DoDublin offer the ultimate Dubliner’s Guide to Dublin and is the ideal way to view the city.
Dubliners born and raised, the DoDublin guides possess both the wit and charm of Irish storytellers and an unrivalled knowledge of Dublin. The latter has been nurtured through years of growing up and living life in Ireland’s biggest city but more importantly by driving its buses around an ever-changing town.
That’s right, all DoDublin guides are Dublin Bus drivers. They have spent their careers being dedicated proud hosts of the city. For this reason, you can be sure of the fact no-one knows the capital quite like them.
What does the local recommend? DoDublin guides love all the major attractions. They are especially proud that such world-famous landmarks as St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Guinness Storehouse, and Kilmainham Gaol are just a stone’s throw from where they played as children.
Hop on a green DoDublin tour bus and learn the great stories that helped the capital evolve into the city it is today. Then, hop off and explore attractions you’ve wanted to see for years from Dublin Zoo to the National Museums or new sights like The Vaults Live off Thomas Street.
DoDublin’s guides have their own personal favourites though. These are places just off the beaten track and easy to miss. The tour guides are only too happy to share these spots with visitors to the city, making for a more authentic personalised tour.
When in the Guinness Storehouse, before you hop back on the bus, don’t forget that you are in the Liberties, one of the beating hearts of the city. There are so many experiences in this part of town. It is an area that should be enjoyed by all visitors.
If you are lucky, at one end of cultural quarter Temple Bar, the Designer Mart on Cow’s Lane will be in full swing. After you have had a browse through the pretty jewellery, art and craft items on sale, learn about the history of this unique part of Dublin city centre.
Meanwhile, its often forgotten that the capital has a plentiful supply of parklands and walking trails on its doorstep. Not far from the heart of the city, you can meander the leafy trail running alongside the Royal Canal.
Near Stop 2 on the DoDublin Tour, you will find Hardwicke Place. It’s worth paying a visit to St. George’s Church, which was modelled on St. Martin’s-in-the-Fields, near Trafalgar Square in London. The church is somewhat quirky in the Dublin landscape. It’s perceived as being built incorrectly, as it is wider than it is longer.
Another site that is really an oddity in Dublin is St. Michan’s Church – located not too far from the Jameson Distillery Bow Street (Stop 31 on the DoDublin Tour). Underneath the church, which dates back to 1095, are five long burial vaults containing the mummified remains of many of Dublin’s most influential 17th, 18th and 19th century families.
Due to limestone in the walls, this spooky underground space is home to the well-preserved remains of a 400-year-old nun, the Sheares Brothers – who took part in the 1798 rebellion – as well as various other Irish figures. The crypts are completely accessible. If you dare, you can reach out and touch the bodies’ fingers or even shake their hands delicately. What about that for something different?
With every Hop-On Hop-Off ticket, you will get free entry to the Little Museum of Dublin at St. Stephen’s Green worth €10. It’s one of the top museums in Ireland, featuring fantastic story-tellers and thousands of Dublin related exhibits dotted through the museum.
You will also get a free walking tour worth €14 with Travel Ireland’s own Pat Liddy, one of the best walking tour guides in the business. As evident from his monthly column for this magazine, he is a true blue Dub who knows the city better than anyone.
Kids go free (two kids under 14 with each adult). For more information, visit DoDublin’s website at dodublin.ie.
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