My trip to the Emerald Isle both started and ended in Dublin. My flight left Seattle and landed in London, then from London to Dublin and vice versa. Despite the 8hr time difference, our first night in Dublin we went out to explore. This was both an attempt to get on schedule with their time zone, and because…well…Dublin!
We arrived around 3pm Ireland time, 11pm Seattle time. And stayed awake until 9pm Ireland time…you can do the math.
The city center itself reminded me of a slightly smaller, less busy Seattle. That is if Seattle had random castles and cathedrals at every corner, and if Dublin had 10x more Starbucks locations. Dublin was the only area I saw a handful of Starbucks locations until I reached Cork nearly a week later. I didn’t mind though, who wants Starbucks in another country?
Not I.
Dublin Castle
The city itself is very walk-able. We chose not to get our rental car until leaving Dublin, which was a good move. There is limited parking, and I can assure you I would have been 5.76% more stressed if I had the car. We chose a hotel close to the city center and covered over 30 miles on foot in the first two days.
There is a pub on every corner in Dublin just like there is a Starbucks on every corner in Seattle. You don’t have to worry about getting thirsty, or hungry. We stopped into the iconic Temple Bar, but didn’t stay long. Just enough to say we went. 😉
After wandering the city and grabbing a bite to eat, we retired to our hotel for the night. We chose hotels and B&B’s for this trip, all of which were fantastic aside from the two Dublin locations. They weren’t terrible, but they weren’t great either. The following morning after day one in Dublin I went for a run around the city.
Irish people seem to come alive a wee bit later than I’m used to, and it was great to run through the city with minimal people. The weather was cooler than the previous day giving perfect running temps. I ran by the city river, through the streets, passed cathedrals, and donut shops. Mmm. Donuts.
I didn’t worry about getting lost because on day one we located a large spire that quickly became a point of location. No matter where we were, we could always see the spire, and from there it was easy to find our hotel. Navigation level expert.
Even if I did get lost, the people in Ireland are so friendly. I lost count of how many times I asked for directions in Dublin. Without a cell phone to navigate location we relied on good ol’ fashioned verbal directions. It was fun.
The spire
Doors of Dublin
Where we stayed: Nights 1-2 we stayed at Hazelbrook House B&B, but we were disappointed to learn that we had to pay extra for the second B. No breakfast, small room, and uncomfortable bed. Alas the location was perfect so it was fine.
Night 10 (final night) we stayed at Dublin City University, because they rent out the dorms in the summer. It sounded awesome, but the beds were worse than Hazelbrook. The walking paths nearby were lovely though, and it was very close to the airport. Again, not so bad.
Edible Highlights: The donut that broke the camels back was found at Off Beat Donuts. Before departing Dublin at the beginning of our trip we wandered the city a bit more. Not much was open (remember, everything comes alive later than in the states) but the donut shop was.
This was the catalyst to my “eat everything” mantra.
Sweet mother of pearl. That donut filled my soul in ways I cannot describe. It gave me the green light to put away my food fears and just eat. Everything. My vegan friends would be horrified, but I was liberated. The food in Europe is nothing like in the states, and I felt better physically than I had in years. Yes…years.
Cheers to that.
Live music, mini farmers markets, friendly people, Dublin was a great start to the trip. My next two posts will share more of Dublin with my trip to Trinity College and the Guinness Factory, as well as a spontaneous adventure to the outskirts of Dublin.
Travel tip: Ask for directions. The people in Europe are very friendly, and this allows you to gush at their awesome accents.
Blissfulbritt 
50 thoughts on “Dublin City Center”
Roda
Your trip looks outstanding! As for those donuts…there are no words!!
Brittany
NO WORDS! My only regret is getting ONE and not a dozen.
Roda
Just one!!
Brittany
🍩
ASipoftheCity
I’m quite literally salivating over that donut. Looks amazing!
Brittany
Right!? It was divine. Haha.
rootchopper
I bit my phone at the sight of that donut. Wow!
Brittany
I have no words. It was unreal.
Megan
I wish I was as smart as you to find a focal point… When I ran in Dublin I got TOTALLY LOST and the people I tried to get directions from didn’t speak english and I also did not write down where I started my run… SOOOO that was fun.
Brittany
Ahhhaha whaaat!! No English!? Who’d you ask. 😂 sounds like an adventure lolll.
Meghan@CleanEatsFastFeets
I love seeing these pictures and watching your IG stories when you were there. I can feel the joy in your writing and it makes my heart happy.
Being in Europe is so different than the states, in a really good way. People are more laid back, things are less stressful, the food feels lighter,even if it’s heavier fare (I think that’s because we allow all sorts of crap in our food supply) and the scenery is unbelievable. Only there can you find castles on the corner.
Brittany
I felt so alive and free on this trip my friend. It was amazing. ❤❤
GiGi Eats Celebrities
I tried to LOVE this post but WordPress would not let me.
YOU NEVER told me about that EPIC AF donut – HOLY MOLY, that filling is unreal!!!!!!!!
PS: To me, it never really felt like you left the states – because we texted the whole time, hahahahahahaha! Ireland is clearly far more connected then I thought it would be!
Brittany
Right!? Well I didn’t have wifi in my rental car sooo that helped. But then again I drove the whole time so didn’t ever text while driving haha. But there is wifi everywhere! That donut…I died.
Amy
That sounds AMAZING!! And you only talked about a few days of your trip… If that. 😉 SO happy for you that you were able to let go of your food fears and just eat! I know just how hard that is. It’s such a constant worry here in the states that we almost forget it exists… 🙈 Were you able to eat all food without any triggers or bloating??? (Because I might consider moving to Europe with you if that’s the case! 😉)
Brittany
AMY, my reactions are more brain fog, skin rash, elevated HR, and IBS. The brain fog being the most debilitating because I feel like a total zombie and can’t do much of anything, I HAD ZERO OF THESE symptoms (except when I had too much food I got a little bit of IBS, but did not care!) so the triggers were nearly non existent. Which is part of why I was so blown away, and why I want to MOVE THERE! I hadn’t felt that clear and free for YEARS. Trying to keep the momentum and just relax.
Amy
Oh my gosh, that’s INCREDIBLE!! Seriously SOOOO happy for you girl!! I’ve heard from other people that food in Europe is way better than it is here, especially in the food sensitivities/triggers/etc department… So hearing that from you too is awesome. I hope you’re able to move there someday — or at least get rid of your symptoms here! Maybe it’s time for me to plan my own European trip soon… I’ll save enough room in my suitcase for ya! 😉
Brittany
I had heard that too, which is why I went for it full force! You must visit Europe if not for the food, for the landscape! ❤
Ellie
I LOVE THE DUBLIN DOORS! My dream is to live like a hobbit in the side of a hill with a doorknob in the middle =P No shame in eating everything. Do what your body tells you 🙂
Brittany
Thanks boo, I definitely listened. 🙂 There were colorful doors like this ALL over the city. It was awesome.
wanderwolf
Loved reading about your adventures. Can’t wait to do something similar soon!
Looks like you had a great time (and woah, that donut!!)
Brittany
You musssttt! And get yourself a donut along the way!
bikurgurl
Now I need to go to Dublin….and I thought it was just for the beer, but those doughnuts? Doors? The walking? Sign me up!! ❤
Brittany
Donuts, doors, and walking – the trifecta of AWESOME!
bikurgurl
❤️
An Unrefined Vegan
The photos are gorgeous – – they really give a sense of how beautiful Dublin is. And I love, love, love running in new-to-me cities! Especially in the morning when the streets are quiet. Great way to learn about a place. From this post alone I can feel how amazing this trip was for you.
Brittany
Thank you! Running there was so fun. I loved watching the city come to life.
Shelby
That looks incredible!!! It makes me want to go to Dublin even more!!!
Brittany
YOU MUST!
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Allie Zottola
How interesting that Dublin comes alive later than what we’d consider normal! It seems like a slower, very pleasurable way of life there!
Brittany
It is indeed, and I adore it all!
RhapsodyBoheme
Gorgeous (what a beautiful smile) and the landscape pics are not bad either 😉. It’s on my bucket list to visit
Brittany
Dawww thanks. Donuts are my spirit animal.
RhapsodyBoheme
Haha a good one to have 😉
P
That donut…my eyes are popping out of my head!! Haha. The sights remind me a lot of Wales! When I ran one morning through Cardiff, there was barely anyone on the roads. The weather was so perfect for running too!
Brittany
That sounds like magic!
stateeats
Hi Britt – wowza, fantastic pics. I loved getting lost in Europe. It WAS fun asking the locals for directions. I wonder if you felt better because the food in Europe is almost GMO free and there are much less preservatives and such?? -Kat
Brittany
Oh hands down that’s why. The quality of food in Europe is nothing like the states. It makes me that much more disappointed in Americas food processing. When your system is as sensitive as mine it makes moving to Europe a huge possibility. 🤔
Heather
That’s the thing about food everywhere but here! That donut was probably made with milk and eggs from the cow out back and flour that they just ground and filled with REAL apples and jam. Or something like that. REAL food. Even if it is fried.
Brittany
Yup. Exactly. I hate what America has done to food. It’s hurting people in more ways than ever imagined.
Rachael @ Catch Me If You Can
omg that donut looks amazing!!! you are right food in Europe tastes so much better and i think its because they dont have all the artificial crap that we do. either way, eat all the food and its AWESOME your body was loving it!
Brittany
Girl that’s exactly why. It was so hard coming home, if even just for my healths sake. 🙄
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dave379
Wow….that donut is coming right off the screen. I need to find one of those somewhere! And now to continue on and read more…finally catching up.
Brittany
I dream about that donut omggg.
Rach
Hooray for feeling so good while eating all the food! I love that! And what an amazing city! I love that it was so walkable! Bummer about the places you stayed, but otherwise Dublin sounds great! 🙂
Brittany
It was a grand city, SO much to see and do!
Angela
LOVE LOVE LOVE!!! I haven’t visited Dublin for too long so I feel like I’m visiting through your post!! So glad you managed to eat everything you wanted without symptoms…its the fresh air 😉
Brittany
It’s the air, the people, the QUALITY! HA. I can’t wait to go back.