Skip to main content

Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin

Trinity Menu Trinity Search

Current Students

You are here Orientation > Visiting and Erasmus Students

January Orientation for Visiting, Erasmus & Exchange Students

Week 2 - Dublin & Ireland

Living in Dublin Presentation

Dublin City

Dublin City neighbourhoods

Dublin City is a small, compact city that is divided in two by the River Liffey. Irish people call the city centre 'town'. It is easy to get around on foot, or on public transport. Different areas of the city have different vibes and you can find a brief guide to what to see and do and where to eat in a few of them here

Safety and Security

Dublin and Ireland are very safe, the OECD ranks Ireland as 7th safest country in the world. However, Dublin is still a capital city so you should take the same precautions as you would in any major city while you are here.

  1. Don’t leave your bag unattended or carry large amounts of cash
  2. Be aware of your surroundings, particularly at ATMs
  3. Keep your apartment door locked
  4. Don’t let anyone into your building you don’t know
  5. Be cautious in areas that you don’t know
  6. Inform College Security (01 896 1317) immediately of any suspicious persons or activities which you may come across.

What to do in an Emergency?

Hospital emergencies: closest hospitals include the Mater, St James and St Vincent's (all public). A charge applies when you register.

The closest police station is: Pearse Street

Check in with a staff member in the (very unlikely!) case you are admitted to hospital and note the role of your Tutor should you need to arrange alternative examination.

Update your phone number and emergency contact information in my.tcd.ie

Shopping

Supermarkets

There are plenty of places to shop in the City Centre, whether you need to do a big grocery shop, or just pick up a few necessities.

  • Budget
    • Lidl: Moore St., Thomas St., Rathmines
    • Aldi: Parnell St., Rathmines
    • Dealz: Liffey St., Henry St., Talbot St., Thomas St.
  • Regular
    • Tesco: Dame Street, Jervis St., Thomas St., Rathmines
    • Dunnes: St. Stephen’s Green, Rathmines
    • Supervalu: Aston Quay, Talbot St., Ranelagh
  • Fancy
    • Marks & Spencer: Grafton St.
    • Fallon & Byrne: Exchequer St., Rathmines
    • Donnybrook Fair: Baggot St., Grand Canal
  • Convenience stores
    • Centra
    • Spar
    • Londis
More Information

Clothes Shopping

There are two main shopping areas in Dublin city: Grafton Street and Henry Street. Henry Street generally offers more choice and better value for money, although you'll find many of the same shops in both places. There are shops for all budgets in the city, from affordable fashion in Penneys to designer brands in Brown Thomas.

You can also hop on a Green Line Luas southbound to Dundrum Shopping Centre, which has shops, food, drinks and a cinema.

Household Shopping

If you've just moved in and need essentials like sheets, towels or tableware you'll find good quality affordable goods in a number of places, but start with Penneys and Dunnes Stores. There is an IKEA in Dublin but you'll need to get the 140 bus from Pearse Street out to Ballymun so you might not be able to buy a lot of stuff as you'll have to get it back home on the bus with you too!

Going Out

Eating Out

Dublin has a huge number of restaurants of all cuisines, from casual dining to Michelin stars so whatever your tastes, you're sure to find something. If you're going out for a restaurant meal, check if they have an Early Bird menu (usually during the week and before 7 at weekends). You'll get two or three courses for a good price. Your S2S mentors and Global Room Ambassadors will also be able to give you some recommendations of great places to try. It's customary to tip in a restaurant, but it is not mandatory.

The Pub

A lot of socialising in Ireland takes place in the pub, and in the evenings it can be difficult to find cafes that are open (more on that shortly). Enjoy visiting some of the city's beautiful pubs, and please drink responsibly. If you don't drink, that's fine too, there are plenty of non-alcoholic options on offer. Do make sure to visit the Pavilion Bar ('the Pav') on campus, when the weather gets better you can join the hundreds of students sitting out on the grass at the cricket pitches, enjoying the rare afternoons of sunshine.

Cultural Activities

Dublin has a great range of museums, theatres, live music venues, galleries, tours and more. Why not start with the ones below, they are only a small taster of what's on offer in the city.

  • Theatres
    • The Abbey & The Peacock
    • The Gate
    • Smock Alley Theatre
  • Live music venues
    • The Olympia
    • Whelan's
    • Vicar Street
    • 3Arena
  • Museums
    • National Museum
    • Little Museum of Dublin
    • National Gallery
    • Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA)
  • Tours
    • Dublin Historical Walking Tour
    • Glasnevin Cemetary
    • Guinness Storehouse
    • Traditional Irish Music Pub Crawl
    • THe Viking Splash Tour
Dublin Bucket List

Travel around Ireland

Getting Around the Country

Ireland is a small island, so you rarely need to make a journey longer than 3 hours to get somewhere new. The best ways to get around are Bus Eireann, Irish Rail, or by renting a car.

Don't forget to get your student discounts when booking bus or train tickets.

Places to go in Ireland

This is not an exhaustive list but it's a place to start!

  • Nights out in Galway City
  • Surfing in Sligo and Donegal
  • The Wild Atlantic Way
  • Cross the Carrickarede rope bridge and visit the Giant’s Causeway in Antrim
  • Walking in Wicklow
  • The Cliffs of Moher and the Burren in Clare
  • The Lakes of Killarney and the Ring of Kerry
  • Newgrange in County Meath
  • Johnny Foxes in the Dublin Mountains
  • The murals in Belfast
  • The Blarney Stone & Fota Wildlife Park in Cork
  • The National Stud and the Japanese Gardens (and Kildare Village outlet mall) in Kildare