If you are interested in moving to Dublin to study English, you have made a great choice. Ireland is home to some of the world’s friendliest people, beautiful landscapes, easy European access, and much more.
You can enjoy the live music at Dublin’s Temple Bar, visit the Cliffs of Moher on Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way, and also discover Belfast and Cork. It is easy to explore Ireland from Dublin; we also have one of the strongest European economies. As a result, we love tourists and visitors coming to Ireland, whether temporary or permanent.
When you come to study English at ATC Language Schools, you will find a Dublin city centre location designed to meet all of your needs as an international student.
But what about Dublin itself? What should you know before you come here?
Some of the team at ATC have compiled a list of 10 things they think you should know about Dublin.
- We say hello and goodbye to the bus driver:
In Ireland, we tend to have good manners and a particular warmth for bus drivers. So, you will hear people greet bus drivers and say thank you as they depart the bus.
Please don’t feel obliged to do the same, but don’t be surprised when you hear it on your local bus. Being friendly is always good; and if you do say thank you, you will look like a true local.
- Dublin packs a lot of history:
Of course, every country’s capital will contain a lot of history. Much of Ireland’s significant changes have occurred in the past 100 years. As a result, there is a lot of relevance in the buildings in Dublin. From the GPO on O’Connell Street to Dublin Castle on Dame Street, and many buildings in between, you will find plenty of stories and history attached.
We recommend taking a walking tour of Dublin and discovering many of Ireland’s most important buildings.
- There is more to Dublin than the City:
Remember when you’re here to venture beyond the city; County Dublin has a stunning coastline to discover and beautiful mountain hikes to enjoy.
The transport system easily connects Dublin to the rest of Ireland so that you can discover many hidden gems on the weekends.
Taking the DART (local train) north to the fishing village of Howth or to Malahide to the seaside and castle, or going south to Bray are just two easy day trips we recommend.
- Getting around the City:
Dublin has three public transport systems to help you navigate the city:
Luas: The Luas is the tram and is Dublin’s most modern mode of transport with two lines, the red and green. They service some of the busiest streets of Dublin city and cover the south to north, as well as from the city centre to the west suburbs.
DART: The Dublin Area Rapid Transit (DART) is a light rail service that goes through Dublin city and services a few of the coastal towns.
Dublin Bus: Dublin bus is the most used mode of transport. Get to know your route to save time on your journeys throughout Dublin, and rememebr to say thank you to the driver 🙂
- Most Dublin museums are free:
Most of Ireland’s most museums with famous art and history collections are free to visit. The National Gallery, the National Museum of Archaeology, the Irish Museum of Modern Art, and a host of others can be seen for free throughout the week.
Also, always check the museum website for special exhibits and collections you can view; there are always lots of interesting things to do in Dublin.
- Dublin is great for shopping:
Grafton Street is the main shopping street in Ireland, but you can also explore the Jervis shopping centre, The Square in Tallaght and a other shopping points dotted around the city.
You can explore luxury designer brands at Kildare Village or visit one of the many Penneys, one of Ireland’s most popular clothing stores, (tip for visitors, Penneys is called Primark outside of Dublin).
Whatever your budget or fashion, you can explore the city streets of Dublin for great shopping deals.
- Don’t get stuck in the Temple Bar:
There are many great places outside of Temple bar. Enjoy a drink, dance, and listen to live music in many locations throughout Dublin.
Harcourt Street, Dame Street and South William Street (home to our own ATC Dublin school) all have a great selection of bars and restaurants to enjoy food, drink and a dance.
Ask your fellow classmates where the best student night is, or even your teachers; Dublin has an excellent nightlife to explore and make your own.
- The weather may not be great all the time:
Coming to Ireland, we’re sure you have heard about the typical Irish weather; there is a famous saying ‘We have fours seasons in one day’, and you if are in Ireland for long enough you will find how true this can be.
But remember, the weather in Ireland is not all doom and gloom. On the contrary, the sunny days will bring out the beauty of Ireland, and besides, how do you think Ireland gets so green?
Irish people love to get out and about whether it’s raining or not. Do come prepared, however, and pack some rain gear, if you forget your raincoat there are plenty of places you can pick one up here.
But just like the local Irish, you’ll get over a bit of rain in no time, and you will soon begin to complain the weather just like a local.
- You will hear new words every day:
Of course, this will be true when you sit in your English class, but in Ireland and Dublin especially, we can sometimes use a lot of slang. Check out our article about Irish phrases and slang; it will help you with a few conversations
You might want to become confident with your English level before introducing slang, but if you hear some new words, take note, and we’ll explain some of them.
Your English learning journey will be exciting, and with the help of fellow students and teachers at ATC, it will be enriching.
- There are some amazing parks in Dublin:
Ireland’s capital may have attractive shopping streets and a great nightlife, but you can still enjoy beautiful green spaces in Dublin City Centre.
Phoenix Park is the largest public city park in Europe and home to the Irish President’s residence, Dublin Zoo and a herd of wild deer; you will also find various smaller parks in Dublin such as St Stephen’s Green Park, Iveagh Gardens and others that you can easily discover and are only a stone’s throw from the city.
We hope you have learnt a few things about our capital city that make you want to visit Dublin and explore for yourself.
If you are planning to visit to study English, why not contact us about how we can help, or click here to learn about our courses.
We look forward to seeing you soon!