Week 3: Daytrips around Dublin!

 One of the best parts of being in Ireland is that a good part of the country is connected by train! To take full advantage of this and the three weeks I have spent in Dublin, I have taken several different day trips to cities around the country. 

1. Galway

The first place I went with some friends was to Galway! A smaller city located on the western coast of Ireland, Galway is a must-see place. We spent the morning sightseeing around the Spanish Arch, wandering the Latin Quarter, and walking along Salthill Promenade. 

After a morning of adventuring, we ate lunch at The Dough Bros, a delicious pizza restaurant in the city, and then headed to the Galway Aquarium for the afternoon. We ended our time in Galway hanging out in a traditional Irish pub listening to some incredible live music before hopping back on the train and returning to Dublin.

2. Howth

The day trip that I went on this week with a few friends was to see the town of Howth. Howth is located just north of Galway and is a short tram ride from Dublin. From the harbor to the picturesque beaches and cliffsides, Howth is an outdoor adventure waiting to happen. 

We spent our time looking at the seals in the harbor, walking along the streets in the town, hiking along the Howth cliff path, taking in the gorgeous views, and eating some crepes from a local restaurant. 

This was definitely my favorite town that we visited. Howth was absolutely stunning and I highly recommend visiting if you are ever looking for a good hike with incredible views just a short way outside of Dublin. 

3. Belfast

As part of our closing week in Dublin, we took a class trip up to Northern Ireland to spend the day exploring and learning about the city of Belfast. We started our morning with the History of Terrors tour and learned about the significance of the city and its history. From there, we were free to explore. After eating lunch, I went with a few others over to Queen's University and the Botanical Gardens.

After riding the Ferris wheel in the gardens, we headed back towards the city and went to a restaurant downtown for some food and live music. Before we knew it, it was time to head back towards the train station and head back to Dublin.