Dublin Bus Tours

...visit the “Fair City” of Dublin these days do so on short or weekend breaks. In fact, only last year Dublin gained the premier spot as the most popular weekend holiday destination in Europe, overtaking both Paris and Amsterdam for the first time.
If you are one of these “short break” visitors, it is very easy to allow yourself to become overwhelmed by the vast array of attractions that vie for your attention, and with ...
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~ ~ Dublin Bus, the semi-State company that run the public transport system here in Dublin, have been the subject of much critical debate over the general effectiveness of their city service over the last few years, but one initiative that they have introduced is truly superb.
This is their “Dublin City Hop On – Hop Off Tours”.

~ ~ Starting at Dublin Bus HQ in O’Connell Street (just up from ... more

~ ~ Many people who visit the “Fair City” of Dublin these days do so on short or weekend breaks. In fact, only last year Dublin gained the premier spot as the most popular weekend holiday destination in Europe, overtaking both Paris and Amsterdam for the first time.
If you are one of these “short break” visitors, it is very easy to allow yourself to become overwhelmed by the vast array of attractions that vie for your attention, and with your time limited, it is almost impossible to fit in everything you would like to see or visit.

~ ~ Dublin Bus, the semi-State company that run the public transport system here in Dublin, have been the subject of much critical debate over the general effectiveness of their city service over the last few years, but one initiative that they have introduced is truly superb.
This is their “Dublin City Hop On – Hop Off Tours”.

~ ~ Starting at Dublin Bus HQ in O’Connell Street (just up from the main GPO) these tours run every 15 minutes from 9.30AM to 5PM, and then every 30 minutes from 5PM to 6.30PM.
They are designed with the casual visitor to Dublin in mind, in order that they can truly maximise their sightseeing experience, and visit over thirty locations of interest dotted throughout the city.
In decent weather (Ha!!) converted open-top double decker buses are used, that allow you to take full advantage of the wonderful Irish sunshine. (twice a year!!)
What is so different about these tours (as the name implies) is that you can actually “hop on and hop off” at your own convenience at any of the 13 designated stopping points along the route. If you are really short of time, then you can choose to simply stay on the bus, and be entertained by a highly professional and very amusing tour guide (who know the city backwards) who will tell you where you are and what you are seeing.
Some of these guides are real “characters”, and have developed their very own line of patter to amuse and entertain their passengers.
A Scottish cousin of mine who took this tour recently with his family came back singing the praises of the tour guide, and stating it was the best (and funniest) tour he had ever taken.

~ ~ The various stopping points are all very conveniently located to give you the freedom to explore and experience all the different historical and cultural attractions that Dublin has to offer at your leisure.
Here’s a list of the main attractions that are convenient to each stopping point.

1. Start Off – Dublin Bus HQ.
2. Dublin Writer’s Museum
3. GPO/Henry Street (good shopping)
4. Trinity College (Old Library and the Book of Kells)
5. Nassau Street (again, good shopping)
6. National Gallery
7. St. Stephen’s Green (wonderful park and good shopping centre)
8. Tourism Centre
9. Dublin castle
10. St. Patrick’s Cathedral (also Christchurch Cathedral)
11. Dublinia Exhibition (Ancient Dublin)
12. Guinness Storehouse (hope you get passed here safely!)
13. Museum of Modern Art (Royal Hospital, Kilmainham)
14. National Museum (Collins Barracks)
15. Smithfield Village
16. Music hall of Fame

~ ~ The tour, if you don’t get off anywhere, will take about an hour and a quarter, and also included in the ticket price are various discount vouchers for many of the attractions.
And it’s not that expensive either, at a cost of only £8 (Irish Punts) for an adult, and half price for children up to 14 years of age.
As well as the main Dublin Tour, Dublin Bus also runs other bus tours both in the city and about Ireland. There is a very popular “Ghost Bus Tour”, that takes you to all the “spooky” locations in the city, and various other day long tours that take you out of the city to places like “Ballykissangel” and the resorts on the south coast. (ops to follow)

~ ~ So if you do happen to visit Dublin on a tight schedule, then keep this tour in mind. It’s exceptional value, and allows you to get a flavour of the Irish capital in a very short space of time.
Recommended by the “mad cabbie”.
 

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