While many big cities are notoriously cold and unfriendly, Ireland’s capital is an urban playground where people really consider strangers just “friends who’ve yet to meet.” And Dublin offers the best (and many would say only) urban thrills in the Republic of Ireland. Here are a few of my favorite things to do in Ireland’s capital.
Trinity College welcomes visitors with campus tours. With a particularly erudite version of the Emerald Isle’s gift of gab, your guide explains how Ireland’s top university was started in 1592 by Queen Elizabeth I to establish a Protestant way of thinking about God. Originally the student body was limited to rich, Protestant males. Now everyone is welcome – even Catholic women. While the 45-minute tour will teach you about the architecture and history of the 42-acre college campus, it’s most enjoyable simply as a chance to hang out with a chatty insider….