The capital of Ireland,
Dublin was founded by the Vikings over a thousand
years ago. Standing on the River Liffey, the city
can be explored on foot and a number of bridges cross
the river which runs through it. The architecture
ranges from medieval to Georgian and there are many
historic landmarks. Attractions include the National
Museum of Ireland, Dublin Castle, cathedrals and the
places where famous writers and poets were born and
lived.
Travelling out from Dublin, places of interest include
the nearby Wicklow Mountains, where visitors can enjoy
the beautiful hills and forests. There are some small
towns along the coast of Dublin Bay, where you will
also find Dun Laoghaire ferry port. In the more rural
areas there are also many castles, monasteries and
the remains of civilizations dating back thousands
of years.
There is a network of buses running through the city
and a light railway called LUAS (Gaelic for speed),
which can be used to reach the main tourist sights.
There is also a train service from the city center
to the suburbs and the coast. The lack of public transport
after 11pm, can make it difficult to find a taxi later
than this. Whilst hiring a car is a good option if
you want to explore areas beyond Dublin, it can be
expensive within the city whose roads tend to be congested.
