Explore Our
Local Area
Discover Dublin’s top sights and experiences right at our doorstep.
Stephen’s Green Shopping Centre was formerly a market area in the 1980’s. where the likes of U2 had its earliest gigs. The shopping centre first opened its doors in the winter of 1988. It has over 100 stores spread over 3 floors. The shopping centre also has its own car parking facilities making your shopping trip effortless.
Stephen’s Green Shopping Centre located at the top of Grafton Street opens 7 days a week:
Located just off O’Connell Street, Henry Street boasts 2 shopping centres, Arnott’s department store as well as all the main high street retailers. The Ilac Shopping Centre has a range of fashion, homeware and accessories while Jervis Street Shopping Centre is home to the largest New Look in Europe as well as Forever 21 and Topshop. Arnott’s is one of Ireland’s best loved shops and a mecca for Irish fashion and design.
Situated in leafy Ballsbridge, just a short distance from Dublin city. The Royal Dublin Society (RDS) hosts a wide variety of music, sport, arts and cultural events throughout the year. World famous bands and artists including Bruce Springsteen, Bon Jovi, Michael Jackson, Radiohead, U2 and The Cure have played in the RDS Arena while RDS Simmonscourt and RDS Main Hall host numerous fairs, festivals, trade events and shows each year.
The home to the Irish rugby team and Republic of Ireland football team. The stadium was built on the site of the former Lansdowne Road and opened in 2010. The Ireland rugby team play all home games at the stadium and some Leinster games also take place here. The Republic of Ireland soccer team play their home games in the Aviva Stadium and other soccer competitions that have taken place include FAI Cup Final, 2011 Nations Cup, 2011 Europa League Final and Aer Lingus College Football Classic summer series.
Home to the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) and with a capacity of over 82,000, Croke Park is the 3rd largest stadium in Europe. The stadium is primarily used for Gaelic games and hosts a number of main sporting events each year including the All-Ireland Club Championships and the All-Ireland football and hurling finals.
Located in the heart of the Dublin docklands and easily accessible from Dublin city centre, the 3Arena is a 14,500 capacity amphitheatre and the largest indoor arena in Ireland. The venue was built on the site of the former Point Theatre.
The Convention Centre Dublin (The CCD) is located in the Dublin Docklands, in the heart of the capital close to the main transport links and convenient to many Clayton Hotels.
The Gaiety Theatre is home to Irish pantomime and is located on South King Steet just off St Stephens Green. Also known as “The Grand Old Lady” this iconic theatre has been welcoming theatre goers for over 142 years. The Gaiety is known for its annual Christmas pantomime, and has hosted a pantomime every year since 1874 ‘’Oh Yes It Has’’.
The ornate doors of The Olympia Theatre have been open for 136 years. Over a century later, they continue to welcome theatre goers and music lovers from all over. Located on Dame Street in central Dublin, a short stroll from Temple Bar, Dublin’s cultural quarter.
With over 10 years of experience, Surfdock Watersports are Dublin’s No 1 watersports shop and school with a unique array of activities for both adults and children.
Irishtown Nature Park is a small man-made park between Irishtown and Sandymount Strand in Dublin 4, Ireland that offers several kilometers of walking trails along the Poolbeg Peninsula.
Take in the city at your own pace aboard one of City Kayaking’s double seater sit-on-top kayaks, which are known for being very stable.
Set in the heart of Ireland’s thriving capital city, Dublin, The Old Jameson Distillery captures the imagination and the spirit of Ireland.
Choose from seven different trips with Dublin Bay Cruises between Dun Laoghaire, Dublin Port, and Howth Harbour to see the sights of the city from a different perspective. Each cruise offers a unique collection of the sights of Dublin, showcasing panoramic views and the many wonderful wildlife reserves along the bay from north to south.
St Stephen’s Green is a beautiful historic park in the centre of Dublin city centre. Get lost in your thoughts, plan a picnic, make some memories or simply watch the world go by in the midst of this famous park.
Located in Dublin 8 and just a short distance from the city centre, is famous for detaining leaders of the main rebellions in Irish history. Key political and military leaders including Charles Stewart Parnell, the leader of the 1916 rising and Eamon de Valera were held in the gaol.
Dublin Castle is one of Dublin’s most historical attractions, steeped in history and should not be missed. The castle itself was built in 1204 and is located in the very centre of Dublin City, on the south side of the River Liffey, en route from Trinity College to Christchurch Cathedral. The grounds hold two museums, gardens, government buildings and state apartments and are home to the famous Chester Beatty Library.
Malahide Castle, set on 250 acres of park land in the pretty seaside town of Malahide, was both a fortress and a private home for nearly 800 years and is an interesting mix of architectural styles.
There is much to explore and see in Dublin’s Phoenix Park including the magazine fort and Prehistoric Burial Chamber; visit the Papal Cross, Wellington Testimonial or graceful Phoenix Monument.
At 707 hectares (11km perimeter) it’s a lot of walking so why not hire a bike or join a Segway Tour?
Áras an Uachtaráin, our president’s official residence, Farmleigh House for visiting dignitaries and the US Ambassadors Residence are all within the park.
We love Dublin Zoo, also in the park, and highly recommend a visit if you’re visiting Dublin with your family.
One of Dublin’s two medieval cathedrals, the other being St Patrick’s Cathedral, founded in 1030 Christchurch is the oldest cathedral in the capital city.
The Church itself plays host to a number of different events such as various orchestra concerts, religious ceremonies and blessings as well providing historical tours to the public. Christchurch is within a short distance of Guinness Storehouse and hosts a number of market fairs throughout the year.
The hop-on-hop-off bus tours are a great way to see the city in a short space of time. The tours stop at all the main tourist sites and points of interest. Buses depart from O’Connell Street and tickets are valid for either 24 or 48 hours from time purchased.
Located in the heart of the city, The GPO Witness History Museum is a fascinating immersive exhibition which takes you on the journey of the events during Easter Week of 1916.
Croke Park is Ireland’s largest stadium and has been the top destination for Irish sporting life for over 100 years. The GAA museum and tour is one of Dublin’s top-rated attractions, make sure you don’t miss it.
The National Print Museum collects, documents, preserves and exhibits the history of the printing craft in Ireland.
The Museum has a collection of over 10,000 objects including print machinery and artifacts such as printing blocks, photographs, books, metal and wooden movable type and ephemera.
The National Museum of Ireland hosts some of the most impressive collections of Irish archaeology in the world.
Admission is free, so it is open for all to enjoy. It showcases Irish history from prehistoric Ireland, Vikings, church treasures, the bog bodies, the medieval period and many more. It is a collection not to be missed.
The National Wax Museum Plus is home to a fantastic collection of wax sculptures, with everything from wacky cartoons, celebrities & more. Enjoy the intricate details of the wax sculptures. Get a selfie with Jedward or an Instagram with a celebrity wax doppelgänger. Fun will be had, only a stones throw from Dublin centre.
EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum is an interactive experience located in Dublin city centre. Take a trip back in time and put yourself in the shoe of the many Irish emigrants who left the Emerald isle. We strongly recommended you consider this fully digital museum experience. This features 1500 years of Irish history.
Dublin City Bikes gives you the opportunity to discover the architecture and the sights of historical Dublin on the back of a bicycle!
Feel the wind on your hair and connect with the adventurous road ahead of you and your loved ones. We believe that adventure, whether small or large, can be transformative.
The heart of Dublin city centre, Grafton Street is home to some of the most upmarket shops and boutiques, as well as a range of well-known high street favourites. Brown Thomas, a luxury brand department store has its flagship store on Grafton Street and is one of the most popular shops in the city with visitors and locals alike. Other shops include Ted Baker, Hugo Boss, Tommy Hilfiger, Massimo Dutti, Rocks Jewellers, River Island, Office, Marks & Spencer and the Disney Store. Grafton Street is also home to a range of restaurants, bars and cafés.
Brewdog Outpost features 32 taps of specialty craft beer and a tasty food menu, with views of the River Liffey as well a roaring fire pit, shuffleboards, two outdoor areas and a microbrewery!
Designed by Ninian Niven in 1865, Iveagh Gardens are popularly known as Dublin’s ‘Secret Garden’. With a history dating back over three hundred years, the Iveagh Gardens are located close to St Stephen’s Green Park in Dublin city centre.
From modest beginnings as an earl’s lawn, the gardens went on to host the splendour of the Dublin Exhibition Palace in 1865. Many of the original landscape features are still in place, or have been restored and conserved since 1995. These include the yew maze, the rosarium, and the fountains. Iveagh Gardens are popularly known as Dublin’s ‘Secret Garden’.
The area itself houses many of the world famous bars, restaurants and nightclubs including The Temple Bar Pub, The Foggy Dew, The Porterhouse and many more.
However Temple Bar is also the home to a number of cultural institutions including Irish Photography Centre (incorporating the Dublin Institute of Photography, the National Photographic Archive and the Gallery of Photography), the Ark Children’s Cultural Centre, the Irish Film Institute, the Arthouse Multimedia Centre, Temple Bar Gallery and Studios, the Project Arts Centre, the Gaiety School of Acting, IBAT College Dublin, as well as the Irish Stock Exchange and the Central Bank of Ireland.
The Spire of Dublin is a striking 120 metre high landmark in the heart of Dublin City, which was unveiled in 2002.
The huge, striking and innovative monument of the Spire stands in the middle of O'Connell Street just across from the famous GPO. 120m high and 3m in diameter at the base, the Spire rises above O’Connell Street, breaking above the roof line with as slender and elegant a movement as is technically possible.
Opened in November 2021, the Custom House Visitor Centre reveals the stories behind the building, burning and restoration of this iconic Dublin landmark.
Unearth stories of political scandal, rebellion and tragedy. Stories which not only shaped the history of the building, but of Ireland.
On Custom House Quay, in the Dublin City Docklands, you will see the Famine statues. These haunting figures commemorate the most profound disaster in Irish history, when Ireland lost more than one million citizens to starvation.
Looking for something a bit more active? Take a stroll or a cycle along the new Dublin Port Tolka Estuary Greenway, a dedicated cycle and pedestrian route along the Northern perimeter of the Port overlooking the Tolka Estuary. The Greenway is a celebration of an area of the Port that has never been accessed by the public before and offers people an exciting new destination to visit.
Starting in Dublin and spanning counties Offaly, Laois and Kildare, the Grand Canal weaves along forests, towns and criss-crossing sister waterways. Enter at Dublin for the ultimate contrast between the tranquillity of the canal and bustling city life. Take a stroll along its’ banks, with plenty of options for a great meal of cup of coffee on the way.
Merrion Square is one of Dublin's largest and grandest Georgian squares. On three sides are Georgian Houses and on the other, the garden of Leinster House, and two museums. Many of the houses, predominantly used as office space, have plaques detailing the rich and famous who once lived in them, for example Daniel O'Connell and W.B.Yeats. The attractive central park features colourful flower and shrub beds. Look out for the statue of Oscar Wilde reclining on the rock. On Sundays, artists hang their works for sale on the railings surrounding the park.
The National Gallery of Ireland in Dublin City displays work by many artists including Johannes Vermeer, Lavinia Fontana, Jack B Yeats, Alice Neel, Caravaggio, Mainie Jellett and many more.
The National Gallery of Ireland is one of the country’s most popular visitor attractions. It houses the nation’s collection of European and Irish art from about 1300 to the present day, and an extensive library and archive.
The Hugh Lane Gallery, Parnell Square, Dublin, is a must for art lovers. See Impressionist paintings by Manet, Monet, Degas, Pissarro and Morisot, as well as the stunning Francis Bacon Studio. Enjoy the wonderful, wide-ranging collection of Irish art, and the stained glass room displaying Harry Clarke’s gorgeous masterpiece, The Eve of Saint Agnes. Meet some of the famous Irish personalities in portraiture, including WB Yeats who wrote five poems about the gallery.
The Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA) in Dublin City is a dynamic modern art museum nestled on 48 acres of land in the heart of Dublin 8. The home of IMMA is the historical site of the 17th century Royal Hospital Kilmainham, where it presents ground breaking exhibitions by the most exciting Irish and international artists.
Located in the heart of the historic Liberties, against the backdrop of a city steeped in whiskey history, the Teeling Whiskey Distillery opened its doors in 2015 as the first new distillery in Dublin for over 125 years, reviving this long heritage of urban Whiskey production in this famous old Dublin distilling quarter. With one eye on the past, but very much looking towards the future, our focus is on crafting unconventional Irish flavours, forging a new future for Teeling, Dublin, and Irish Whiskey.
Make your way through the Guinness Storehouse gates located in the heart of St James’s Gate, in Dublin City. Explore seven floors of the Guinness Storehouse building, which was once the fermentation plant of the brewery. Discover more about the ingredients, history and culture that tell the Guinness story before taking in the 360 degree views of Dublin City from one of Dublin's highest vantage points, at the Gravity Bar. To your right, you will see the Wicklow Mountains, where Guinness sources its fresh Irish water for brewing. To the left, you will see the Phoenix Park and the Wellington Monument.
Your piece of tranquillity right in the heart of the city, Clayton Hotel Cardiff Lane is located on Dublin’s Sir John Rogerson’s Quay, a short stroll from the city’s must-see destination, the Dublin Docklands. Lose yourself in the sights of the Docklands by bus, bike, boat or foot, or explore the main shopping areas of Grafton Street and O’Connell Street, just a short walk from the hotel. The Bord Gais Energy Theatre is a 2-minute walk across the road so enjoy a night at the theatre and return for a cosy cocktail in our bar. If you want to see even more of the local area, we’re conveniently located a stone’s throw from the city centre which gives you access to a world of shops, restaurants, tours and hidden gems. Want to know more about the local area? Ask us, we’re always personally glad to help.
