ABOUT
Dublin is the thriving capital city of the Republic of Ireland. It is noteworthy in terms of its vibrancy, its nightlife and its tourist attractions, and is the most popular entry point for international visitors to Ireland. As a city it is disproportionately large for the size of the country (2006 pop. 1.6m); well over a quarter of the Republic's population lives in the greater Dublin area. The centre is however relatively small and can be navigated by foot, with most of the population living in sprawling suburbs.
GET IN
Dublin is served by a single terminal airport approximately 10km north of the city; an extension to this terminal is expected to open in the winter of 2007. The existing terminal can be very crowded and passengers can expect crowds and queues, especially for security control when departing. A new terminal has been long-debated but not yet constructed.
A full list of airlines flying to Dublin, along with timetables, can be found on the Dublin airport website. Ireland's flag carrier Aer Lingus flies to Dublin from a large number of British and European cities, from the USA, and Dubai. Aer Lingus fares are often lower than other flag carriers, but in part this has been achieved by matching the standards of the low-fares competition, so they now charge for checked-in bags and seat reservation at time of booking (note that this does not apply to United States and Dubai flights). Europe's largest low fares carrier, Ryanair flies to Dublin from many regional airports in the UK as well as from some non-central European airports. While famous for its low fares, Ryanair can be more expensive than other airlines especially for last minute bookings. Irelands third airline, Aer Arann links Dublin to many regional Irish airports and some smaller UK cities.
ORIENTATION
Dublin is split into two halves by the River Liffey. On the North side of the Liffey is O' Connell Street - the main thoroughfare which is intersected by numerous shopping streets, including Henry Street and Talbot Street. On the south side is St. Stephen's Green, Grafton Street (shopping), Trinity College, Christchurch and many other attractions.
Dublin postcodes range from Dublin 1 to Dublin 24; odd numbers are given north of the river Liffey, while even numbers are given to areas south of the river, As a general rule the lower the postcode the closer you are to the city centre. This may become slightly distorted as you head into the suburbs but generally follow the north south divide.
A good online map and journey planner is available from the Dublin Transportation Office. If you zoom in on the map you can get aerial photography of the city. The Tourist Board web site is also worth visiting. They have a good mapping section (powered by Google Maps) which shows the locations of the main city attractions, hotels, etc. If you're already in the city, the main tourist office, located in St Andrews Church just off Grafton St in the city centre, is a good place to start for information. You can book accommodation and tours there as well as find general information on where to go and what to do.
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