The revamp of the Docklands has been one of the better things to come from the economic fortunes,…read morealthough I worry that socially it may become a ghetto type scenario with the lack of buyers for the apartments or people defaulting. For now it is still a busy part of the city, especially amongst the workers there as there are many multinationals and design firms in the area. So as a result it has a very modern feel with a lot of upwardly mobile eateries. I am a fan of the sculptures in the area, they really make the quay a pleasant place to amble through or to sit and relax. Worth the walk to this side of town.

It's hard for me to diss the Docklands because I live here and I have to be proud of my…read moreneighbourhood. I know that this area is going to get better and better and in one year it will be unrecognizable. Most of it is still under construction. With the extension of the Luas and the new apartment blocks that are being built, the neighbourhood will soon become the next Smithfield, meaning that it will be filled with young professionals and become an international ghetto. Right now, there are some amazing sights from the top of the existing apartment complexes. I can see all of Dublin from my roof: Howth Head, the Dublin Mountains, Croke Park, Lansdowne Park, the Spire, Clontarf and East Wall. The boardwalk along the Liffey also has some historical sights too. Walking along the river, you can see the Jeanie Johnson, a replica of a Famine boat, and these haunting statues of Famine victims. There are a number of mobile cafes and restaurant a long the river too. The boardwalk is also a way to avoid some of the rough people who live behind the IFSC. But even the rude children who shout abuse at you add charm to the Docklands.

Dublin Tourist Guide: Trinity College - the Long Room…read more If you're traveling to Dublin you must make a few hours to walk Trinity College. I'll share more about the college itself on that yelp page but this review is strictly for the library at Trinity college with an emphasis on the Long Room (one of the most famous views on the campus). Built in the 1700s this library has been used in reference in so many movies and many people will recognize these photos from social media, as it's a highly photographed spot from the college. I was extremely lucky that despite coming in the summer we came on a weekday and it wasn't as packed as most people's own pictures seem to reflect. So my pro tip of course would be to come off season, but if you can't - even us coming in peak tourist season a weekday mid afternoon was a great time to come. The library is literally stunning. I'll honestly never forget it and for as simple as a library may seem, it was one of my favorite historical spots (indoors) that I had seen. The library is roped off on the sides so you don't have full access which makes sense as they don't want people touching the books. Being in the center though you still got great views and I was also lucky to come when they weren't doing maintenance on the library. Something to keep in mind as I've seen they sometimes remove the books for cleaning and maintenance, so something to look up before coming. 5/5 would recommend coming to the long room at the library, a great spot to check out.

Must-visit part of Trinity College in Dublin - we stopped by after The Book of Kells…read more The long room is a library with tens of thousands of books and busts of famous men and women (like Socrates and Shakespeare) lining both sides. It also houses the Brian Boru Harp, which is the oldest surviving Irish harp and a symbol of Ireland. Other notable artifacts include The Irish Proclamation of 1916, and various books and letters of scientific and cultural significance - from botanical drawings to world maps to metal coins. Wish I had taken more time to browse - will be back!

This links the Ha'Penny Bridge with O'Connell Bridge. It's a pleasant feature to the Northside of…read morethe river. It takes you away from the traffic on the other side of the wall and there are plenty of seats to relax and take in the view of the Southside of the city and the murky Liffey! There are a few coffee shops on or you could just bring your own and hang out with the punters that drink their cider for breakfast, mmm mmm mmm, gotta love that morning alcohol shot to start the day. Sarcasm aside, no one bothers you if you are like me and find the idea of a morning booze stomach turning. I've often relaxed to drink my coffee and have a sandwich and I have never felt in danger. Like any city, choose your time wisely as in 2am when the clubs close is probably not the wisest time to take in the city sights from the boardwalk.

Built with a more modern breed of tourism in mind, Dublin's Liffey Board walk was created to bring…read morevisitors and city strollers even closer to the famous river that splits the capital in two. While lovely views and good coffee can be had on sunny summer days, it is advisable to stay close to well-populated sections of the boardwalk as homeless and substance abusers do gravitate to the areas here which are less visible from the street. Looking past this, the boardwalk offers a few outdoor cafes and tourist spots which are thoroughly enjoyable in good weather. On a warm afternoon shoppers, families and passers by can be seen lounging in the sun, reading or watching the Liffey River Cruise which moors at Bachelors Walk.

Beautiful city! It's…read moreclean and well kept. You will see some graffiti randomly, but not much. And zero homeless people in the city. Dublin almost reminds me of Los Angeles back home. But it's cleaner and nicer. The historic buildings really set it apart, with all of the amazing architecture! I did some walking around the city and plan to do a tour also. I can't wait to learn more about Dublin! :)

We spent Christmas day and the week after Christmas in this beautiful city. It was everything we…read moreexpected and more. Everyday we were out and about in this truly walkable city. Our hotel was at the corner of Parnell and O'Connell so we were right in the thick of all the action and loved the vibrant, active nature of Dublin. From the unforgettable pubs to majestic cathedrals and castles, Dublin has it all. We could not do everything we wanted to in six days. Next visit we will definitely give Dubln's bus and train system a try so we can pack more into a trip to the Irish Capitol.

Outdoor art along the River Liffie…read more Horror and loss is defined in the faces We are great fans of outdoor statues Irish potato famine is not clearly understood in US We recommend a visit to nearby EPIC

The famine memorial on the Customs House Quay is in remembrance of the Great Famine of 1845-1849,…read morewhich saw the population of Ireland cut in half through death and emigration. (It's very near the EPIC Museum, which tells the story of some of those migrants.) The memorial shows emigrants leaving Ireland for a new life and is worth a visit if you're in the area.

This is the type of place you see spring up in New York, where a load of amazing and quirky and…read morecreative people get off their amazing and quirky and creative asses and do something amazing and quirky and creative. Nestled away just off Queen St and Benburb St, with buildings all around, and the Luas running right next to it, is the Art Tunnel Smithfield. A 70m long narrow strip of garden slash art gallery slash park slash community area. It's truly amazing what's been done here in I believe about 10 months. A narrow, derelict site has been changed into something truly wonderful for the community to own and be part of and use to enrich their lives. The space is divided into a few sections - 1) A wild section out the back that hasn't been leveled or 'done' in anyway - just allowed to grow and be a home for local flora and fauna 2) A community art section that will soon be encased by gorgeous creepers, making it feel nearly like a secret garden art gallery. Any member of the community can ask to put something up here - at the moment it's full of small canvasses made by eight year olds, and they are fab! 3) A small seating area where you can sit with your book, or chat to others who are using the space 4) A curated arts section for more large scale pieces by emerging artists. You will need to come down to really see what these wonderful pieces are about This is all housed amongst flowers and greenery not normally seen in areas like this. Anyone can become a key holder - just contact the guys through the Facebook page, or get down there yourself and have a chat. I'm delighted I've found it and will certainly be making the most of it!

Stumbled across this place the other day on my way somewhere else…read more It's like finding a Narnia-like garden in the middle of the city. It is there for any local residents to use. You can go in and garden, create art, or just admire what's already there. This is the type of place that makes Dublin the unique city it is.

Kildare Street is one of the most historical streets in Dublin, and the surrounding area is now…read morehome to many of the city's chief political and cultural institutions. The main attraction is Leinster House, a mansion built for the Earl of Kildare in 1745, seat of the Irish Parliament since 1922 and now known as the House of the Oireachtas (Irish Parliament), which is made up of the Dáil (House of Representatives) and the Seanad (Senate). Leinster House is flanked on either side by the National Gallery and the National Library, both dating from the late 19th century. There's a beautiful domed reading room, and archived newspapers dating back to the 18th century in the manuscripts room. The National Library draws tourists for its exhibitions on famous Irish literary and historical figures, like W. B. Yeats. The National Museum is famous for its collection of prehistoric gold, ecclesiastical exhibits, Viking and medieval artefacts, and the 'Bog Bodies', preserved victims of Iron Age human sacrifice that can be found in the Kingship and Sacrifice exhibition on the ground floor. Across the street is the Natural History Museum (still closed for renovation). Close by is Merrion Square, a beautiful Georgian square with some of the city's grandest houses, now mostly converted into offices. The garden in the centre of the square is a delightful stop for a picnic. The National Gallery is located at the northwestern corner of the square, which hosts a fine collection of works by the French Impressionists and European Renaissance masters, as well as a fine exhibition of Irish paintings including a permanent collection by Jack B. Yeats.

So glad that we ended up being in Dublin during the night market, and that we happened to see a…read moreflyer about the night market. Although it's very small and not so many vendors, I thought it was great, and the vendors that were there were really nice. I ended up buying something from 3 vendors, and as a bonus, knocked out some souvenirs. Personally, I'd rather support the local vendors rather than the shops around Temple bar.

Thought I would check this out last Thursday, as I had been looking for some cheaper things to do…read morethat could get me out of the apartment during the week. I have to say this was a lot of fun! There was loads of booths selling everything you could think of, from picture frames, to statues, to scarves! Live painting (which was REALLY interesting to watch) and live music. Definitely great craic for a thursday night. Can't wait to check out the next one!