My husband and I are planning our first trip to Europe this summer. We're spending two weeks in the Czech Republic and Austria. We're getting ready to book our flights, but there is one option that gives us 1 night in Dublin (from 6 pm Friday to 11:30 am Saturday). The stop would be on our way home to Chicago.
My head tells me we should pass...it's not nearly enough time to see the city, it'll be at the end of our trip and we'll be tired, it'll give us one less day at home to recover from jet lag, etc.
BUT...part of me doesn't want to pass up the chance to see Dublin, even if only for a short time. I'm counting on the experience of others who have been there. Is there a way to do it so it's an easy in/easy out and we can see some of the city? Or is it better saved for another trip where we can make Dublin a destination rather than a one-off?
Posted by
Downingtown, USA
2449 posts
To me it is just not worth it, by the time you get from airport Friday night to town could be eight pm or so. You would have to check in, drag luggage, etc and the next morning be at airport at least two to three hours prior to departure which means an early morning. You say you will already be tired so I would pass on this idea. You would really not see any sights except as a drive by. Just my thoughts.
Posted by
OP
29 posts
Thanks, Gail. That is what I was thinking as well. It's tempting to try and squeeze in as much as possible, but I realize that's really not the best plan!
Posted by
Sacramento, California U.S.A.
10597 posts
I agree that it's not worth the effort. I would just plan to return to Ireland for another trip!
Posted by
2 posts
I am doing this same thing but I opted to squeeze it in before returning to Chicago. We arrive at 5 pm from Brussels and then I figure I have a few hours in Dublin both in the morning and the night. I have been wanting to go there for years so my 14 year old and I are just doing it - although, we get to see an old family friend who I have not seen in 25 years while there so a little more motive.
Posted by
2 posts
Friday traffic at 6:00pm on Dublin's north side side is crazy.. I would stay at Bewley's airport hotel and enjoy a meal and Irish hospitality. Return for a 2 week vacation. Dublin is not the prettiest of cities and not very interesting except for Trinity College and the Book of Kells. Fly into Shannon and tour the West and South - wonderful, and if you get a chance, visit the North.
Posted by
Pensacola
9110 posts
Hold on!
Door 1: You're landing at six. You can stash your junk and be downtown by seven, easily. Summer sunset is nine or ten. You can eat, walk, listen to music, whatever, then catch the last bus back to grab your stuff and head for the hotel. Sleep late. Sleep some more on the plane.
Door 2: You're landing at six. You can be in the hotel before seven. You can eat, then twiddle your thumbs until bed time, then wake up early and twiddle your thumbs some more.
Pick one.
It's a crying shame to be within five miles of something and not snoop around. It doesn't matter if you go back or not. You might, right or wrong, decided you hate the place and knock it off your list. You might, right or wrong, decide you really like the place and make it your next destination.
Posted by
Gettysburg, PA, USA
419 posts
The first time that I had a chance to visit Venice was for only an afternoon. Everybody said it was crazy and a waste of time, couldn't really "experience" Venice. But I did it anyway. I sat in St. Mark's Square, had a glass of wine and then a coffee. It was a beautiful time and convinced me to do my best to come back again, which I have done four or five times.
My advice: grab every chance you have to see new things, even if only briefly. You can always hope to return.
Posted by
Dublin
2 posts
Definitely visit Dublin if you have the option. The fact that you're asking mean's that you already want to.
I'm from Ireland and live in Dublin. If you're arriving into Dublin at around 6pm on a Friday and then leaving earlyish on the saturday morning then the only real thing you can do is soak up the atmosphere of the Dublin nightlife. Get a hotel near the airport, they're cheaper and it's not that far away. Dump your stuff and get straight into town. Because it's a short trip just use taxi's to get around so you can optimise your time here.