DAY 1
Morning
Dublin City Orientation Tour Get an overview of Dublin’s fair city by bus or bike and immerse yourself in Georgian history, from Merrion Square’s painted doorways to Trinity College, St. Stephen’s Green, Christchurch Cathedral, and much more.
BY BIKE: Dublin city bike tours offers an easy paced eco-friendly bike tour of Dublin´s fair city and surrounding areas with local guides to show you the sights. You´ll be filled in on local info past & present, with plenty of laughs along the way. www.dublincitybiketours.com
BY BUS:
www.hop-on-hop-off-bus.com/europe-bus-tours
www.dublinsightseeing.ie
Midday
En route be sure to check out key Dublin highlights including:
Trinity College and encounter the famous Book of Kells, Dublin City.
The Book of Kells Exhibition housed at the Old Library in Trinity College Dublin is a “must see” on the itinerary of all visitors to Dublin. The 9th-century gospel manuscript is famed throughout the world. Tel: +353 1 8962320 W: www.tcd.ie/Library/bookofkells
Experience the Guinness Storehouse, Dublin City
Come and explore Ireland´s number one visitor attraction, providing an unforgettable welcome and a magical journey deep into the heart of the world famous GUINNESS® brand and company. Tel: +353 1 408 4800 W: www.guinness-storehouse.com
Afternoon
Sample Dublin’s literary heritage, with the Dublin Literary Pub Crawl tour, which demonstrates Dublin’s literary connections eloquently in verse and monologues on a journey to the pubs and places where Dublin’s literary luminaries left their mark. www.dublinpubcrawl.com
Evening
Be sure to check out some traditional Irish music dance and no where better to head than Temple Bar and to the Irish House Party. Enjoy a three course meal and Irish music and dance and its very best as part of this theatrical show performed by All Ireland champion musicians, dancers, entertaining presenters. info@theIrishHouseParty.com
Other theatrical offerings can also be experienced at the following venues:
The Abbey Theatre Founded in 1903 by W. B. Yeats and Lady Augusta Gregory with the purpose of investing in and promoting new Irish writers and artists. The Abbey continues to promote and support the arts in Ireland today and offers a varied and exciting programme of events and performances throughout the year, Check out what’s on at http://www.abbeytheatre.ie/whats_on/full_events_calendar/fin
The Gate Theatre Established as a theatre company in 1928 the Gate is where Orson Welles, James Mason and Michael Gambon began their prodigious acting careers. The Gate Theatre has been, artistically and architecturally, a landmark building for over 250 years and continues to offer an exciting artistic programme to visitors www.gate-theatre.ie
Bord Gais Energy Theatre offers a wonderful world of theatre presenting diverse programme of theatrical experiences to meet everyone’s passion and interests including ballets, musicals, family shows, drama, concerts, comedy, orchestral and opera. www.bordgaisenergytheatre.ie
The Gaiety Theatre For 138 years The Gaiety Theatre has given the people of Dublin opera, musicals, drama, revues, comedy, concerts, dance, festivals and pantomime. Amid the laughter and tears, the Gaiety has remained a vital and ever changing expression of Irish culture and Irish society. See full programme of listings at http://www.gaietytheatre.ie/index.php/whats-on-buy-tickets/calendar/30
DAY 2
Morning/ Early- Afternoon
Depart Dublin by car/bus
Head South from Dublin to the Spectacular Powerscourt Estate.
Powerscourt House & Garden, Powerscourt Estate, Enniskerry, Co. Wicklow, Ireland.
The avenue leading to the Palladian house echoes the magnificence of the whole estate, being a mile long and lined by over 2,000 beech trees. In addition, the 47 acres of gardens are remarkable for their grandeur of scale, at the same time combining great delicacy and refinement of detail. The house was gutted by fire in 1974 but recently has been reborn as an exceptional tourist destination. An exhibition brings to life the rich history of the estate. The house is now home to Avoca, well renowned Irish hand weavers and one of Ireland’s most loved brands. www.powerscourt.ie
Lunch at The Avoca Terrace Café in Powerscourt
The café boasts tall windows and French doors leading out onto an expansive garden terrace with a simply breath-talking panorama of the gardens against the backdrop of the famous Sugarloaf Mountain. The food at the Terrace Café is homemade and of excellent quality which is why people return here time and again. From gourmet sandwiches to mouth-watering desserts you are in for a real treat. www.powerscourt.ie/terrace-cafe
Afternoon
Continue south to the early Christian ecclesiastical settlement of Glendalough
Glendalough, County Wicklow
For thousands of years people have been drawn to ´the valley of the two lakes´ for its spectacular scenery, rich history, archaeology and abundant wildlife. Glendalough is a remarkable place that will still your mind, inspire your heart and fill your soul. The Glendalough Valley is located in the Wicklow Mountains National Park and has many attractions to entice, entertain and enthral visitors, from its world famous Monastic Site with Round Tower to its scenic lakes and valleys, as well as a selection of walks and trails in the area including The Wicklow Way. http://www.heritageireland.ie/en/midlandseastcoast/GlendaloughVisitorCentre/
Evening
Return to Dublin and sample the Irish pub at its very best.
Head for Temple Bar and William Street to sample some of Dublin’s finest.