Christmas in Dublin on a shoestring – A Guide

Let’s face it, waiting for the beginning of the new term can be a depressing time, what with being poor after too much festive fun, not to mention being away from your Atlas family! Never fear, in this final post of 2018 we’re giving you a guide of all the lovely things you can do around Dublin. Best of all, it won’t cost you the earth!

Go to Newgrange and the Boyne Valley

Before you go on your break why don’t you come along to our last weekend trip to Newgrange and the Boyne Valley? The Stone Age was an industrious time in Ireland’s ancient history and Newgrange is evidence of that. You will get a brief introduction to the burial site before going to see the passage tomb itself. Afterwards, visit the Celtic high crosses in Monasterboice

Winter Solstice Festival

This is a great way to spend your first afternoon of the break. The “City of Dublin Winter Solstice Celebration Festival” takes place this year on Friday 21 December from 4-7pm. Starting at Rathdown House, DIT Grangegorman with our indoor festival come to dance, sing, hear traditional story-telling and engage in craft-making for the magical outdoor parade where you follow the traditional fire ceremony around Smithfield Square!”

You can find more information here

Christmas lights walking tour

Irish people of all ages love to go for walks around this time of year and explore the houses in their local area to see all the beautifully decorated houses. On some streets, it is almost a competition to see which house can fit the most lights. Gather a group of friends for a night walk in Dublin’s suburban housing estates. Check out this blog for an insight into what you might come across

Christmas dinner with friends

If you celebrate Christmas, your Christmas dinner might be different to mine, or that of one of your friends. Each country and even family will have their own traditional meal. Why not come together with all your international friends and organise a Christmas dinner. Try to cook a traditional dish each and maybe try some Irish ones. Follow this link for an insight into the traditional dishes for here!

Free guided tours

Did you know you can receive free guided tours in some of Dublin favourite museums and galleries? Below are a few you might be interested in:

The National Gallery of Ireland:Thursdays at 6.30pm, Saturdays at 12.30pm and 2.30pm, and Sundays at 11.30am, 12.30pm and 1.30pm

The Print Museum: Sundays at 3pm (excluding bank holidays)

The Hugh Lane Gallery: Sundays at 2pm

The Chester Beatty Library: Wednesdays at 1pm, Saturdays at 2pm and Sundays at 3pm

Dublin Free Walking Tours: at 11am & 3pm every day at The Spire

Use your Student Leap Card to the max!

Most of you will have student leap cards. Why not use the discounted travel fares to see all of Dublin’s coastal towns and cultural hot spots. Remember you can use it on the bus, train and luas! 

Public transport services are  slightly different over the Winter break. For example, there are no transport services running on Christmas day. Follow this link to find out more

Keep improving your English

Remember, just because you are not in class does not mean that you have to stop improving your English; Why not give Dicey’s a miss for one night and go to one of the many pubs around Grafton Street or in Rathmines and Terenure where you’ll find plenty of Irish people having a drink so you’ll have plenty of opportunities to speak English in a casual setting.

The guided tours and audio guides available in the museums and galleries listed are also brilliant ways to broaden your vocabulary and improve fluency

For more free things to do around Dublin why not give this a read

…and most importantly: Happy Holidays!

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