Dos and Don'ts of Dublin

Last weekend, a few friends and I went to Dublin, Ireland. My dad's side of my family originates from Ireland, so I figured it was the place I had to visit while I was abroad. My friends and I booked this trip three days before we took off. You can only imagine how spontaneous this was. So, for this blog post, I want to tell you the "dos and don'ts" of going to Dublin.

1. Do book The Beach House B&B 

Usually, booking a hostel in the city center is the way to go. However, since we took an overnight ferry and was only in Dublin for one night, we had to book a hotel.  Hostels usually only allow people to stay for a minimum of two nights. Instead, we decided to go with the bed & breakfast that was on the beach in Sandymount (10 minutes outside the city). This b&b was amazing. The room had a bed for all four of us, a beautiful bathroom, and free breakfast. When it was time to leave, we did not want to go because the room was so amazing. 

2. Don't forget your rain jacket 

The one thing to know about Dublin, even in the summer, is that it rains a lot; when it rains, it gets cold. Even if you think it is going to be a nice day, you never know when the weatherman might deceive you. It is better to be prepared than sorry. 

3. Do go to the Guinness Factory 

The Guinness Factory is a must see in Dublin. It is an interactive exhibition that allows you to see the ins and outs of the company. It gives you so much bang for your buck with a quick tasting, a tutorial on how to pour the perfect pint, and one free glass of Guinness that you can enjoy in their top floor bar. The best part about this tour is being able to enjoy a beer while looking at the best view of Dublin. For those who are skeptical, Guinness tastes so much better in Ireland. It does not taste like poison like it does in the States.

4. Don't go on the Blue Line City Bus Tour 

To be clear, the Red Line will take you on tour of the city center. The Blue Line will take you on a tour of the outskirts of Dublin. According to the map, and the woman who sold us the tickets, the Blue Line will show you a more scenic route. In reality, this line took us through, what we believe, is the ghetto of Dublin. This bus gave us a tour of nothing but questionable, "historic," neighborhoods. Take my advise, if you want to do a City Bus Tour stick with the Red Line. 

5. Do go out relatively early 

The Irish are not like other Europeans who love to eat late, go out late, and stay out late. In Dublin, we noticed that they party much like the Americans. Eat around 7, pre-drink around 9, go out around 10-11. If you try to go out any later than that, you may get into some trouble. People are already drunk by then and are ready to get loose before you are. 

6. Do have an authentic Irish meal  

What is the point of traveling if you aren't going to try new things (i.e. food). Ireland has some amazing cuisine. They have Shepherd's pie, Bangers and Mash, and more!  I highly recommend going to The Shack Restaurant. Don't let the name fool you. The restaurant is of very high quality and the food is incredible. 

I can write paragraphs on what and what not to do in Dublin. But to keep it short, my one advise would be to plan ahead and make the most of it. There is so much to do and you do not want to miss out.