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Top 10 things to sort out when you arrive in Ireland (as an expat)

November 2, 2017 by Meg 12 Comments

the top 10 things you should get sorted as soon as you move over to Ireland as an expat.The best part of living abroad is the realization that you can never get away from admin and paperwork. Some things change and some things stay the same, but no matter where you live, there will always be admin and paperwork! The bonus fun fact is that it is going to be slightly different wherever you plan on living. The paper work also seems to increase depending on if you are married/single; if you need a visa to live or work in a place and if you plan on one day seeking permanent residency in a particular foreign country.

Basically you can not avoid getting sucked into an admin paper trail, so I thought that I would outline some of the basic things you, as an expat in Ireland, should try get sorted within the first few weeks of your arrival. This list is a culmination of our experience and is purely based off our own experience and unique situation to moving to Ireland from South Africa. If you are looking to chat more about how you can move to Ireland, feel free to contact me, and if its technical info you need about your own situation, Citizen Information can also be a great resource.

Disclosure: this information is also based on the fact that you have legally arrived in Ireland and that you are legally allowed to enter the country and live/work here. If you want to read more about how we moved to Ireland, maybe start with this post and then come back here.

Top 10 things you need to sort out as an expat moving to Ireland

[bctt tweet=”Top 10 things you need to sort out as an expat moving to Ireland” username=”Thisisus_living”]

  1. First things first, you need to find a place to stay – I recommend trying to do this while you are actually in the country, although you can most certainly check the various rental sites online. I just found that good spots go quite quickly, so you want to be able to give them a call, or meet/view the place quickly. This post is a great resource for anyone looking for a pet friendly rental in Dublin. Key to getting a rental sorted, means that you can get a proof of address in Ireland. I had hoped that the rental agreement itself could be used as a form of proof of address – but the bank however would not accept this as proof of address. You will probably sign up for utilities like gas/electricity/TV/Wifi any ways, and these can be used as proof of address. If you are married, try set up these accounts where both of you have a name on these utilities (or one has TV and the other has electricity account). A proof of address is going to be a valuable piece of paper you will need to set up other things while you live here in Ireland.
  2. If you are a non-EU passport holder, when you went go through immigration at the airport, they will give you a card with information on setting up an appointment for your GNIB card. This is basically an immigration card that shows you are legally allowed to work/live in Ireland. It is essential you make this booking within 90 days of your arrival. Over certain times of the year, appointments book up months in advance – so the first day you arrive in the country, you should go online and set your GNIB appointment. Make sure you give yourself time to get this sorted. (Note: it will cost EUR300 for this card; so bring cash or card to pay for this at your appointment). Depending on if you plan on working or living in Ireland, you will need to bring with you all the necessary documentation – this should be outlined on their website.
  3. If you are like me, and plan on bringing over your phone from your home country to use here in Ireland, check that your phone is unlocked before you leave home. In South Africa, most phones are unlocked, but Americans that have come to Ireland often find out too late that their phone is locked, making it impossible to switch to an Irish sim card. I recommend going and getting your first sim card for your phone at carphone warehouse – they offer sales and specials for all service providers here in Ireland. You can get a pay as you go SIM, or a contract – depending on what you are looking for.
  4. When you first arrive in Ireland, you might be relying on public transport for a while, until you have a car. I strongly recommend that you sign up for a leap card – it costs EUR5 for the card and you can top up from your phone (Andriod only) or at the luas or train stations. Leap cards can be used on Dublin buses, Luas and the DART, you will also need a leap card to be able to register to use Dublin Bikes (it costs further EUR25 per year to be registered to Dublin Bikes). The rates for all these public transport services are cheaper if you use a leap card than if you pay cash – so it is well worth it!
  5. Before you arrive in Ireland, I hope you will look at if you need a work permit, and which one you can apply for. This really will help ease the stress if you know this before you arrive. If you are not sure, then read this post on finding a job and applying for a work permit in Ireland.
  6. Key to getting GNIB cards and work permits, is keeping track of when your passport expires. It might sound like an obvious one, but I recently got my work permit, and my permit is only valid till when my passport expires. I will need to get a new passport and then go back and update it with my work permit details thereafter, these costs all add up at the end of the day.
  7. If you are planning on working or earning a salary here in Ireland, then you will need to open up a bank account. This is a bit different to back home, you have to book an appointment at the local bank, and go in with your passport, and proof of address. I had to use a utility account as proof of address, because AIB would not accept my rental agreement.
  8. Once you have a bank account and a work permit, then you need to set up an appoint with social services to get a PPS number. You only need a PPS number if you are planning on claiming welfare, or if you are paying taxes (i.e working).
  9. After getting your PPS number, you need to go online and register your pps number with MyGov.ie to avoid paying maximum tax. You need to do this BEFORE you start getting your paycheck.
  10. If you plan on buying a car/ driving in Ireland. You are allowed to swop your South African drivers out for an Irish drivers license. All you need to do is fill some forms, go for an eye test, and then make an appointment. You will need to hand over your current, valid South African drivers license. It takes 3 weeks – 3 months to get your Irish drivers license back. The cost to get this sorted is EUR55.

So there you have it, the top 10 things you should get sorted as soon as you move over to Ireland as an expat.

Unlock the simple life,

~Meg~

p.s. If social media is your thing (snap! It’s my fave too!), you should totally follow me on Instagram.

p.p.s. I try post varied content once or twice a month, to be sure you don’t miss out on the new post you should sign up and get all the news straight in your inbox – Sign up now!

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Top 10 things you need to sort out as an expat moving to Ireland

Filed Under: Irishlife Tagged With: Challenges, discover ireland, dublin, expat, expat life, expatlife, ireland, irishlife, living abroad

7 Halloween inspired places to visit in Dublin

October 26, 2017 by Meg 2 Comments

If you are visiting Dublin in the month of October or over Halloween, here are some Halloween inspired places you can visit. The places are available to visit all year round, but just given that Halloween is coming up, I thought I would mention some places that may or may not be haunted. A few places that are spooky, but are also very interesting too - perfect for a Halloween night out.If you are visiting Dublin in the month of October or over Halloween, here are some Halloween inspired places you can visit. There is a Bram Stoker Festival that kicks off tomorrow and runs for 4 days and nights. Check out the website for a list of the activities that are on. In particular, I know we are keen to check out the Macnas Parade, happening on the 30th November from 6pm. It is free to watch the parade, it starts on Moore Street and weaves through Dublin shopping district.

[bctt tweet=”Did you know that Bram Stoker, an irish author who wrote the gothic novel Dracula, was born in Dublin! ” username=”thisisus_living”]

Then there are halloween inspired places in Dublin that are available to visit all year round,. I thought I would put together a list of the bizarre, haunted and spooky places that make for a perfect Halloween day or night out.

    • Glasnevin Cemetery & the body snatchers watch tower tour. Fun fact about Glasnevin Cemetery: there are over 1.5million are buried in the cemetery, which is a greater number than people alive living in Dublin! If you believe a zombie apocalypse is coming, perhaps avoid living in Dublin! The tour cost EUR13, and it is rated one of the best tourist attractions in Dublin (according to Trip Advisor). I strongly agree with this rating, next to Kilmainham Gaol, this was one of my favourite tours to go on. You are taken around the cemetery with a tour guide, who runs through interesting parts of Irish History, along with the very many interesting people who are buried on the grounds. You also get to visit Daniel O’Connell’s crypt, it is said to be lucky to knock on his coffin – hopefully he doesn’t know back!Fun fact about Glasnevin Cemetery: there are over 1.5million are buried in the cemetery, which is a greater number than people alive living in Dublin! If you believe a zombie apocalypse is coming, perhaps avoid living in Dublin! The tour cost EUR13, and it is rated one of the best tourist attractions in Dublin (according to Trip Advisor).
    • The National Museum of Archaeology (Bonus: it is free to visit; no entry admission fees!) Not only will you be able to see artifacts dating back to 7000BC, there is a current exhibition on showing the recent discovering of bog bodies found in 2003 in county Meath. A bog body is a human cadaver that has been naturally mummified in a peat bog.
    • Fans of the TV series “Penny Dreadful” should visit the Natural History Museum in Dublin. This is the scene where Dr. Alexander Sweet (or Dracula as most of us know him to be) poses as a zoologist to seduce Vanessa Ives. This museum is also free to visit, no entry admission fees. Fans of the TV series "Penny Dreadful" should visit the Natural History Museum in Dublin. This is the scene where Dr. Alexander Sweet (or Dracula as most of us know him to be) poses as a zoologist to seduce Vanessa Ives.  
    • Malahide Castle Tour. If you are looking for a tour of a haunted castle while visiting Dublin, then I suggest going to Malahide. Not only is this Castle haunted, but the tour is very interesting, so worth a visit. The gardens are well maintained and beautiful to wonder through too. You can pack a picnic or grab some lunch at the AVOCA that is on the grounds too. Entrance fee is EUR12.50 for adults, book a time slot online to avoid disappointment. Also, if you are keen on running, there is a parkrun on the grounds, every Saturday morning (which is free to run).

When I was little I often dreamed about discovering I was actually royalty and getting to live in a castle! Funny how as you grow up, what you want changes. Now I just like to look at pretty castles, someone else can live in it! This is Malahide Castle, I highly recommend the tour of the castle and gardens. ???? – – – – – – #dublin #dublintown #igersdublin #discoverdublin #dublinlife #discoverireland #ireland #irishlife #luckoftheirish #irishblogger #malahidecastle #malahide #castles #royals #castlegardens #malahide #castletour #thingstodoindublin

A post shared by Meg | Minimalism & Slow Travel (@thisisus_living) on May 19, 2017 at 1:50am PDT

  • St. Michan’s Church. This church was founded in 1095, and was the only church north of the river Liffey for over 450 years. You can go on a tour of the crypts below the church for EUR6 (tours are only available on a Saturday morning between 10am – 12:45pm; and may be cancelled at short notice as it is a working church). The mummies in the vaults of St. Michan’s Church are the remains of nuns, monks and rebels who have naturally been preserved  in the crypts due to the dry atmosphere, and limestone in the building foundations. It is quite a macabre tour to go on, but I found it hugely interesting. It is illegal to open up coffins, however these coffins have naturally decayed or collapsed open, thus you are able to view some of the mummies that are inside. The mummies in the vaults of St. Michan's Church in Dublin are the remains of nuns, monks and rebels who have naturally been preserved  in the crypts due to the dry atmosphere, and limestone in the building foundations. The perfect tour for Halloween in Dublin, Ireland
  • Visit Dracula Castle for the Bram Stoker Dracula experience. I am very excited to do this, we have tickets to go this Saturday, so I will update the post thereafter. Dracula’s castle is located a stone’s throw from Bram’s old house at 15 Marino Crescent in Clontarf, Dublin. Tickets are EUR25 for a show and a tour of the castle. I am told it is also a top rated Trip Advisor spot in Dublin. I just hope I don’t jump out of my skin screaming, as much as I love vampire movies – I hate been surprised!
  • Gravediggers bus tour (plus free haunted history walking tour of Dublin). We have not done this, but have had friends who said it is well worth the EUR25. It is a tour done by a “plague infested” tour guide, although I am told it is not too spooky – but very funny, and a tad informative. The walking tour is included for free (usually EUR13 if you book it on its own) and I am told this has a lot more history and information.

WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR HALLOWEEN THIS YEAR?

Unlock the simple life,

~Meg~

p.s. If social media is your thing (snap! It’s my fave too!), you should totally follow me on Instagram.

p.p.s. I try post varied content once or twice a month, to be sure you don’t miss out on the new post you should sign up and get all the news straight in your inbox – Sign up now!

PIN THIS AND READ LATER:

If you are visiting Dublin in the month of October or over Halloween, here are some Halloween inspired places you can visit. The places are available to visit all year round, but just given that Halloween is coming up, I thought I would mention some places that may or may not be haunted. A few places that are spooky, but are also very interesting too - perfect for a Halloween night out.

Filed Under: Travels Tagged With: discover dublin, dublin, expatlife, halloween, irish travel, travel, travel tips, travels, vacation ideas

The Best Ways to Find a Pet-Friendly Rental in Dublin

September 11, 2017 by Meg 13 Comments

Although it is super tricky to find a rental that is pet friendly, it is possible. Here are the considerations you should have when looking for a pet-friendly rental in Dublin, Ireland.Lately I have been getting a few emails from people looking to move to Ireland with their pets. The number one question they ask is how easy is it to find a place to live with your pet. In the sage words of Nelson Mandela, it always seems impossible until it is done. Although I am sure he never meant it for moving to a new country with your pet. Although it is super tricky to find a rental that is pet friendly, it is possible. I tried to list a few of the considerations you should have when looking for a pet-friendly rental in Dublin.

While moving your pet over to Ireland can be relatively easy to do (no quarantine definitely helps, but read my post on all you need to know about moving your pet to Ireland f you need help with this.). The trick is once you are over here; it is a bit of a stress finding accommodation for the whole family, fur babies included.

[bctt tweet=”Here are some ways to find a pet-friendly rental in Dublin.” username=”Thisisus_living”]

If you can – divide and conquer. 

We didn’t want to kennel Jack while we looked for a place to stay, so my husband moved over a few weeks before we did to find a pet-friendly place.

Search online, but try do it while you are in Ireland.

We looked online, on www.daft.ie, to find a place to rent in Dublin. I think we were lucky, given the time we moved over and that my husband was available to meet at any time of the day. We found a place within 10days, and were able to move into the place 4 days later. I do think that was a bit of luck and the fact that the place we found was empty already helped move the process along quicker than expected.

Narrow down the search, by looking for what you need.

It is better to look while one of you is here; this is because places go so quickly. When you are looking for places online, try advanced search settings by looking for places that are privately managed by the landlord and not a rental agent. This is because a landlord can make a decision on the spot on whether he/she is happy to allow pets – a rental agent will need to sign this off with the owner, and it is far easier for that person to say no if they haven’t met you. Search for places that have a garden or small outside area. You will also find it more likely to find a pet friendly lace in a house, versus a flat. I guess this might also come down to what kind of pet you have, but a flat doesn’t just mean what the owner allows – you also need to factor in what the body corporate of that block of flats allow.

Be available to act fast.

You will need to act fast, if you see a place that ticks all your boxes, be available to go see the place and make a decision right there. One of the deciding factors to how we were able to secure the home we live in now, was that Rob was able to draw the deposit and offer it right then and then.

Be prepared to pay a bit more.

If you can, you might have to budget a bit more, in some cases I have heard of people offering a double deposit to secure a home for themselves and their pet. Depending on where you want to live, rental prices in Dublin are quite pricey. We chose to find a place that was closer to the city, and central to public transport because we don’t own a car and we also wanted to experience living in a city versus outer areas which are more similar to the suburbs we had back in South Africa. We ended up with a place that is a bit older and with basic furnishings than what we hoped, but it’s central and close to bus, train and luas (tram) so it’s the perfect lock up and go for us. We are super lucky that our landlords are really nice, and they allowed us to keep Jack with us which was the most important thing!

HOW DID YOU FIND PET FRIENDLY PLACE TO RENT IN YOUR TOWN?

Unlock the simple life,

~Meg~

p.s. If social media is your thing (snap! It’s my fave too!), you should totally follow me on Instagram.

p.p.s. I try post varied content once or twice a month, to be sure you don’t miss out on the new post you should sign up and get all the news straight in your inbox – Sign up now!

PIN THIS AND READ LATER:

Although it is super tricky to find a rental that is pet friendly, it is possible. Here are the considerations you should have when looking for a pet-friendly rental in Dublin, Ireland.

Although it is super tricky to find a rental that is pet friendly, it is possible. Here are the considerations you should have when looking for a pet-friendly rental in Dublin, Ireland.

Filed Under: Irishlife Tagged With: Challenges, discover dublin, discover ireland, dublin, expat, expat life, expatlife, ireland, irishlife, living abroad

How to see Dublin in 3 days (and avoid drinking in Temple Bar)

August 21, 2017 by Meg 4 Comments

How to see Dublin in 3 days. Ideas that get you out of the city, and exploring more of what Dublin has to offer - and avoiding drinking in Temple Bar.If you think of Dublin, most would first think of Guinness pints (or whiskey) and pub crawls through Temple Bar. For most tourists they think this just refers to the pub called Temple Bar, when actually the name of the whole suburb/district is Temple Bar. I like to avoid Temple Bar at all costs, it is just a huge tourist trap, and there really is a lot more to do in Dublin than just to do an epic long pub crawl. Firstly, I would argue that attempting to pub crawl throughout Dublin will probably kill you. Secondly, Temple Bar as a district, is not a true representation of Ireland and the Irish culture. It is highly commercialised, and largely a giant trap for tourists to spend all their cash on overpriced drinks in over crowded pubs.

I am not saying you should totally avoid Temple Bar, poke your head in there if you want, but definitely avoid drinking there – unless you are young, flush on cash and drunken crowds are totally your vibe. I think most tourists are looking for an authentic experience, and Dublin has a lot more to offer than just drinking in Temple Bar.

Transport in Dublin:

You should know that if you are flying into Dublin, you don’t necessarily need to rent a car if you plan on just sticking around Dublin. Public transport is pretty good in the city, and it can get you to most of the places up and down the coast. If you are planning on exploring more of Ireland, then yes, you should totally rent a car.

If you are not renting a car, there are basically two ways you can get from the airport to the city center: taxi or bus. Taxi could work out expensive, depending on the time you arrive and where you are heading (around EUR30 and upwards). The Airlink bus offers a EUR10 return ticket, however if you get a visitor leap card, this is included as a mode of transport you can use.

The public transport system is pretty decent in Dublin, definitely far better organised than back home in South Africa. But it is not as organised as other major cities (like London or New York). The time tables are fairly accurate, but sometimes buses have been known to not arrive on time, or arrive and leave before you get there.

For those of you looking to conserve your cash, the best way to make use of public transport is by purchasing a visitor leap card. It means you can use all modes of transport (bus, train, and tram, as well as the Airlink which takes you from the airport into the city and back). For a 3 day/72 hour pass, it will cost you under EUR20. You can buy this card at the airport, or in the city. More info on the visitors leap card can be found here.

Just a final note on public transport, things often take longer than expected when you use it. Public transport is less frequent over weekends, and it often takes longer than you think to walk around and orientate yourself. I often find that we can easily get distracted and lose track of  time when we are exploring the city. We have learnt to be fairly flexible in our travelling itineraries and always leave a bit earlier if we have a specific time slot booked.

The Weather in Dublin:

It will rain – but that is Ireland, so don’t let that stop you from fully exploring the city or you will be waiting all year for the perfect day. Dubliners really have the best attitude, they never let the weather hold them back from getting out and doing things.

You will find that although Dublin has a pretty mild summer (only a few days of really hot weather), it also has a fairly mild winter compared to other European countries, we rarely get lots of snow. The weather can honestly change within the hour, so dress in layers, and account for all seasons – regardless of what time of year you plan your visit.

[bctt tweet=”How to explore Dublin in 3 days, and avoid drinking in Temple Bar.” username=”Thisisus_living”]

Here is my 3 day itinerary to exploring all that Dublin has to offer:

Day 1 – Explore the city

    • The Ha’penny Bridge versus the Samuel Beckett Bridge – Rob and I have different favourites. I love the history behind the Ha’penny, whereas Rob loves the structural/modern appeal of the Samuel Beckett. Regardless of our opinion, you should totally walk along the Liffey River between the two bridges, it gives you a nice overall feeling of Dublin as a city, and it is a pleasant walk. Most people when giving directions in Ireland, will give you the name of the closest pub as a reference point. Two pubs worth checking out close to both bridges would be The Ferryman (close to Samuel Beckett Bridge), and The Church (which is an old church turned into a pub, pretty close to the Ha’penny Bridge).Samuel Beckett Bridge, Dublin, Ireland
    • Grafton Street is also a great tourist spot. Most would say it is good for shopping, but I find it quite expensive. The reason I suggest you should walk along Grafton Street is actually more for the buskers. The street performers you will find on this street are just phenomenal. Stephen’s Green is at the top Grafton Street, and it is a great spot for a picnic lunch.
    • If you are keen for more bargain shopping, then on the other side of the Liffey are plenty of shops along Henry and Mary Street. At the top of Henry Street, on O’Connell Street, you need to check out The Spire, alternatively titled the Monument of Light. This is kinda hard to miss, but if you are not looking for it, you might not be aware of it. It is a large, stainless steel, pin-like monument 120 metres tall. It is quite a good landmark to help you orientate yourself too.

A post shared by Meg | Expat Life & Travel (@thisisus_living) on Jun 27, 2017 at 5:43am PDT

  • If tech is your thing, then I really suggest a walk around Grand Canal Docks – this is where Facebook, Airbnb, and Google Head Offices are. The Bord Gais Energy Theatre is also here, and often has ballet, opera, or musical events taking place here.
  • The Aviva Lansdowne Stadium is a must-see for the sports fanatics. You can walk along the dodder river from Grand Canal to the stadium. It is a short work and a great view of the stadium from a far. There are other walks you can do in Dublin, all free to do, read my top 7 walks to do in Dublin.Lansdowne Aviva Stadium, Dubli, Ireland
  • A night in Dublin is not complete if you don’t check out a pub (or three).
    • In the city, our fave pub is Doyle’s. This was recommended to us by a friend, and honestly, it gets really festive as the evening progresses. It is also central and close to bus stops if you are staying out of the city.
    • Another lively pub is The Bath which is pretty festive on match days (close to Aviva stadium), and if you are looking for a more quiet spot, just up the road is the Old Spot.
    • In summer, the Barge is the pub you can mingle outside along the canal (and if you are sneaky, you can bring your own).

Day 2 – History & Culture

  • I think it is quite hard to see more than two museums in one day. Regardless, there are over 30 museums and galleries (9 of them are FREE to visit) to choose from in Dublin alone, so this means it makes it really hard to narrow down what you can realistically see in Dublin in just 3 days. If I had to choose just two museums you should see, it would be Kilmainham Gaol and the Irish Museum of Modern Arts. They are conveniently next door to each other, so depending on how early you get up and over to that side of town, you might be able to see more than just these two.
      • For Kilmainham Gaol, this is a great tour that gives you insight into Irish History through a tour of the old jail. The tour guide we had, was dynamic and captivating, I even got a bit teary towards the end. Being someone who has visited Robben Island, which tells the story of Nelson Mandela’s imprisonment, and the tour is done by previous political prisoners, I thought it would be pretty hard to beat my own country’s history. But I found the tour so interesting, and well worth the EUR8 entry. You need to book in advance online as there are limited numbers for each tour time slot. The tour takes about 90 minutes.

    If you ever find yourself in Dublin, make sure you visit Kilmainham Gaol. This is honestly one of the BEST museum tours I have ever done. Niamh was our tour guide and she was superb, I even got a little teary in parts of it. Only €8 to visit, but it books up fast so make sure you book a time slot in advance online to avoid disappointment. – – – – – #discoverireland #ireland? #irishblogger #Eire #irishsummer #visitireland #tourismireland #wanderireland #irishhistory #kilmainhamgaol #gaol #kilmainham #dublintourism #visitdublin #thingstodoindublin #exploredublin #traveltips #dublintrip #dublin #dublintown #igersdublin #discoverdublin #storyofdublin #dublincity #dublindiaries #picturethisdublin #republicofireland #traveltour #touristinmycity #exploreyourcity

    A post shared by Meg | Expat Life & Travel (@thisisus_living) on Aug 6, 2017 at 1:13am PDT

    • Irish Museum of Modern Art is pretty huge, so I would suggest getting there after lunch and tackling it for the rest of the day.
    • As a reward for a day filled with history and culture, you should totally swing past the Old Royal Oak Pub. It is a small local pub, with a bit of an outside area if the weather is good.
  • If you are looking for some more Irish culture, then I really recommend catching a GAA game at Croke Park. We have gone and watched a double header (which is two games back to back – hurling, then football). Tickets can also be booked online.GAA game at Croke Park, Dublin, Ireland

Day 3 – The great outdoors; heading North or South along the DART line

If you are travelling through Ireland for the first time, then you totally have to get a walk along the cliffs in as part of your travel plans. You can head out of Dublin for a day out, either heading up North, or going further South. Both are conveniently on the DART train line (included in your visitor leap card pass), so you can definitely do this as a day trip out of the city. I would suggest either heading north or south, as I am not sure you can do both in one day.

  • If you head North, then you should visit Malahide castle and gardens, with a stop at Avoca for tea. The tour of the castle is interesting, costs EUR12.50 which includes a guided tour of the rooms as well as access to walk around the gardens which are also really beautiful. Malahide Castle and GardensFrom Malahide, you can walk to Portmarnock beach, which is probably the first beach we have been on that reminds me of home. After this short trip to the seaside, you should head to Howth for some fish and chips and a walk along the small harbour front. Follow the path along the cliffs towards the lighthouse, with a stop at the pub at the top of the hill, the Summit Inn Pub.
  • If you head South then you should start in Dun Laoghaire, which has a food market ever Sunday at the People’s Park. It is a great place to grab a quick brunch, but make sure you have space for a Teddy’s 99 ice cream cone and a walk along the pier or promenade.

    A post shared by Meg | Expat Life & Travel (@thisisus_living) on Aug 15, 2017 at 10:38am PDT


    Here is a post I wrote about a day trip to Dun Laoghaire. Then from there you can catch the train to Bray and do the Bray to Greystones cliff walk, followed by taking the train from Greystones back into the city. If you want to spend more time in Bray, here is a post with more things to do in Bray.

As you can see there is TONS of things to do in Dublin. I have purposefully left out the Guinness Storehouse, and the Jameson Whiskey Museum – For more ideas on what to do in Dublin, check out this post on the 5 things every tourist needs to see in Dublin. I also wrote a post recently on the 20 FREE things to do in Dublin.

Come to think of it, I didn’t include things like visiting Phoenix Park (the largest walled park in Europe), or the Oscar Wilde statue in Merrion Square Park, or even where to find cool street art murals in Dublin, not to mention the donut shops to visit, or the walking trails you can do in the Dublin Mountains.

There really is so much to see in Dublin, you might need more than just 3 days to really see it all! But I hope that this small itinerary gives you ideas that get you out of the city, and exploring more of what Dublin has to offer – and not just sitting in a dark pub in Temple Bar drinking away your travel budget!

IF YOU COULD RECOMMEND JUST ONE THING TO SEE IN DUBLIN, WHAT WOULD YOU SUGGEST?

Unlock the simple life,

~Meg~

p.s. If social media is your thing (snap! It’s my fave too!), you should totally follow me on Instagram.

p.p.s. I try post varied content once or twice a month, to be sure you don’t miss out on the new post you should sign up and get all the news straight in your inbox – Sign up now!

PIN THIS AND READ LATER:

How to see Dublin in 3 days. Ideas that get you out of the city, and exploring more of what Dublin has to offer - and avoiding drinking in Temple Bar.

Filed Under: Travels Tagged With: discover dublin, discover ireland, dublin, expatlife, irish travel, travel, travel tips, travelling, vacation ideas

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About Meg

Hey! My name is Meg. I am an astrologer with a focus on Astrogeography and evolutionary astrology. I am a South African currently living in Ireland, using Astrogeography in my own life has been so helpful that I started doing readings to help others move and travel based on their astrology. Read my story here

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