The fair city of Dublin is a thriving and bustling capital city which today offers the visitor a pleasing blend of multiculturalism generated by free movement within the European Union and also traditional Irishness in the shape of plenty of fun things to see and do. Getting to Dublin has always been a simple and straightforward process thanks to the many airlines which fly into Ireland’s capital and the many ferries which connect both the UK and Europe to the city, and getting around in Dublin as a tourist has never been easier than it is now.
Taking pride of place in Dublin’s transport links is the Luas, an overground tram which covers the whole of the city and is clean, efficient and fast – in fact the name ‘Luas’ is taken from the Irish language word for ‘speed’. Opened in 2004 following big investment in the infrastructure needed to operate a mass public transit system, the Luas now runs on 2 lines, green and red, which connect the edges of Dublin to each other via all stops in between. The Luas represents a fantastically convenient way of getting around the city and visitors will usually find a Luas stop just a short walk from their Dublin hotel. Most major tourist attractions, from Kilmainham Gaol to the Guinness Storehouse, have a Luas stop close by too.
Another convenient way of seeing Dublin, and a more traditional and time-honoured one, is to get around by bus. Just as many visitors to London cite travelling by bus as a great way to see the sights and architecture – something which tourists miss out on when travelling on the London Underground – so it is in Dublin, where the city’s bus network takes visitors all around, from shopping districts to places of historic and touristic interest. Dublin has invested heavily in its bus network to make it as enjoyable to use as possible. The city now boasts as many as 1,200 buses which provide users with more than 200 routes throughout Ireland’s capital. The city is also home to miles and miles of bus lanes which help travellers to get around without needing to sit in queues of traffic.
Also popular with visitors to Dublin is the DART, or Dublin Area Rapid Transit. This is an overground train system which connects the coastal areas of Ireland to the capital and is a quick and convenient way of getting around the city. The DART is electrically-powered meaning that it’s kinder to the environment and to the traveller’s lungs and the train has station stops in central Dublin at Connolly Street as well as Dublin Heuston and The Point via the Luas red line. These central locations for getting on or off a DART train make it an easy means of travel to use which is close to most downtown Dublin hotels.
If taking the air is your thing then of course there are always the older modes of transport to see Dublin by, namely by pushbike and on foot. Dublin’s old buildings and charming alleyways make it a great city to explore either by hiring a bicycle to get around on or simply by taking a stroll down the road from where you are staying. The central area of the city is easy to navigate and traffic is not too bad, so walking from your accommodation to the pubs and restaurants of the city’s cultural centre, Temple Bar, is a simple exercise. Then should you find you enjoy the Guinness rather too much, there is always one of Dublin’s 12,000 taxis available to get you home!
Lek Boonlert is an editor and content reviewer at DirectRooms and is responsible for all Dublin Hotels content. Visit Dublin Hotel for more details.
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