Dublin Car Hire

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  • The population of Dublin is close to 2 million. It was named the capital in 1922 when the country gained its independence from the British state, it is known to have the youngest population in all of Europe, around fifty percent are under 25 years of age.
  • Dublin is a renowned historical centre for Education, the arts, administration and industry, with its changing times it reinvents itself as a contemporary centre with the same faculties.
  • Major roads throughout Ireland were originally focussed on making Dublin the heart of the country, all roads lead back to the capital in some way. The city is a mix of motorways, streets and cobbled alleys, with trams, buses also horse and carriages running throughout.
  • Although County Dublin is the country's third-smallest county around a third of the population lives there.
  • Dublin City Council has over time introduced a 30km/h speed limit that stretches to most of the city, they are pushing to make it standard across the City.
  • With it's infamous Trinity University and the pouring of Guinness throughout the city, there are countless bars, restaurants, hotels and B&B's all over. The range in prices are perfect for a budgeter, a luxurious traveller and all in between.
  • Dublin streets are signposted for parking and meters line the pavement. Ensure you look at the zones, never park on double yellow lines and only park on single ones during the allotted times.
  • Found on the east coast of Ireland, enclosed by the River Liffey and the Dublin mountains (Part of the Wicklow mountains) in the province of Leinster, which makes up the ancient Kingdoms of Meath, Leinster and Osraige.

Guide to Dublin

Downtown
Dublin view

Whether you arrive with the want to swim through the nightlife or you have your cultural hat on with desires of living poetic dreams, Dublin can provide with its 751 pubs and Bars, its close to one thousand restaurants and eateries, its many historic sites and the plethora of clubs that await your dancing shoes, Dublin is a hotbed of excitement.

A particular favourite of the locals is arguing about where the best pint of Guinness is poured, there's the great local 'Grogans' where the walls are covered with local artists paintings then the bar has the finest cheese toasties for the weary traveller, not far from there is the Guinness Storehouse a tourist destination, a place to see the history that went into one the world's most famous brews, the pint at the end of the trip is worth the education and also people realise their disdain for the drink when they get to the greatest view in Dublin, the Gravity Bar, so you can sneak a few extra free pints, a must try of the local deliciousness requires a stop in at Matt the Threshers where the oysters are fresh and aged perfectly then the Guinness is one of, if not, the best pints in all of Dublin.

Drinking is not the only past time of Dubliners they also love eating and their arms are thrown open to the community of flavours that parked their passions here, to start and not offend the Dubs, a trip to Clanbrassil House for some typical Irish fayre filled with homemade sausage on the grill, fresh fish dishes from the Atlantic and the yoghurt Panna Cotta(Not so Irish but worth a tastebud tickle) you cannot go wrong with this place. No time for sitting down, head over to The Eat Yard after securing a permanent spot this food market throws it all at the wall and the 'The Saucy Cow' vegan burgers, stick.

Taking the upmarket route then one of the many Michelin starred restaurants will suffice this need and may as well go to the top of them all whilst still remaining true to your adopted Dublin roots Chapter One is the place to arrive to, their selection of local Artisanal produce whipped, foamed and fashioned into delectable dishes will tattoo a smile to your face, the ravioli of foie gras, pistachio, artichoke(Globe), Gubeen pancetta and black truffle butter, despite having so many chapters is a perfectly balanced read for your tastebuds, the restaurant is part of the Writers Museum.

After eating and drinking into the evening then you'll want to either head home or maybe you'll want to expand your Dublin roots and head into one of the nightclubs, start with the glittering sites of stars from TV, Sport and Radio, at Krystle here you will be treated to the high class clubbing experience with most attendees dressing up to the nines and the music is accessible for chart lovers and funky house admirers with live accompaniment from some of Dublin's finest percussionists.

Something off the beaten track and attending here will bump up your social status is The Twisted Pepper with bookings of some the best EDM acts that have ever existed, the venue is split over three floors and the addition of The Rum Bar, cocktail delights, tops this club off as a must go on your Dublin trip.

No need to be a seasoned clubber there are plenty of live music venues too, with the countless pubs that have Trad music(Traditional Irish music, a group of musicians performing folk songs from the ages) to The Grand Social where live music and Djs combine, with food stalls in the immense beer garden to keep you dancing all night long.

History of Dublin

Dublin Street
Grattan Bridge

Dubh Linn (Translates to Black Pool) was founded by the Vikings in 841, on the south bank of the Liffey. The town itself was fortified by a ditch and an earth rampart with a wooden palisade on top. The stone walls of the city were built in the late 11th century and the Danes also fashioned an artificial hill where the men of Dubh Linn would meet to make laws and discuss policy.

The living conditions of Viking Dublin were not modern in their nature, wooden huts with thatched roofs, not a chimney or glass window in sight. The city was filled with blacksmiths, carpenters, jewellers and leather workers, then other craftspeople made objects like bone combs and antler combs.

A troubled past Dublin had with the black plague arriving in 1348 on the east coast, it came via ships landing at the port. It was spread by fleas on rats and was the demise of 14,000 Dubliners and continued to spread through the country.

With disease comes cure as well and many a Dubliner has been responsible for the modern age of healthcare that we appreciate today, Francis Rynd was the first doctor to perform a Hypodermic injection, a woman was suffering severe pain in her face and although painkillers had been prescribed they did not have the desired effect, Rynd made a narrow tube and trocar then punctured four holes and poured morphine through the tubes.

Long controlled by the British Empire, Ireland fought to be an independent state for many years and took charge in 1919 making a concerted effort to gain their independence by taking on the Brits, they fought a long gruelling battle that lasted officially for 2 years, 5 months, 2 weeks and 6 days ending in a truce on 11 July 1921. The bloodshed and hardship endured by the Irish continues till this day with the north of the Emerald isle still being a British stronghold, something to bear in mind when crossing the fine land.

More information needed?

This is a truncated history and you probably desire a little more so the plentiful historical societies and walking tours of Dublin can provide this for you. The infamous Dublin Historical Society provides maps for you to start your own tour however if you wish to have the history fed to you aurally then Historical Walking Tours Dublin can assist you with this, the price is reasonable and the information is abundant. Dublin also has many hop on hop off tour buses throughout the city and even a Boat Tour that is one of the best ways to take in some of the sights from a completely different angle.

Things to do in Dublin

There are many things that Dublin is known for, Guinness, Jameson, Oysters and indeed writers of note, Trinity College is a must see in Dublin. It is the education house for some of the greatest literary artists of the known times, with horror greats Bram Stoker(Dracula), absurdist brilliance from Samuel Beckett, poetic romance of Oscar Wilde, and adventurous torture of James Joyce's epic Ulysees, one of the many points to cross off on this cultural trip. Attend the The Writers Museum as a jumping off point, this is just the tip of the mountain of writing attractions in Dublin.

Dublin is not just famous for writers it also has The Spire, a perfect location for any budding instagrammer, it's an architectural landmark to represent Dublin's heart, the monument before was demolished by the IRA in the 90s so the Spire stands as a testament of pushing on.

Visit Dublin Castle, it houses over 800 years of Irelands history, set over 11 acres on the highest ground in the city, the castle offers both guided and self-guided tours.

Head to Gaol for an hour or two by visiting Kilmainham Gaol, the tickets are 8 euros and the tour will catch you up on more of the atrocities committed against the people of Dublin and surrounds, this is another muscle in the mind of the people of Dublin, their ability to dance and sing through oppression and hardship is one of the main reasons to visit in the first place. Book ahead as it is one of the most popular attractions in Dublin.

Dublin Zoo, founded in 1831 and focussed on the extension of knowledge in species studies, is another great day/afternoon out, it's in the city as part of Phoenix Park(Perfect for picnics) and attracts over a million visitors every year. There are guided tours throughout and the ticket price for an adult is a reasonable €17.50.

Glasnevin Cemetery, a pit stop for those on their way to the next adventure and for travellers who wish to see where some of the greatest figures of Irelands history now reside. Famous people like Christy Brown, author of My Left Foot, Francis Browne, Jesuit priest who took the last known photographs of the RMS Titanic and who could forget Josie MacAvin, Oscar winner.

Getting around Dublin

Driving

Car parking spaces are plentiful with 15,500 long – term and 3,100 short – term. Inside the terminals are multiple hire car vendors that all run alongside each other, frequent shuttle buses then take you to pick up the car.

The selection of cars from the mini to the luxurious are available at competitive prices, bear in mind when selecting a car what you wish to achieve, there are many day trips around the Isle that can bring you back to Dublin but the roads can be narrow and windy.

Dublin Airport Car Hire

Companies are of the usual standard with Hertz, Avis, Europcar, Enterprise, Budget and Sixt. There is a more local rental called Dooley however this is operated by the same umbrella company that operates Enterprise and Alamo.

About Dublin Airport (DUB)

Dublin airport is the country's major international gateway. The airport operates 364 days a year(Closed Christmas Day) and on the days it is open it runs 24 hours. Around 31.5 million travellers come through this airport per year. It's a dual terminal airport opened on January 19, 1940 the commercial operation of the airport came to a standstill during World War II but was resumed in 1945 with its Aer Lingus(Irelands national airline) Dublin to Croydon, London. A further expansion to open the 2nd terminal on 2010. There are up to 740 aircraft movements per day and they fly to over 200 destinations. Around 400 million passengers have travelled through this historic site and the older buildings are maintained as an ode to this aviation history. It is also the proud owner of the titles largest carpark in Ireland and busiest bus station with around 1,700 movements daily.

Top Tips when hiring a car in Dublin

● If you wish to explore the villages and other points of interest around Dublin city then you should head for a car hire company upon arrival. Having your own car rental from the get go will improve your trip greatly.

● The most inetesting places include but are not limited to Clontarf, Malahide, Howth, Bray, and Drogheda. They are relatively close but you'd still need a car hire to get there easily.

● These points of interest can be found about 35 miles away from the Dublin city centre. If visiting them is in your itinerary, avoid renting big vehicles as they may not be suitable for the narrow roads in these areas.

● In general big cars are not recommended as Dublin car rentals as there are a lot of streets in the city that can't be traversed with them. some of these streets are Capel street, manor street, and Drury street.

● Therefore, small cheap car hire is what's best for exploring Dublin in a car.

● A big number of users encountered rental cars in Dublin for less than £31 per day.

● Booking your rental car in Dublin in advance even by 1 day before your trip ensures you'll get below-average car hire deals.

● Getting your car hire in Dublin Airport is cheaper than what car rental companies charge within the city centre.

● The Dublin car hire companies in the Dublin Airport is easy to find and very accessible. Additionally, the car hire companies are known to offer the best car hire deals, especially if you book in advance.

● If you're looking for a specific rental car company then make sure you check where they're desks can be found in the Terminal.

● Part of your preparation should also include checking what the rental car company requires for booking, such as credit card's insurance guarantee, driving license, international driving permits, excess insurance and more.

● Economy hire cars in Dublin are around 40% cheaper than most other vehicle types.

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FAQs about car hire in Dublin

Most frequently asked questions about hiring a car in Dublin

The range is broad, for a 4 day hire a mini size could be as little as €4.63/day all the way up to the larger and luxury cars at €36.35/day dependent on the time of year you're travelling.
The cheapest overnight car hire €6.99/day, although lower rates are available if the hire is longer. As the competition is mostly at the airport the prices are lower when you rent and drop off from there.
Starts at €9.99/day and prices can go lower with a longer rental period.
Economy car hire for a Ford Fiesta or similar starts at €13.89/day
With the exception of Europcar and Sixt, which only operate out of Terminal 1, the following operate out of Terminal 1 and 2 AVIS, Budget, Dooley, Enterprise, Europcar(T1 only), Hertz, Sixt(T1 only)
The drive is either 8 miles or 9 and a quarter. The M50 being the fastest route into Dublin City.
Buses are frequent and fairly priced however driving or taking a taxi is the quickest as the buses weave through the streets which can get very jammed.
There are 13 tolled routes across the country, comprising of bridges, junctions and freeways. The tolls for these routes range from €1.40 all the way up to €10 depending on the time of day when you are travelling.
Go to the Etoll website and find out there, also ask the car company when you arrive as some cars have E tags, just ensure you make note of where you drive and which tolled routes you use.
Irish Road Safety Authority issued this statement 'When renting a car, most car rental companies will require a driving licence issued by the country you are normally resident in, not an international driving licence/permit.'
A compact car is ideal for Dublin as the roads are busy and although the entrance to the city is via a freeway the rest of the journey is typically narrow and windy. If you decide to venture out of Dublin on a day trip then a smaller car is still ideal as the most interesting drives are down the narrow country and coastal lanes.
Contact the local authorities first then the car company that you hired the rental from.
Left side.
Prices in Dublin have dropped considerably in recent years but it still remains one of the most expensive cities in Europe. On average travellers spend £58 per day in Dublin.
They say the best way to see Ireland is through a car. Dublin is not any different so depending on your circumstance, renting a car in the city is highly recommended.
Driving in Dublin is very easy and you should not encounter any issues. The roads are in good condition and people generally drive with respect in Dublin.
Traveling around Dublin itself is simple. The coastal train and the extensive public bus network make it easy to see what the city has to offer.
We’d say car hire in Dublin is quite cheap. You can find economical options starting at £8 per day.
If you’re visiting Dublin for the first time, the best way to explore the city is to start from Dublin Castle and from there begin visiting all the main attractions of the city such as The Book of Kells, Ha’penny Bridge, St Patrick’s Cathedral and more.
When asked about best time to visit Dublin, most would agree it’s the month of June. June through August when temperatures rise and the festivals begin, makes it the best and most expensive time to visit.
The average price of a litre of fuel can vary between €1.20 and €1.38

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