I MAY not be from Dublin, but after living here for five years, I am far from a tourist.
I moved from Sligo to the Big Smoke half a decade ago and it soon became home, meaning it’s rare that I check out the things that tourists tick off their bucket list.
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So I decided to change that and dedicated three days to checking out our finest sites.
For the real experience, I had to stay somewhere that wasn’t my apartment, so I chose the capital’s newest hostel.
Clink I Lár opened this year and is the perfect place for jet-setters to stay.
It’s just off O’Connell Street and the Luas is right on its doorstep, while you can walk to Grafton Street, Henry Street or Temple Bar in just a few minutes.
For those on a budget, there are shared dorms, but if you fancy paying a bit more for privacy, you can have your own room and en suite.
The hostel is located just down the road from The Academy nightclub, meaning it won’t be too hard to stumble home after a night out.
In the bar downstairs in the hostel you can get a range of delicious food, like pizza and nachos, to have with your pre-party drinks.
Nearly every night there is some sort of event held in the bar, including karaoke, club nights and mingling sessions.
For our first evening there, we decided to venture into Temple Bar and had a blast at the Craic Den, a comedy show held every day except Sunday in the upstairs room of The Workmans Club.
With deals on pints on Tuesdays, you can get two for just €10 and there are value options on spirits and mixers.
Then we ventured into the Temple Bar pub, where, unfortunately, drinks weren’t as cheap — but there was great live music.
As many people in Dublin know, the prices in this part of town are more expensive than other areas of the city, but it is the one spot you can guarantee will have live music at all times of the day.
The next day, we were treated to breakfast in Clink, which was served in a buffet style with a range of hot and cold options.
We knew we had a busy day ahead of us so we filled up before we sauntered over to the Liberties, where we had a tour and a tasting at Teeling’s Whiskey Distillery.
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I’m not much of a whiskey lover, so my boyfriend got double the amount — but the tour was very interesting even for those who don’t like the drink.
We then returned to the hostel to get ready for a lovely dinner in Yamamori — a gorgeous Asian restaurant with several locations across the city.
We went to the one on Ormond Quay which had a gorgeous beer garden and a stunning interior.
After a meal consisting of starters, main courses and drinks, we were full up and ready for the night to come.
Fantastic way to see the city
In fact, we enjoyed the comedy show so much that we returned that night.
Damien Clark is an Aussie comedian who lives here in Dublin, and he was the MC for the night, equally as funny as any of the other acts on stage.
Now, while I was not a huge whiskey fan, I was very excited for the planned pub crawl by Generation Tours.
It was a fantastic way to see the city and attend pubs that we usually wouldn’t have gone to.
Visit on a budget
They included The Old Guinness Storehouse, 4 Dame Lane, Bad Bobs and Trinity Bar Venue.
And for tourists on a budget, or solo travellers, it is a great way to experience Dublin while meeting new people.
We were given a wristband which entitled us to discounted drinks (including saving around €3 on pints and Vodka/Rum/Whiskey and mixers for around €7).
At every pub we went to we were given a free shot, and by the end of the night we ended up with free entry into Coppers — a must-visit for tourists, but I can say it was definitely not my first time there!
Go: Clink I Lar Hostel Dublin
STAY THERE: Clink I Lar is the new Irish hostel.
We had a private room, which comes with ensuite, hairdryer, toiletries and towels.
A bunk in a 12-bed dorm starts from just €21.60, while one in a six-bed dorm is from €26.10.
A private ensuite double room starts from €133.20, while a private twin ensuite room costs €135.
If you’re travelling with friends, there are private dorms with four beds for €166.50 with an ensuite.
WHAT TO DO: Generation Pub Crawl, €14 each, tour of Teelings Whiskey Distillery from €20, Craic Den from €10.
EAT THERE: Yamamori Asian restaurant
The pub crawl was split into two groups, each of about 40 people, with one tour guide each, and we met people from England, Italy and other countries.
We also joked that it would be ideal for a hen party or stag do, without having to plan any of it yourself!
It actually felt really nice to see Dublin as a tourist. It’s not often that you would do things like that while living in a city.
I’d recommend Clink to anyone coming to Dublin as a tourist, or anyone who doesn’t fancy paying a ridiculous price for a room when visiting the capital for a big gig or an event.
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