that what it means to be Irish expands far beyond the borders of Ireland through the stories of Irish emigrants who became scientists, politicians, poets, artists and even outlaws all over the world. Discover Ireland from the outside in and find out why saying “I’m Irish” is one of the biggest conversation starters, no matter where you are.
EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum
The chq Building, Custom House Quay
Book of Kells (Booking Required)
The Book of Kells (Trinity College Dublin MS 58) contains the four Gospels in Latin based on the Vulgate text which St Jerome completed in 384AD, intermixed with readings from the earlier Old Latin translation. The Gospel texts are prefaced by other texts, including "canon tables", or concordances of Gospel passages common to two or more of the evangelists; summaries of the gospel narratives (Breves causae); and prefaces characterizing the evangelists (Argumenta).
The book is written on vellum (prepared calfskin) in a bold and expert version of the script known as "insular majuscule". It contains 340 folios, now measuring approximately 330 x 255 mm; they were severely trimmed, and their edges gilded, in the course of rebinding in the 19th century.The date and place of origin of the Book of Kells have attracted a great deal of scholarly controversy. The majority academic opinion now tends to attribute it to the scriptorium of Iona (
Argyllshire), but conflicting claims have located it in Northumbria or in Pictland in eastern Scotland. A monastery founded around 561 by St Colum Cille on Iona, an island off Mull in western Scotland, became the principal house of a large monastic confederation. In 806, following a Viking raid on the island which left 68 of the community dead, the Columban monks took refuge in a new monastery at Kells, County Meath, and for many years the two monasteries were governed as a single community. It must have been close to the year 800 that the Book of Kells was written, although there is no way of knowing if the book was produced wholly at Iona or at Kells, or partially at each location.
The manuscript’s celebrity derives largely from the impact of its lavish decoration, the extent and artistry of which is incomparable. Abstract decoration and images of plant, animal and human ornament punctuate the text with the aim of glorifying Jesus’ life and message, and keeping his attributes and symbols constantly in the eye of the reader.
There are full pages of decoration for the canon tables; symbols of the evangelists Matthew (the Man), Mark (the Lion), Luke (the Calf) and John (the Eagle); the opening words of the Gospels; the Virgin and Child; a portrait of Christ; complex narrative scenes, the earliest to survive in gospel manuscripts, representing the arrest of Christ and his temptation by the Devil. The Chi Rho page (folio 34r), introducing Matthew’s account of the nativity, is the single most famous page in medieval art. There are portraits of Matthew and John, but no portrait of Mark or Luke survives. These were probably executed, like other major pages of the manuscript, on single leaves and they are presumed to have become detached over time and lost. In all, around 30 folios went missing in the medieval and early modern periods.
Brazen Head Pub
Lunch at Irelands oldest pub The Brazen Head dating from 1198 In fact there has been a hostelry here since 1198. The present building was built in 1754 as a coaching inn. However The Brazen Head appears in documents as far back as 1653. An advertisement from the 1750’s reads “Christopher Quinn of The Brazen Head in Bridge Street has fitted said house with neat accommodations and commodious cellars for said business”
Westbury Hotel Dublin
Voted Number 1 Hotel in Ireland by Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards 2019
The unrivaled location and luxury of The Westbury in Dublin, a member of Leading Hotels of the World, blends city living with an oasis of comfort and calm. From the moment guests ascend the hotel’s central staircase to be introduced at check-in, there is a sense of being welcomed into a home from home. Take The Gallery, the supremely appointed and positioned space where afternoon tea is an institution and to one side, The Sidecar, with its 1930s, Gatsby-esque look and feel, sees white-jacketed bartenders fix martinis at your table. Meanwhile, with its buzzy outdoor terrace and walk-in entrance, all-day eatery Balfe’s marries the easy elegance of a Parisian bistro with the dynamic energy of a New York brasserie. And, signature restaurant WILDE couples 1930s elegance with a botanical aesthetic, its floor-to-ceiling windows and an array of greenery, looking out over the city centre.
The Westbury’s central location in the heart of Dublin offers unrivalled access to the pedestrianised social hub of Grafton Street, as well as the historic open spaces of Dublin’s Trinity College and St Stephen’s Green. Irish heritage abounds in the hotel too, from the flowers to the food, along with one of the country’s foremost art collections, featuring original paintings by Sir John Lavery and Louis le Brocquy. But is it the warmth of welcome that is most vivid – a tangible service ethos that sets the seal on a haven of luxury.
Full Irish Breakfast included
Wilde Restaurant Westbury Hotel (Booking Required)
WILDE
WILDE redefines traditional dining while creating a unique destination that's both relaxing and luxurious.
The central design ethos fuses 1930s elegance with an abundance of greenery, giving guests the sense of alfresco dining.
WILDE's menus celebrate the finest Irish produce, combining much-loved local dishes with classic cuisine from around the world.
The extensive wine list at WILDE has been carefully selected by the Head Sommelier, winner of Best Sommelier as voted by the Sunday Business Post Gold Star Awards 2019.
COASTAL TOUR & COUNTY WICKLOW
Dublin Coastal tour to County Wicklow
This morning we travel through the South side of Dublin city to the coastal towns & villages on route to County Wicklow known as the garden of Ireland
Wicklow
We visit Glendalough a glacial valley in County Wicklow, Ireland, renowned for an Early Medieval monastic settlement founded in the 6th century by St Kevin.
We travel to the quaint village of Avoca an a visit to Ireland's oldest woolen mills Built on the banks of the Avoca River from where it used to draw its power, you'll find a large Avoca Store and Cafe, and a working hand weaving mill. The Avoca Mill itself dates from 1723, and is said to be Ireland’s oldest working mill, and indeed one of the world’s oldest.
The Dublin/Wicklow Mountains
On returning to the City we travel across the Dublin/Wicklow mountains on the Sally Gap roadwhere there are spectacular views of the surrounding blanket bog and the Wicklow Mountains. Sally Gap is one of two east-to-west passes across the Wicklow Mountains. Sally Gaps is a cross-road that leads you North to Dublin, West to Blessington, South to Glendalough or East to Roundwood.
the Sally Gap got its road after the Irish rebellion of 1798. It was built by British Army forces looking to flush rebels from the hills, and to this day is known as the Military Road.
Whatever about giving the army a better view of the rebels, the Military Road certainly provides an enviable view of some of Ireland’s most filmed scenery.
Highlights of this winding, twisting feat of engineering include the Glencree valley, the dark waters of Lough Tay, Kippure Mountain and Glenmacnass Waterfall.
Matt The Thresher Restaurant
Seafood Bar And Grill
Matt the Thresher is a bright stylish seafood restaurant with a fully licenced bar located in the city centre, within the heart of Georgian Dublin, between Fitzwilliam Square and Merrion Square only a short stroll from St. Stephens Green.
We specialise in fresh wild Irish seafood but we have an extensive menu with something to suit all requirements. Matt’s has a grand bar boasting a full range of local and international beers & whiskeys, a fine cocktail menu along with a well-sourced comprehensive wine list.
DUBLIN ON YOUR OWN
Dublin Walking Tour
Meet your walking guide in the lobby of your hotel to start your City tour with a visit to Trinity College 3rd oldest university in the World & the Book of Kells the four Gospels of the New Testament. A visit to St Patricks Cathedral one of two Church of Ireland Cathedrals in Dublin dating from 1191.
In just over 2 hours, this Fáilte Ireland-approved, award-winning and entertaining walking tour, , explores the main features of Irish history - Dublin's development, the influence of the American and French Revolutions, the Potato Famine, the Great War and the 1916 Rising, the War of Independence, the Northern conflict and Ireland today.
Guinness Storehouse visitor centre
Located in the heart of the St. James's Gate Brewery, the Guinness Storehouse® is Ireland's most popular tourist attraction. It's the home of the Black Stuff, the heart of Dublin and an unforgettable start to your Irish adventure.
The journey begins at the bottom of the world's largest pint glass and continues up through seven floors filled with interactive experiences that fuse our long brewing heritage with Ireland's rich history. At the top, you'll be rewarded with a pint of perfection in our world-famous rooftop Gravity Bar. Now that's our kind of higher education.
Teeling Whiskey Tour & Tasting
TEELING STORY
The Spirit Of Dublin – A Craft Revival
Whiskey making and entrepreneurship has been in the Teeling genes as far back as 1782, when Walter Teeling set up a small craft distillery on Marrowbone Lane, Dublin 8. Right back in the heart of the Liberties district of Dublin city, Jack and Stephen Teeling, the latest generation of whiskey makers, set up the Teeling Whiskey Company in 2012. In March 2015 they opened the Teeling Whiskey Distillery the first new distillery in Dublin in over 125 years, and just a stone’s throw from their ancestral distillery,
right in the heart of the Golden Triangle, the historic distilling district of the city.
With one eye on the past, but looking to the future, we’re the new generation of Dublin distillers. We approach our craft with a respect for generations passed but with the confidence to forge the next chapter of Irish and Dublin whiskey.
Dublin - Dining
Dublin has an exciting food scene – naturally, there's plenty of Irish fare, both traditional and modern, but you'll also find a tasty selection of ethnic eateries spanning most global cuisines.
L. Mulligan Grocer
Stoneybatter 18, Dublin
Da Mimmo
North Strand 148, Dublin
Chapter One
Parnell Square North 18, Dublin
Taza
Ardcollum Avenue 2, Dublin
Tang
Dawson Street 23C, Dublin
Fade Street Social
Fade St., Dublin
Fallon & Byrne
Exchequer St. 11/17, Dublin
Coppinger Row
Coppinger Row, Dublin
Saba
Clarendon St. 26/28, Dublin
The Exchequer
Exchequer St. 3/5, Dublin
Dax Restaurant
Pembroke St. 23, Dublin
Le Bon Crubeen
Talbot St. 81/82, Dublin
BANG Restaurant
Merrion Row 11, Dublin
Il Vicoletto
Crow St. 5, Dublin
Pearl Brasserie
Merrion St. 20, Dublin
Dublin - Bars & Nightlife
Dublin’s pubs are slices of the nation's living culture. The eclectic atmosphere sparks "craic" in every nook and cranny of this growing city's watering holes. Choose among 1000 pubs to get up close and personal with local history and culture.
McDaids
Harry St. 3, Dublin
International Bar
Wicklow St. 23, Dublin
O'Donoghues
Merrion Row 15, Dublin
Dublin Literary Pub Crawl
Duke St. 9, dublin
Grogan's
South William St. 15, Dublin
The Stag’s Head
Dame Court 1, Dublin
Mulligan’s
Poolbeg St. 8, Dublin
The Cobblestone
King St. North 77, Dublin
Palace Bar
Fleet St. 21, Dublin
Library Bar
Exchequer St., Dublin
Pygmalion
South William St. 59, Dublin
The Long Hall
South Great Georges St. 51, Dublin
The Bank on College Green
College Green 20/22, Dublin
Dublin - Cafes
The pub is a place dear to the heart of every Dubliner but you'll find that cafés, coffee shops and tea shops come in a very close second! There are hundreds of cafés in Dublin offering the finest coffees and teas from around the world along with a wide selection of delicious food and sweet cakes to accompany them.
Oxmantown
Mary's Abbey 16, Dublin
Dolce Sicily
Anne Street South 20, Dublin
Network Cafe
Aungier St. 39, Dublin
Stage Door Cafe
Essex Street East 11, Dublin
Beanhive
Dawson Street 26, Dublin
The Cake Cafe
Grantham St., Dublin
Queen of Tarts
Dame St., Dublin
Brother Hubbard
Capel St. 153, Dublin
Murphys Ice Cream
Wicklow St. 27, Dublin
Bewley’s Oriental Café
Grafton St. 78/79, Dublin
Silk Road Café
Dame St. Chester Beatty Library, Dublin
The Pepper Pot
South William St. 59, Dublin
The Decent Cigar Emporium
Grafton St. 46, Dublin
