They say the city that never sleeps is the buzzing atmosphere of New York City. The crowds of hurried people all fighting for the same taxi, the endless array of street performers, and the business of Broadway Street lights can make any individual overwhelmed.
However; in my opinion, Dublin, Ireland truly epitomizes the meaning of the phrase.
The streets of Temple Bar District in Dublin are alive like no other area of the world. Continuous street performers, loud and happy bar customers, and celebrating bachelor’s parties fill the cobblestoned streets with energy. Along with the people, Dublin is full of rich history! You cannot walk a road without stumbling across a castle or church.
During my short weekend trip, I made sure to pack in as much site-seeing as possible. In 18 hours, I walked 17 miles, drank 3 Irish coffees, 6 alcoholic beverages, enjoyed 4 live bands, and ate 2 full pizzas. Oh… and slept 3 hours.
My first stop: coffee!
Irish coffee is an absolute must when exploring the streets of Dublin. Your basic Irish coffee consists of black coffee, a teaspoon of brown sugar, Irish whiskey, and whipped heavy cream. A nice jumpstart to your morning! Make it an adult drink by adding a little Irish cream and whiskey to your morning brew.
A short, self-guided tour of St. Paul’s Church and St. Patrick’s Cathedral truly started off my Ireland Adventures.
St. Paul’s Church was built in the mid 1830’s and still stands as an active church. The building has been renovated many times since established, but its’ bright blue dome can be seen throughout the city.
St. Patrick’s is over 800 years old, the largest cathedral in Ireland serving as the center for Christianity in Dublin. This historically significant pilgrimage site still holds services weekly for welcomed members of the faith, but also allows tourists to walk through freely.
St. Paul’s Church 
St. Patrick’s Cathedral
If you have any Irish descendants, or if you don’t live under a rock, you know the stereotype that Irish people tend to drink a lot of alcohol!
I am 75% Irish, so I’m allowed to say this is 100% true. At least in the Temple Bar district, social drinkers liter the streets, laughing with good company and spilling their beverages. The Temple Bar District, home of many famous pubs, performers, and pop songs, is also known for their incredible night life. Though I only spent one night in town, I made sure to bar-hop as often as I could to listen to all the live music!
The most well-known of bars is the district’s namesake, Temple Bar Pub. This gorgeous, centrally located, incredibly photogenic building has history beginning as far back as the 1600s. This infamous pub has won multiple awards for their live music, menu diversity, and most importantly: its selection of over 450 whiskies. How on Earth could you decide on a drink? I certainly couldn’t- I was extremely overwhelmed.
The atmosphere is unmatched anywhere else in Ireland, I spent both nights of my trip drinking whiskey, enjoying loud Celtic music, and attempting to find a barstool at Temple Bar.
Something you absolutely must try to get the full Irish experience are full glasses of both Guinness and Jameson. Since they are both created in Dublin, they are both traditional and at really cheap prices compared to the United States!
Tours of the Guinness Brewery is a must-do while visiting Dublin. Each walking tour of the factory lasts about 3 hours, and inside you’ll learn the history of the infamous beer while taste-testing every flavor. Included in the tour is exclusive location-only flavors, and added food pairings! Plus, you’ll get your very own stein and a discount at the store!
Tours of the Jameson Distillery are easy to book and do not take a huge chunk of time! Each guided tour lasts about an hour, and include a sampling of flavorful whiskeys. You’ll also be given one free cocktail of your choice, a whiskey glass, and a coupon for the gift shop.
Pizza! Of course. Who would have guessed the American girl would opt for a classic margarita pizza paired with cold coca-cola for her last meal in Ireland? Stick with what you know, I guess. Walking over 17 miles in 2 days, I was exhausted – and starving. I ordered 2 pizzas (extremely surprising for me) to-go for a late night dinner in my hotel room.
The next morning was a scramble to find my ferry ride to London, England. One last Irish coffee, a last-minute souvenir purchase, and about 3 hours of standing on a wobbly boat concluded my weekend getaway Ireland.
If you have any follow up questions about my time in Dublin, Ireland, please email me at hello@alostblonde.com
♡ Abigail Reagan
