Dublin Travel Essentials

Dublin has a maritime climate, with average temperatures ranging from 6°C in winter to 17°C in summer. 

• Rain is evenly distributed throughout the year, with an average of 10 rainy days per month. 
• May–September is the warmest time of the year. 
• June–August is the most popular time to visit Dublin, but it's the peak season, which brings increased hotel and flight prices. 
• April–May and September–October are great times to visit Dublin. The weather and temperatures are pleasant, you’ll avoid the summer crowds, and hotel and flight prices are lower.

• Languages: Primary: English and Irish (Gaelic)
• Plug types: G
• Electricity: 220 V
• Currency: Euro (€)
• International dialling codes: +353 1
• Emergency telephone number: 112 and 999

Dublin Airport 

Dublin Airport is one of the busiest airports in Ireland. It sits 9 km north of Dublin city centre, and has 2 passenger terminals and 2 runways. Both terminals are home to a good range of dining and shopping options as well as facilities including free Wi-Fi, banking and currency exchange services. There are several transfer options to help you reach Downtown Dublin: 

• A taxicab takes around 15–20 minutes. Taxi ranks can be found directly outside each terminal. You can also use Uber, but it’s going to call a licenced taxi as private cars are not allowed to be used as taxis in Ireland.
• The Airlink Bus takes around 20–30 minutes. You can purchase your ticket in the Arrivals hall of Terminal 1 and in the Spar shop in Terminal 2. Cheap and fast, it’s the most convenient way to get to central Dublin.
• Car rental agencies can be found in the Arrivals hall of Terminal 1 and in the multi-storey car park of Terminal 2.

Covering roughly 5 sq km, Dublin city centre is compact enough to be explored on foot. You’ll find many landmarks and attractions within walking distance of each other, such as St. Stephen's Green, Trinity College Dublin, and Guinness Storehouse, just to name a few. The city centre also hosts a great choice of dining, shopping and nightlife entertainment options. 

For longer journeys, Dublin features a good choice of public and private transport services. A convenient way to use public transport in Dublin is to purchase a TFI Leap Card upon arrival at the airport. This rechargeable card gives you access to all the bus, tram and rail networks in the city, with about a 30% discount on all transport fares.

Dublin Bus is the main bus company in the capital city of Ireland. It operates bus networks that cover the city and the neighbouring towns through over 110 lines. 

• The number of stages in your journey defines the fare.
• Children under 5 travel for free when accompanied by a fare-paying adult.

LUAS is the tram/light rail system in Dublin. It has 2 lines – green and red – and over 60 stations. 

• The green line is north-south, and the red line is west-east
• The city is divided into zones which define the fare.
• Prices are slightly higher at rush hours.

Purchasing a Dublin Pass is a good move if you plan to visit the city’s main places of interest during a short stay in the capital city of Ireland. Valid for 1, 2, 3 or 5 days, it gives you free access to over 30 attractions, a free hop-on hop-off bus tour and discounts in over 20 participating shops, restaurants and attractions. 

Taxis can be hailed on the street in Dublin. There are over 70 cab stands in the city centre, generally outside hotels and near the main attractions. 

• You can directly call popular companies such as NRC – National Radio Cabs (0677 2222), Lynk Taxis (0820 2020) or Autobahn Cabs (0842 4444), just to name a few.
• Most taxis do not accept payment of the fare by credit card, though it is possible to do if you hail a taxi using the Hailo app.

Dublin’s bike sharing scheme is named Just Eat dublinbikes. It has over 60 docking stations across the city. You just need a 3-day ticket or a Leap Card to use a bike.

St Patrick’s Festival 

• What: Celebrated in many world cities with large Irish communities, St Patrick’s Day takes on another dimension in its ‘hometown’. Dublin dresses in green for no less than 4 days around March 17th to celebrate the most famous patron saint of Ireland. Expect the Guinness to flow freely and abundantly.
• When: Mid-March
• Where: Parnell Square and various venues across Dublin

Longitude Festival 

• What: Longitude is an open-air music festival at which national and international bands and DJs perform. From rap to hip-hop and from pop to house, contemporary music acts take to 4 stages throughout Marlay Park.
• When: July
• Where: Marlay Park

Dublin Fringe Festival 

• What: Combining dance, music, theatre, comedy and more, Dublin Fringe Festival is a multifaceted event at which you can expect the unexpected. Some of the art performances on display are really stunning.
• When: September
• Where: Venues across Dublin