There are always little things you won’t know until you arrive in a country to explore. These are some of those facts to know before you explore Dublin.
Watch your feet – A lot of streets in Dublin are made of cobble stone and can be uneven. So make sure to watch your feet when you are walking around (and for the curb) because it is easy to roll an ankle. And there are horses that are make the rounds, so watch out for the horse-poop too!
Cross walks move fast – Move fast, there is not a lot of time to get across the streets when the cross walk starts. I’m not sure why they move so fast when compared to US or Japan cross walks, but they do so be prepared. People often go on their own too and not when the signal turns, so as always, follow the locals and don’t forget to look right before crossing the street.
Not an early starting city – A lot of places do not open early for early risers. Finding an early morning breakfast (even Starbucks) or a tour that starts early in the morning just are not normal in Dublin. Most places open around 8 to 9 AM, so sleep in and take your time in the morning.
Bring a bag when grocery shopping – A lot of stores like Tesco and Lidl do not provide bags when you are shopping like you will find in the US. Instead, they will charge you a Euro for a bag. It’s not too expensive, but if shop several times, that bag cost can get expensive or bring a reusable bag with you when you shop.
Credit cards accepted – Credit cards are accepted all over the place in Dublin, which is a nice change of pace when compared to a lot of places in Tokyo. Restaurants, hotels, and even cabs take credit card, so keep that in mind if you need to catch a ride or eat at a restaurant. Of course, always having some cash on you in a smart idea, it never hurts to be prepared.
Travels With Matt Blog 