Where to stay in Dublin – Best area’s guide

Dublin Castle By J.-H. Janßen – Wikimedia

Where to stay in Dublin – Best area’s guide

Dublin is a warm and friendly city with beautiful sights and one of the liveliest social scenes. The landscape surrounding the city is picture-perfect with the mountains and Dublin Bay making it a haven of adventure.

A walk through the seaside towns is like a treasure hunt, there is a lot to learn and discover about the picturesque towns.

The Irish love to have a good laugh, love music and have a good time with friends and family.  It is therefore without a doubt that one looks forward to visiting Dublin for tours of the 13^th century Dublin Castle and St. Patrick’s Cathedral from the 12^th century.

Here is a guide to the best areas to stay in Dublin.

1. Portobello

This neighbourhood is a short walking distance from the city centre and close to the creative quarter. Portobello is characterized by vibrant nightlife, several taverns and night clubs, hipster cafés and coffee houses, beautiful street art.

This area attracts the young, fun-loving crowds that love to hang out in social places.

Staying in this area of Dublin allows one to live like the locals and enjoy the good vibe around them.

The favourite spots for brunch at Portobello are Brother Hubbard South and the Copper House Gallery. One can also enjoy pizza and a good drink at a restaurant or by the canal.

There are many restaurants and cafés to choose from lining up the streets. Delicious aromas wafting through the air will call out the foodie in you.

Compared to other neighbourhoods with bustling nightlife in Dublin, Portobello is one of the quiet and relaxed ones.

Travellers with families can find this place perfect for them because of its proximity to the city centre and suitable accommodation.

Shopping lovers have a hustle free experience walking through the streets and into stores selling all kinds of merchandise.

A walk along the grand canal is something to look forward to, getting some air while relaxing in the park catching up on your book, let the children play or just admire nature. There is a lot to see and experience in Portobello. Accommodation options vary from luxury hotels to budget hotels.

2. Ballsbridge

Ballsbridge, Dublin By William Murphy -Wikimedia

This neighbourhood dates back to 1816 when it became popular with traveller transiting to and from Dublin.

It is a much quieter neighbourhood that is considered to be safe, most preferred by travelling families and is posh too. There are several embassies, office buildings, restaurants and cool bars in this area.

Hotels in Ballsbridge are affordable and one can find one suitable for their budget. Several hotels are ranging from five stars to mid-priced ones and a good number of reasonably priced guest houses.

It is also a short walking distance from downtown Dublin, one can conveniently take a bus, the ride takes at least 15 minutes.

The streets are lined with trees and perfect for a stroll in the neighbourhood as you head to the restaurants or the pub. There are several options for eateries and pubs for one can choose from.

For those that love concerts and live bands or maybe a sports fanatic, Aviva stadium nearby is the place to be for all the live-action. Most of the pubs in Ballsbridge host live bands, the place to be as you wind the day with friends, family or just solo, you might also make a new friend, the Irish are very friendly folks.

3. Camden Street

A hotel on Camden Street, Dublin By U3island – Wikimedia

Most of the neighbourhoods in Dublin are a stone’s throw away from the city centre. This makes them even more convenient for any traveller that would love to be close to the city but also stay in a chilled environment.

Camden is one of those neighbourhoods close to the city but has a community vibe to it.

The streets here are not anything close to Portobello, they are rather neutral but lined with extensive bars, cafés, restaurants, antique shops.

The eateries range from fine dining to fast food joints with a touch of Irish hospitality, the choice is yours.

A night out during the week is pretty chilled with good music, most of the night clubs are not full the brim, the weekends see the clubs filled.

Top attractions in Camden street include; Iveagh Gardens not that popular with many but is one of the finest parks in the city, St Stephens Green with a playground for the children and a beautifully decorated lake, the little museum of Dublin, The Gaiety Theatre one-stop-shop for entertainment while in Dublin.

4.Howth

Howth Habor, Dublin By William Murphy -Wikimedia

This neighbourhood is right by the seaside and is a fishing village full of character and intertwined with nature.

Howth is perfect for those that would like to go for boat rides love seafood or love to take long walks or hikes and take in some fresh air by the sea and loving nature.

The views from the cliff-side along the footpaths overlooking the sea is breathtaking and something to look forward to when in Howth.

One can get a map from the tourist centres should they want to explore the region by themselves. There are a ton of outdoor activities to engage in while staying in Howth.

The restaurants, cafés and pubs do not disappoint either when it comes to hospitality. Their seafood is sumptuous and the wine and cheeses are top tiers too.

The rustic charm of this neighbourhood allows nature lovers to admire untouched flora and fauna, go for bird watching and enjoy the sight of beautiful flowers that bloom between March and June.

The top attraction is Howth castle which has a lot of history to learn and discover about ancient Ireland. Other attractions include Ireland’s Eye, Dublin Bay Lighthouse, St Mary’s Abbey, Martello tower.

5. Temple Bar

Temple Bar at night, Dublin By Trevah – Wikimedia

This is the most famous neighbourhood in Dublin. Most of those that choose to stay here love to party. The night scene here is very vibrant and may not be the best place for those that love quiet at night.

The cobbled streets in Temple bar area full of quaint shops, taverns, cosy cafés and restaurants. This place is right at the centre of the city and is preferred by my visitors because of its convenience to transport around the city and top attractions in Dublin.

The pubs in Temple Bar have live music bands by local musicians every night. One can enjoy Ireland’s favourite drink, Guinness while catching up with friends or making new ones.

Accommodation here varies from luxury hotels to budget hotels. Other than the eateries and pubs here, there are other places one can go to for sightseeing such as Trinity College, Grafton Street, Molly Malone Statue, Dublin Castle and The National Photographic Archive.