AT A GLANCE Dublin is one of the most popular urban destinations in Western Europe.

The capital of Ireland offers a fascinating mix of old and new, and despite its small size, manages to pack an awful lot into it. The city is renowned for its lively nightlife, while there are also plenty of shopping facilities to suit all tastes. WHEN TO GO The summertime is the best time to visit Dublin if youre in search of warm (ish) temperatures and lively festivals. It can become quite crowded though, so if you want to avoid the tourists, winter is the quietest time of the year, although it can get pretty cold! For a happy medium, visit in spring or autumn, while experiencing the city around St Patricks Day in March is always a memorable event. Weather Spring: The weather is still fairly cool, heating up in April so its a good idea to take some layers with you Summer: Temperatures are at their highest between June and August, making it the most pleasant time to visit Autumn: Mild temperatures mean youll have to wrap up warm, and theres also a greater chance of rain Winter: Hats, coats and scarves are a must as average temperatures between December and February are below 3C

Image: Dublin Sunshine by Bex Walton

THINGS TO DO Youll never be short of things to see and do in Dublin. The city is home to a number of historic buildings and plenty of museums. Get some insight into the history of Dublin, while family attractions such as parks and zoos will keep the little ones happy.

Attractions Dublin Castle: Dating back to the 18th century, this city centre castle hosts various functions for the Irish Government

Phoenix Park: A large urban park in the city with grassland and trees, and home to a herd of wild Fallow deer Dublin Zoo: The biggest zoo in the country and the fourth oldest in the world, offering six themed areas Guinness Storehouse: Opened in November 2000, and offers seven floors of beer-related fun Christ Church Cathedral: The spiritual heart of the city founded in 1028 boasts a stunning interior Kilmainham Gaol: Operated as a prison for around 140 years after first being built in 1796 National Museum of Ireland: Consists of three sections; Natural History, Archaeology and History, and Decorative Arts and History Temple Bar: The cultural hub of the city, home to a wide selection of shops, bars and restaurants Nightlife The Irish are known for enjoying a drink or two and the night scene in Dublin certainly doesnt disappoint. Live music is very popular in the city and you could even partake in a spot of Irish dancing.

Brazen Head: This bar opened in the 12th century and is one of the oldest in the world. It now offers excellent music and food, as well as a great atmosphere. OSheas Merchant: A traditional Irish pub with an Olde Worlde atmosphere, located close to the Temple Bar and offering live Irish music. Dakota Bar: A narrow bar along South William Street serving freshly made food during the day and becoming a great venue to dance the night away in the evening. Mulligans: One of the most famous drinking venues in Dublin, this traditional Irish pub was originally a shebeen an unlicensed drinking venue (although its had a licence since 1782!). Caf en Seine: A stylish bar thats a cool place to hang out. The opulent art deco interior is a great place to enjoy a drink

Day Trips from Dublin: One of the great things about Dublin is that there are many places to visit just a short distance away. So if youd like to discover more of Ireland, youll be able to choose from a range of places, whether travelling by train or by car. Wicklow: Bordering the city, the Wicklow Mountains National Park is around 20,000 hectares in size with woodland, river valleys and spectacular mountains that were formed over 500 million years ago. Travel Time: 1 hour

Howth: This small coastal town north-east of Dublin can be reached by using the fast train service DART from the city centre. There are many great walks here in stunning surroundings, as well as a traditional harbour and Old Town. Travel Time: 25 minutes

Bray: Situated on the east coast, this large seaside town has a mile-long promenade, and is incredibly popular for day trippers from Dublin. Spend some time on the beach here or climb the 241 metres to the summit of Bray Head for spectacular views. Travel Time: 30 minutes

Cork: Built on the River Lee, Cork is home to one of the worlds largest natural harbours, as well as to magnificent cathedrals. From the city, youll be able to take a trip to Blarney Castle, home to the Blarney Stone, which is said to bring great eloquence to anyone who touches it. Travel Time: 3 hours
Images: Dublin Castle by teamaskins / Guinness Storehouse by Corey Harmon / Kilmainham Gaol by Psyberartist / The Temple Bar by John Horton / Wicklow Mountains by Bjaglin / Howth by Mark Waters / Bray by Laurent Breillat / Blarney Castle by Kao Akana

SHOPPING The shopping facilities in Dublin have everything from designer stores and markets to shopping centres and boutiques. Just remember to leave some space in your suitcase! Shopping Areas: Grafton Street: The place to head for designer labels, this area favours upmarket shoppers, while there are also various quirky shops along some of the side streets. Henry Street: Department stores such as Arnotts and Clerys offer affordable high street clothing, while Moor Street (just off Henry Street) is one of the citys most historical shopping strips. Wicklow Street: A range of cafes, boutiques and more affordable stores can be found here, as well as vintage shops and shopping centres. Shopping Centres: Dundrum: The biggest centre in Ireland for shopping, restaurants and movies with over 160 stores. Liffey Valley: The newest shopping centre in the city, youll find fashion, films and food here. Powerscourt Centre: This historic shopping centre offers a fantastic setting for shoppers with fashion, jewellery, restaurants and beauty. Ilac Shopping: A large single-story complex, and the oldest shopping mall in the city centre. Jervis Shopping Centre: With three floors, this large city centre mall offers a range of famous brands. Stephens Green: In the heart of the city, more than 100 outlets are located here over three floors. Markets: Designer Mart: From crafts to clothes, this outdoor market takes place every Saturday in the Old City area of Temple Bar. Georges Street Arcade: An old Victorian Shopping Centre with over 50 shops and market stalls selling everything from art and music to food and fashion. Arts & Crafts Market: Haggling is encouraged at this indoor market in Newmarket Square.
Image: Grafton Street by Sebastian Dooris

FOOD & DRINK Youll find a tasty mix of traditional and modern cuisine on the menus of many restaurants, cafes and pubs in Ireland. Some of the authentic dishes you should try in Dublin include Irish stew, champ (mash potato and spring onions) and soda bread. Seafood is also popular. Of course no trip to Ireland is complete without sampling a pint of the local Guinness, while Ireland is also famous for its whiskey.

Popular Dublin Hotspots: Chapter One: A Michelin-star restaurant serving a fusion of French and Irish dishes Eden: Contemporary Irish food can be found at this award-winning restaurant One Pico: Winner of various awards over the years, serving an array of meat and fish dishes Chez Max: A charming French caf with a delightful back garden for outdoor eating JoBurger: Offering burgers, beer and music - what could be better?
Image: Irish Stew by LWY

CULTURE & ETIQUETTE Few places are more welcoming than Ireland. In fact, the country often describes itself as the land of Cead Mle Filte, meaning a hundred thousand welcomes. This can be seen inscribed on numerous pubs. Like many places, if somebody buys you a drink in a pub, it is good etiquette to pay for the next one. Irish Gaelic was historically spoken in the country, but it is now only spoken by a minority of people. Useful Phrases About you? - How are you? Whats the craic? - Whats happening / Whats the latest news? Slinte - Cheers (when clinking glasses in a pub)

Dos and Donts DO get off the beaten path to see even more of Ireland DONT say to be sure after every sentence or mention leprechauns DO take waterproof clothing and an umbrella as rain is quite common! DONT criticise the country, as the locals may take offence to this DO try a pint of traditional Irish Guinness, but be careful how much you drink of it! DONT forget to take Euros with you, as the British Pound is not accepted

Tipping Tipping is discretionary in Dublin, although quite often a service charge of around 10-15% is added to your bill in a restaurant. If not, giving around 10% of the price of the bill is customary. Offering a few extra coins to hotel porters or taxi drivers is also common.

TRANSPORT There are various ways of getting around (and in and out of) Dublin with excellent transport links including trains, buses and taxis, while the cycle hire scheme is a great way of getting around the city at your own pace. Getting Around Taxi: There are over 12,000 licensed taxis in Dublin, which are easily recognisable with a large yellow and blue roof sign Bus: There are many services in and around the city, while Dublin Bus also operates day tours Cycle: Dublin Bikes (dbs) has 44 bike stations across the city, with cycles that can be rented from one station before been dropped off at another later on in the day Train: The DART is a high-speed railway line that runs along the coast of Dublin - ideal for getting out and exploring other places in Ireland

Fare Information Taxi: All taxis are metred with the first 1km costing between 4.10 and 4.45. Always ask the driver roughly how much your journey should cost before getting in though Bus: Fares depend on how many stages you travel. Most journeys are between 1-3 stages with one journey costing 1.65. You can also buy a Leap Card for cheaper fares on buses, DART and rail services. Simply top it up with as much money as you like (depending on how often you plan on travelling) Cycle: A 3-day ticket costs 2, which allows you to use the bike as many times as you like during these three days. The first half hour of using the bike is free, while 3 hours will cost you 3.50 on top of the cost of your ticket
Image: Dublin Bikes by William Murphy

HEALTH & SAFETY British Embassy in Ireland Emergency Police, Fire or Ambulance: 112 or 999 TOP FIVE DUBLIN BLOGS 1. Lovin Dublin 2. Liz in Dublin 3. Come Here to Me 4. French Foodie in Dublin 5. An American in Ireland