Dublin Top Spots – City of Literature and Green Oasis

I’ve already raved about the culinary delights in Dublin. This is one of the points with which Ireland’s capital totally surprised me. You might accuse me of a lack of travel preparation (the friend would now nod his head vigorously. I like to look at the travel guide for the first time on the plane – if I have a travel guide with me at all…) or a thirst for adventure (I prefer), in any case, I often end up in a foreign city without a plan. This is also the case in Dublin. On my first day in a foreign city, I usually let myself drift through the streets more or less haphazardly and be inspired by all the impressions.

It was only on the bus from the airport to the hotel that I realized that Dublin belongs to the select circle of the world’s six cities that can call themselves Unesco City of Literature. In addition to Dublin, Edinburgh, Melbourne, Iowa City, Reykjavík and Norwich are currently part of the Creative City Network as cities of literature.

Trinity College Old Library

The first item on the agenda of our sightseeing program was set so quickly. I wanted to marvel at the Book of Kells in the Old Library of Trinity College. As you can see, even with a lack of travel preparation, it works perfectly.

Still, I didn’t really know what to expect with the Book of Kells. So we dutifully stood in line in front of the library and paid the entrance fee of 18 euros. We crossed the exhibition rooms for the book – which is considered an outstanding example of book illumination – quite quickly. Too many people for my taste, too much explanatory text and photography is also not allowed. Nevertheless, the entrance fee was worth it, because after the exhibition rooms you reach the Long Room, built in 1732. A magnificent specimen of a library room with the smell of books in the air – wonderful. Here you can do nothing more than marvel in awe at the old books, endless shelves and ladders. But that was enough for me, because I was very impressed by how pompous books can be stored. It’s kind of a shame that we’re all reading e-books now. Imagine if there were no libraries…

In my opinion, the Old Library is rightly one of the top things to do in Dublin.

St. Stephen’s Green

St. Stephen’s Green is a rectangular public park in the middle of Dublin. Although it is surrounded on all sides by main roads, it forms a wonderful oasis that does not lose its charm even in the gloomiest rainy weather. Especially during the early morning hours you will find the perfect idyll here.

If you’re looking for a secluded spot in Dublin, you’re sure to find it here.

And how do you prepare for a city trip? Serious with to-do list and so on or do you also have no plan and only realize at home what you actually wanted to see? :)