Places to visit & Things to Do in Dublin

The Abbey Theater 

The Abbey Theatre is Ireland’s National Theatre. It was founded by Nobel Laureate William Butler Yeats and Lady Augusta Gregory in 1904 and has played a vital and often controversial role in the literary, social and cultural life of Ireland. Renowned as a writer’s theatre it has contributed some of the world’s greatest theatrical works from such writers as J M Synge and Sean O’Casey through to modern day classics from Brian Friel, Tom Murphy, Frank McGuinness, Hugh Leonard, Tom Mac Intyre and Sebastian Barry. In the Abbey's 2010 season you can enjoy classic drama by Sam Shepard, Tom Mac Intyre, Marina Carr and William Shakespeare. As an icon of world theatre, the Abbey Theatre welcomes many overseas visitors every year. 

Photo: The School for Scandal by Richard Brinsley Sheridan 

Opening Times: 
Abbey Performances: Monday-Saturday: 7.30pm 
Saturday Matinees: 2pm 

Peacock Performances: Monday-Saturday: 8pm 
Saturday Matinees: 2.30pm 


Admission Prices: 
Abbey Theatre tickets: €17-€38 
Peacock Theatre tickets: €15-€25 

Concession tickets are available to fulltime students, equity members, seniors (over 65) and the unemployed for performances Monday – Friday evening and Saturday matinee only. Please ensure you have your proof of eligibility when you purchase your ticket and attend the performance. 

The Abbey Theatre can accommodate special arrangements and offer discounted ticket prices for groups of 10 people or more. Please contact the Abbey Theatre for more information 

Facilities: 
Full Bar. Backstage tours, subject to availability. For details contact +353 1 887 2223. 

How to Get There: 
Located off O'Connell Street. 
By bus: Main bus routes to city centre. 
By train: DART to Tara Street or Connolly Stations. 
By Luas: Red line to Abbey Street. 

                                                            National Museum of Ireland

Walk into the National Museum of Ireland on Kildare Street and you are magically transported back in time. A stroll through time will take you all the way back to 7,000BC. 

The Museum first opened its doors in 1890 and since then it has been filling in the blanks for us through its extensive archeological collections. 

Take time at The Treasury which features outstanding examples of Celtic and Medieval art, such as the famous Ardagh Chalice, the Tara Brooch and the Derrynaflan Hoard. 

Gaze in wonder at the finest collection of prehistoric gold artefacts in Europe, which is to be found in Or - Ireland's Gold. Ramble through prehistoric Ireland and experience life at the same time of the Vikings in Viking Age Ireland. 

Medieval Ireland 1150 - 1550, documents life in Ireland in the age of cathedrals, monasteries and castles.

The new and fascinating Kingship & Sacrifice exhibition centres on a number of recently found bog bodies dating back to the Iron Age. Displayed along with other bog finds from the Museums collections, it offers you an opportunity to come 'face to face' with your ancient ancestors. 

  

Opening Times:

Tuesday-Saturday: 10.00am-5.00pm
Sunday: 2.00pm-5.00pm
Closed Monday including Bank Holidays.

 

Admission Prices:

Free Admission to Museum

Additional Private Group Tours-Groups that are charged €2 per person for a tour are: Language Schools, Retirement Groups, Interest Groups, Tour Operator Groups. 
Groups that are free are: all primary, secondary, and third level colleges, national and international, special needs groups, community groups, diplomats/delegates, tourism delegates.

Facilities:

Museum café, museum gift shop, education resource room, audio-visual presentation. Calendar of events available – call or email us for details.

 

How to Get There:
Buses: 7, 7A, 8 (Burgh Quay), 10, 11, 13 (O’Connell Street).
DART to Pearse Station (Westland Row).

                                                               The National Library 

With over 8 million items in its collection, the National Library is home to the most comprehensive compilation of Irish documentary material in the world. From music, periodicals and photographs to maps, manuscripts and genealogical material, the Library offers and provides free access to an invaluable representation of Irish heritage.

Explore the poetry and legacy of Ireland’s greatest poet in the award-winning exhibition Yeats: The Life and Works of William Butler Yeats. The Discover Your National Library exhibition showcases some of the wonderful items from its collection, including rare books, manuscripts, maps, photographs and ephemeral items. Kids of all ages will love the new exhibition Tall Tales and Deadly Drawings featuring Irish children’s books and amazing illustrations from the Library’s collection of drawings.

Free public tours of the Yeats exhibition take place on Wednesdays at 1pm and Saturdays at 11am and 3pm. Tours of the Discover exhibition take place on Tuesdays at 2.30pm. A guided tour celebrating the history and heritage of the Library takes place each Saturday at 2.30pm. No booking is required.

Facilities:
Exhibitions, genealogy advisory service, reading rooms, café, wheelchair accessible. Group bookings for tours available.

Opening Time:

Monday – Wednesday: 9.30am – 7.45pm
Thursday – Friday: 9.30am – 4.45pm
Saturday: 9.30am – 4.30pm (reading rooms close at 12.45pm)
Sunday: 1pm – 5pm (exhibitions only)
 

Prices:

Free admission and free tours

How To Get There:

BUS: all routes to City Centre
DART: Pearse Station
LUAS: Green Line to St. Stephen’s Green

                                                The Residence of the President of Ireland

Áras an Uachtaráin is open Saturdays only. Free admission tickets are issued at the Phoenix Park Visitor Centre on the day. Group and/or advance booking is not permitted. 

Opening times:
Summer (Sat only) 10.15am-4pm 
Winter (Sat only) 10.30am-3.30pm 

Closed 24th-27th December

Guided Tours Meeting Point:
Phoenix Park Visitor Centre,
Phoenix Park,
Dublin 8

                                                                   The Dublin Zoo 

 

Dublin Zoo, located in the Phoenix Park in the heart of Dublin city, is Ireland’s No.1 visitor attraction and welcomed almost one million visitors last year. 

As one of the world’s oldest and most popular zoos, the 70-acre park in the heart of Dublin is home to some 600 animals in an environment where education and conservation combine for an exciting and unforgettable experience.

See many rare and exotic animals living and roaming a wide variety of natural habitats. Wander through the African Savanna and gaze at the giraffes, zebras, scimitar oryx and ostrich, then head to the Kaziranga Forest to see the magnificent herd of Asian elephants that call this beautiful place home. Experience the heat of the South American House before heading to Family farm and don’t forget to visit the soon to be opened Gorilla Rainforest!

There are plenty of amazing animals to discover including tigers, hippos, bats, rare monkeys, gorillas, chimpanzees, red pandas and reptiles to name but a few!

Conservation is an important part of Dublin Zoo’s work, and as a registered charity the zoo relies on the generosity of friends and visitors to help fund the internationally acclaimed education, conservation and breeding programmes.

Dublin Zoo is easily accessible by car or public transport and open all year round from 9.30am daily so be sure to get there early and pack everything into one fun filled family day!

For more information and news on events log onto www.dublinzoo.ie
 

Facilities: 
Shop, Restaurant, Kiosks, Disabled access to 90% of Zoo, visitor centre and wheelchair available. 

Opening Time:

-January 
Monday-Saturday: 9.30am-4.30pm 
Sunday: 9.30am-4.30pm 

-February 
Monday-Saturday: 9.30am-5.00pm 
Sunday: 9.30am-5.00pm 

-March to September 
Monday-Saturday: 9.30am-6.00pm 
Sunday: 9.30am-6.00pm 

-October 
Monday-Saturday: 9.30am-5.30pm 
Sunday: 9.30am-5.30pm 

-November 
Monday-Saturday: 9.30am-4.00pm 
Sunday: 9.30am-4.00pm 

-December 
Monday-Saturday: 9.30am-4.00pm 
Sunday: 9.30am-4.00pm 

Last admission one hour before closing. 
 

Prices:

Admission Prices: 
Adults: €15.00 
Children: €10.50 
Students: €12.50 
OAPs: €12.00 

Group Admission Prices: 
Adult €12.50 
Child €8.00 
min group no.10

Family tickets

2 Adults + 2 Children €43..50

2 Adults + 3 Children €49.00

2 Adults + 4 Children €52.00

How To Get There:

Located in the Phoenix Park, Dublin 8 it is easy to get to Dublin Zoo. There are a range of easily accessible options to choose from: bus, train, bicycle or car.

From Dublin city centre:

Buses:? Nos. 25 / 25A, 26, 46A, 66 / 66A / 66B, 67 / 67A, 68, 69
LUAS Red Line:? Dublin Zoo is a 15 minute walk from the Heuston Station stop.

From all over Ireland

Dublin Zoo is easily accessible by train and bus services.

                                                           St. Stephen Greens Park

Probably Ireland's best known Victorian public park.Re-opened by Lord Ardilaun in 1880 for the citizens of Dublin. This 9 hectare / 22 acre park has been maintained in the original Victorian layout with extensive perimeter tree and shrub planting, spectacular spring and summer Victorian bedding. The herbaceous border also provides colour from early spring to late autumn. Sanctuary from inclement weather can be obtained in the Victorian lakeside shelter or in the Victorian Swiss shelters in the center of the park. 

Over 3.5 km of pathways are accessible for all users. The waterfall and Pulham rock work on the western side of the green are worth of a visit likewise the ornamental lake which provides a home for waterfowl and a garden for the visually impaired. A number of sculptures are located throughout the green. A children's playground is a popular attraction of the park. Lunchtime concerts are performed during the summer months. 

This 9 hectare park is a sanctuary from the bustle of the city streets with tree lined walks, shrubberies, colourful flowerbeds, herbaceous borders and an ornamental lake. 

There are lunchtime concerts in the summer months. 

Opening Times: 
-Monday-Saturday: 7.30am 'til dusk. 
-Sunday and Holidays: 9.30am 'til dusk. 
-Christmas Day: 10.00am-1.00pm

                                                         Dundrum Shopping Center

The award winning Dundrum Town Centre is situated 5km South of Dublin City Centre. Dundrum has been rejuvenated from a village to a major town centre offering over 120 shops, more than 30 dining venues, from coffee shops to fine dining, 3 bars, a night-club, a 12 screen cinema and a 200 seat state of the art Mill Theatre. Dundrum has won over 20 international and national awards including the RLI Global Award, ISCS European Shopping Centre 2007 and a number of awards in recognition of its customer service ethos. Dundrum also boasts a number of exclusive retail and restaurant venues including Harvey Nichols, House of Fraser, Marks & Spencer, River Island, Next as well as Ireland's first Hugo Boss, Gant and Bose stores. This is a destination not to be missed for the finest retail and leisure experience.

Source: Visitdublin.com