Dublin holiday packages

Flight and hotel Dublin

Discover Dublin

Sitting on the River Liffey on the east coast of Ireland, Dublin is one of the most popular holiday destinations for travellers from all over the world – and with good reason. Home to celebrated cultural figures, interesting historical sights, and some of the liveliest bars in Europe, visitors are guaranteed to enjoy the craic on a night out in the Republic of Ireland's capital. See for yourself what all the fuss is about when you book city breaks in Dublin.

What to Know Before Visiting Dublin?

The main language in Dublin is English, albeit spoken with a lilting Irish accent! The currency is the Euro, and Dublin is in the same time zone as the UK.

Flights to Dublin Airport arrive from all over the world, including regular flights from London to Dublin and flights from Cork to Dublin. The city's airport is located about five miles north of the city centre, and is connected to Dublin and other destinations across Ireland by local bus services.

When is the Best Time to Visit Dublin?

The weather in Dublin can sometimes be unpredictable, but spring and summer are generally the sunniest and mildest seasons. You should be prepared for rain showers whatever time of year you choose to visit. The city hosts one of the biggest St Patrick's Day celebrations in the world every March 17th – a great time to enjoy a weekend in Dublin. The celebration features a parade, traditional music and dancing, and lots of pints of Guinness in the city's pubs.

What to do in Dublin?

Get a feel for the city and some of its most famous historic sights with a boat trip along the River Liffey; the most relaxing way to do some sightseeing on package holidays in Dublin. The best shops are to be found on Grafton Street, Dublin's main thoroughfare, and Henry Street.

Grafton Street is also a great place to head for a night out, though the main concentration of pubs and restaurants is in an area next to the River Liffey called Temple Bar, and St Stephen's Green, near the university. Temple Bar is named after one of Dublin's most famous and oldest pubs, where you can enjoy great beer and live entertainment every night.

Other famous drinking dens include the 19th century Palace Bar, which retains much of its original decor, and the Brazen Head, which is mentioned in James Joyce's iconic novel, Ulysses.

What Places to Visit in Dublin?

Dublin is rightly famous for its lively pubs, but there is much more see and do in the city on package holidays in Dublin.

• Before sampling the drink for yourself, visit the Guinness Storehouse on St James' Gate to see how the famous drink is made, and learn a little about the story behind its global success.
• There has been a fortress on the site of Dublin Castle since 1204, though the current building, now used by the Irish Government, is much more recent. You can visit some parts of the castle and its grounds on your weekend in Dublin, or take a guided tour to learn more about the building's history.
• Kilmainham Gaol is another fascinating historic building, where many political prisoners were jailed. Film buffs may also recognise the Victorian interior from films like The Italian Job.
• Families will love Dublinia, an interactive museum which takes you back in time to experience the sights, sounds and even smells of the city through the centuries.
• If Guinness isn't to your taste, why not visit the Jameson's whiskey distillery on Bow Street; see how the famous drink is made and sample their product for yourself.

What to Eat in Dublin?

Eating and drinking out in Dublin is about much more than pints of Guiness and Jameson's whiskey.Make sure you try some of the great traditional Irish cuisine while on your weekend in Dublin, including dishes such as Irish Stew, Colcannon and Boxty.

Irish Stew, as the name suggests, is a stew made with lamb and potatoes, though in the past cheaper meats like mutton or goat would have been used. Colcannon is mashed potato mixed with cabbage or kale, and is a popular accompaniment to meat dishes, while boxty are pancakes made with shredded potato, often served with meat and vegetables.

If you enjoy desserts, make sure you try Guinness cake on city breaks in Dublin, made with Ireland's favourite drink mixed into chocolate cake, or brack, a sweet type of bread with raisins and sultanas, often served in the afternoon with a cup of tea.

What to Bring Back from Dublin?

Shops all over the city sell Guinness souvenirs; everything from branded pint glasses and t-shirts to recreations of the famous advertising posters used to promote the drink in the 1930s and 1940s. A bottle of Jameson's whisky also makes a great gift for friends and family back home.

Other popular souvenirs include traditional Irish woollen jumpers, Irish rugby jerseys for sports fans, or why not pick up a selection of books written by famous Dublin authors like James Joyce, W.B. Yeats and George Bernard Shaw? The Dubliners might seem like an obvious choice as a souvenir, but remember that it is notoriously difficult to read!

If you would prefer to celebrate wider Irish culture in your choice of souvenirs, the beautiful Claddagh rings make great gifts for someone special. These rings, which symbolise love and friendship, are made in the shape of two clasped hands from either gold or silver.