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First Day in Ireland

We are traveling to Ireland for a 3 week holiday in July. We will arrive in Dublin @ 10 AM (after an all night flight) and pick up our car rental at the airport. I'm considering driving by Glasnevin Cemetery and/or the Botanical gardens since they are about 10km from the airport, but still outside the city. Does anyone know if there are parking facilities at either place?
Should we try to see something with the car or just drive to the B&B and sleep the rest of the day. We'll be staying in Dun Laoghaire and taking the DART to see the city on day 2.

Posted by
389 posts

Teresa, I don't know specifically about these places, but I'm pretty sure they have or are very close to car parks. My real reaction is the going to the B & B and sleeping the day away. DON'T! The hardest part of jet lag is getting yourself acclimated to the local time. Keep moving. We are going to our B & B in Dun Laoghaire to drop our car and stuff and then getting on Dart into the city. On the first day try to make it at least until 7 or 8 p.m. before stopping and in the morning you'll be up early but on the local time enough to enjoy the night life of a pub on day 2. I don't like losing a day to sleeping since it turns into 2 or 3 days. You'll love it!

Posted by
2804 posts

I would not advise you to sleep your first day, that's like throwing a day away. Drive to your B&B drop off your luggage and then head out the door. You should try to stay up until the time you usually go to bed, or at least 9 or 10. Go to a pub for dinner and listen to the music. Then the next moring you will get up and ready for another wonderful day.

Posted by
16586 posts

Agreed with Robin and Linda - try not to sleep until close to your normal bedtime at home! Walk, eat, tour, drink coffee, whatever you need to do but it's important that you get into your time zone as quickly as possible by staying awake until at least 8:00 - 9:00 Ireland time. It's worth one day of pain to be right on schedule the next morning and ready to have some fun!!!

Posted by
8 posts

Thank you Robin for the great Heritage link. We will be going to the Nat. Botanical Garden for sure - Their site mentions parking.

Anyone else have any suggestions for car friendly sightseeing around the perimeter of Dublin? We will be trying to get the most out of our first day - on the way to Dun Laoghaire. Everything we want to see in central Dublin we'll do with publ. trans. on day 2 and maybe 3.

Posted by
14 posts

What is the great Heritage link that you are thanking someone for?

I just saw something online called cultureheritageireland.com and it seems to have a whole bunch of 2for 1 coupons free online......no need to buy a pass.

ANyone familiar with this?

thanks

Posted by
389 posts

I don't know what you are looking for exactly, but Malahide castle is 10 minutes from the airport and has a car park. You can find out more about it at www.malahidecastle.com

Posted by
4 posts

Just wondering what B&Bs you all are staying at in, or around Dublin? Just starting to plan my itinerary, and am looking for suggestions
Peggy
Bloomington, MN

Posted by
8 posts

I booked the Windsor Lodge in Dun Laoghaire for the last nights of our 3 week trip. We couldn't get anything in DL for our first night, so we put the Dublin sightseeing at the end of out itinerary.