And the Hugh Lane Municipal Gallery of Modern Art, where the collection includes Manet, Monet and Degas, as well as the work of 20th century Irish artists, will no doubt get attention in May when it opens the unusual exhibit of the re-created studio of painter Francis Bacon. Dublin's top attractions also include Trinity College, founded in 1592, and home to the famous, illuminated and lavishly decorated 9th century Book of Kells. For a quiet respite, check out the city's green spaces including Merrion Square, where the crocuses were already blooming in late February. The park also boasts a playful tribute to Oscar Wilde, playwright and wit, whose reclining likeness is displayed in color. Artsy Temple Bar is the place to go for hip restaurants and bars, and you can catch a variety of street performers including musicians and jugglers both here and on nearby Grafton Street.
Taxis are also plentiful, and city buses are a cheaper option.
No visit to Dublin, or anywhere in Ireland for that matter, is complete without a visit to a pub, the mainstay of Irish social life. There are more than 1,000 of them in Dublin, popping up everywhere you look. Dublin is a charming place. The warmth of the people will no doubt grab a piece of your heart, and whet your appetite to see more of the Emerald Isle. It's not unusual for visitors to find themselves planning a return visit even before they get back home.