While we have yet to travel to Ireland we were provided this great article by Paul Norton with Dublin Tour Company on the Top Tourist Places in Dublin! We officially can’t wait to check out these places for ourselves.
Are you looking to spend quality time in Dublin? This city has a lot to offer for both local and international tourists. Since historical times, Dublin, which is the current capital city of Ireland, has shown the world a lot of written and visual traditions. If you are in town for some days, enjoy quality time by making sure that you visit the following attractions. Booking your tour with Dublintourcompany.com will ease your travel arrangements.
1. Trinity College
This is probably the best place to kick off your Dublin tour. The institution is located
right at the heart of the city and packed with a lot of historical features. The college is
actually the oldest university in Ireland, with its construction dating back to 1592. The
college occupies an approximately 39-acre piece of land with various ancient seclusions
of parks, gardens and cobbled squares. It is well known for the collection of impeccable
treasures.
2. Irish Museum of Modern Art
If you are a historical enthusiast looking to excurse what Dublin offers, the Irish Museum of Modern Art should be among your first stop. The museum is home to exhibits from several eras that depicts Ireland’s grandeur over time. Being the world’s leading institution that collects and exhibits modern arts, the Irish Museum of Modern Art is a place worth spending time during your tour. Perhaps the most notable feature of this museum is the extended corridors that run along with a series of connected rooms. This museum also hosts a good number of programs and exhibitions every year.
3. St. Patrick’s Cathedral
Another sought after tourist attraction in Dublin is the St. Patrick’s Cathedral. The church doubles up as the most scenic spot and highly rated monument in Dublin. Ushering you into the compound is colourfully stained grass whose aesthetic nature cannot be ignored. The church conducts daily masses throughout the week. If you want to attend one, make sure that you get there early to find a spot inside the church.
4. Grafton Street
A short stroll from Trinity College leads you to Grafton Street, a premier Dublin shopping street. As you stroll, watch out for the statue of Molly Malone, which is impossible to miss. The Grafton Street buzzes all times, be it during morning hours, in the noon or late night. This makes it a magnet for classical quartets and traditional fiddle players, single songwriters, and buskers. Most famous musicians and bands also make impromptu performance along the street.
5. The Little Museum of Dublin
If you are interested in finding out how Dublin and its citizens evolved over time, you shouldn’t miss the Little Museum of Dublin. The museum was opened in 2011 after various appeals from artefacts and mementos. It currently hosts a wide array of exhibitions detailing the evolution of the city in the past centuries. The museum is open throughout the week to Sundays and charges little admission fees.
6. The National Gallery of Ireland
History enthusiasts seem to benefit more from this Dublin city tour. Another historical part of Dublin is kept in the National Gallery of Ireland, located some few minutes away from the Little Museum, close to the Houses of Parliament. The gallery houses some of Ireland’s finest collection of Irish art alongside other several collections of European arts from the middle ages to the current era. Interestingly, despite the heavy collection of art, admission to the museum is free. Purpose to stop over this museum with a rich history.
7. The Phoenix Park and Dublin Zoo
If you have never seen a zoo or park within a city, get ready to witness one in Dublin. The Phoenix Park and Dublin Zoo cover approximately 1750 acres with hundreds of wild animals including deer that roam around freely. There is a visitor’s centre at the park for those who want to find out more about the zoo, park and its environs.
A trip to the Dublin zoo is a day trip on its own. With more than one million visitors every year, there is a lot to witness in this natural environment. Apart from the deer, both rare and exotic breed of wild animals can be found in the zoo. Among them, include the sea lions, hippos, bats, penguins, reptile house and Asian elephants.
8. The Kilmainham Gaol
The Kilmainham Gaol is another interesting place to tour with the notorious history of the Irish nationalism. This is where the leaders of 1916 rebels were incarcerated and executed for their acts of treason. This modern exhibition hall gives tourists a taste of how the conditions were then during the struggle of Irish independence.
The places mentioned above are just but a few interesting places to visit during your trip. Other worthy places to stop by include the Dublin Castle, The James Joyce Centre, Guinness Storehouse, O’Connell Street and Temple Bar.
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