Student Bloggers

While there are hundreds of things to do in Dublin—like going to museums, pubs, or the IKEA I spent half a Sunday in—sometimes it can feel like there are almost too many options. Taking day trips can be a great way to spend an afternoon (and to get more comfortable with Dublin’s public transportation system). Here are some of my favorite day trips I’ve taken so far. 

Malahide:

Entering Malahide, which is home to cute cafes, waterfront views, and a sprawling historical castle and garden, is like entering your favorite coastal vacation. It’s a very walkable village, so I loved strolling around and seeing where its paths would take me—and it took me to some delicious hot chocolate. Whether you’re interested in history or you want to laze away the afternoon next to the beach, Malahide is a great place to escape some of the stress of schoolwork. 

Howth:

I went to Howth through one of the Arcadia excursions, and all I can say is that it’s beautiful. We took a short hike along the cliffs, where the view was so spectacular that I was genuinely unable to take one bad photo. There are some cute lunch places in town as well: the fish and chips are immaculate, as are the crepes. I would recommend making sure your health is in good shape before going, though. If, like me, you realize you’re not tired, you just have the flu halfway through the hike, it will drastically reduce your ability to enjoy yourself. 

Still, though. How could you not want to see this for yourself?

The Blarney Stone and Castle:

This is only for the ambitious, as it’s a three hour drive from Dublin. But I will say that it’s such an incredible piece of history to see. You get to take a short self-guided tour of Blarney Castle on your way up to the battlements the stone resides in. It’s very cool to occupy the spaces its inhabitants lived in and to walk the same—very steep!—staircase they climbed every day. Plus, kissing the stone gives you the gift of gab, which is undoubtedly useful for writing essays. 

Dún Laoghaire:

A friend and I went here—specifically to West Pier—for an afternoon during orientation. Not only did it act as my introduction to the Luas system, it’s just a very pretty area to see. The walk along the pier is picturesque and relaxing, and while I did not try it (we went too late in the day) there’s a very exciting-looking açaí bowl shop by the station. 

I’d like to, again, give an honorary mention to the half-day trip I took to the Dublin IKEA, where I purchased more cutlery than I thought one person could ever need (yet half of it has already vanished into the recesses of my dishwasher). I’ve found that day trips around Dublin and to other parts of Ireland have been a great way for me to get to know the country better and really make the most of my time here. I’m excited to see where else I go this semester!