CURRENCY
Euro () Republic of Ireland
Pound Sterling () Northern Ireland
LANGUAGE
English and Irish
MONEY
Change bureaus and ATMs widely available, especially in cities and major towns. Credit cards accepted in all hotels, many B&Bs and most restaurants.
VISAS
Not required by most citizens of Europe, Australia, NZ, USA and Canada.
MOBILE PHONES
Phones from most other countries work in Ireland, but attract roaming charges. Local SIM cards cost from 10; SIM and basic handset around 40.
DRIVING
Drive on left. Steering wheels on right. Most hire (rental) cars have manual gears (stick shift).
Your Daily Budget
BUDGET LESS THAN
Dorm beds 1220
Cheap meals in cafes and pubs 612
Inter-city bus travel 1225 for 200km trip
Pint 4.50
MIDRANGE 60- 120
Midrange hotel or B&B 40100 (more in Dublin) per double room
Main course in midrange restaurant 1018
Car rental from 40 per day
Three-hour train journey 65
TOP END OVER
Four-star hotel stay from 150
Three-course meal in good restaurant around 50 per person
Top round of golf from 80 midweek
When to Go
HIGH SEASON (JUNAUG)
Weather at its best.
Accommodation rates at their highest (especially August).
Tourist peak in Dublin, Kerry, southern and western coasts.
SHOULDER (EASTER TO END MAY, MID-SEP TO END OCT)
Weather often good, sun and rain in May. Indian summers and often warm in September.
Crowds and accommodation rates drop off.
LOW SEASON (NOVFEB)
Reduced opening hours from October to Easter; some destinations shut down.
Cold and wet weather throughout the country; fog can reduce visibility.
Big city attractions operate as normal.
Websites
Entertainment Ireland ( www.entertainment.ie ) Countrywide listings for every kind of entertainment
Failte Ireland ( www.discoverireland.ie ) Official tourist board site practical info and a huge accommodation database
Lonely Planet ( www.lonelyplanet.com ) Destination information, hotel bookings, traveller forums and more
Northern Ireland Tourist Board ( www.nitb.com ) Official tourist site
Exchange Rates
Australia | A$1 | 0.75 |
---|
Canada | C$1 | 0.73 |
Japan | Y100 | 0.95 |
New Zealand | NZ$1 | 0.60 |
UK | | 1.15 |
USA | US$1 | 0.73 |
For current exchange rates see www.xe.com
Important Numbers
Include code only when outside area or from a mobile phone. Drop initial 0 when abroad.
Country Code | +353 Republic |
+44 Northern Ireland |
International Access Code | 00 |
Emergency (police, fire, ambulance) | 999 |
Arriving in Ireland
Dublin Airport
Private coach every 15 minutes to city centre (7)
Taxi 3045 minutes to city centre (2025)
Dun Laoghaire Ferry Port
Bus Public bus about 45 minutes to city centre
DART (suburban rail) about 25 minutes to city centre
Dublin Port Terminal
Bus timed to coincide with arrivals & departures (2.50)
Measuring Up
The measures might have the same name, but theyre a little bit different. With drinks, bear in mind that the Irish (or imperial) pint is bigger than the US one, and that Irish bartenders serve a smaller measure of spirits than their counterparts elsewhere.
ITEM | US SIZE | EUROPEAN SIZE | IRISH/UK SIZE |
---|
Dress (Women) | | | |
Pint (1) | 473mL | 568mL |
Shoes (Men) | | | |
Shoes (Women) | | | |
Shirts (Men) | | | |
Spirits | 59mL | 50mL | 35.5mL |
Suits (Men) | | | |