Dublin

The City: Explore Dublin's Attractions Without Getting Lost

Darragh

06 Apr 2025 — 6 min read

Founded By Vikings

Dublin is a Viking city and was founded in 988. Growing up I remember how big the millennium celebrations were in 1988. Just about everything in the city was covered in the "Dublin's Great in 88" logo. We celebrated with pride that Vikings came and conquered us. Spoiler, we did beat them in the end!

A Black Pool

The Vikings were good business people, despite their bad press. They taught us trade, developed the port and they even named Dublin. They called it the Black Pool, which in the Irish language is Dubh Linn. Drop a few letters that over complicate the pronunciation and we get Dublin.

Poor old Dublin

I was born in the Rotunda Hospital at the top of O'Connell Street and went to school in the same street, and then studied in Trinity College, so I spent the first 22 years of my life here in the city. Back then, it was grey & grim. Ireland was depressed. We emigrated when we could. I did too!

Modern Dublin

The Dublin of today is hard to recognize from those bad old days. We're a rich country, the old decrepit warehouses along the River Liffey are now gleaming headquarters of the world's biggest companies. The buildings have been restored, the Liffey has harp shaped bridges and river walks. There's fresh energy from students, tourists and immigrants, Yes Ireland now has immigrants, not just emigrants!

And despite all these positive changes, the good bits of Old Dublin still stay unchanged, the characters, the wit, the dark pubs and classic buildings.

My Dublin Town

Here you're going to learn about Dublin, my Dublin. I'm going to show you not just the famous tourist sites, but the not so famous, the locals only type places too.

The first thing to learn is that we call it Town. It is never called downtown. So when you hop in a taxi, to sound local, ask the driver to bring you to town.

And in an unexpected plot twist, I'm going to encourage you to get out of the city.

THE BEST OF DUBLIN IS NOT THE CITY. IT'S OUT BY THE SEA

99% of visitors never see these coastal villages
Escape the city & enjoy Dublin's natural beauty
3 Walks to choose from. The Sea | The Cliffs | The Village

Pick Your Walk

Good At Trade. Bad at Roads

What Vikings were not good at was laying out cities. And today Dublin is a tangle of winding streets & narrow lanes. This makes it hard to tourists to get around without Google Maps. But I've come up with a system to make it easier.

It's called Lines.

Dublin Without Maps

Each Line follows one main street. Like a walking subway line
With stops on and just off the route
Never worry about getting lost

These 5 Lines will show you the best of Dublin City. Each is about 2 hours walk. Most of the lines connect or intersect so you can make a day of it.

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1.The Dame Line

The perfect way to see Dublin's greatest hits in one go. This route takes you from Trinity College to the Guinness Storehouse, hitting Dublin's heavyweight attractions like the Book of Kells, Temple Bar, Dublin Castle, and Christ Church Cathedral along the way.

Dame Street is Dublin's historic backbone where Viking ships once docked. The street may change names a few times, but it runs reasonably straight - a miracle in this confusing Viking city.

You'll see more local Dublin when you step off Dame Street into the side streets, particularly in the Liberties where Dublin's true character comes alive in local pubs, antique shops, and street markets.

If you can only do one walk, this will show you essential Dublin without getting lost every five minutes.

2.The Grafton Line

Dublin's most vibrant route takes you from whiskey tasting through the heart of the shopping district. You'll meet Molly Malone (aka "The Tart With The Cart"), browse local shops, and find the fabulous Powerscourt Townhouse Centre, a 250 year old mansion turned upmarket shopping.

Grafton Street itself is full of chain stores and not that charming, but the side streets are where you'll find the pubs, cafés, and shops that Dubliners actually use.

By the end, you'll reach the Grand Canal via St. Stephen's Green and my favorite hidden park in Dublin, Iveagh Gardens.

If you're wondering where locals shop, eat, drink, and hang out, this is your walk.

Get Out Of Town

Much as I do love town, I want you to get out of it too. Dublin is blessed with a gorgeous coastal setting, with mountains as a backdrop. So many people don't even know this, never leave the busy city and miss the best part of Dublin.

You have to see our villages by the sea!! They are stunning. Do one of these walks and you'll be blown away by Dublin's natural beauty.

An Admission!

May 2025 : I've never been happy with my guide to Dublin city!

My other Dublin guides are excellent, I stand behind them as the best out there. But the Dublin City one, I didn't love. Too complicated.

But just last week I was trying to simplify it. I was looking at my well worn map of Dublin City and noticed a pattern. I could draw a straight line through some streets and they became my new walking Subway lines.

Dublin was suddenly simplified down to just a few lines. That's the good news.

I wrote the two most popular lines above. They took a lot of work! I'm working on the other lines now, but wanted to explain why this City tour is still incomplete.

So, please bear with me for another week or two and I'll have them done. Then I will have the best guide for Dublin City that is out there!

Follow for updates when they are ready.