One of the best ways of getting to know a city is by walking its streets. Aside from its health benefits, it relaxes your mind and allows you to take in the sights at your own pace. And it is one of the best ways of really getting to know a city like Dublin, with its ancient cobbled streets, inspiring castles and sprawling parks.

If you have never been to the city of Dublin, staying in one of the various picturesque hotels in the Temple Bar area should give you a taste of the old town right away. Bordering the Liffey River, the area is one of the oldest in Dublin and has charm oozing out of every corner, pub and storefront. Rich in architecture, the charming neighbourhood has more recently become a cultural centre of sorts, housing many of Dublin’s most prominent museums and collections.

If the traditional Irish breakfast of sausages and pudding is too much too handle for you first thing in the morning, you can pay a visit to the Temple Bar Food Market, a pretty market specializing in local food and tastes.

Two other major attractions are very near this area: Dublin Castle, which is well worth a visit. Despite its name it’s not exactly a proper castle though it housed the members of Congress back in the 1600’s and therefore needed to be as safe as a castle. The city of Dublin gets its name from the gorgeous Dubhlinn Gardens, formerly a Dubh Linn or “black pool”, that now grace the back of the collection of buildings.

From here, the impressive campus of Trinity College is just a short walk away. Many a famous writer, from Bram Stoker to Samuel Beckett, pondered the universe walking from class to class here and you will want to as well, when you experience the collegiate atmosphere and regal buildings that make up one of Europe’s best ranked and oldest colleges. The college is still best known for its “long” library, which among other wondrous books, houses The Book of Kells. A major attraction for tourists, it is one of the oldest and most beautiful illuminated illustrations of the Gospels, far surpassing other versions in extravagance, expertise and artistry.

If all this cultural activity has gotten you tired, sit down for a pint or two of, you guessed it, Guinness. In fact, you should probably have a pint each in several of the historical pubs that line the streets of Temple Bar. From Abbey Tavern, to the Dublin Village Tavern to the famous Davy Byrne Pub where James Joyce use to lunch, you’ll be sure to talk to a lot of locals and get a sense of the city at night.

The vibrant social scene in Dublin is another reason for why staying in a hotel in the centre is a good idea! Give Octopus Travel a look for Dublin hotels starting at around £30 a night.