Mistakes Tourists Make While Visiting Dublin

Dublin has long appealed to tourists thanks to its rich history, vibrant pub culture and walkability. But travelers tend to make a few mistakes during their time in Ireland’s capital city ― and locals certainly take note.

To help future visitors, we asked people who’ve lived in Dublin to share some of the faux pas they’ve observed. From misguided itineraries to public transit mishaps, here are nine common blunders among tourists visiting Dublin and some advice for avoiding them on your travels.

Limiting your visit to the city center

“Don’t just stick to the city center. Check out the neighborhoods. Rathmines is a short walk from the city center and is great for thrift shopping and cute places to eat. There’s even a revamped vintage cinema, The Stella, which is a great way to spend an evening. Stoneybatter has some of the best restaurants in Dublin (book in advance for Grano) and even has an urban sauna which is perfect after a day of exploring.” ― Tara Povey, blogger at Where Is Tara?

“A mistake is not knowing that Dublin is a city of villages. If visitors only hang out in Temple Bar and don’t explore other neighborhoods like Stoneybatter, Ranelagh, Donnybrook and Clontarf, they miss out on a more authentic experience.” ― Catherine Reilly, managing director of Brendan Vacations

Not utilizing public transit

“The public transport in Dublin is pretty good, so don’t waste your money on Ubers and taxis. Pick up a Leap card in any convenience store and explore the city using the LUAS, the DART and local buses. It will definitely help your travel budget.” ― Povey

Going only to touristy pubs

“A mistake tourists should avoid when traveling to Dublin is only visiting touristy pubs. The pub plays a central role in Irish social