Dublin on a Budget
A visit to Dublin, Ireland, can be exciting but costly if you are not familiar with the city beforehand. For those who are looking to travel on a budget here is a list of things you can do to save your cash without feeling like you have lost out to anything less worthy.
Accommodation
There are many cheap hotels in Dublin, one of which is The Fleet Street Hotel in the popular Temple Bar is a great place to stay if you want to be situated right in the heart of Dublin. The hotel accommodates single travellers, couples, and even large groups. For those that like to enjoy cheap drinks, live entertainment and dancing, O’ Sullivan’s bar is very close to the hotel where you’ll be likely to meet other traveller’s and get to know some of the locals.
The Lucan Spa Hotel, on the other hand, is an ideal place to stay if you love your activities. Close by to Dublin airport. Nearby you will find Lucan Golf Club, the Guinness Storehouse, Fort Lucan and The 02 Arena where you can find many theatrical and music concerts. The hotel even hosts its own in House events. Why not dine in the Earl Bistro during the day or have dinner in the delightful Hanora D restaurant in the evening.
Getting around
The best way to get around on a budget in Dublin is to opt for public transportation. Save your cash by using the Dublin Bus, which covers Dublin City and Dublin County, the best part is you will see many attractions along the way and you can stop off wherever you please, prices start from €1 for adults. Visitors can also buy a 3 Day Freedom Ticket that allows you to travel the city at your leisure, for a one off fee of €26.00 you can use the Dublin Bus Tours, the Airport Express Service and all the Dublin bus commuter services.
Why not consider a rental bicycle, it is cheap and easy to get around the city, and you can decide your own route. And then there’s the method of transportation that people have been using for thousands of years – walking! Though walking may not be on the top of your list of ways to save money, it does give the visitor a better chance at interacting with the Irish population at a closer manner than by any other means of travel. Besides, taking a tour around the city to visit local attractions such as art exhibitions and theatres on foot can be very thrilling especially if the weather is good.
Things To Do
When it comes to exploring Dublin, you want to make sure you are saving as much money as possible so that you can afford to do other fun things with those savings. A great way to save money is by taking advantage of everything that is offered for free. For all you history buffs, you can take a free guided tour of the Aras an Uachtarain, which was the home to both Irish and British politicians and is the official home of the President. For Naturists, you can visit the North Bull Island bird sanctuary that is host to over 25,000 birds or take a stroll through the beautiful Phoenix Park.
For the Art buffs, why not visit some of Dublin’s best loved art museums you will find The National Gallery of Ireland has Free Entry or pop in to The National Museum of Ireland to discover an archaeological collection that will reveal artefacts from the ancient Mesolithic period all the way to the medieval era, the admission for this museum is a mere €2 for adults, and children under the age of 16 can get in for free.
Food & Drink
A great restaurant to check out is Honest to Goodness, hidden on Market Arcade Street, it’s great for vegetarians and meat eaters alike. You will find delicious fresh food with so many soup flavours like sweet potato & lemongrass or bacon & onion for €2.85. Try their
Chicken, smoked applewood cheese, chilli sauce & tomato sambo for €5 and you have visit on Fridays for their Sloppy Joes! Although it is a small establishment, locals and tourists line up for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Since it is located in a ‘hippie’ arcade, it is very popular among young adults and travellers.
For those that like to enjoy your evenings listening to live music with a drink in hand, a great pub actually known as Ireland’s most famous pub is Whelan’s on Wexford Street. Don’t miss having a look at their wall décor with upbeat illustrations. The pub always has an impressive drinks special, and their regular rates can still snag you plenty of cheap drinks from the shelf.
Category: Ireland
