Dublin

Wed 2/9/26

Today we would be heading back to Dublin and return the rental car at the airport. Today's plan was only do sightseeing in Dublin city centre so we would be taking public transport. Initially we wanted to stop by Rock of Dunamase which we skipped on the way from Wicklow to Portmagee due to road closure / diversion. But we decided to forego it today to give more time to spend in Dublin.

We checked out from our apartment at 9.30am after having our self made breakfast and drove to Dublin. The journey took about 3 hours via the highway (motorway) covering 250km. We stopped by at a petrol station near the airport to fill up the tank before returning the car at the Avis car rental in Dublin airport. 

From the car rental return, we took the shuttle bus to Terminal 1 and then took the free Hilton Dublin airport shuttle bus from Zone 16 coach parking to the hotel. We reached Hilton Dublin airport  at 1.30pm and our room was ready for check in (EUR 159.20 or RM 769 per night) although we got a room with disabled toilet. 

While we were at Terminal 1, I bought the 1 day pass Leap card from WH Smith store which we would be using today to reach the city centre and back to the hotel. The 1 day pass cost 8 EUR per person. 

After having lunch of fried rice and sandwich in our room which we had prepared back at the apartment in the morning, we set out to Dublin, taking the bus no. 15 using the Leap card which we have to tap in upon entry. We alighted at Eden Quay by the Liffey river. 

We walked along the river towards Ha'penny bridge then walked to the Temple Bar, crossed the bridge to take the tram from Abbey Street to St Stephen's Green park and spent some time at the park sipping tea. 

Ha'penny bridge by the Liffey river

Temple Bar area

St Stephen's Green park

From St Stephen's Green park, we walked to Stephen's Green shopping centre to buy some souvenirs. We then went to Lidl and bought some shortbread there. 

Stephen's Green shopping centre

For dinner, we had qabuli pilau with lamb at D'Grill halal restaurant nearby. After dinner, we took the bus back to Eden Quay, enjoyed sitting by the river until sunset and then took the bus no. 15 back to Hilton Dublin airport. It was a very brief adventure in Dublin city (and skipping Trinity college and the Book of Kells library, although we did pass by, saw it from the tram). 

qabuli pilau with lamb

sunset by river Liffey

Back at the hotel, we packed our luggage for early check out next morning. We would be taking the free shuttle bus at 5am and catch our flight back to Kuala Lumpur via Doha at 8.15 am.