**Temple Bar** Perched on the south bank of the River Liffey, Temple Bar is Dublin’s best-known district, synonymous with sightseeing, buskers and winding cobbled streets. It’s also the centre of the Republic of Ireland’s most important cultural institutions, including the Irish Film Institute and the Temple Bar Gallery + Studios, housed inside a former clothing factory. Beyond the graffiti trail and vintage clothing markets, you’ll find a haven for hedonistic nightlife; it is, after all, Dublin’s nightlife capital by a country mile.

O’Connell Street

Dublin’s widest street is also its unofficial centre, fringed by historic architecture like the General Post Office and the Spire of Dublin (or ‘Needle’ - the world’s tallest sculpture). Expect busy transport hubs, crowds and a buzzing atmosphere, full of bucket list attractions like the James Joyce statue O’Connell Monument.

St Stephen’s Green

Dublin’s favourite park is surrounded by gorgeous Georgian architecture, creating a serious case of postcode envy. This wasn’t always the case: it was once the site of public hangings and had a notorious reputation for crime and misdeeds. Nowadays you’ll find blooming flowerbeds, trendy pubs and some of Dublin’s best museums, including the National Museum of Ireland.

Portobello

Trendy Portobello (aka Dublin’s Shoreditch), taps into the city’s alternative side, with edgy bars and brunch spots just a stone’s throw from the centre. Like its kindred spirit across the Irish Sea, it is undergoing fast gentrification, seeing legendary haunts like The Bernard Shaw closing down to much public uproar. Get here quick to experience nightlife institutions of the Dublin old guard.