How to do Dublin in a day…….

• Arrive in Dublin, making sure you’ve got € rather than £ in your wallet!
• Breakfast: You can visit one of the many pubs or cafes for a calorie-laden fry up, or for something more modern, try Brother Hubbard or Sister Sadie depending on if you’re north or south of the river. Staple Foods is also good for acai, porridge and protein pancakes if you’re that whey inclined (get it?).
• City Centre: walk along the river, swing by Customs House, indulge in some retail therapy, or visit the leprechaun mueseum en route to The Spire.
• Coffee: coffee is generally rubbish in Ireland if you’re used to Australian standards (sorry!) BUT Vice is excellent and more like the coffee we’re used to back home!
• Do a History Tour: For a fantastic free tour, meet at The Spire at 11:00 and look for the yellow umbrella. From there, Dublin Walking Tours will take you through the streets with a friendly and enthusiastic local who’ll fill you in on many aspects of the city’s history. End on the Northside and grab a bite to eat at Dublin Wine Rooms, which MUST be followed by gin or lavender ice cream at Murphy’s
•  Visit a Brewery: stay on the north and see the wonders of whisky at the Jameson Distillery or treck over to the south and visit the Guiness Brewery for an inside look at an integral part of Irish pub culture.
• See a castle in the city: En route from the brewery, visit the beautiful Dublin castle and if you’re feeling peckish, visit Queen of Tarts nearby for one of Dublin’s best pastry treats.
• Wander through Trinity College: whether you do a tour or just wander the grounds yourself like I did, there’s no denying the photogenicity of  this beautiful university campus.
• Snack on local seafood: It’s a pokey little hole in the wall, but if you’re into local seafood, grab a brioche lobster roll or a small plate of crab Mac’n’cheese at Klaw in Temple Bar. You won’t be disappointed but keep in snack sized so you’ve got room for dinner….
• Grab a pint: Avoid the other tourist spots in Temple Bar and instead go for the true Irish pub charm of Stag’s Head in Temple Bar.
• Dinner Option 1 – casual dining: also in the temple bar area, Boxty is the perfect way to knock a few items off your Irish food bucket list. Try the Irish stew sampler with three different varieties, as well as the Boxty tasting slate which celebrates potatoes in three different ways. If you can stomach dessert at this stage, the baileys cheesscake is magical!
• Dinner Option 2 – the gastropub: for a bit more of a walk, then head over to L Mulligan’s Grocer and prepared to be delighted with their modern take on traditional Irish food. Vegetarian scotch egg with mustard leeks, black pudding with cheese croquette
• Dinner Option 3 – fine dining: Michelin star quality without the price tag, The Pig’s Ear