I made it to the epicenter of the Irish capital. I'm Angel Castellanus for the tour guide and today I'm giving you the formula to have nothing but fun right here in Dublin. Dublin is on the east coast of Ireland and the biggest city on the island. Dublin Airport has connections from all major airlines including Ayrlingus, the National Airline of Ireland. Ayrlingus provides direct routes between North America and Ireland including Boston, New York, Washington DC, LA and San Francisco to name a few. We flew Ayrlingus and it was a pretty sweet comfortable ride. The comfy seats with loads of storage, excellent service, good food and many perks like free Wi-Fi made the long journey super easy. Since the airport is only a 30 minute drive north of the city, getting to the city center from Dublin Airport is quite easy and there are several options to choose from.

The most convenient public transportation option is to take the buses operated by Ayrlingus Express or Aircoach which run regular bus services to the city center making stops at several key locations in the city including Temple Bar, O'Connell Street, College Green and St. Stevens Green. Another option is to take a taxi which will take you directly to your destination but can be more expensive during peak traffic hours. Dublin was founded as a Viking training post on the Irish Sea. Throughout the centuries the city grew around the River Liffey which cuts through the heart of the city east and west. Today Dublin is a sprawling capital of the Republic side of the island but many of Dublin's top attractions are located near the River Liffey such as the Guinness Store House, Trinity College and the Heypany Bridge.

In today's episode we'll be mostly sticking to the tight triangle between Oconno Street, St. Stevens Green and St. Patrick's Cathedral. Dublin has a relatively small historic core so getting around is easy and best done on foot. While there are plenty of buses, trams and taxis to help you get around today we'll be mostly walking from site to site in the compact historic center to absorb more of the ancient city. We created the perfect route and plan to get you from A to Z. Check out the blog for great information on maximizing your time and increasing your fun. Before we start our day hook me up with a like and subscribe so we can keep bringing you great content. We'll be starting our morning early from our hotel across the street from St. Stevens Green with a walk down lively graphing street to Trinity College which houses a national treasure before heading off to a pub lunch at O'Neill's which was founded in 1713.

Now normally I say get out and begin exploring by having breakfast outside of your hotel but sometimes a great hotel can make it super tempting if not irresistible to stay in. That's what I found at our hotel for this trip, the Green Hotel. With elegantly designed rooms, friendly service and sustainable practices this is a comfortable and stylish base for exploring the city. From this prime location with views of St. Stevens Green it's going to be easy to access Dublin's top attractions and restaurants. One of my favorite places in all of Dublin is probably St. Stevens Green and that's why I like to stay in this neighborhood to have some proximity to this particular park because once you're inside you just honestly don't feel like you're in the middle of a capital in Europe and it's 22 acres of parkland here in Dublin.

In the 17th century it was actually on the outskirts of the city and the park that we see today was really made up in the 19th century and during the 1916 revolution this was a battleground. So this is Grafton Street here which connects St. Stevens Green to Trinity College. It's about a ten minute walk to connect the two and I'm headed to Trinity College because one of the greatest medieval works of art is housed there and I want to show it to you. So let's go. Founded in the 9th century by Vikings the island was invaded in the 12th century by Normans which eventually led to 750 years of English occupation. Even though King Henry VIII declared himself King of Ireland in 1541 it wasn't officially part of the Kingdom of Great Britain in Ireland until the act of union in 1801. Following the Irish War of Independence in 1922 26 of Ireland's 32 counties became independent creating the Irish free state.

Dublin remains a capital of the Republic. Throughout history Ireland has been the center of learning and literacy. Today some of the greatest authors in the world are Irish. So I made it to Trinity College which was started in 1592 when Queen Elizabeth the first granted the original charter to this college and it was only originally meant for Protestant males. Today it's all inclusive and anyone can attend and it's one of the most prestigious universities here in Ireland. I'm going to go to the library to check out the Book of Kells. So the Book of Kells here at Trinity College is definitely one of the top things to see and do here in Dublin. You should book your tickets one advance and tickets for today are completely sold out. If you need help getting tickets check out the link in the description below.

Our tours include a passionate tour guide so we got everything sorted for you. So I made it to the old library here at Trinity College which dates back to the foundation of the university in the 16th century. So downstairs you see the medieval masterpiece known as the Book of Kells which dates back from the 9th century. You see the old book and you see the old book and you get some pretty important artifacts as well. So the oldest surviving harp in Ireland is in this room as well which serves as a symbol to the whole country. Also a copy of the 1916 Proclamation of Independence is held in this building as well. Alright so that concludes my time here at Trinity College checking out the Book of Kells. Definitely one of the top things to see here in Dublin and that's a great thing about the city.

Everything is centrally located and you're not going to spend a lot of exhausting time going through museums. The exhibits are really manageable and definitely easy to see. Now I have more time to maybe have a pint or check out the rest of the city you know. You imagine studying a rod here? I don't think I would ever get anything done if I studied a rod here. Send me a comment down below if you studied here at Trinity College. I'm lucky for you. About a five minute walk away is one of my favorite pubs. Let's go. After Trinity College you have several great options for lunch nearby but my forever home in Dublin will be the lab-ramped like palace to excellent food, music and conversation called O'Neill's pub right on Suffolk Street across from the famous Mollymillone statue. Time for lunch at O'Neill's let's do this.

I'm inside of O'Neill's pub here in the center of Dublin. They have excellent beer, it's spacious, a lot of nooks and crannies. It's that classic Irish pub with dark wood but more importantly they also have excellent food. So just a typical lunch here. I got my pint waiting for my food. Cheers. Just a 15 minute walk from O'Neill's is another musty side in Dublin and one of the most important churches in the country, St. Patrick's Cathedral. Founded in the 12th century, St. Patrick's Cathedral has played a central role in Irish religious and political life, serving as a place of worship, a seat of power and becoming a cultural icon. So one of the reasons why I love visiting St. Patrick's Cathedral is because it's kind of like a microcosm of the history of the island. It was founded in the 12th century and it is now the national cathedral of the country.

So we're going to check it out, go inside it and I saw on the way over here that there's a little carnival happening in a churchyard so we're going to stroll through that too. So this particular part of St. Patrick's Cathedral, the choir, is home to the most illustrious order of St. Patrick which was created by King George III in the 18th century. The last night was installed in the 20s and you see the various banners and heraldic symbols that line the choir and this is honestly a spectacular place to sort of observe the Gothic architecture but you're also surrounded by these banners and a new, the full view of the nave when you have to go back to the altar. For when the love is washed and white is grown. Right next to St. Patrick's Cathedral, little festival happening and this is typically the spot where festivals do happen so if you're in town check the calendar.

To wrap up our day in Dublin before dinner I'll be headed to the sacred and spiritual home of Irish sports. Croke Park located in the north of the city and don't forget to stay until the end because we're ending today's episode with a look into the Game of Thrones studio tour. A great way to dive into local Irish culture is to explore the number one sports venue in Ireland that is steeped in history. Croke Park, which is also home to the Galic Athletic Association Museum. I'm into the third largest stadium in Europe it's right here in Dublin, Croke Park, home of the Galic Athletic Association and it's an amateur run athletic association but look at this stadium this is a brand new pitch it's also historic park and really the center of sports here in Ireland. It's hard to understate the importance of this 82,000 seat stadium which holds a special place in the heart of the Irish.

You can attend a match here or simply tour the stadium and the museum to learn more. So if you know me you know that I love sports so I definitely recommend that you check out the GAA Museum right here at Croke Park. The Galic Athletic Association is dedicated to preserving Irish language and Irish heritage so it's a great way to really dig a little deeper in Irish culture. You learn about how sports sort of integrates itself into Irish life. There's even a moving tribute to the events of Sunday Bloody Sunday which happened on November 21st, 1920 right here at Croke Park. There is a deep emotional connection to Irish sports and seen as an important element to the Irish identity. The GAA was developed in 1884 and this small museum is the best way to learn about the sports that are central to communities all over Ireland.

You can even pick up a hurling stick and try Irish sports for yourself. Did you get that? On Sunday November 21st, 1920 British black and tan swarmed the pack stadium opening fire on the crowd which resulted in the death of 14 spectators. The stadium has been literally helled ground ever since. For dinner in Dublin I have two great options. Sophie's and Fade Street Social both near St. Stephen's Green. There is no doubt that Irish food has come a long way over the years and one of the places that I recommend you check out to change your mind about Irish cuisine is called Fade Street Social. It is in the center of town, up of a quiet street and not only do they serve really great food but also the vibe and the ambiance is different depending on where you are at in the restaurant. I am in this romantic upstairs lounge here and if you want to drink with friends they have a terrace and downstairs is a really cool and snowy business lunch vibe.

Another cool restaurant to check out is Sophie's on the 5th floor of the Dean Hotel. It has a really cool vibe and there is even an outdoor terrace. Their delicious modern take on Irish classics fire on all cylinders. Just an hour away from the Dublin Airport and 90 minutes north of the city center is the latest blockbuster attraction in all of Ireland. So today we are ending with a visit to the studios of the hit TV show Game of Thrones. We are going to check out Linden Mills Studios for the Game of Thrones studio tour. You go inside, you check out the real sets, we are authentic costumes and see where the actors played out their scenes. It is totally an opportunity for you to geek out as a Game of Thrones fan. I am going to go inside and check out one of their tours. Linden Mills Studios was a production home of Game of Thrones and many of the famous scenes from the show were filmed right here.

Visitors can tour the sets that have been lovingly recreated by the actual production activity. As you walk through you will see sets, props and real costumes worn by the actors. The guides have first hand stories of the production which makes a whole experience super special. The studio tour is also interactive with many opportunities to even become part of the production. From the white walkers to the Lannisters to King's Landing, every aspect of this studio tour is authentic and engaging. Of course, it all ends with a visit to the Iron Throne. There is so much more that you can easily do in Dublin but this concludes our epic day here. We had a great time exploring this fun and historic city. We started our day by visiting the medieval masterpiece known as the Book of Kells, located in Trinidad College and then walked around the historic core visiting St.

Patrick's Cathedral and St. Stephen's Green. We even did a deep dive into local Irish culture by visiting Croke Park. And don't forget if you are arriving in Dublin or at Leading Town visit the Linden Mills studio which is the home of the Game of Thrones studio tour. I'm Angel Costeanos for the tour guide, don't forget to comment, like and subscribe and smash that bell so you can find our next video. Slantcha and Happy Travels!