Cosmopolitan, colourful and over a thousand years old, Dublin presents a fine starting point for visitors to Ireland. This capital city is split in two by the River Liffey, which gives form to the city and has no less than nine bridges spanning it. Easily explored on foot, central Dublin presents a wealth of historic landmarks, from ancient cathedrals to gracious Georgian buildings that pay testimony to days gone by. There are several attractions on both sides of the Liffey, ranging from gaols and castles to the birthplaces of famous poets and writers and guided literary trails.

Not far from the city in County Wicklow are the Wicklow Mountains, where hills and glens, forests and waterfalls attract weekend walkers and nature-lovers. Dublin Bay, which lies between the mouth of the River Liffey and the Dalkey headland, is the site of several small coastal towns and the ferry port of Dun Laoghaire. County Kildare is a region of rich farmland and fine reputation for the breeding of thoroughbred horses, while the similar counties of Louth and Meath have evidence of early civilisations and a wealth of castles and monasteries.

Trinity College Dublin

Address: Dublin

Telephone: (0)1 896 1000

Temple Bar District

Address: Dublin

Phoenix Park

Address: Parkgate Street Dublin

Admission: Free Main gate is open 24 hours.

Telephone: (0)1 677 0095 (Visitor Centre)

Dublin Castle

Address: Dame Street Dublin

Admission: Entry by guided tour only, every 20 minutes. EUR4.50 (adults), concessions available. Tours: Monday to Friday 10am-4:45pm, Saturday and Sunday 2pm-4:45pm.

Telephone: (0)1 645 8813 (tour services)

National Museum of Ireland

Address: Kildare Street Dublin

Admission: Free Tuesday to Saturday 10am-5pm, and Sunday 2pm-5pm.

Telephone: (0)1 677 7444

Guinness Storehouse

Address: St James's Gate Dublin

Admission: EUR14.40 (adults); concessions available. Discounts for online bookings. Daily 9:30am-5pm (until 7pm in July and August)

Telephone: (0)1 408 4800

National Library of Ireland

Address: 2 Kildare Street Dublin

Admission: Free Monday to Wednesday, 9:30am-9pm; Thursday and Friday, 9:30am-5pm; Saturday, 9:30am-1pm.

Telephone: (0)1 603 0200

St. Patrick's Cathedral

Address: St Patrick's Close Dublin

Admission: EUR5.50 (adults), concessions available. March to October: daily 9am-5:30pm; November to February: Monday to Saturday 9am-5pm, Sunday 9am-3pm.

Telephone: (0)1 453 9472

Glendalough

Address: 18 miles (30km) south of Dublin Dublin

Admission: EUR3 (adult); concessions available Daily 9:30am-6pm (until 5pm from October to March).

Telephone: (404) 45325

James Joyce Museum

Address: Sandycove Dublin

Admission: EUR6 (adults), EUR5 (children under 12). Concessions available. Monday to Saturday 10am-1pm and 2pm-5pm, and Sunday and public holidays 2pm-6pm (April to October). Open by prior arrangement at other times of year.

Telephone: (0)1 280 9265

Clonmacnoise

Address: 120 miles (200km) west of Dublin in Shannonbridge, County Offaly. Dublin

Admission: EUR6 (adult) and EUR2 (child), concessions available. Daily 10am-5:30pm (November to mid-March), 10am-6pm (mid-March to mid-May, and September to October), 9am-7pm (mid-May to September).

Telephone: 090 967 4195

Dublin Zoo

Address: Phoenix Park Dublin

Admission: EUR15 (adults), EUR10.50 (children 3-15); concessions available. Generally open from 9:30am Monday to Saturday and 10:30am on Sundays. Closing times vary between 4pm to 6pm.

Telephone: (0)1 474 8900

The Old Jameson Distillery

Address: Bow St, Smithfield Village Dublin

Admission: EUR13.50 (Adult), EUR8 (Child). Concessions available. Daily 9am-6:30pm (last tour at 5:30pm) Closed Good Friday and Christmas holidays.

Telephone: (0)1 807 2355

Viking Splash Tour

Address: 18 Mill Street Dublin

Admission: EUR20 (adults); EUR10 (children); concessions available. Departs frequently every day, weather permitting.

Telephone: (01) 707 6000

Airfield House and Farm

Address: Upper Kilmacud Road, Dundrum Dublin

Admission: EUR6 (adults); EUR3 (children). Concessions available Open daily 10am–5pm.

Telephone: (01) 298 4301

Imaginosity

Address: The Plaza, Beacon South Quarter, Sandyford Dublin

Admission: EUR8 (adults and children); EUR6 (toddlers). Concessions available. Open Mondays 1:30pm-5:30pm; Tuesday to Friday and Bank Holiday Mondays 9:30am-5:30pm; Saturday and Sundays 10am-6pm.

Telephone: (01) 217 6130

The Lambert Puppet Theatre

Address: Clifton Lane, Monkstown Dublin

Admission: Ticket prices vary, check the website for specific shows. Shows run on selected dates. See the website for more information.

Telephone: (01) 280 0974

St Patrick's Day Festival

Where: City Centre,Dublin

When: 17 March 2012

Bloomsday Festival

Where: ,Dublin

When: June 2012 TBA

Irish Derby

Where: Curragh,Dublin

When: June 2012 TBA

Hallowfest

Where: South Dublin County Council, County Hall, Tallaght and the Dublin Mountains,Dublin

When: 26 - 31 October 2011

Yeats: The Life and Works of William Butler Yeats

Where: The National Library of Ireland,Dublin

When: Daily

Dublin Toy and Train Fair

Where: Clontarf Castle, Clontarf Castle Hotel,Dublin

When: 19 February 2012

Irish Music and Dance Show

Where: The Merry Ploughboy Pub, Dublin City Centre,Dublin

When: Nightly

Fáilte Ireland Dublin Horse Show

Where: Royal Dublin Society complex,Dublin

When: 15 - 19 August 2012

Abbey Tavern

Address: Abbey St., Howth, Northern Suburbs Dublin

Food Type: International

Café Mao

Address: 2 - 3 Chatham Row Dublin

Food Type: Asian

Nosh

Address: 111 Coliemore Rd, Dalkey Dublin

Food Type: International

Jacob's Ladder

Address: 4 - 5 Nassau St Dublin

Food Type: Local

L'Ecrivain

Address: 109 Lower Baggot St, Fitzwilliam Square Dublin

Food Type: French

The Wicked Chef

Address: 73 Meath St Dublin

Food Type: Café

The Bad Ass Café

Address: 9-11 Crown Alley Dublin

Food Type: American

Tante Zoé's

Address: 1 Crow Street, Temple Bar Dublin

Food Type: Cajun

Yamamori Noodles

Address: 71 - 72 S. Great George's St Dublin

Food Type: Japanese

Juice

Address: 73 - 83 S. Great Georges St Dublin

Food Type: Vegetarian

Yamamori Sushi

Address: 38 - 39 Lower Ormand Quay Dublin

Food Type: Japanese

One Pico

Address: 5 - 6 Molesworth Place Schoolhouse Lane Dublin

Food Type: Irish

Gallagher's Boxty House

Address: 20-21 Temple Bar Dublin

Food Type: Local