Dublin travel information

Dublin is a lively, cosmopolitan city with an enormous amount to offer visitors. Violent crime is not a major problem, though tourists should be on the alert for bag-snatchers and other petty criminals. Hygiene and healthcare standards are high, and no official inoculations are needed to enter the country. Here are some basics and protocols to be aware of while visiting Dublin.

• Avoid renting a car in the city as it is impractical and expensive, but if you plan to peruse the surrounding countryside, hiring a vehicle is essential.

• The best time to visit Dublin is in spring and autumn, as prices increase dramatically in summer, and many places are shut during the bitterly cold winter months.

• Highlights of the Dublin calendar are: St Patrick’s Day, on March 17, when a large parade moves through the city and a festival atmosphere reigns supreme; and the celebration of the James Joyce classic, Ulysses, on June 16.

• If you plan on visiting Phoenix Park, be sure to do so in daylight hours, as the park is unsafe after dark.

• Be careful of initiating conversations about either religion or politics – both have played a significant role in Ireland’s volatile and often violent past, and are touchy subjects for many Dubliners.

• The trendy area of Temple Bar, where a high density of restaurants, cafés, pubs and other watering holes are concentrated, tends to be packed with drunken revellers on weekend nights, so unless you are up for joining the inebriated chaos, stick to visiting during the week.

• The Irish are a tolerant and laid-back lot for the most part, but visitors are expected to follow certain codes of polite behaviour, including standing in line, waiting your turn, and avoiding pushing or shoving.

• Dublin is one of Europe’s more successful ‘non-smoking’ countries. While smoking is permitted outside and in certain pubs and restaurants, many establishments do not allow smokers to light up indoors.

Useful travel tips resources

Wordtravels
Site offering travel guides with helpful information and advice for a wide range of destinations.
http://news24.wordtravels.com/Cities/Ireland/Dublin

Iexplore
Do’s and Don’ts in Irish culture.
http://fodors.iexplore.com/dmap/Ireland/Do’s+and+Don’ts

Footprint Guides - Dublin
Incomparable resource on Dublin travel from this well-known travel guide publisher.
http://www.footprintguides.com/

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Essentials

Visas: Not needed by citizens of most countries for visits of less than 90 days. Check with your embassy for confirmation.
Season: April to October
Money: Euro
Language: Gaelic and English
Emergency #:122 or 999

Ireland