Travel tips · Dublin · Ireland
Dublin travel tips: what to know before you go
The etiquette, money and practical details that make the first day easier.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: 瑞丽江的河水, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Dubliners are known for humour, storytelling and conversation, and the pub is the city's social centre rather than simply a place to drink. Ireland is officially bilingual — English is the everyday language, but signs and announcements also appear in Irish (Gaeilge) — and the city is proud of its writers, from Swift and Wilde to Joyce, Beckett and Heaney.
Key facts
- Language
- English and Irish
- Currency
- EUR
- Plugs
- Type G three-pin sockets, 230 V, 50 Hz
- Tap water
- Tap water is safe to drink throughout Dublin.
- Emergency
- 112 or 999
Things to know
- In pubs with friends, drinks are bought in rounds; if you join a round, make sure you buy one too.
- Hold out your arm to stop a bus at the stop, and many passengers thank the driver as they get off.
- Traffic drives on the left; look right first when crossing the road.
- During a trad session, keep conversation down near the musicians and do not shout requests.
- Queue patiently for buses, taxis and at busy bars.
- Book Trinity College and the Book of Kells ahead: Entry is by timed ticket and summer slots sell out; book on the official Trinity College site.
- Book Guinness Storehouse ahead: Timed tickets are cheaper online and sell out at weekends and in summer.
- Book Kilmainham Gaol ahead: Entry is by guided tour only and tours regularly sell out days ahead; book online as soon as your dates are fixed.
- Balance expensive hotel nights with the free National Gallery, National Museum, Chester Beatty and city parks.
Tipping
Tip about 10–15% in restaurants if service is not already included. Tipping for drinks at the bar is not expected, and taxi fares are usually rounded up.
Language
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Sláinte | Cheers |
| Dia duit | Hello (Irish) |
| Go raibh maith agat | Thank you (Irish) |
| Fáilte | Welcome |
| Craic | Fun, chat or a good time |
| Grand | Fine / OK |
What to wear
Pack a waterproof jacket and layers in any month; Dubliners dress casually, and comfortable shoes suit the cobbles of Temple Bar and Trinity.
Practical details
- Plugs and voltage
- Type G three-pin sockets, 230 V, 50 Hz
- Drinking water
- Tap water is safe to drink throughout Dublin.
- Emergency number
- 112 or 999
- Phone and internet
- EU roaming applies to European SIMs; other visitors can buy a local SIM at the airport or use an eSIM, and free Wi-Fi is common in cafés.
- Time zone
- Europe/Dublin
Dublin is generally safe for visitors, but pickpocketing and phone snatching happen around Temple Bar, O'Connell Street and on busy buses and trams. Some city-centre streets north of the river can feel rough late at night, so stick to busier routes or take a taxi.
Entry requirements
Visa and passport rules depend on your nationality and change often. Check Ireland's official government guidance and your own government's travel advice before booking.
Plan the trip
Questions travellers ask
+Do you tip in Dublin?
Tip about 10–15% in restaurants if service is not already included. Tipping for drinks at the bar is not expected, and taxi fares are usually rounded up.
+Can you drink the tap water in Dublin?
Tap water is safe to drink throughout Dublin.
+What plugs are used in Dublin?
Type G three-pin sockets, 230 V, 50 Hz
+What language is spoken in Dublin?
English and Irish.