Places to visit in Dublin

The majestic castle, located in the picturesque coastal town of Malahide, was a home as well as a fortress for several centuries. The mixed architecture of the former fortress is worth watching. It was the abode of famous Talbot family, who lived here till 1973 from 1185. The collection of beautiful period furniture and Irish portrait paintings can amaze you. The surrounding garden is also beautiful and serene.

There are several iconic historical, religious edifices and landmarks in Dublin that tourists can explore. The eminent Trinity College which was set up by Queen Elizabeth in 1592 is among major landmarks in Ireland’s capital. The religious buildings that dominate city landscape include Saint Patrick's Cathedral and Christ Church Cathedral. Other notable landmarks in Dublin are Dublin Castle and the awe-inspiring Kilmainham Jail. The Casino located at Marino lures visitors with its splendid neoclassical 18thcentury architecture. Both the interior and exterior of the edifice is worth exploring.

The architecture of museums, churches aside, cultural attractions of Dublin are enough to entice visitors. Amazing collection of works by – William Butler's sibling, Jack B Yeats is a major attraction of Dublin’s National Gallery. The wide range of Irish art and European painting collection you can see here is quite engaging. On weekends, you can avail free tours and explore 4 wings of the gallery. Visiting the oldest public library of Ireland, namely Marsh’s library is also worth doing for getting a taste of Irish literature and cultural heritage. The majestic building with its massive collection of books dating back to 16th and 18th century has an exquisite charm. Visiting Abbey Theater is worthwhile too.

Apart from the Georgian and Victorian architecture religious edifices, monuments, and museums, Dublin also has plenty of natural attractions for tourists. One such instance is the St. Stephens Green, a beautifully adorned public park with pretty gardens and a lake. The lake is the habitat of several ducks and bird species-bliss for lovers of avian species. The National Botanic Gardens with its vast collection of plants, orchids is another big attraction for nature loving tourists. Located between River Tolka and prospect Cemetery, it also has an impressive collection of glasshouses with spectacular architecture.

The city of Dublin has a number of impressive museums, visitors will enjoy visiting. The Irish Museum of Modern Art is one prime example. Established in 1990, the museum has a stunning collection of contemporary and modern art and holds interesting exhibitions. Dublin City Council owned the Little Museum of Dublin is a civic museum located in Ireland’s capital. The classy interiors and tourist greeter program are USPs of this museum. In Dublin, there are 3 sections of National Museum of Ireland that offer great insight into Irish heritage, art, and culture. The Victorian-style Natural History Museum is a part of this museum and it is located in Merrion Street.

The Catholics in Dublin throng the St. Mary's Pro-Cathedral. Built in an early part of 19th century, the cathedral is built in Neo-Classic Doric style. This makes it stand in stark contrast to other churches built in Gothic Revival style. The outside portico is modeled on Athens’ Temple of Theseus. The inside bears traces of the Renaissance style.

Located in the oldest part of the city, Christ Church Cathedral is deemed as one of the finest edifices of Dublin. Also called Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, it is a major Protestant cathedral in Ireland, as it is. The existing cathedral’s root can be traced back to 1172 post-conquest of Dublin. The architecture is a blend of Norman and English Gothic styles. A heavy restoration in 1878 took away much of the edifice’s medieval character.

The largest Church of Ireland, St. Patrick's Cathedral is one of the major tourist attractions in Dublin. The Gothic Revival architecture of the edifice is awe-inspiring, to say the least. The origin of the existing building dates back to the 12th century. Several important public national ceremonies are held in the cathedral including Remembrance Day ceremony in Ireland.

Tourists visiting Dublin with family can experience several interesting sightseeing and fun activities for the toddlers. If your kids love animals, the Dublin Zoo located in Phoenix Park should be the ideal destination. The zoo has animals like the gorilla, giraffe, and Asian elephant across the 28-hectare zoo which will keep kids and adults engaged and the zoo features a reptile house too! Another major kid-friendly destination in Dublin is the ARK Cultural Centre for Children. They get a lot to explore and learn about literature, painting, and music in this center. Two other notable children’s attractions in Dublin are Lambert Puppet Theatre and Imaginosity. The latter is a unique child-centric interactive, creative center.

The Blarney Castle allures lots of visitors but the main attraction is the Blarney Stone. It also has beautifully maintained gardens as well as interesting rock formations. The 600-year-old edifice is easily accessible from Dublin and Cork.

You cannot afford to miss exploring the historic Dublin Castle while visiting Ireland’s capital! Its location at the junction of River Liffey adds to the appeal. The building underwent several renovations over the ages and traces are prominent. Visitors can see Chapel Royal, Medieval Undercroft, and State Apartments. At the time of inception in 1230 and later, the castle served as a defense against Norman and other invaders. Nowadays, it is used mostly for government ceremonies.

The former prison stands as a testimony to Irish struggle for freedom. The grey building was made in the last years of 18th century. The Irish freedom fighters were confined here for years. You can avail a nice audiovisual introduction to the edifice which is followed by a tour.