Dublin not already on RS tour

For the benefit of those who have been to Dublin but not on an RS tour, could you give us some idea of what's already planned?

I've been on this tour and I highly recommend an extra day (or two). I didn't check the current departure dates, but you have to watch opening/closing days for many of the museums so you can see what you want. I don't remember getting much time at Trinity College, but we only went to the Book of Kells (is that what you're referring to?) and then continued on our walking tour. Depending on what you want to see, you may need to go back. I really liked the National Museum of Archaeology (closed Mondays), the National Gallery, and the National Library (closed Sunday), especially the WB Yeats exhibit. St. Stephens Green is beautiful to walk through or have a picnic. All free. I also enjoyed the musical pub crawl (details in RS book) which wasn't on the tour but our guide arranged to meet people there and help buy tickets.

David, That's an excellent tour, and I'm sure you'll have a good time! I'd also suggest arriving a few days early to both get over jet lag as well as explore a bit and cover sights not on the tour. You might click on the "Pre Tour" tab on the Ireland tour page on this website, as it provides some suggested places that are not covered on the tour. The Book of Kells and Trinity College book collection are one of the locations visited on a walking tour with a local Guide. As I recall, you'll have an afternoon or so to check those out. The Kilmainham Gaol was not covered on my tour, but I believe it is now, and it's definitely a very worthwhile site to visit! Opinions are a bit "mixed" on the Guinness Storehouse tour. I decided to have a look as I enjoy a pint (or two) on occasion, and a "free" pint is included in the cost of the tour. If you decide to visit the Guinness site, it would be a good idea to visit early in the morning or later in the day. The queues can be enormous at times during the day. I'd also suggest doing a bit of exploring in the Temple Bar area and across the river (if time permits). As I recall, the Bar in the Arlington Hotel had good music. You will have a brief "walkabout" in Temple Bar during the tour, but I wanted to also look around on my own. Especially on weekends, Temple Bar is VERY lively! You may encounter girls in colourful costumes attending "Stagette" parties (I'm not sure what the correct term is?). Happy travels!

I've never taken a RS tour so I can't comment on how much of the listed sites you get to see and how much time is available to explore on your own. Two things that I didn't see listed in the tour that are outstanding would be day trips, from Dublin, to either Newgrange (Boyne valley) or Glendalough. Newgrange site has incredible passage tombs dating back to the same time frame as the Egyptian pyramids. Glendalough, one of two big monastic settlement ruins (that I know of) in Ireland, is also a hugely important part of Irish history from around 600 to 900 A.D. You can catch a Bus Eirenn(?) day trip from the bus station in downtown Dublin to either (both, if you have two days). The trips are well paced and a great value. Generally you don't need reservations, we purchased our tickets the evening before the tour at the station, but they might be needed in high season.

I suggest that you give yourselves two nights in Dublin before meeting up with the RS tour group. Day 1: Arrive in Dublin, explore as time allows, and go to bed early. Day 2: Take a guided tour of either Glendalough, Powerscourt, and Wicklow or Newgrange and the Boyne Valley. See this page on the Bus Eireann site for details. Day 3: Explore more of Dublin until it's time to meet up with your RS tour group (around 17:00). Add another night if you want to tour both Glendalough and Newgrange. If you go with Bus Eireann, you can't take either tour on the same day you will start your RS tour because you won't get back to Dublin until 17:45. There are other companies that offer the same tours. Buy the Lonely Planet Dublin guidebook. It will give you far more information than the chapter on Dublin in the Rick Steves Ireland guidebook.

For Nancy: Go to this page and click on the "Daily Itinerary" link.

@Tim, "Take a guided tour of either Glendalough, Powerscourt, and Wicklow or Newgrange" The RS Ireland tour that I took stopped at Powerscourt Gardens for a few hours on the way from Dublin to Kinsale. I'm not sure if this is still the case, as they may have substituted Kilmainham Gaol for that stop?

Ken, Thanks for the heads up! It looks like the RS tour bus stops at Glendalough. Here's a quote from the Ireland tour itinerary: "Day 3: Kilmainham Gaol and Ruins On our way out of Dublin, we'll stop at Kilmainham Gaol (when possible) and learn about its place in Ireland's stirring struggle for independence less than a century ago. Then, overlooking the green Plain of Tipperary, we'll tour the ecclesiastical center that thrived in St. Patrick's time: the evocative ruins of the Rock of Cashel. Our day will end with dinner together in the historic harbor town of Kinsale, where we'll sleep (2 nights). Bus: 8 hrs. Walking: strenuous." So I'll withdraw my recommendation that David consider going on a separate tour of Glendalough, Powerscourt, and Wicklow.

"So I'll withdraw my recommendation that David consider going on a separate tour of Glendalough, Powerscourt, and Wicklow." Tim, I don't see any mention of visiting Glendalough on the RS tour itinerary. It says Kilmainham Gaol (in Dublin) and Rock of Cashel, not Glendalough or the Wicklow Mountains. The daily itinerary listed actually says almost nothing about what is on in Dublin, except for "possibly" Kilmainham Gaol, and a walking tour including the Book of Kells. The National Museum, Newgrange, 29 Georgian House tour, Grafton St and St Stephen's Green, shopping, etc., are all good suggestions for free time in Dublin.

You might look in to the tour of Glasnevin Cemetery. I found it to be enjoyable.

Nancy, I mistakenly thought that the reference in the tour itinerary to monastic ruins was to Glendalough. Now I realize it is to Hore Abbey near the Rock of Cashel. I think I need to go back to school and bone up on geography. :) So I'll (tentatively) withdraw my withdrawal. David is now free to make two day trips if he so chooses, one to Newgrange and one to the Powerscourt Gardens, Glendalough, and Wicklow. David, Before you commit to the second tour it would be a good idea to call the Rick Steves office in Edmonds, Washington, and ask if the tour still stops at the Powerscourt Gardens like it did when Ken took it.

Thanks to everyone for their responses and help.

I would recommend taking the full hop-on, hop off bus circuit to get oriented. The tour doesn't do Guinness, Christchurch Cathedral or Trinity Cathedral so that is an option. I was there in August and used my pre tour day to attend a hurling match (All-Ireland semifinals) at historic Croke Park. Great fun especially for a sports fan. The tour does visit Kilmainham Jail but I would have liked more time to do a more leisurely tour of the museum.

Trinity Cathedral College ?

Eric, The RS Ireland tour DOES stop at Trinity College, during the walking tour with a local Guide. I'll try to remember and ask whether Powerscourt Gardens are still part of the tour when I'm chatting with the Ireland Guides in mid-January.

I would recommend checking the time for the sing song at Christchurch Cathedral. I think it is around 6pm but definitely worth your time. Go early for a tour of the cathedral..the tiles are magnificant. I have also done the walking tour conducted by a history student from Trinity College. The tour is inexpensive and they even give a senior discount if you qualify. The venues are all free of charge and the tour takes about 2 1/2 or 3 hours. The tour I took was a morning tour and ended in a nice area with several choices for lunch. The Guiness tour is ok if you have never seen a brewry operation. They have a large gift shop where you can purchase everything
Guiness.

You can purchase the same "everything Guinness" all over Ireland, and the tour shows you nothing of the brewing process. It's basically just one long commercial with buying opportunities and a multi-euro "free" pint at the end. Skip the Guinness Storehouse.

Second what Nancy said, skip Guiness, thought too expensive and waste of time. Definitely see Kilmainhaim Gaol, easy access by bus from center of town, just check as I think it is closed one day a week, maybe Monday. We really enjoyed it.

Boy I messed that one up. I was thinking St. Patrick's but typed Trinity. You are right. The RS tour definitely includes Trinity College.