Dame Line: A Walk from Trinity College to Guinness Storehouse
Dublin Without Maps
Dublin's twisted streets confuse visitors. Vikings cities weren't built for tourists. My solution is Lines
- Each line follows one main street. Like a walking subway line
- With stops on and just off the route
- Never worry about getting lost
Dame Line
We’ll start with the Dame Line. It takes in a lot of the most popular sites in the city. Trinity, Books of Kells, Temple Bar, Dublin Castle, Christchurch, the Liberties and Guinness.
This follows Dame Street. Once you're past Christchurch, it becomes Thomas Street. Just remember those two streets and you won't get lost !
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1.Trinity College Dublin
Trinity is a 432 year old university in the heart of Dublin City. It is free to walk through its historic grounds. Be sure to explore more than just the main square, this is a big campus full of fabulous old buildings.
I studied here for four years but current Trinity students lead a 45 minute tour of the Trinity College campus which is excellent.
2.The Book Of Kells
The Book of Kells is a 1,200-year old manuscript of the four Gospels. You'll only see four pages under glass for about 30 seconds.
More impressive to me is the 300 year old Long Room. Think the kind of ancient library that Harry Potter would whizz around on. The tour ends in a recently built red monstrosity. It looks like a red Ikea in the middle of this Elizabethan university
👉1 million people a year come here. Book the fast pass to skip the long line here
3.Temple Bar
From Trinity, as you walk along Dame Street, turn down any street on the right.
You are now in Temple Bar. I'm not a big fan of super touristy Temple Bar.
The area was originally designed as a project to dilapidated old buildings into an artistic quarter.There are studios, galleries & vintage stores here that make it interesting to walk through during the day. Go elsewhere at night though.
At the weekend, Temple Bar is full of Hen & Stag parties (Bachelor parties for our American friends). The Hens are probably going to the Irish Dance Party to learn how to Irish dance. Run by my good friend & talented musician, Dan.
I'll Show You Dublin City. No Maps. No Stress. Lots of Stories
- I'll guide you on a private tour. Any day or time.
- 3 hours & just €150 for up to 4 people.
4.Dublin Castle
Dublin Castle isn't a big hilltop castle like Edinburgh. The castle was built in 1204 and was probably impressive then. But it burned down in 1684.
Today the Record Tower remains and looks like a classic castle, but it's attached to 18th century version of government office buildings. The best part of Dublin Castle is the beautiful Dubh Linn gardens behind it.
👉You can pay to tour the buildings but it's mostly old furniture and paintings of self important old men. I wouldn't bother.
5 Chester Beatty Library
There is a highly rated museum of Islamic artifacts in Dublin Castle. Strange, but here is why. Old Chester was a rich American miner with a lung condition. He lived in Ireland but found that Egypt's dry air was good for his health. He bought antiquities there and brought them back to Ireland.
6.Christchurch Cathedral
Vikings used to go to this 1000 year old church. I actually rang the bells at Christchurch last year! You can do a tour of it if you like old churches. The crypt below was the most interesting for me. Not for religious reasons but to see the real cool mummified remains of Tom & Jerry, a cat and rat who got stuck in an organ pipe.
👉Book your Christchurch tour
Hotels Along The Dame Route
This is an excellent part of Dublin to stay. Very central. The Leonardo is probably the hotel that I recommend the most in Dublin. Lovely hotel.
- The Leonardo Dublin Christchurch. It is directly across from Christchurch Cathedral. Perfect location.
- StayCity Dublin Castle. More apartments than hotel. I used to live around the corner and it's a great area.
- NYX Hotel Dublin. You can see Dublin Castle from its entrance. Just on the very edge of Temple Bar too, but far enough away not to be bothered by it.
- The Chancery. In a quiet location tucked away behind Dublin Castle, modern and extremely comfortable. I like the Le Pole Square park next to it.
Darragh
7.Dublinia
Thank God for Netflix. I used to have to explain who The Vikings were but Netflix has educated people now and it's make my job easier.
Anyway, they came to Dublin around 850. Not so much to pillage and do other bad things, but more to trade (and with no tariffs). They even gave Dublin its name. They call it "Dubh Linn" meaning "Black Pool".
Dublinia is a museum about Vikings and the medieval history of Dublin. I just went again recently and is was better than I remember. Read my Dublinia review.
👉Admission is included with the Dublin Pass
Do This Walk With Me
- It's more interesting when you hear the stories behind the buildings
- I did went on an another guide's group walk last week. There was 32 in the group and we had to wear earpieces to hear the distant guide.
A Short Rant
Save It For A Rainy Day
Museums are fine, but when you're in Dublin, go see actual Dublin! I was in Dublinia on a rare sunny day & I wanted to yell at visitors to get out to Howth or Dalkey instead.
The only Must-See in Dublin is Dublin itself.
Our coastal villages are 20 minutes away by train and infinitely more beautiful than any museum. Here are 5 walks that show you the real Dublin and I lead walking tours of all of them!
Darragh
8.St Audoen’s Church
I'm immediately going to undermine myself after that rant by saying I love this old church. This is the only remaining medieval parish church in the capital, which means there have been services going on here for 900 years! And it has lovely gardens to rest your feet.
Even more exciting is that it is home to the only surviving gate to Medieval Dublin. But it's hidden. Come on my tour and I'll show it to you. Or if you remember my tip from Dublin Castle, you might find it yourself.
9.The Liberties
The road curves a little and now you're on Thomas Street. This is the Liberties area of Dublin. It's called the Liberties because it used to be outside the city walls, so the people living here had more freedom than those within. It still has a rebellious, independent feel today. I love this part of town.
The Liberties is full of character. You'll see street traders selling toilet roll in front of an Argentinian bakery (which is delicioso!).
Take a wander down Francis Street for antique shops & my favorite plant shop, Hopeless Botanics. Meath Street for the aforementioned street traders. Vicar Street is one of Dublin's best music venues, check their schedule to see who is playing.
10.Teeling Distillery
This is Ireland, so of course there's lots of whiskey. In Dublin we have Jameson, Roe & Co and the more personal Teeling Distillery.
But my favourite Dublin distillery is further down this list at #12.
11.Guinness Storehouse
It's Guinness. Go. Everyone goes. 1.7 million people went last year. It gets very busy, but I'm going to tell you the best ways to visit.
Guinness Storehouse Experience
This is the basic entry. It's a self guided tour through an exhibition. You don't actually tour the brewery. It is an exhibition with bars. But it is superbly done.
You work your way to the top floor where there is the Gravity Bar and you get one pint of delicious Guinness that is included in admission.
👉Definitely book ahead of time !!
The Connoisseur Tour
Visiting Guinness is something you'll do once in your life, so you may as well do it properly. The Connoisseur Tour is the business class of Guinness tours.
I was trying to think of how to describe it when I saw this online.
The connoisseur experience was 100% worth it. It was our first day after an overnight flight so sitting and listening to history, storytelling (& a bit of traditional irish music peppered in from a speaker at the bartender’s leisure from time to time), inside a really nice bar amid a small group was perfect. We also skipped a SUPER long line that stretched back and forth outside while it was pouring rain. They lifted a velvet rope and we were seated 2-3 mins later upstairs. It’s a flight of pints, so a lot of beer— at least 5. You learn to pour the last one yourself & they give you a certificate. 10/10 worth it over a “self tour” which is just walking around and reading things (you can still do this after the connoisseurs experience if you want to)
12.Pearse Lyons Distillery
This is my favourite Dublin distiller.
- It is family owned
- It is Irish owned
- It's a actually distillery, not an exhibition (like Jameson + Roe & Co).
- And it's in an old church! "Honey, I'm just off to church for a few hours"
- The founder is Irishman who is in the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame!
👉Here's where to get your tickets
Read my full review about my visit to the Pearse Lyon Distillery
Darragh
Next Up
The Grafton Line is the next line for you to explore in Dublin City
Darragh
Come on Walking Tour
I lead walking tours, in the same style as you've just read here. No BS, but lots of good entertaining stories and spots you won't find on your own. And the best tours are my coastal village one.
Darragh
