Arcadia Ireland

Last week I decided to take advantage of one of the many sightseeing opportunities that Dublin has to offer. There are various tour bus services that provide similar experiences around Dublin, however I chose the Do Dublin Hop on Hop off tour as a great way to explore the city and check some of the top tourist destinations off the bucket list! The bus goes throughout the city center, stopping at main attractions along the way. A benefit of this service is that you can hop on at any point in the route and travel wherever you please, so the day can be tailored to your needs! 

Purchasing a ticket will give you access to the bus service for 24 hours (a 48 and 72 hour option is also available) and discounted entry into several sites. This particular service has 33 stops that are directly in front of or in short walking distance to several of the top must-see things in Dublin. I’ve listed out five different destinations where the bus stops directly in front of!

Trinity College

Many of our students will be spending a lot of their time here whilst abroad, as this will be their place of study. However, Trinity is also a major tourist destination for in the Old Library lies the Book of Kells. The Book of Kells dates back to 800AD and contains the four Gospels in latin. 

Dublin Castle

Our center is located in the heart of the city, which means that there are endless historical landmarks within walking distance to us. The Dublin Castle, built in the early thirteenth century is only a five minute walk from the center. The castle served as the headquarters of English administration in Ireland but was handed over to the new Irish government in 1922.

St. Patrick’s Cathedral

Founded in 1191, St. Patrick’s Cathedral is the National Cathedral of the Church of Ireland. It is both the tallest and largest church in Ireland! The cathedral is worth touring as the interior contains stunning architecture, and the exterior of the church contains a beautiful green space that is a great place to study on a nice day!

Kilmainham Gaol

Ireland is a country deeply rooted in history and Kilmainham Gaol (pronounced jail) is a former prison that many Irish revolutionaries were imprisoned and executed in. Tours are available daily but it is essential to book ahead!

Epic Ireland Museum

The newest addition on this list is the Epic Ireland Museum which opened in 2016. The museum covers the history of the Irish diaspora and emigration to other countries. It was just voted “Europe’s Leading Tourist Attraction” at the World Travel Awards in 2019.

 The list of things to see and do in Dublin does not stop here. Check out this article for more things to see while in Dublin! If feeling more adventurous check out some of the great places to visit with the entire country of Ireland!