The Frugal Guide: Dublin

By Cory Hanson

Dublin is a unique and fascinating city with much to do. Unfortunately, it is one of the most expensive cities in Europe for visitors and residents alike. The emphasis of this book is on free and less-expensive things to do in Dublin. This book includes guided walks through some of Dublin's most beautiful neighborhoods and nature trails, reviews of dozens of free and paid attractions, historical and humorous stories about Dublin, a guide to Dublin pubs, and general travel tips. Each chapter includes a detailed map marking the points of interest in each neighborhood and walking route. For those planning longer visits to Dublin or Ireland, there are guides for several great day trips and tips for using Irish public transportation.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Cory Hanson
• Release date: Dec 3, 2014
• ISBN: 9781311407689

Cory Hanson

Cory Hanson grew up in Iowa, where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Secondary Instrumental Music Education at a small liberal arts college. He spent six years as a public school band director before moving to Dublin with his wife in 2013. After relocating to a new country, he first took up writing first as a pastime, then as a professional pursuit. In addition to writing, he enjoys outdoor sports and retro video games.

Book preview

Foreword

So, you’re thinking about coming to Dublin. Good for you. Dublin is a vibrant, engaging, and exciting city. Packed with places to see and things to do, it can also be a heavy drain on your wallet. Luckily, I have lived the life of a Dublin cheapskate for more than two years, and have done extensive (but not expensive) research on the free and cheap diversions in Dublin.

In the original 2015 edition, I was, true to form, stingy with my advice and reviews—mostly because there was still so much in Dublin I had yet to see. Thankfully (for me and for you!) I spent most of 2015 expanding my Dublin repertoire to include many more of the paid attractions and off-beat hits of the city. As proof, find in this 2016 edition more reviews, more outdoor adventure, more of the best of Dublin.

To prove your own thriftiness, you’ve found and downloaded this inexpensive eBook, too! I’m not upset at all. I hope you find it helpful as a guide to some less-expensive Dublin entertainment. One of the biggest advantages of e-publishing is the ability to change and update the book quickly and for free. Therefore, this eBook is never really finished. I regularly publish updates and revisions as I learn about new things to do or I am made aware of changes in hours, prices, or services. To make sure you have the latest version, check the date on the title page of this eBook. If it is several weeks or months old, there may be a new update available. Check the book’s website (www.fivesuitcases.com/books/the-frugal-guide-dublin) to see the date of the most recent update.

If you like what you see, why not share the book with other potential travelers? If you like it a lot, find out how you can directly support me and this book later. For now, best wishes for happy and safe travel!

About This eBook

To use this book, follow these easy steps:

1. Read as much as you care to read.

2. Do as much from the book as you care to do.

It’s that simple. This book isn’t designed to be a replacement for a traditional Ireland or Dublin travel guide (yet). The authors of those books have staffs of researchers working full-time collecting details like always-fluctuating hotel prices, public transportation guides, and prices of food and drink. Sometimes, these details can be out of date before the ink is even dry on the printed books.

A very important distinction between this book and a professionally published travel guide: I have received neither payment nor kickback from anyone for inclusion (or not) in this book, except for the odd free admission as a reviewer. The good news is that I have made these recommendations based solely upon what I believe will be a good value and a good experience for you, fellow traveler. The research has all been done by me pounding the pavement, asking questions, and writing down opening hours from glass doors when necessary. The bad news is that I haven’t been able to do in-person research at many of Dublin’s more expensive paid attractions, restaurants, and hotels. Without the backing of a travel publisher and unlimited comped admissions, meals, travel, and hotel rooms, I’ve been left with tough choices. Restaurants and hotels have largely been left out, and only my favorite (or the most famous) City Centre pubs have earned a mention. With so many convenient self-planning travel aids like TripAdvisor available, I chose to leave the hotel research and planning to you. Please don’t be angry.

Since publishing the 2015 edition of this book, I have been fortunate enough to visit many more of the city’s paid attractions as a guest reviewer. This has given me the chance not only to see these attractions as a visitor would, but to compare the relative value of admission prices with other similar attractions. This year, I have a much better idea of the value of your tourist dollar (or pound, or euro, or ruble, or…), and have adjusted my evaluations accordingly.

Because you have downloaded this eBook, I assume you are a regular Internet user. Good. This book includes active URL hyperlinks with the most up-to-date information directly from the businesses and operators. This book is for planning purposes only. As much as I’ve tried to include the most accurate and current information, I could never keep up with every slight change in seasonal opening hours or admission price. After reading this book, I suggest double-checking time- or money-sensitive activities, just to make sure.

This eBook also comes equipped with an interactive table of contents for your convenience. To easily navigate this book, click on the name of a chapter heading in the table of contents above to skip instantly to the chapter heading in the book. Within chapters, navigate by linked section headings beneath the chapter title. At the end of each chapter, I have included a link back to the table of contents, so you can quickly and easily hop around the book as needed. I know that reading this eBook can never be as convenient as flipping around to pages in a printed travel book, but I have made every effort to make your experience as easy and pleasurable as possible.

Crunched for time? Can’t do it all? Want to skip to the best stuff? Never fear! New in this edition, check out Cory’s Picks, my own personal selection of the best Dublin has to offer. Simply look for the thumbs-up symbol ( ) next to my favorite parks, museums, pubs, and attractions. This isn’t to say, of course, that everything else in this book isn’t worthwhile, these are just my personal favorites. Your preferences and your mileage may vary.

I also recommend making as many arrangements in advance as you can, especially the big ones that can’t or won’t change. Lodging, transportation, and tickets to some (but not all) attractions will be among these. If you insist on a loose itinerary, do some clicking to check the schedule of things you might want to see. Keep these figures with you as you travel. Make sure to always know how and when to get tickets and transportation.

For more Frugal Guide: Dublin content, why not check out the podcast? This periodically published audio supplement has step-by-step guided walking tours (narrated unfortunately by Yours Truly) to go with some of the walks in the book, interviews with inexpensive Dublin entertainment curators, and much more. Find it and subscribe on iTunes or download it directly at frugalguidedublin.podomatic.com.

With this eBook, I hope to give you a current, honest, and thorough look at some of the free and inexpensive sights and activities in Dublin and my thoughts about some of Dublin’s larger paid attractions. I hope to be one more voice and resource in an already well-researched trip. My goal is to help you have more fun and spend less money in Dublin.

Cheers!

Cory Hanson

BACK TO TABLE OF CONTENTS

Part 1

Dublin Travel Basics

Dublin Tips

Time, date, and numbers

Temperature and weather

Nothing quite as wonderful as money

Roads and distances

Does anyone still use phones?

Need free Wi-Fi?

To your health

Your move, creep!

In case of emergency

1916 Centenary celebrations

Time, date, and numbers

Ireland (and the rest of Europe) technically runs on a 24-hour clock from 00:00 (midnight) to 23:59 (11:59 p.m.). Most official times (like bus or train schedules) will be given in 24-hour time, but some local business opening hours and almost all verbal times will be given in 12-hour, a.m. and p.m. times. Before noon, read 24-hour times just as they are. After noon, subtract 12 from the hour and add p.m. Thus, 09:30 is 9:30 a.m., and 17:15 is 5:15 p.m. Some clock times (both 12-hour and 24-hour) are separated with a dot rather than a colon. Times like 17.15 and 9.30 a.m. are perfectly acceptable. All times in this book are written in 24-hour form.

NOTE: If you hear a local say something like, half four, they mean 4:30, half past four.

Numerical dates are usually written as: DAY/MONTH/YEAR. Days are usually written with two digits. Thus, 07/4/15 is 7th of April, 2016. When filling out forms or buying tickets, check the DATE line carefully. For clarity, this book uses three-letter month abbreviations for all dates.

Building floors are numbered ground floor, first floor, second floor, etc. The ground floor is not the first floor. When someone gives directions to the first floor or level 1, they mean the first floor above the ground—what North Americans would call the second floor.

Continental European countries use a slightly different numerical punctuation system than that of North America, Ireland and the United Kingdom, but because of Ireland’s large number of European immigrants, you may run into some of these Continental numbering conventions. Locals can recognize the difference at a glance, but they may be confusing for first-time visitors. Do your best, and don’t be afraid to ask.

Decimal fractions of numbers are sometimes (but not always) marked with a comma instead of a dot. Thus, €4,99 is four euros, 99 cents. In this same system, the role of the dot takes that of the North American numerical comma, separating larger numbers into groups of three. Thus, €2.000,99 is two thousand euros, 99 cents.

Temperature and weather

Yes, Americans have to adjust to metric temperature readings when in Ireland. Luckily, Ireland doesn’t have a very wide range of temperatures, so we can cover the outdoor temperature range right here and now. In summer, daytime highs range from about 15°C (59°F) to about 22°C (72°F). In the dead of winter, you’ll likely find daytime temperatures from about 4°C (39°F) to 10°C (50°F). Temperatures above 22°C and below 0°C (32°F) are cause for surprise and sometimes alarm.

Weather forecasts are very tricky in Ireland. Moisture from the Atlantic can spin up into showers quickly and unpredictably, leaving the weather predictors in a tight spot. The daily weather report will generally sound something like:

Showers with sunny spells today, first in the west, then in the east. Some may be heavy and of thunder, with bright sunshine to follow. Highest temperatures from 14 to 18 degrees.

These vague forecasts aren’t really the fault of the forecasters, they just have to be prepared for anything. Generally, rains are frequent but rarely persistent. Rain tends to fall in brief showers on-and-off through the day, often while the sun is still brightly shining! Be prepared for rain and rainbows almost any day in Ireland.

Nothing quite as wonderful as money

The Republic of Ireland uses the euro as their official currency. These colorful bills (notes) and high-value coins are very well designed and a cinch for visitors to pick up and use. Euro paper notes are different sizes and colors for easy recognition. Coins are in three color-families: The coppers are 1c, 2c, and 5c, the golds are 10c, 20c, and 50c, and the dual-colored coins are 1-euro (silver center, gold rim) and 2-euro (gold center, silver rim). All coins have the value clearly printed on one side and the national symbol of a European Union country on the reverse. Most coins circulated in Ireland proudly display the Irish harp.

NOTE: Ireland is rolling out an effort to abolish the use of 1c and 2c coins. An optional rounding program was rolled out in late 2015, which may become mandatory nationwide. Vendors participating in this program will round all cash transaction totals to the nearest 5c. The rule is 1, 2, 6, 7 round down; 3, 4, 8, 9 round up! This shouldn’t have a big impact on your overall shopping experience, but sharp-eyed penny pinchers (like those who have downloaded this book) should be aware of it to avoid unnecessary scuffles at the checkout.

If you cross the border into Northern Ireland, you’ll have to switch currencies to the British pound sterling. Euros are no use in the United Kingdom. The oddly shaped pound and pence coins would give America’s confusing dimes and nickels a run for their…money!

I recommend using ATMs to withdraw euro (or pound sterling if in Northern Ireland) cash with your regular bank card for the best exchange rates. Before you leave, check with your bank or credit union for availability, fees, daily limits, exchange rates, and to alert them to your travel plans. Remember, your daily limit may be in your home currency, not in euros! It’s a good idea to bring along some hard cash to exchange (at a bad rate and with fees) in case of an emergency like a frozen card. Don’t bring your whole trip budget, treat it like the safety net that it is. Most banks exchange foreign money for a fee.

To minimize fees, try to take out most (or all!) of your travel budget in cash in one large withdrawal at the beginning of your trip. This can help the budget traveler in a number of ways. You will save on transaction fees (and blocks!) at restaurants and shops, and it will help you stick to your planned budget by avoiding too many impulse purchases. That said, there is no reason not to budget something for a little impulse souvenir or extra drink at the pub, right? As always, keep large amounts of cash with your cards and passport in a safe place like a money belt under your clothes.

Roads and distances

Ireland’s road system follows that of the Brits, and that means they drive on the left. Luckily, crosswalks are usually marked with bold white lettering warning crossers to LOOK LEFT or LOOK RIGHT when crossing. If you are planning to rent a car (hopefully not to drive in Dublin), be ready to shift that manual transmission with your left hand.

Ireland officially marks distances in kilometers (km) and speeds in kilometers per hour (km/h). Dublin road signs with distance numbers will all be in kilometers. One kilometer is about .62 miles, so 50 kilometers is about 31 miles, 100 kilometers is 62 miles, and so on. Speed limit signs are in kilometers per hour, so 100 is about 62 miles per hour.

In City Centre, do not rely on easy-to-read road signs for navigation, especially when driving or cycling. Many intersections have no road signs at all, and others have signs in strange places, like high up on a balcony half a block from the intersection. Use a good map, mobile device, or GPS unit and count the streets as you pass them, confirming your location whenever you do run into a readable sign.

If you plan to go beyond City Centre or out of town, you’ll need to know how Ireland’s highways are marked and numbered. Route numbers beginning with the letter R like R118 and R815 are regional roads connecting cities and towns within a county. These routes are marked with black and white signs. Road numbers with N like Dublin’s N11 are national routes connecting larger cities across counties. Blue signs with road numbers beginning with M are motorways, high-speed, limited-access toll ways like Dublin’s ring-road M50.

Ready for a curveball? If you happen to travel to Northern Ireland, they still use the British (and American) standard of miles and miles per hour for road markings, but kilograms for measuring weight (well, technically mass). In Northern Ireland, you’ll have to use British pounds to buy liters of petrol (gasoline) to drive for miles to pick up grams and kilos of rashers and bangers! Oh my!

Does anyone still use phones?

You may have to make phone calls from either a local Irish phone of from your own smart device. Some visitors buy an international mobile SIM card for their existing phone if they need to make calls or send texts at a moment’s notice—others plan to use the free Wi-Fi offered at most pubs and cafés and nearly all hotels, hostels, and B&Bs for their communication (see below).

If calling an Irish number from abroad, dial your country’s international calling code (011 in the US) followed by 353 (the country code for Ireland), followed by the number. IMPORTANT: the first few numbers are the area code, and may begin with a 0—many will list the first 0 in parentheses. Leave this 0 out when you dial from abroad. For example, if calling an Irish number like 086XXXXXXX from the US, dial 011 353 86XXXXXXX. If calling an Irish number from an Irish phone, leave out the international code and country code, then dial the entire number, 0 included.

Need free Wi-Fi?

Dublin used to offer free Wi-Fi services at many City Centre hotspots, but the pilot program ended at the beginning of 2016, and was not renewed. The future of the program is up in the air. You may still see the cute Dublin Free Wi-Fi mosaics featuring pixel art imaginings of Dublin icons like Dracula, the street