When people sing of Molly Malone, Cockles and Mussels, they’re also signing about our fair city and capital, Dublin.
The city itself welcomes millions of visitors every single year, and you might be next!
With that in mind, let’s take a look at some of the most popular options of where to stay in Dublin. We’ll focus specifically on Temple Bar, Trinity College Area, Phibsborough, Howth, Ranelagh, and Dun Laoghaire Rathdown as in our opinion these will offer visitors an amazing experience and a slightly different slice of Dublin city life in each.
Where to Stay in Dublin?
Temple Bar
Temple Bar is also known as the Cultural Quarter of Dublin and sits in the heart of Dublin on the south bank of the river Liffey, which runs through the city creating a north side and south side. It’s a fantastic place to stay and visit whilst in Dublin and it’s considered the party zone of the city.
Some of the highlights you can expect to find in Temple Bar include:
- The Temple Bar pub offers daily music sessions and over 450 different types of whiskeys, and an opportunity to get a photo with the James Joyce statue!
- The Irish Photography Centre
- The Ark Children’s Cultural Centre
- The Projects Art Centre
There are also some great places to stay, including the Temple Bar Hotel, The Norseman and the Hard Rock Hotel which all provide great options.
As we’ve said, this is the party zone and will generally always be packed with tourists, hen and stag parties (bachelor and bachelorette parties) and so on. Locals aren’t always best pleased with some of the behaviour in this area, and if you want something quieter then it’s best avoided.
Trinity College Area
The Trinity College area, situated in and around the historic college, is just around the corner from Temple Bar but a bit more cerebral…
As Ireland’s leading University, Trinity College Dublin is located in the heart of Dublin, just south of the river Liffey and near the docklands.
Some of our picks to stay in this area of Dublin include Premier Inn Dublin city centre, the Trinity City Hotel, and Buswells Hotel. There are also a number of hostels in the area which offer a great place to stay and can be a cheaper alternative to hotels.
You’ll be able to explore the local area, live like a student, and pretend you’re the main character in a Sally Rooney novel if you so wish…
Phibsborough
Phibsborough, or sometimes as it is referred to, Phibsboro, is located in the north side of Dublin, with the Bradogue River crossing through it. Located only a couple of kilometres out of the city centre, staying in Phibsborough can act as a great base for exploring the rest of the city, and gives you a taste of some local living as it’s much more residential.
Some of the highlights you can expect to find in Phibsborough include:
- St Peter’s Catholic Church, which dates back to the mid-1800’s.
- The National Botanic Gardens, which sit near Phibsborough present an excellent option for a family day out.
- Croke Park, which again sits just outside Phibsborough is home of the GAA (supporting Gaelic, Hurling and Handball) and features a museum, stadium tour etc.
Whilst not located within Phibsborough itself, there are plenty of choices within a kilometre of the area, including, Hotel Riu de Plaza, Destiny Student – Dominick Place, and the Gate Hotel, all providing great choices.
Howth
If you want to soak in the sea air whilst not being too far from the city centre, then Howth could be your best bet.
Located just north of the city, there are plenty of things to keep you occupied, especially if you love the great outdoors. We’ve picked out a couple of the best ways to enjoy your time in Howth:
- Walking and exploring: As Howth forms part of the Dublin Coastal Trail there are plenty of great walks which allow you to take in the beautiful surroundings.
- Culture and food: There are a couple of great museums in Howth which should be visited. One is the Hurdy-Gurdy Museum of Vintage Radio and the other is the Transport Museum. If you love food, and especially seafood, then dig in.
Whilst there isn’t an abundance of places to stay in Howth itself, one recommendation is the King Sitric Seafood bar and accommodation.
Ranelagh
Ranelagh, located south side, is the place to go if you’re looking to visit an area of Dublin that boasts a range of trendy bars, restaurants, and pubs. Again, this will be slightly less touristy and more residential but all the better for it.
As you would expect from a suburb located within Dublin, there are plenty of places to stay in the immediate vicinity of the area, including the Hilton Dublin, Travelodge, and Clayton Hotel Burlington Road.
Dun Laoghaire Rathdown
Dun Laoghaire Rathdown, south side, is a place to consider if you wish to stay near to Dublin but don’t want to be in the city itself. Located around 7 miles outside of the city centre, Dun Laoghaire Rathdown offers the perfect opportunity to visit Dublin on a day trip and escape back to the calmness of the harbour area via the DART.
Whilst in Dun Laoghaire you’ll want to visit the harbour, the James Joyce Tower and Museum, the National Maritime Museum of Ireland, and pick up some local delicacies at the People’s Park farmer’s market.
If you’re looking for places to stay in Dun Laoghaire, the Royal Marine Hotel or Connaught House both provide excellent choices.
When to Visit Dublin?
The first thing to remember about any visit to Dublin, and Ireland in general, is that there’s no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing choices…
The best time to visit is simply when it suits you best, but if you’d like to consider all of your options, we have provided a full breakdown of the best times to visit Ireland here.
We hope you’ve enjoyed this and it helps as you scroll through all your options on the travel sites, or begin to talk with travel agents.
See you soon!
