Dublin & Surrounds History

The opposite of Geneva: doesn't boast but is a beautiful little city. Plenty to do, I recommend the National Gallery and lunch at nearby Stephen's Green. You can always visit a pub, go to a movie or shop. Don't forget to look at the famous central post office where the 1916 Easter Rising took place. For history: see the cathedral (now Anglican) and the pro-cathedral (Catholic, still waiting to get the cathedral back). Also, Dublin is the place where Händel first performed his famous "Messiah" And don't forget the Newman University Chapel, as well as the Book of Kells at Trinity College!

If you're into reading or fancy yourself as a bit of a writer, there's a great writers museum here showcasing Ireland's fantastic literary history.

Watch your bags!!! I stayed at a hostel in the city centre and woke up after a night out with my bag, shoes and jacket missing. But that could hap[pen in any city. Just remember that Dublin is Ireland's capital, and is as dangerous as London, or any other major city.

Apart from that it's a great place, just be prepared to pay through your nose for a pint...aolthpugh the Guinness is worth it. The Guinness Brewery does a great tour, which includes a free pint at the end (well worth it, a 360o panoramic view of the city and the best pint you'll have ever tasted), and I believe you can book online for a discount.

If you like history there's the Dublin Literary tour which includes upon other things a look at James Joyce's hangouts, also I would absolutely recommend Glasnevin Cemetery. This was one of the only Catholic burial grounds left during the occupation of Ireland by Britain, and it's huge. There';s also a section for the 1916 Easter Rising lot.

i lived in dublin for five months. it is one of the most favorite places ive ever been. its amazing history and its setting in one of the most beautiful, majestic, fascinating and magical countries in the world doesnt hurt. the people are friendly and helpful mostly. 
temple bar is the so called party district and is good for a night out if you want to be surrounded by tourists, stag and hen parties from the uk and spain and walk home in heels on cobbled streets avoiding puddles of vomit. nah, its actually good craic now and again. just dont get trapped into the tourist getup. venture out a bit. on the corner of temple bar is a wonderful place called o'sullivans. it features an awesome performer named brian who plays everything from traditional irish ballads to U2 and pretty much anything in between. also dont miss o'donahoughes. its grand for a bit of the traditional music and its quite informal as most of the best irish trad sessions are. dont miss the sheldon hotel for a swish high tea. an historical spot right out of irish literature. actually, every bit of dublin has its best neighborhood pub and should be sampled!
trinity university (or just uni, as its called) is beautiful in of itself and its good to explore. it alson plays host to the book of kells, the oldest known book in europe. also go by the dail (pronounced dahl) to sampled the republic of irelands hard won self government at work. explore o'connell street at leisure and cross the (stiffy) liffey (the river creating the demarcation between the wealthy southern bit of dublin and the less well off bits to the north.) as always, the best way to explore any place, is to walk it. the bus tours are actually quite good though and worth taking for a sight seeing venture. oh! and dont forget kilmainham gaol, the infamous prison that hosted everyone from politcal prisoners fighting for irish freedom to children dying of starvation and imprisoned for stealing moldy bred (check out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kilmainham_Gaol for some tidbits). dont forget st. stephans green. its gorgeous, and on sunny days no matter how cold is littered with old and young, taking in the weather. nice for talking with locals, eating a carry out lunch and just people watching. also used for sexual trists at night. i like grafton street just because of the musicians along the way. every twenty feet you encounter a different sidewalk artist. at the top you may find a man in a tux singing opera and playing the piano, then some thai immigrants dancing to traditional music with fans, irish guitarists trying to make it, another irish duo attempting to rap and beat box and then a another dude on a slide-rule guitar. dont miss the open air markets.  
honestly, there was hardly a day in dublin i didnt find something beautiful, intriguing, fascinating. i cant sing its praises high enough. i cant wait to go back.

If you are in Dublin and are interested in history then going to Newgrange makes a great day trip. Newgrange is a Megalithic Passage Tomb that was built around 3200 BC. The amazing thing about the place is that on the Winter Solstice rays of light shine directly up the passage to the main burial chamber . The tour from Bru Na Boinne is great as even though you'd be really lucky to go on the soltice, they do recreate the light to show you what its like on the day.
To get there catch a bus from Dublin to Donore, Co. Meath and then get a bus up to the Visitors Center at
Bru Na Boinne.