Don’t let the smooth talking blarney about Dublin distract from the lesser known sights of the city.
Everyone has heard of the crack and how much the city loves a drink … or two or three.
But there’s so much more to the city than the jostling crowds moving between the cafes, bars and restaurants.
Visitors often remark about Dublin’s sense of history.
The grandeur of Georgian architecture and the beauty of the stately Trinity College.
Founded by Vikings, Dublin has centuries of history and tradition as a heady mix to excite visitors.
The real Dublin is more than bars
But behind the facades are some cultural treasures that are often overlooked by travellers on a flying visit or the fun-packed stag and hen parties.
Trinity College has some exquisite illuminated manuscripts including the famed Book of Kells, while Phoenix Park is one of Europe’s largest inner city open spaces with lush lawns and fascinating botanical gardens.
If you have the time on your stay, a Dublin Discovery Trail is one of the best ways to experience the real Dublin.
The trails cover the big Dublin attractions like the Guinness Storehouse, Kilmainham Gaol and the Jameson Distillery, as well as some lesser known but just as entertaining locations.
Famous as a city of literature, visitors to Dublin can enjoy walking the same roads as famed authors Oscar Wilde and James Joyce, whose writings evoke the days of smoke, smog and horses in dark alleys and dimly lit streets.
Off the beaten track
And while you are in Dublin, there’s no better way to experience the city than staying in one of the hundreds of small hotels and guest houses.
Egans Guest House is just one example.
A few minute’s walk off the beaten track and a stone’s throw from the famed Glasnevin Cemetery, the bed-and-breakfast features its own family history room.
Owners Pat and Monica Finn will help guests trace their family roots back to 1798 and offer advice about genealogy resources nearby.
Revealing the secrets of your past Irish ancestry is a surprise that delights many visitors to the family run hotel.