Known for its lush green landscapes, world-famous Temple Bar, iconic castles…and beer of course, there’s no shortage of photo-worthy places in Dublin, Ireland. The Irish capital is a booming hub of nightlife, food and culture filled with plenty of travel must-sees, hidden gems and coastal views.
Dublin has an irresistible cosmopolitan vibe that is set against a history spanning over one thousand years. Ireland’s largest city is also one of Europe’s most intimate capitals, a modern metropolis with a friendly small town feel. Compact and easily explored via public transportation, the city packs a powerful cultural and historic punch filled with plenty of beautiful moments to document and share.
With the continued rise of content curation amongst travel enthusiasts, it’s becoming increasingly important to share heritage, hidden gems, and tourism stories with the world through digital media. We recently discovered Steller, a free travel storytelling app that makes it easy to tell mobile-friendly and visually striking multi-media stories about the world’s most interesting travel destinations. Steller, short for ‘story-teller’, allows users to discover, create and share stories by simply combining photos, videos and text into custom design themes directly from a mobile device.
From a day-long outing to a pub-crawl, capture and share your own travel stories on Steller. If you need a little inspiration, follow @styleandsociety on Steller and read our roundup of the top 12 story-worthy travel places to visit in Dublin, Ireland.
Temple Bar
If you haven’t been to Temple Bar, you haven’t been to Dublin. With its cobbled streets and buzzing nightlife scene, busy pubs and live music venues, the Temple Bar is a must-see for tourists. Temple Bar’s plethora of bars, cafés, restaurants and cultural centers are within a couple of minutes’ walk give this area a lively atmosphere all day long.
The Morgan Hotel
A cool oasis of calm in the heart of Dublin’s city center is The Morgan Hotel, a stylish retreat in the trendy Temple Bar district of Dublin, Ireland. The four-star hotel recently had an extensive $15 million facelift including a full interior redesign with stylish and contemporary designed guest rooms. Close to all of Dublin’s must-see visitor attractions, the hotel is a popular city center destination for tourists due to its central location.
Irish Pubs
A trip to Ireland wouldn’t be complete without a pub-stop, even if you don’t care for beer! From Rory Gallagher and The Chieftains to Bono and Hozier, many of music’s greats have done a set at an Irish pub. If you’re a whiskey lover, discover the intriguing tale of Irish whiskey and whiskey tastings on a guided tour of the Irish Whiskey Museum, Jameson Distillery and Teeling Whiskey Distillery.
Grafton Street
Dublin’s most famous shopping districts, Grafton Street is home to some of Ireland’s biggest design houses, cafes, restaurants and bars. Grafton Street (with St. Ann’s Church in the background) is often of the cover of tourist brochures and travel guides to Dublin. It’s colorful, vibrant and buzzing with life and tunes from street musicians.
Umbrella Project
While you may not have frequented Zozimus Bar yourself yet, chances are you’ve seen photos of the eye-catching colorful floating umbrella rooftop displayed outside. A hidden gem in Dublin’s winding lanes and bustling streets, these colorful umbrellas form a decorative canopy for pedestrians. A two-minute walk off Grafton Street, this hidden gem offers a unique photo experience.
St Stephen’s Green
Dublin’s largest public parks spanning across 22 acres, St Stephen’s Green, is full of idyllic sylvan photo backdrops, with formal gardens, a lake full of ducks and picturesque bandstands. It sits at the helm of Grafton Street in the heart of the bustling city and is a great place for people watching.
Wilder Townhouse
A glowing red-brick Victorian gem repurposed as a spiffy boutique hotel, The Wilder Townhouse was originally a ‘Home for Retired Governesses’, and has retained much of its period charm. The Wilder is a boutique property with 42-rooms, so don’t expect a spa, gym, pool or the like – but do expect 24-hour reception, plus friendly service, daily newspapers and a generous sprinkling of thoughtfully chosen books, old and new, across the hotel. Breakfast including a traditional Irish breakfast is served in the airy Garden Room and cocktails paired with light bites in the Gin and Tea Rooms. An excellent location on pleasant Adelaide Road, the city center including St Stephen’s Green and the shopping zone of Grafton Street a is a mere stroll away.
Guinness Storehouse
The number one tourist attraction in Ireland, the Guinness Storehouse is a ‘must-do’ on almost everybody’s Dublin list! Journey through seven stories of, well, stories and interactive experiences dedicated to the history of the famous Guinness Storehouse. After you have finished learning about the Guinness story, brewing process, and advertising history, head to the Gravity Bar for a 360-degree view of the city and a complimentary pint. Don’t leave without grabbing a photo at the famous St. James’ Gate.
Trinity College
Located in the heart of Dublin, walk through the cobbled stones of the beautiful and historic Trinity College, the oldest university in Ireland. It’s home to Ireland’s most important manuscript, the world-famous Book of Kells. As you enter through the wrought iron gates, urban commotion fades as you step back in time inside the 400-year history of the college including the 18th-century Old Library. Looking like something straight out of a Harry Potter movie, the Long Room’s floor-to-ceiling oak bookcases are filled with 200,000 of the Library’s oldest books. Celebrated alumni include Samuel Beckett, Bram Stoker, Oscar Wilde, and Mary Robinson, Ireland’s first female President.
Oscar Wilde Statue
Merrion Square is another popular public park in central Dublin. This Georgian square features vibrant landscapes as well but is most known for the statue of Oscar Wilde found reclining on a rock as if gazing out on his childhood home. For those who enjoy capturing the beauty of nature and for literary scholars alike, a photo of the Irish poet and playwright himself in Merrion Square is a must. The center of Merrion Square is a public park, on three sides are Georgian Houses and on the other, the garden of Leinster House, and two museums.
Doors of Dublin
A prominent facade in Dublin is the Georgian architecture and the brightly colored “Doors of Dublin”. Dating back to the 1700’s, there are many stories that exist as to why the doors on these uniform exteriors are so vibrant. Some say it was the Irish rebelling against England’s order to paint the doors black in mourning of Queen Victoria. Others say it was a way for the newly affluent to set themselves apart. The doors became an attraction nearly 50 years ago, and the craze continues today. Pop over to Merrion Square, St. Stephen’s Green or Fitzwilliam Square to begin your hunt for Dublin’s most famous doorways.
Samuel Beckett Bridge
Dublin lies on the River Liffey and has many bridges that span the river, each with its own history and style. The most stunning in the cable-stayed Samuel Beckett Bridge, which has only been a part of the Dublin landscape since 2009, but it has become one of the most photographed in the city thanks to its unique design by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava. Named after one of Ireland’s most famous writers, it’s said to resemble a Celtic harp lying on its side, a national symbol associated with Ireland for centuries.
View more on Steller, a free storytelling app allowing users to create interactive, multimedia stories using photos, video and text. Follow along on Steller @styleandsociety.
By Kinya Claiborne, STYLE & SOCIETY
Kinya’s Wardrobe by Lucky Brand, Ettitude, Old Gringo, Randolph USA, Shashi NYC // Hair by Milano Wig Collection
Photo Credit: Iacob Studio