International Destinations

Hop on the bus to see Dublin attractions

By Albert J. Fernando

Photo by Albert J. Fernando

With its multitude of historical, cultural and literary attractions, the city of Dublin will reward a long stay.

But if you only have a limited time, how do you make the most of it? The Hop on-Hop off Dublin Bus Tour is your best bet when visiting the Irish capital.

The route of this tour bus takes in 23 sites, and you can hop on the bus at any of the designated bus stops, hop off at any tourist site, visit it at your own time and then walk back and hop on the bus again.

In this way, you can see all the attractions that the bus goes to. Of course, it will take a couple of hours to see some attractions such as museums. However, if you have only a day to spend in Dublin, then you can select the most important ones and see them well.

It is also possible to see the attractions from the bus without getting off at any of the bus stops. That way you could see all the 23 sites in 90 minutes – that is the duration of each bus tour. But who wants to see well-known museums, historic churches and other important attractions just from the outside?

Among the attractions covered by the Dublin Bus Tour are Trinity College, founded by Queen Elizabeth I in the 16th century and where one can see the famous Book of Kells; the National Gallery; St. Stephen’s Green, a large central park featuring many statues and memorials; and Dublin Castle, built in the 13 century, which was the centre of English power for over seven centuries until it was taken over in 1922 by the Irish Free State.

Other sites include St. Patrick’s Cathedral, dating from the 12th century, which is where Handel gave his first performance of Messiah in 1742; the Guinness Storehouse, a tour of which provides a look at the 250-year history of the Guinness brewery, ending on the seventh floor with a complimentary pint of Guinness beer and the chance to see magnificent views of Dublin; Dublin Zoo; and the Dublin Writers Museum, where Dublin’s literary celebrities are brought to life through their books, letters and personal items.

En route from one attraction to another, while manoeuvring the bus through some narrow roads or busy streets with endless vehicular and pedestrian traffic, the driver gives commentaries packed with historical and interesting facts and figures.

The driver may also sing some Irish songs to entertain the passengers.

For example, just before approaching the bronze statue of 17th century fishmonger Molly Malone, who used to attract customers for her fish (some say, customers for something else), the bus driver started singing the popular song dedicated to her:

In Dublin’s fair city
Where the girls are so pretty
I first set my eyes on sweet Molly Malone
As she wheeled her wheel-barrow
Through streets broad and narrow
Crying, “Cockles and mussels, alive, alive oh!”

Some say that it is only a legend and that she never existed. No one knows for sure, but in 1988, when the city was celebrating its millennium, a bronze statue of Molly Malone was erected and today it is considered as one of the sexiest, and silliest, photo-ops in Europe.

A ticket for the Hop on-Hop off bus is 15 euros or about $23 dollars. The ticket is valid for 24 hours. This means you could purchase a ticket in the afternoon, visit as many sites as possible, and then resume your tour the following morning.

To make it convenient for the visitors, these buses run every 10 minutes from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and every 15 minutes from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. The last bus starts at 5 p.m., which means by the time the tour ends, it will be 6:30 p.m. – so that if you are half way between the starting point and last stop, you can still catch it around 5:45 or 6 p.m. The time each bus comes to each bus stop is printed in the complimentary map that is given when you purchase the ticket.

The Hop on-Hop off Dublin Bus Tours have their own bus stops, therefore, it is essential to catch the bus at these stops only.

For more information, please check their website: www.dublinsightseeing.ie.

In addition to the Dublin Bus Tour, it is recommended that a visitor purchase a Dublin Pass. This will enable a visitor to see several important historic and cultural sites without having to pay the admission fee of each site. Also included is a free ride on the airport bus. For more information, please check the website: www.dublinpass.ie.

If you like to receive information about Ireland, please contact Ireland’s tourism office in Toronto, Canada. Their website is www.tourismireland.com. Write to Tourism Ireland, 2, Bloor Street West. Suite 3403, Toronto, ON M4W 3E2, or telephone 1-416-925-6368.