Dublin is a city full of surprises. It is an international city that welcomes foreigners every year. Most of the population in Dublin is relatively young due to the large number of students who come here to study or work.
Dublin is an attractive city because of its economy, its intercultural exchanges, its history and its heritage.When you walk around Dublin, there will always be a lot of people, it is a very pedestrian city, with small and charming streets sheltering vestiges of the time.But there are also many activities that you can't miss in this tab. Between outdoor activities, shopping, walks or sports, the city has many surprises in store for you.
O'Connell street is one of the main avenues in Dublin. There are many clothing stores, fast food outlets, bars and tourist stores. In Ireland, the Penny's stores, Primark for our equivalent are very present in the city and the biggest is in O'Connell. If you go to the city, don't hesitate to walk on this beautiful avenue, you will also see monuments such as "The Spire of Dublin", or the statue of Jim Larkin.
Grafton street is THE shopping street. It is a very pleasant passage which will lead you towards the district of st Stephen's green and which starts towards Trinity college. This street is a must. You can find luxury stores like Chanel, Dior but also very famous stores like Victoria's Secret which is on 3 floors. You will also find chains like H&M and other small stores. This street is very often animated with dance shows, street singers and flower stands. The street is often crowded especially in the late afternoon so a little advice, do not go too late.
Henry street and Mary street are two very famous streets in Dublin. They are always busy and lively because they face O'Connell street. You can find all the brands you know, small restaurants, shopping centers and also independent stores. I like to spend time there to stroll and shop. The advantage is that you can find everything you need in a good location, because not far from them is the Temple bar area.
There are many places to shop in Dublin, including a lot of shopping centers, more or less different from each other. Most of them are located in the center of Dublin, which is very convenient.
St Stephen's green shopping center: It is a typical shopping center, with an old fashioned decoration, several small independent stores and restaurants. There is also the large, more modern shopping center next door. The luminosity is magnificent for pretty photographs, one would believe oneself in a fairground decoration.
George's street arcade : The arcades of Dublin are a must. It is located not far from Temple Bar, and there are the arcades for shopping with stalls all more original than the others and the arcades for bars. The architecture is sumptuous and the atmosphere warm.
Jervis shopping mall : The Jervis shopping mall is one of my favorites, it has a lot of famous international brands, restaurants to rest and the space is very nice. It is in the center of Dublin, surrounded by shops. Perfect for a shopping day with friends and to burn the credit card.
Kildare village: This village is an outlet village of luxury brands or relatively known and widespread brands. It is located 1 hour drive from Dublin and you will find high end items at lower prices. The shopping center is very nice because it is built in the shape of a village, so it is very pleasant to walk around.
Phoenix Park is my favorite place in Dublin. And I think everyone falls in love with this huge haven of peace. This park is twice as big as Central Park in New York, it has sports fields, green spaces, forests, a zoo and small parks. What everyone really wants to see in Phoenix is the deer that can be seen in herds and that have become very docile over time.It is the ideal place for long walks or bike rides, to share picnics with friends or to drink coffee with a good book. It is a very peaceful place and everyone feels good without exception!
Love lane: This atypical street of Dublin is one of the hidden streets of Dublin. With its words written all over the walls, tourists love to go there to take Instagramable pictures and get caught in the colorful scenery of Dublin's alleys.
Anne's lane: This is also a very popular street for tourists in Dublin, as it is sheltered by umbrellas that form a roof over this small street. This makes it bright, colorful and perfect to once again complete your photo gallery in Dublin.
Bedford Lane: Bedford Lane is the third "Instagrammable" alley of our hidden Dublin. Here, you can find drawings in very different styles all more artistic than the others. The street art is masterful and makes this street a #mustvisit for all people staying in Dublin.
The Docks in Dublin are very famous. The river Liffey crosses Dublin and cuts the city in two between North and South. It runs along Temple Bar and empties into the sea at Dublin Port. There are several other pleasant walks along the docks such as the Grand Canal in the southern part of Dublin, or the Royal Canal in the northern part of Dublin. On the docks, there are many restaurants and bars, museums like the Custom House or the Epic museum. It is also the district of the big companies, the head offices like the one of Google.
St Stephen's green is the second most famous park in Dublin. It was created by the founder of Central Park, hence its similarity form the air. It is a very pleasant park, with a small lake in its center, green lawns and pretty flowerbeds in spring. It is located at the end of the Grafton street and next to the shopping center that bears his name. The atmosphere is calm and soothing, if you are looking for peace and quiet, don't hesitate to disconnect yourself from the hubbub of the city and the bars.
Accommodation in Dublin is something important to consider. You should know that life in Dublin is very expensive, it is about the same price as in Paris. The most expensive thing here is the accommodation, for a long time. For short stays, prefer hotels and airbnb which are very numerous in Dublin. There is something for everyone: between luxury hotels and small charming hotels. As far as my experience as a student is concerned, I stay in an accommodation, being the best compromise for students coming to study in Dublin.
Uninest Student: The best option for long-term accommodation is to stay in an institution that offers student rooms. This is what I chose for my 4 month exchange in Dublin. The organization Uninest Student offers several residences in Dublin (more or less well placed), which offer you the possibility to book a room (classic/premium/+premium), or even a studio for periods longer than 1 year. You share your apartment with 3 to 8 people, sharing the common areas and having your own room and bathroom (depending on the accommodation). You also have access to all the facilities available to tenants: laundry room, games room (billiards, kitchen, ping pong, courtyard...), gym, cinema room, rooftop and garden, garbage room and bike room and much more.
My experience : 📍Ardcairn House
- Price: 5,000 euros from January 7 to May 25 ( dates already programmed impossibility to modify according to your arrivals/departures)
- Very well located in the center of Dublin ( Smithfield area)
- New and functional infrastructures and a lot of space
- Various accommodation possibilities
For your short stays or weekends in Dublin, the ideal is to use applications like airbnb to find small charming accommodations. Moreover, you can plan your trips in advance or on the go, by choosing your price range, the location that suits you and the accommodations that match your tastes.
Tripadvisor is a must have application when traveling abroad. Everyone uses it and it allows you to find incredible places whether it is good restaurants, visits or accommodation. Thanks to the numerous reviews, you are sure not to be disappointed.
Tik Tok, new trend of the moment since the health crisis. It's the new place to be to find ideas for outings, accommodation, good plans, activities of all kinds, addresses all more original than the others. And there is something for everyone. The platform allows you to easily find nice places and to organize your program quickly over 2 days with videos like: "the 5 things to see in ...." or the best hotels in Dublin". It's the perfect app for the curious and the tourists looking for originality.