One of my goals while living on the wonderful island of Ireland is to travel around it as much as I can, and to the extent that my student budget allows, of course. One of the best weekend plans I made was visiting Dublin for a day. Believe me, one day is enough to see the main points of interest in this city, and transportation from Belfast is very easy and accessible. It is 100% worth visiting this sister city of Belfast and a great opportunity to learn more about Irish culture.

It is worth mentioning that even though the trip is within the same island, Dublin belongs to another country (ROI), so you should make sure before travelling if you require specific documentation to travel to this point in Ireland. I am Colombian, and to visit the Republic of Ireland I need a visa, however, as I am a student resident of the United Kingdom, my visa was free due to a special agreement that Colombia has with Ireland.

This is a great advantage, not only because I can visit this country while living so close, but because it has allowed me to take flights from Dublin to other countries in the European Union more economically! Check if your country of origin has any special agreement with the Republic of Ireland and make the most out of it.

Outside the Temple Bar

Transport from Belfast

Travelling from Belfast to Dublin is very simple. My friend and I were able to book our bus tickets online and took the same-day return fare that was more pocket-friendly at £18.50. We took the bus at the Europa station at 8am and the journey took around 2 hours, leaving us at the bus station in Dublin city centre. During the journey, we were able to enjoy the beautiful green landscapes of the island and rest a little before the adventure that awaited us.

Activities in Dublin

The Portal and Famine Memorial

We didn't waste any time from the moment we arrived and went to the trendy attraction of the moment, The Portal, just a 10 minute walk from the bus station. This piece of public art symbolises the historical and emotional connection between Dublin and New York. From the Dublin side, you could see the people from New York “on the other side of the portal” and vice versa. It was quite fun. Can you imagine if we could teleport like that? Later, we walked a little along the river and saw the Famine Memorial, which is a moving monument that commemorates the Great Irish Famine.

At the portal, saying hello to people in New York

Trinity College and St. Stephen's Green Park

Then we walked to a famous university in Dublin that stands out for having world-renowned and award-winning graduates; and also its famous library. Walking around the university campus is free, but if you are interested in learning a little more about this space, tours are offered at different prices that you can book in advance or upon arrival. Regarding access to the library, you must pay for this.

I would recommend booking in advance to see the old library room because it is always full, however there is last-minute access at lower prices (€19 per person); we were lucky enough that day to use this rate. It truly is a magical place that looks like something out of a movie and deserves to be visited.

Trinity College Dublin

Then we continued our walk through the city and headed to St. Stephen's Green Park to see this famous and beautiful park, but not before stopping by a McDonald's to buy food because we were starving. Lunch was not expensive at all because we took advantage of a sale that had a meal deal for €6. We had our hamburgers for lunch in the park, and we rested and walked for a while before continuing our journey through the city.

At St. Stephen's Green

Saint Patrick’s Cathedral and Dublin Castle

Then we went to the famous St. Patrick's Cathedral. To our surprise, the entrance to the cathedral had to be paid and we did not have enough budget to enter it. However, the church is beautiful on the outside and I am sure that it must be beautiful on the inside as well. They offer a student rate of €8, so if you have the opportunity, plan your trip to Dublin well so that you can enter this cathedral.

Nearby is Dublin Castle. A majestic palace full of the luxuries of royalty. It is a beautiful castle full of a lot of history that is worth visiting. This place was a must-visit, so we entered using the student rate offered for €9. It was my favourite part of the entire tour, we got to see the artwork, appreciate the architecture, and learn about the British legacy in this country.

Outside St. Patrick's Cathedral

Temple Bar

Our tour ended in the most famous pub on the entire island, and of course, we enjoyed a well-deserved Guinness there. The Temple Bar has everything you would expect from an Irish Pub, such as music, decoration, and good beer. It is very cosy and full of tourists from all over the world, so you can make international friends here. It was an incredible experience but one I already felt very familiar with having visited so many pubs in Belfast! The drink prices were high, we paid €8 for a Guinness, so we only had one beer each.

Our walk ended with us returning to the Busaras bus station to return to Belfast, and saying goodbye to Dublin with a night that took a while to arrive. There were many things that we couldn't do because it is a big city and we didn't have enough time for the day, but we will return and see more. It is a beautiful city that I hope you can visit.

Find out more

Beyond Belfast

Student visa advice

BLOG: Take a Day Trip to Dublin

BLOG: Taking a Day Trip from Belfast to Dublin

Information for students from Colombia

Isabella Barros De La Rosa Violence, Terrorism and Security | Postgraduate Student | Colombia Hello, my name is Isabella Barros, I am 24 years old and I am from a beautiful city on the Caribbean coast of Colombia called Barranquilla.  I am very into running and outdoor activities. That's why Belfast is so amazing to live in, because of the landscapes, and the spaces for this kind of hobby. Besides running and studying, you can find me in any bookstore, wandering around the city, or enjoying a pleasant coffee in a cute cafe!