by Joe Kelly

Created on: August 13, 2008   Last Updated: August 23, 2008

So you think you know what to expect when coming to Dublin? Pints of Guinness, our national drink? Almost goes without saying. Traditional Irish music in a quaint pub? No problem, we have lots of them. Maybe something cultural - a night at our national theatre, The Abbey? Well, it IS the home of Yeats, Synge, O'Casey and the rest. Or our National Musuem with its Celtic gold or National Gallery with its Caravaggio? All there for you to enjoy.

But maybe you want something a little different from the normal tourist trail? Why not head out to the Phoenix Park, the largest enclosed park in Europe (just 20 minutes by bus from the city centre)? Here you will find not only Dublin Zoo, but the residences of the President of Ireland and the US Ambassador. If you're very lucky and head towards the Castleknock end of the park, you might spot the herd of wild deer which has lived in the park since the time of King Henry VIII. If you are feeling particularly active, horseriding is available around the Ashtown area of the park.

If you like train travel, then a trip on the DART (the local train service) is for you. The route south of Dublin follows the coast and gives great views of Dublin Bay. Twenty minutes takes you to Dun Laoghaire, a ferry port with a couple of lovely marinas, great bars and restaurants, and walking distance to the James Joyce Musuem at Sandycove Tower (which features in the opening of 'Ulysses'. Travel a little further to the village of Dalkey and you'll feel you are a long way from the city. The narrow streets here, with good bars and restaurants, lead down to the Dalkey Harbour with its view to Dalkey Island and beyond into the bay. Forty minutes from Dublin will take you to Bray, passing the broad sweep of Killiney Bay. Bray is a typical Victorian seaside resort with its Promenade. A bracing walk followed by some fish and chips? Magic!

In the other direction, Howth and Malahide are both seaside villages on the north side of Dublin Bay. Howth still has a working fishing fleet which means great seafood restaurants. Malahide has its famous castle, home of the Fry Model Railway. A DART trip to either will take about a half hour.

Dublin has some great city centre parks which provide little green oases in the heart of the city. Everyone strolls through St. Stephen's Green, but a couple of minutes walk will bring you to the Iveagh Gardens. Situated behind what was the townhouse of the Earls of Iveagh (the famous Guinness brewing family (and now the Department of Foreign Affairs) this little gem is often overlooked. Across from the National Gallery is the park at Merrion Square. Less popular (and therefore less crowded) than St. Stephen's Green, this is a great place to take a break from the town.

Whatever your preference, taking a bit of time to explore a little of the hidden Dublin will make the effort well worthwhile.

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