Dublin neighborhoods

Looking for a hood with a little history? Located south of the Liffey, the area around Christ Church Cathedral, with its cobblestone streets and imposing architecture, is a great place to start. The cathedral itself, certainly one of Dublin’s top tourist draws, has been around since the 11th century. The present-day version has gone through a number of changes, including a late 19th-century “Victorianization,” and it’s still stunning. The finely manicured church grounds attract lounging locals and tourists alike during the summer months. In addition, Dublin Castle, the not-really-a-castle castle from which the British ruled until 1922, is just around the corner. And, of course, the there’s the Guinness Brewery (a house of worship to some) further west along the river.

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Gardiner Street begins just above the Liffey, shooting north from the Custom House, a behemoth of an 18th-century building just east of Butt Bridge and across the water from Trinity College. Though Gardiner Street eventually becomes residential (and a little run-down), the lower portion is populated almost entirely by hotels and bed-and-breakfasts. Though not particularly scenic, Gardiner Street Lower offers proximity to the Henry Street and O’Connell Street shopping areas, as well as to Busaras and Connolly stations, Dublin's main train stations.

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Upper Gardiner Street, including Gardiner Place, is quiet and nondescript. Relatively close to O'Connell Street, it is conveniently located, if on the northern border of Dublin's city center. It's the plethora of small well-priced guesthouses and small hotels lining the streets that make this area such a treat. Expect a relaxed street scene and far more residents than tourists.

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This is where Dublin sheds its partytown mode and becomes swank (North Quays) and retail (O'Connell Street). The North Quays alternate café culture, business district, and the sleek, cool Docklands area toward the east. O'Connell Street is Dublin's premiere shopping boulevard, packed with locals and tourists alike.

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A rangy area of the city, we've developed this designation to take into account Ballsbridge, Ranelegh, and Portobello, an area just north of the Grand Canal. Ballsbridge and Ranelegh, both just over the Grand Canal, are leafy, residential neighborhoods, for the most part. Ballsbridge features a posh little commercial cluster of shops on Baggot Street Upper. The Portobello area, by way of contrast, is funky. West of Richmond Street South is the hub of Dublin's Jewish community; to the east of Richmond is a trove of ethnic shops and eateries. The vibe is intermittently scrappy and stately, a nice cross-section of Dublin culture.

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At the top of O'Connell Street is the charming Parnell Square and surrounding area. Parnell Square is a large, inviting Georgian square. The area is jam-packed with notable city landmarks like the Municipal Gallery of Modern Art, the Dublin Writers' Museum, and the Garden of Remembrance, which honors those who died fighting for the independence of Ireland. The vibe here is refined; the presence of gorgeous buildings imbues the area with a stately air.

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St. Stephen’s Green and the surrounding area sit adjacent to Dublin's hustle and bustle but remain quiet. This sliver of Dublin is a great place to see the ghosts of the city’s former elite, arranged as statuettes around Merrion Square. For those after a flash of green, St. Stephen’s is not the only park in the area. Iveaugh Gardens, just south, is known for its elegant stone fountains. Outside the parklands, the streets are residential and quiet. On the south side, see Georgian mansions, elementary schools and dog-walking residents. North of the Green, shopping, bars and throngs of people set the stage. The area west of St. Stephen’s also has a residential, less touristy feel. A few pubs in the area add a little life.

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Bars, crowds, drinks, Irish music, bars, beer, pubs, drinks, Irish music, more people, more pubs. This is the place where tourists party in Dublin. Young and loud, Temple Bar is a raging place. Just south of the River Liffey and just west of the road leading to O’Connell Street, the Temple Bar area is smack-dab in the center of the action. Trinity College is just east of the expansive bar scene.

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