Dublin is without a doubt, a gem of a place. Lining both banks of the River Liffey, this historic city dates back to the Vikings and has technicoloured Georgian terraces, Medieval cathedrals, an EPIC ancient library straight out of Harry Potter and some gorgeous modern architecture. You'll never put down your camera! The whole city is incredibly photogenic, but here are 7 places to start you off for some seriously Instagrammable locations.
1. Starting with an obvious one: the Long Room of Trinity College.
The most Hogwarts-esque location that never made it into a Harry Potter film, this is serious library heaven. 62 metres long with a high arched ceiling and two tiers of 200,000 floor to ceiling old books, the Long Room is stunning. No tripods allowed in here, come early or late to avoid the worst of the crowds, but seeing as how this is probably the most Instagrammed (is that a word?) place in Dublin, it's never quiet. Top tip, aim above the white statues to chop your fellow tourists out of the frame.
2. Next up, vibrant Temple Bar, a great place to explore and take photographs. Cobbled streets, colourful pubs and hidden alleys, this part of Dublin is always buzzing. Don't miss 200 year old Ha'penny Bridge on the way in, a white iron structure that looks even prettier after dark when its lanterns are lit. The bright red Temple Bar pub is one of the most photographed in Dublin, and in spring/summer it is usually covered with hanging baskets of flowers! Grab a selfie with Molly Malone or Thin Lizzy's Phil Lynott; they both have statues in the area, and check out Victorian George's Street Arcade with its ornate red metal framework.
3: St Stephen's Park shopping centre: Next to St Stephen's Park, right at the top of Grafton Street, step inside to find a really unexpected Dublin hidden gem. The airy arched glass and metal architecture dominated by a giant clock feels like you've stepped into a Steampunk world - we were amazed that the building is only 34 years old! It certainly feels more Victorian. For the best views, take the escalator all the way up to the top floor and stand on the stairwell near the Chinese restaurant.
4. Samuel Beckett Bridge:
Only opened in 2009, the Samuel Beckett Bridge is already an iconic Dublin landmark. Designed by Santiago Calatrava, the bridge resembles a huge white Irish harp, the symbol of the country and not unlike the logo you'll find on Guinness pint glasses! The bright white railings and cables look dramatic against blue or stormy skies(or with a rainbow behind, if you're lucky like we were!), or lit up at night with reflections in the river - the Samuel Becket Bridge really is one of the best places in Dublin to take photos. Oh! And the bridge also features on the cover of the most recent Lonely Planet guide to Dublin, which is a nice capture if you have that with you.
5. Christ Church Cathedral:
Once a Viking church dating back 1000 years, today Christ Church is a mish mash of Victorian and Medieval architecture. The outside is Romanesque/Gothic with soaring towers and a dramatic grey stone bridge arching over the road looking not unlike Venice's Bridge of Sighs.
Inside is just as impressive with flying buttresses and beautiful floor tiles. Don't miss the spooky 12th century historic arched crypt, once used as a filming location for TV series The Tudors.
6: The Gravity Bar, Guinness Storehouse:
Capture an iconic memory of your Dublin trip with a pint of the black stuff (did you know it's actually red?) and amazing views over the city. Up on the 7th floor of top tourist attraction, the Guinness Store House, is the Gravity Bar. Serving epic views as well as pints, you can take in 360 degrees across the whole of Dublin as far as the Wicklow Mountains. Now to choose the perfect backdrop for your drink...
In order to visit this stunning rooftop bar you'll need to buy a ticket to the Guinness Storehouse, which includes a free pint of Guinness! Sláinte!
7: Merrion Square and surrounding streets:
Like Bath in England, Dublin is a Georgian city with long terraces of elegant townhouses. What makes Dublin special is its rainbow palette of brightly coloured doors! Spend an afternoon strolling the squares and streets around Merrion Square (where Oscar Wilde's statue lounges), Fitzwilliam Street and St Stephen's Park and snap as many different colours as you can find. Then mash them up into a snazzy collage!
The black and white extravaganza at the centre of this collage we made is located at 46 Fitwilliam Street - it's actually belongs to the Embassy of Peru!
As always, be aware that these are people's homes and businesses, don't be one of those tourists hanging off front doors and sitting on walls.
Happy snapping!
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