Dublin

Guinness and literature make for a classic romantic and stag destination

In a nutshell...

Dublin is a classic stag destination with its high concentration of pubs offering the ultimate place to savour the tastiest pint of Guinness in the world. The Temple Bar area has benefited from some inner city regeneration in the early 1980s and is now a great place to hang out into the early hours, though it's not exactly cheap drinking.

The city has its romantic and literary side too, of course, and a turbulent history of rebellion. Among many others, Dublin has been home to some of the world's greatest writers, notably Joyce, Shaw, Wilde, Synge and victim of unrequited love, WB Yeats.

Magnetic attractions

• James Joyce Center Everything you need to know about the author of Ulysses can be found in this restored Georgian townhouse.
• Trinity College The Old Library contains The Book of Kells, a wonderfully illustrated manuscript of the gospels dating from 800AD.
• Kilmainham Jail This is the chilling place where the leaders of the 1916 Easter Rising were shot by the British. You'll need a drink after a look at the bleak cell blocks and execution yard.

Romantic rendezvous

• Killiney Hop aboard the Dart train out to Killiney and go for a romantic stroll on the beach towards Dalkey, with its spectacular views of Dalkey island and Dublin Bay.
• St Stephen's Green Take a walk around St Stephen's Green and enjoy the bandstand, duck pond, and little streams, surrounded by fine Georgian buildings.

Love bites and love potions

A visit to Dublin would not be complete without a pint of Guinness, though where to find the best one is a matter of hot debate. Some say Mulligan’s takes the prize, while others, including the Irish President, prefer the cosy snugs at Ryan's (opposite the Guinness brewery.)

For a good hearty breakfast, check out Bewleys Oriental Cafe, an all-day institution, and don't forget to try Irish soda bread. For more stylish surroundings, head to the Clarence Hotel (owned by U2) for cocktails, followed by a meal at The Commons restaurant overlooking St Stephen's Green.

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