The Bottom Line
A definite must if you are in Ireland's capital for the first time and want to take in Dublin's most important attractions at a leisurely pace. The whole tour would take just less the one and a half hours (depending on traffic), but around 20 stops along the (largely) circular route will have you hopping off the bus. And hopping on again after a closer look, you have 24 hours to do this. Many attractions also offer reductions with the bus ticket.
Pros
- Gets you to (or at least near to) all the important points of attraction in Dublin City.
- You are free to choose your agenda within the limits of the circular route.
- Tickets valid 24 hours.
Cons
- Open-topped doubledeckers are not really made for rainy days.
- Buses do not go into Phoenix Park.
Description
- Open-topped doubledecker buses take you on a circular route passing all important Dublin attractions.
- Around 20 stops along the route allow the visitor to get off and take a closer look, sometimes at reduced entry fees.
- Views and camera angles from the upper deck of the bus are good - but it can get wet!
- Live commentary can be very entertaining and full of "local color".
- Tickets only available in the Tourist Offices at 14 Upper O'Connell Street and Suffolk Street.
Guide Review - Dublin Tours - Dublin Tour Hop-on Hop-off
The buses follow this route from 9:30 am at frequent intervals (8 minutes in summer, 15 minutes in winter):
- 14 Upper O'Connell Street
- outside Dublin Tourism Centre, official starting point of the tour; - College Green
- get off here for Trinity College and the Bank of Ireland; - Nassau Street
- get off here (or at the next stop) for a view of the Kildare Street Club, the National Library of Ireland and the National Museum of Ireland; - South Leinster Street;
- Merrion Square
- get off here for the National Gallery of Ireland and Leinster House, the Natural History Museum and the Government Buildings; - Pembroke Street;
- St. Stephen's Green
- get off here for the Stephen's Green Shopping Centre and the park itself; - Suffolk Street
- get off here for the Dublin Tourist Information Office; - Dame Street
- get off here for Temple Bar; - Lord Edward Strert
- get off here for Dublin Castle, Dublinia and Christ Church Cathedral; - Nicholas Street;
- Patrick Street
- get off here for St. Patrick's Cathedral; - High Street;
- St. James's Gate
- get off here for the Guinness Storehouse; - Royal Hospital Kilmainham
- get off here for the Museum of Modern Art - Kilmainham Goal
- get off here for (obviously) Kilmainham Gaol; - Collins Barracks
- get off here for the National Museum of Ireland (and for the Phoenix Park or Dublin Zoo - quite a walk back); - Arran Quay
- get off here for the Four Courts, the Old Jameson Distillery and "The Chimney"; - Bachelor's Walk
- get off here for the Ha'penny Bridge and O'Connell Street; - Parnell Square North
- get off here for the Writers Museum and the Garden of Remembrance.
