Adams & Butler's Unique Taste of Dublin Four days and Three nights

From the airport transfer straight to your hotel or apartment., check in and then let the fun begin!  Your welcome pack will have details on everything from local casinos to the theatre programmes, concerts, night clubs, entertainment, and shopping discounts.

Dublin has long been a centre of art and culture. Stroll through the elegant Georgian streets of Merrion and Fitzwilliam Squares, shop in the elegant emporiums of Grafton Street and Powerscourt Townhouse, explore the collections of the National Museum and National Gallery, the Irish Museum of Modern Art, and many fine small private collections. The range of art and artefacts is enormous, and you will have no problem spending many hours enthralled.. The city is over a thousand years old, and many of the towns and settlements that surround it are equally ancient. Successive centuries have left their distinctive overlays of character and architecture which means that Dublin has a wealth of historically significant and fascinating sights to explore such as Dublin Castle, where the Normans ruled from the 12th Century, St Patrick's Cathedral, of which Jonathan Swift was Dean, and Trinity College, famous for The Book of Kells and for its alumni who include Oscar Wilde and Oliver Goldsmith. One can also visit the Old Whiskey Distillery or the Guinness Storehouse.

Day 1 Transfer from the airport to the city centre. 
Start the day with a 2 hour walking tour of the historic centre of the city which will finish at the Chester Beatty Library, a museum behind Dublin Castle which houses the great collection of manuscripts, miniature paintings, prints, drawings, rare books and some decorative arts. The Library's exhibitions open a window on the artistic treasures of the great cultures and religions of the world. Its rich collection from countries across Asia, the Middle East, North Africa and Europe. Lunch here. Take a cruise around Dublin bay or along the River Liffey. For the rest of the afternoon shop, or visit the parks, gardens museums, and galleries of the city. Tonight you have tickets to a traditional Irish Cabaret – a night of music and dance.  

 Day 2   Explore the countryside around Dublin. 
Head north and explore the treasures of the Boyne Valley. The Boyne Valley is Irelands " Valley of the Kings ". Visit the new Brú na Boinne Visitor Centre which allows you to explore the history and monuments of one of the most historic areas in Ireland , which is one of UNESCO's World Heritage sites. . Over 5000 years old, it is older than Stonehenge by about 1000 years and the Egyptian Pyramids by near 500 years. Return to Dublin. VIP tickets are available this evening for a night at the Races – greyhound racing is one of the most popular sports in Dublin with five or six meetings a week.

Day 3 
Travel South into the Wicklow Mountains and visit one of Ireland’s great stately mansions, surrounded by stunning gardens. An unforgettable tour which takes you along the south coast of Dublin, past Dublin’s “Beverly Hills” where the likes of Bono, Neil Jordan and Enya live, and on to Powerscourt Gardens, situated in the foothills of the Dublin Mountains.  

Powerscourt Gardens were begun in the 1740’s and stretch out over 45 acres including a blend of formal gardens, sweeping terraces, statuary and ornamental lakes, walled gardens and over 200 variations of trees and shrubs. Powerscourt has been described as One of Europe's Greatest Gardens and One of Ireland's Greatest Treasures. The tour includes entry into the gardens for one of the mapped walks and a short time for the really special Powerscourt shops and tearooms. A wonderful experience.

Travelling onwards through the picturesque countryside of Roundwood (home of Daniel Day Lews) and Laragh, to another highlight of our tour – Glendalough. The Celtic Monastic System derived from the early monasteries of Egypt, and Glendalough was one of the oldest and most important of the early Irish monasteries. Situated in an idyllic valley with two lakes, hence the name. Founded by St Kevin in the 6th century, it has a High Tower which is one of the most famous images of Ireland, that was used by the monks to store and protect precious manuscripts and artefacts, and also some of the finest architecture of the early church. It is a magical, beautiful and spiritual place. Return to Dublin  

Day 4 
On your last day you could visit Dublin 's northern coastline. See the exquisite 18th century Casino at Marino, before visiting stately Malahide Castle , dating from the 12th century, and set amid 250 acres of parkland and gardens. Continuing through the heritage town of Malahide , the tour will take you past magnificent coastal scenery to the picturesque fishing village of Howth . Crossing the nearby summit of Howth Head you will have a panoramic view of the huge expanse of Dublin Bay . Set against a backdrop of the Dublin and Wicklow mountains, the view is renowned as one of the world's great seascapes.

The tour returns to Dublin via Dollymount Strand home of the Royal Dublin Golf Club and the North Bull Island bird sanctuary. 
 
Depart for Dublin Airport.  If your flight departs before 3 pm, you may have to miss the last morning's tour.

Your Irish break includes 3 nights hotel accommodation, all the tour mentioned above, the traditional Irish night, the night at the races and 24/7 telephone support from our on site staff in Dublin