Howth, Ireland

After returning to Dublin, Elisabeth and I decided to spend our last day in Howth, a charming little seaside city. Again, we lucked out with gorgeous weather. We took the DART train in the morning from Dublin and 20 minutes later we arrived in Howth, the last stop on the line. The city is so picturesque and everything you hope for in a small fishing town. I'm glad we decided to take the short journey to spend the day here. I highly recommend it! 

What to do: 

Because of our short time there, I don't really have a long list of what to do. You should most definitely walk the trails (there are maps available at a travel kiosk in Howth, or online). There are some amazing views along the way. We did the shortest option and it took us around two hours. Another must is exploring the shops and fish markets along the pier. I loved to see the sea-to-store set up. 

 

Where to Eat 

O'Connells

Elisabeth and I both decided we wanted traditional Irish food for lunch. We heard good things about O'Connells, so we went there and both ordered the fish and chips. It was delicious. Crispy, warm, melt-in-your-mouth cod... enough said. 

Compulsion 

(in the Howth Market)

Upon arriving in Howth, Elisabeth and I spotted Compulsion, mostly because of the signs promising belgian waffles and coffee. We waited until after our hike to visit this tiny storefront and it was well worth it. I opted for a strawberry maple syrup waffle and she went for a banana nutella one. If waffles aren't your thing, the café also offered many other desserts and snacks. 

That's it from our short day trip to Howth and this is the last of my Ireland posts. 

Ireland was everything I hoped it would be and more. Lush greens, hearty food, beautiful landscapes, and people I love made this a trip I'll always remember.  

Galway & West Coast Ireland

Galway was our second stop in Ireland and I'm so glad we decided to go here. While in Galway we took a day trip along part of the west coast to get to the Cliffs of Moher. Obviously, we didn't drive the entire west coast, only a small section, but it was definitely a highlight from the trip. 

What to do:

Walk and shop in Galway city center

Galway city center has lots of shops, some chains and some boutiques. We happened upon the shop "My Granny Likes It." I think Elisabeth pointed it out to us. They had an awesome selection of Irish-made goods. I found myself the perfect souvenir of a silver necklace handmade by a Galway-born jewelry designer. Nothing feels touristy in the shop, rather it's the exact shop you want to find for great souvenirs that don't say "I <3 IRELAND" all over them. 

Visit the Galway Museum

This museum feels current and has some great exhibits. It's not huge, but if you take the time to look at every exhibit you might stay for a few hours. It's nice to learn more about the history of the city you're in. 

Visit the countryside

There are so many castles and churches, and well history. We didn't take a substantial amount of time to do this, but the little time we did was amazing. If you rent a car, staying somewhere in the countryside of whatever part of Ireland you're in would be a good idea. 

Visit Dunguaire Castle

This 16th century castle is a short drive outside of Galway City and it sits on Galway Bay. We weren't able to tour the inside because we came during the winter, but still cool, especially if you are into history. 

Explore the coast 

The west coast is truly stunning. We stopped a few times on our way to the Cliffs of Moher. An insanely beautiful landscape all around. I loved the rocky terrain and rich colors. 

Plan a trip to the Cliffs of Moher 

Just as cool as they seem. This spot is absolutely breathtaking. We stopped here for a few hours and trekked around the trails in the mud, but lucky for us we missed the rain. I recommend planning for 2-3 hours here depending on how long you want to hike the trails and the weather. There is a small museum inside, as well as a restaurant and cafe if you need to wait out the rain.  

 

Where to eat: 

The food scene in Galway surprised me! There were tons of cool spots to try. While shopping we met a woman (from the "My Granny Likes It" store) who offered up great suggestions.

Dough Bros Pizza

Awesome pizza and story. The guys who started Dough Bros lost their jobs and decided to pursue making pizza after inspiration from a trip to Naples, Italy. A few years ago they started a food truck and quickly made their way to a store front location. Anyway, the inside is fun and the pizza is great. One warning – it gets extremely busy at dinner time. I would suggest going in for lunch or an early dinner. 

Biteclub 

The coolest and funkiest place to eat in Galway. Great menu and atmosphere! 

Elisabeth's photo from our dinner there, as you can see the lighting was, well, pink.

Quay Street Kitchen

I recommend this place for dinner. It's extra cozy inside when it's dark outside. The staff were super friendly and welcoming. We all ordered different burgers, (turkey, black bean, and tofu) with sweet potato fries. Even though we were super full, we ordered "The Chocolate Bomb" for my birthday dessert. Overall delicious and the perfect spot for a birthday meal. 

Another of Elisabeth's photos. "The Chocolate Bomb" birthday dessert. 

Gus O'Connors Pub

This pub is in Doolin, so more of a recommendation for your journey to or from the Cliffs of Moher. Classic pub atmosphere with good food and a nice fireplace! 

Wilde Irish Chocolate Shop

This shop is only a few doors down from Gus O'Connor's Pub. Not much else needs to be said other than they sell handmade chocolates and fudge.. so if you're anything like me, or Elisabeth, or Jenna, you'll want a sweet treat for the road! 

I surely didn't cover everything. If you've been to Galway do you have any favorites that I missed?

** PS: Sorry for the mix-in of iPhone photos. Some places I apparently couldn't be bothered to get my camera out.. hah. 

Traveling in Dublin, Ireland

During the end of December and through the first week of January I traveled to Ireland to meet up with my sister Jenna who is living in England and my friend Elisabeth from Norway. We started off in Dublin on New Year's Eve and then traveled to different cities in Ireland...Dublin was our first and last stop. 

Though I wouldn't consider myself a Dublin expert, I do have a few suggestions of what to do and where to eat based on my time there. 

Things to do: 

Visit The Book of Kells & Trinity College Old Library

This was at the top of my to-do list in Dublin. It cost around 10 euros to get in and there is a small exhibit about the Book of Kells and other ancient works. There is a small room at the end of the exhibit where pages from the Book of Kells are on display. After you can walk into the old library of Trinity College. The library was stunning, but I expected a little more from the experience. Overall it was still worth it! 

Eat & Drink at the Temple Bar 

This one isn't under the eating section mostly because it's one of the most well-known tourist attractions in Dublin. I wouldn't say it has the best food in Dublin, but the atmosphere alone is worth the visit. This is where Jenna, Elisabeth and I spent New Year's Eve. 

Take a tour of the Guinness Storehouse

We didn't personally make it here.. but I've heard amazing things. This is at the top of most visitors to-do list! A great rainy weather option too. 

Visit the National Museum of Ireland

The National Museum of Ireland has different parts located around Dublin. We only made it to the Archaeology building, but it's a good option, especially if the weather is bad. The inside of the building is beautiful and the exhibits were really interesting.... plus it's free!

Go shopping on Grafton Street

This street looked extra special while the holiday decorations were still up, but it's a great street anytime of the year. If you want to shop in Dublin you'll find everything you need around the Grafton Street area. 

Find live music 

There are tons of pubs around Dublin, and consequently tons of live music. Ask a local for their top suggestion. 

Try an Irish Coffee 

Here is a list of some of the best places with Irish coffee in Dublin.. Elisabeth and I tried ours at the Norseman.  

Take a day trip to Howth

This was suggested to Elisabeth and I by our hosts not only in Dublin but also in Cork. It's super easy to catch a DART train from Dublin to Howth and it's only a 20-minute ride. This is near the top of my list of favorite things we did while in Ireland. (I'll do a separate post about our time spent there!)

 

Where to eat:

Brother Hubbard (or/and Sister Sadie) 

This cute and cozy cafe is probably my top pick from Dublin! They serve amazing fresh food, great coffee, and delicious baked goods. Elisabeth ordered the pancakes, which came with fresh cream and berries. I ordered the pork and beans with an egg on top... both were amazing! 

Bach 16

This little restaurant is conveniently located on the River Liffey and is extremely easy to get to! They serve tapas style dishes for dinner as well as pizza! We ordered both. 

Aperitivo

This is perfect for a quiet relaxed lunch or dinner. The place itself is quite small but extremely cozy. The staff were super friendly and most importantly the pizza was deeeeliciousss...really really good. They also have coffee and a selection of homemade desserts that looked amazing. 

 

Crackbird

This place is certainly not typical Irish food, instead it feels slightly modern with an interesting menu. Elisabeth and I split a bucket of their soy garlic chicken, which was amazing. I'm almost positive they gave us an entire chicken. We also split a side of the sweet potato noodles ... also really good! 

A traditional Irish breakfast

A Pub

Kind of self-explanatory, but hey, had to add it on to the list. Pubs are an important part of Irish culture. So choose one of the many! 

If you've been to Dublin what were your favorite things to do or place to eat? I'll also be writing posts about Howth, Galway and Cork.