TOP 5 SPOTS IN DUBLIN FOR COFFEE AND PRETTY…

Article By Juliana Hansen. Thank you very much for helping us make this blog the most informative, friendly and helpful blog for Dublin Newbies!

Who doesn’t enjoy the combo Coffee, treats and pretty walks? Fortunately, Dublin offers a lot of good options for the ones seeking a bit of fresh air and good quality coffee, and why not some nice treats to complete the whole thing. As a caffeine addicted who loves going for coffee and strolls on the weekends, I have found some perfect spots here to go, so here is my list: 

1. Shoe Lane, Dun Laoghaire

Dun Laoghaire it’s one of the nicest neighbourhoods in Dublin with incredible views of the ocean, the Poolbeg towers, and the boats anchored by the marine. I love taking a walk by the pier, going until the Forty Foot, where you will always find loads of Dubliners jumping in the freezing water. Every time I go to Dun Laoghaire, I stop by Shoe Lane to get some coffee and treats to keep me warm and avoid any hungriness during the stroll. My go to are the Oat Flat White or Iced Latte (depending on the weather), accompanied by an Almond Croissant or Sausage Roll. The shop’s located very close to the Dart Station, so it has easy access from the city-center. 

Also, if you are in town, Show Lane has a shop close to Tara Station, you can get a coffee from there and take a stroll around the Liffey, enjoying Dublin’s skyline.

2. Bodega, Howth

Howth it’s the perfect place to go all year around for cliff walks with fresh salty air and awesome views, and why not make it even better by adding some nice coffee to the packet? If you plan on doing so, my recommendation is to do a pit stop at the Howth Market before starting your walk, more precisely to get a perfectly made coffee from Bodega. The shop makes the best coffee in the area, and you can also get yourself a treat while there, their pain au chocolate it’s unforgettable!

3. Dash Container, Phoenix Park

Going for a stroll at the Phoenix Park it’s a classic of life in Dublin, and specially because of its great location – very close to the city center – the park is always full of dubliners enjoying the day out on the weekends. Recently, the place also got a perfect coffee spot, the DASH Container, located at the Whole in The Wall Pub just outside the gate of the park. I highly recommend the delicious coffee and pastry deal for only 5euros, as well as their smoothies and granola pots.

4. Happy Out, Bull Islands

Happy Out is Bull Island’s only cafe, serving specialty coffee and tasty, homemade, made-to-order toasties. Located just across the wooden bridge, this is the perfect first stop when going to visit the Bull Island and Dollymount, in the north part of dublin. This is one the best spots in the city to really disconnect and enjoy the nature around, also, the views of Dublin are amazing from the Island.

5. 3fe, Grand or Royal Canal

The canals are one of the best spots in Dublin to go for a stroll and enjoy the cool views around, and the nicest thing is that they are located in both sides of the city, being the Grand Canal in the South side, and Royal Canal in the North side. Doesn’t matter which one you are visiting, you can always stop for one of the best coffees in Dublin that I have tried so far: 3fe, which has shops located very close to both canals and also offers some delicious pastries to treat yourself with. I can assure you that there’s nothing more delightful than walking around the canals with a good coffee in hands. 

That’s it, my favourite 5 spots in Dublin to treat yourself with a good coffee, nice treats and perfect walks. Enjoy and let me know which ones you will try soon!! 

By Juliana Hansen

Again, thank you very much Juliana for helping us make this blog the most informative, friendly and helpful blog for Dublin Newbies! This is Juliana’s Intagram.

If you also want to contribute to the blog, please do not hesitate to contact me directly on Instagram or on the Contact Form of this website. Looking forward to hearing from you!

IRISH ISLANDS YOU HAVE TO VISIT

Article By Juliana Hansen. Thank you very much for helping us make this blog the most informative, friendly and helpful blog for Dublin Newbies!

I moved to Ireland two years ago but have seen a lot less from the country than I actually want to, and on the top of the top of my bucket list are the stunning Irish islands. Yes, you read it right! Ireland has beautiful islands around its coast and you can visit them for a long trip or just a one day adventure. Here’s a list of Islands to visit and what to do while you there: 

1. Aran Islands, Co. Galway

The Aran Islands are three islands in the west coast of Ireland: Inishmore – the largest one, with 12km in length -, Inishmaan and Inisheer. No cars are allowed in the islands so the best option is to take a ferry into there and rent a bike to cycle around. In Inis Mór (or Inishmore), you can find over 50 different monuments of Celtic and pre-christian times, as well as some of the most spectacular cliff walks in Europe. The largest island also has a good variety of shops, pubs, hotels and restaurants, which makes it perfect for a longer staycation.  

Inishmaan remains the quietest and most traditional of the three islands, with the inhabitants settled mainly on the high sheltered land at the centre of the island. It’s famous for the amazing landscape, where wildflowers bloom everywhere and uncrowned  sandy beaches can be found on the north shore. It’s definitely the best choice for who chases a real break from the big cities and busy life. And last but not least, Inisheer is the most eastern of the Aran Islands and the smaller one, with only three square kilometres in size. It’s said to have the atmosphere of a small fishing village, with an unspoiled white sandy beach overlooking the ruin of a castle and fort, as well as a spectacular flora that is unique to the region. Despite your small size, the island has bars, restaurants, tea rooms and a vivid nightlife.  

How to get there? If you are leaving from Dublin there are plenty of options to choose from when visiting the Aran Islands. You can take a day tour, going to the cliffs of Moher, Galway and the Aran Islands in one day, returning to the capital by the evening. Another option is to take a train or bus from Dublin to Galway, and from there a bus to Roossaveel, where the ferries to the tree islands parts from. The timetable can vary depending on the season so always check the official website before planning your trip.  

2. Achill Island, Co. Mayo 

Achill Island is on the top of my bucket list of places to visit in Ireland, I have been looking to pictures of this amazing place on instagram for months now! Located on the west coast of the country this gorgeous spot can be easily accessed by a bridge and has 40km of dramatic coastline ready to be explored. 

There’s a lot do see and do:  The Desert Village, at the foot of the Slievemore mountain, is a site with almost 100 abandoned cottages that have been inhabited at different stages throughout history and gives the landscape of the island a ludic vibe; Keem Bay, on the western end of the island, is one of the most incredible bays in Ireland, with an amazing sandy beach, crystal water and tropical vibes; Slí Grainne Mhaol is the favourite spots of the tourists for hiking, the trails has 6.7km and it will take around 2 hours to complete it. At the top, you will have a panoramic view of Clew Bay and Achill Sound. 

How to get there? Achill can be easily accessed by car all year around, but if you are planning to use public transports, the best option is taking a train to Westport or Castlebar, and then a Bus Eireann to Achill. 

3. Cape Clear Island, Co. Cork 

The most southerly inhabited island in Ireland has many historical attractions such as the Standing Stones, the Lighthouse on top of Fastnet Rock, a 12th century church ruins and more. Cape is an Irish-speaking island and has a population of 130 in the winter that can tripled in the summer, cars are allowed there but are not encouraged, thus cycling is the best way to go around. While there, you can also visit one of the local farms and taste some of their homemade delicious, such as ice cream, or do a walk through the cliffs overlooking the Atlantic.  

How to get there? The ferry Cailín Óir sails from Baltimore – just an one hour drive from Cork City – every morning and evening, 

4. Great Blasket Island, Co. Kerry

The Great Blasket Island is located at the most western point in Ireland and Europe, at the Dingle peninsula. The place was abandoned in 1953, when the last twenty-two people living there were moved to the mainland. Currently there are only 3 cottages on the whole island where visitors can stay overnight, which has no electricity, Wi-Fi, electronic devices, and certainly no TV, so most people only go to the island for a one day visit. When there, you can spend the day chilling at An Trá Bán,  take a dip in the Atlantic sea, visit Seal Cove and watch the  Grey Seals, hike around the back of the island and enjoy the amazing views, and visit the island’s highest point, ‘Cró’, at 292m. 

How to get there? Ferries operate leaving from the mainland to the Great Blasket Island during the Spring, Summer and Autumn. You can get the morning departure (10:00 am – 15:00 pm) or the afternoon one ( 12:30 pm – 17:30 pm), and Ferries may be boarded at Dún Chaoin Pier opposite the island (20 minutes crossing), at the Marina in Dingle Town (a 40-minute trip), or at Ventry Pie – check the website before purchasing your ticket. . 

5. Garnish Island, Co Cork

The main attraction at Garnish Island is the series of gardens showcasing, with an enormous richness of plants and colours, as well as Italian villa vibes. Around 100 years ago, the owner of the land joined forces with the garden designer Harold Peto to cultivate ornamental plants from all over the world and create amazing gardens on the island. Until this day,  Garnish Island continues to be one of the most incredible places in Ireland, and visitors can spend the day exploring the gardens that bloom all year long and get a new visual in each season, thanks to the big variety of species cultivated there. In addition to the ferry trip price, there is a small fee admission to the gardens that can be paid on arrival at Garnish Islands, this is a help to cover the costs of the island’s upkeep.

How to get there? The ferry departs from Glengarriff Pier with different time tables around the seasons:

  1. April, May, June: Daily 10am – 5.30pm (including Sundays).
  2. July, August: Mon – Fri & Sun 09.30am – 5.30pm. Sat 9.30am – 6pm.
  3. Sept – Oct: Daily 10am – 5.30pm (including Sundays).
By Juliana Hansen

Again, thank you very much Juliana for helping us make this blog the most informative, friendly and helpful blog for Dublin Newbies! This is Juliana’s Instagram.

If you also want to contribute to the blog, please do not hesitate to contact me directly on Instagram or on the Contact Form of this website. Looking forward to hearing from you!

TOP SPOTS TO GRAB A DRINK FOR NON-BEER DRINKERS

Article By Juliana Hansen. Thank you very much for helping us make this blog the most informative, friendly and helpful blog for Dublin Newbies!

Even though Ireland is worldly famous for its beers, Dublin has a good amount of bars for those who choose cocktails over pints – like your girl here 😉 . If you are planning a night out in the Irish capital and fancy some nice drinks, here’s a list of places you should head to:  

1. Peruke & Periwig 

Located just beside The Stephen Green’s, on Dawson St, this Victorian style bar and dining spot is perfect for the cocktail lovers. The whole environment is incredible, with furniture and decorative artifacts that brings you back to the last century. There’s a huge variety of drinks to choose from the menu, but if you are not sure about what to get, the staff will happily help you with suggestions based on your preferences. I have been there a couple of times and always enjoyed the atmosphere and perfect cocktails. 

Where? 31 Dawson St, Dublin 2. Click here for their Instagram.

How to book? (01) 672 7190

2. Hang Dai Chinese 

The first time I went to Hang Die, I was mainly looking forward to enjoying their famous oriental dishes, but couldn’t help noticing the massive central bar, as well as the smaller bar on the second floor. During COVID times, the restaurant is working with half its capacity. After dinner, we ordered some cocktails, and I absolutely loved the Hang Dai Sour, with Bourbon, Yuzu, Pistachio, Lemon & Whites. Very much recommend this spot in Lower Camden Street. 

Where? 20 Lower Camden Street, Dublin 2. Click here for their Instagram.

How to book? From their website

3. The Liquor Rooms 

Ask any Dubliner where they go to have cocktails and, surely, The Liquor Rooms will be on their lists. This traditional cocktail bar and late-night venue is located in the heart of the city, and offers more than 60 options of drinks as well as food. The bar has four different rooms, each differently well decorated, with burlesque circus and old Hollywood movies vibes. If you fancy some dancing, one of the rooms has a dance floor and bandstand. Wanna know the best part? The cocktails have a really fair price, so it’s a good option when you are on a budget.  

Where? 8 Wellington Quay, Dublin 2. Click here for their Instagram.

How to book? 01 -533 7564 OR book@theliquorrooms.com

4. Vintage Cocktail Bar 

The first time I visited the Vintage Cocktail Bar I was really surprised: I’d never noticed this charming bar right in the heart of the temple bar area. Their entrance is discreet and you need to ring the doorbell and wait for a staff member to open the door. This detail matched perfectly the whole atmosphere inside the bar, as it is very intimate and unusual. Besides the extended cocktail menu you can also order some delicious food there, plus the staff is great and is always happy to advise the customer. If the weather is good, make sure to get a table on their roof terrace.  Definitely worth the visit, due to both, the yummy drinks and the 1920s inspired decor antique furniture. 

Where? 15 Crown Alley, Temple Bar, Dublin 2. Click here for their Instagram.

How to book?  https://vintagecocktailclub.com/

5. 37 Dawson Street 

This hidden gem just beside Grafton Street is the most eccentric bar you can visit in Dublin, with their wide drinks menu, which actually doesn’t exist. Instead of ordering from a list of options, the customers can ask for whatever they’d like, or the bartenders can create a unique cocktail based on their personal tastes. This is also a perfect spot if you rather non alcoholic drinks, just ask the staff and they will surely prepare a perfect virgin cocktail for you! 

Where? 37 Dawson Street, Dublin 2. Click here for their Instagram.

How to book? hello@37dawsonstreet.ie

6. Sophie’s

Sophie’s is my favourite rooftop in Dublin, I love the views, the cool vibe of the place, and, especially, their espresso martinis. Beside the caffeinated drink, they have a vast menu of cocktails that you can choose from. I highly recommend going around sunset time, so you can watch the day turn into night with a 360° view from the top of the city. 

Where? 33 Harcourt St, Saint Peter’s, Dublin 2. Click here for their Instagram. 

How to book? book@sophies.ie

By Juliana Hansen

Again, thank you very much Juliana for helping us make this blog the most informative, friendly and helpful blog for Dublin Newbies! This is Juliana’s Instagram.

If you also want to contribute to the blog, please do not hesitate to contact me directly on Instagram or on the Contact Form of this website. Looking forward to hearing from you!

WHERE TO BRUNCH IN DUBLIN

Article By Juliana Hansen. Thank you very much for helping us make this blog the most informative, friendly and helpful blog for Dublin Newbies!

If you love brunch as much as me (and by that I mean a lot), you know that Dublin has uncountable places to go if you wanna grab a nice avocado toast and a fresh and high-quality coffee. As the big brunch seekers, like my friends and I, we have been to a lot of different cafes and restaurant in the capital and could easily list the ones worth visiting, so here are my top 6 places to have Brunch in Dublin, with good options even if you are visiting in a tight budget: 

1. Ground Station 

This relatively new cafe in The Liberties is one of the best additions to the area in the last couple of years, and before the pandemic, the space was also used as a yoga studio in the evening. Currently, with the restrictions, they are accelerating the delivery and take away service, and have a few seats outside – perfect for a sunny day. My absolute favourites are the Saucy Scrambled Eggs (with a vegan alternative), and the French Toast. They also serve a high quality coffee and are pet friendly… plus the brunch menu always adds more choice. 

Where? 48-50, Jame’s Street, Dublin, Ireland. Click here for Instagram.

2. Tailor&Blue

I haven’t been to Tailor &Blue yet but it’s on the top of my list of places to try. This new cafe in Phibsborough has big Brunch Menu with toasties, pancakes, porridge bowls, pastries and a lot more. With the new restrictions, customers can order online and get the food for take away, or enjoy their outside sitting area – perfect for sunny days. 

Where? 394 North Circular Road, Phibsborough, Dublin 7. Click here for Instagram.

3. PÓG

The PÓG Cafe has options for all the types of brunch lovers and two different locations in Dublin. Their Protein Pancakes are very famous and worth the try, there’s a huge number of toppings to choose and make it even more delicious. Personally, I love the smoothies and the Brazilian açai bowl- the best I’ve tried in Dublin so far. 

Where? 32 Bachelors Walk, Dublin 1 OR Trinity Plaza, Tara Street, Dublin 2. Click here for Instagram.

4. Chez Max

Chez Max was my first go-to for brunch in Dublin when I just moved here, since the prices were very good and the food and coffee were amazing. The place has a nice french bistrot vibe and also serves lunch and dinner. I love their brunch deal, in which you can get a coffee, an egg-benedict toast with salmon (that can be swapped for avocado), a side salad, and a glass of wine for only 12 euros. Another big perk it’s their location, just beside Dublin Castle and Damien Street.

Where? 1 Palace St, Dublin 2. Click here for Instagram.

5. Urbanity

Located in Smithfield, this nordic style inspired cafe serves excellent food and high quality coffee – roasted right there. The brunch and all-day dining menu are seasonal, to make sure all the ingredients are fresh, and they also have delicious pastries and cakes all year around. In 2020 Urbanity kept open with take away service and a new outside sitting area with covered tables.

Where? The Glass House – 11 Coke Lane, Smithfield, Dublin 7. Click here for Instagram.

6. Two Boys Brew 

This Phibsborough gem has one of the best brunches in Dublin, no doubts! With a seasonal menu, the Two Boys Brew has always fresh dishes with local ingredients, and high quality coffee, plus delicious croissants, porridge bowls, and cakes. Currently they are only doing take away  that you can pre order from their website. 

Where? 375 N Circular Rd, Phibsborough, Dublin 7. Click here for Instagram.

By Juliana Hansen

Again, thank you very much Juliana for helping us make this blog the most informative, friendly and helpful blog for Dublin Newbies! This is Juliana’s Intagram.

If you also want to contribute to the blog, please do not hesitate to contact me directly on Instagram or on the Contact Form of this website. Looking forward to hearing from you!

DUBLIN TRANSPORT

One of the biggest flaws of Dublin is its transport.

First of all, there is no underground. Therefore do not think you will get anywhere faster than if you biked.

The fastest public transport is the DART line, a train that goes up and down the city, but more in the East side. There is just one line therefore either you are lucky enough to live next to a station, or you will have to look for a different solution. Even if you have a good location, it costs on average 2.50 euros to go on it. Therefore it can be quite expensive.

Same goes for the LUAS lines. The LUAS lines are like trams but they cost the same as the DART. This time there are more than one. I only know 3 of them but maybe there are 5. They are super slow and in rush hour it is possible to not be able to get on it. London underground vibes.

Taxis are an expensive option but even they do not go as fast as you would like. Once it took me 45 minutes to get to work in a taxi, a drive that should’ve been 20min max! Therefore I do not recommend taxis or driving your own car either, unless you love traffic.

The last alternative is the bike. A lot of people go from one part of Dublin to the other in a bike. If you would have told me a year ago that I would cycle to work I would’ve laughed. Unfortunately it was the case as it was the cheaper and fastest option for me. I didn’t buy a bike, I bought a membership of 25 euros a year to use DublinBikes whenever I wanted to. This is great and I loved the healthy alternative. But you need to be careful with the cars. I was scared as I don’t have a driving license therefore I am clueless when I bike on the streets. Luckily for me there were plenty of other bikers and I would follow them and imitate their ways for driving next to the cars. There are also some cycling paths once in a while which can make a great difference.

Finally, you have your feet. If you love walking then you would be surprise by how fast you can get from one place to the other on foot but it is only recommended if you are walking around the city center. At least for me as I hate walking.

DUBLIN’S JOB MARKET – FIRST IMPRESSIONS

Although my current position represents my first full time job, I have had several jobs in the past, ranging from PwC, Adidas and medium size companies in Germany. This previous experience has been crucial for me, as it enabled me to have experiences to base myself on and which helped me forge a balanced opinion of my current situation.

Dublin Jobs Pros

Dublin represents Europe’s Capital of Tech, meaning that if you want to get into a tech company, you have a clear shot here. For most of us, the idea of becoming a Googler may seem impossible in our respective countries. But here in Dublin, the objective seems to be far more reachable than expected. This is why I would recommend Dublin, if you are sure that you want to work in tech.

Dublin Jobs Cons

As glamorous as “working in tech” may sound to an outsider, the reality of it is quite the opposite.
First of all, my biggest disappointment was the realization that (roughly) 80% of the jobs here are phone calls based (I completely made up that statistic but I bet you would feel the exact same once you are here). By this I mean that there are roughly three routes you can go up: customer service based jobs; recruiting and sales.

Customer service

By this I mean call centers. Dublin is full of call centers. Most of the tech giants keep part of their call centers in Dublin which means that it is quite normal to come across people who spend their days talking to unsatisfied customers all day. It is absolutely exhausting and if you decide to go down that route, I would strongly recommend to choose to work for a product that you redeem interesting. By being in call centers, you will be trained to learn about the tool/product and become an expert at it, depending on how much work you put in.

Recruitment

Recruitment is the other division that is temporarily popular. Companies here in Dublin need people from all around Europe and therefore your job is to use whatever tools they give you to get more people into the company.
This is more interesting for people who are interested in going into HR eventually. I personally would never accept a job in recruiting as it’s a job that doesn’t demand much and I would rather end up in Digital Marketing than this role. I also say this because I absolutely despise most recruiters in Dublin. You will understand why by reading this post.

Sales

Sales is extremely wide spread here. It is crazy the amount of people who are in sales. The job basically consists in bothering people who showed an interest in a particular product by phoning them and getting their money.
Although I would never see myself do that (I am not ruthless enough to be fair) it is a known fact that most millionaires started in sales. It forges character and eloquence. You learn how to pitch and how to change people’s mind: an invaluable skill that can be adopted anywhere, anytime.

How it works

Unlike all the other cities I have been in, there are a few rules that you need to know as a newbie to Dublin.

Resilience

When I arrived in my new job I started applying else where straight away as I wanted to get out of this hell. However, I very quickly realized that no matter how much I tried to prove my qualifications, no one was accepting me given the short amount of time in my job. Apparently you either found chances with smaller companies, who would give you a chance even if you just started your new job, or you may have a chance to find something after 6 months. But in general, companies are looking for at least 1 year experience in the same company.

Referrals

The second thing to know is that people want you to ask them for a referral. A referral is a “vote” from someone, within the company of your dreams, who let’s HR know that they think that you are a good fit. If someone referrals you, you have a better chance to get into the company you want and the person who helped you may get an extra 1000 or even 2000 euros on their monthly salary. Therefore it’s a win win for everyone and it is highly encouraged.

Networking

A lot of newbies do not realize that the big companies have their own “bars“: people just know about the Facebook bar, the Google bar, the Amazon bar etc… The best thing is to really put yourself out there and meet people. As soon as you meet or get introduced to someone working for a company of your interest, try to get as many details about their general schedules and habits the various division have. This will be a great guide for you to “casually” be at the right place at the right time.

Conclusion

Dublin is full of opportunities but you need to have the resilience and grit to go for your goal.s It is a hard reality, with the whole accommodation and moving in and all the bureaucratic tasks (see Moving to Dublin post), especially if you end up in a company that milks you and disregards your humanity like in my situation (see My First Job In Dublin). But keep your eyes open and stay as positive as you can! The opportunities and the growth in this city is immense! You mustn’t be afraid to ask loads of questions to plenty of people and take the most out of every opportunity.

MOVING TO DUBLIN

The Context

I was working in Adidas’ HQ, Germany, when a recruiter from a big multinational messaged me on LinkedIn telling me about this cool opportunity in Dublin. She promised me a full-time position in Digital Marketing for a huge tech company and, since I was actually thinking about learning more about Digital Marketing, I thought “Why not?” and decided to go back to my roots (I am an 8th Irish… laughable, but it still counts!).
I talked to my awesome line manager in Adidas who agreed that it would be a great opportunity and within a month I am on a flight to Europe’s Capital of Tech! Whether the job was the promised one or not is another story for another time. For now I will focus on the moving.

The Main Issue

Accommodation

The first thing that struck me the most about Dublin is the lack of choice in accommodation. In fact, there was no choice at all!
Usually, as soon as I know about a potential new adventure, I look into accommodation and get that out of the way, straight up. I did that for Exeter, Regensburg, Nuremberg… but Dublin? Dublin was a mess. Too much demand and no offer at all.
In Dublin, the landlords have the power. See yourself as a beggar who applies to accommodation and hopes to get picked by the owner or future housemates. You absolutely have to view the house before getting selected. There is so little offer that you could tell that landlords were abusing the system big time! For example, some landlords don’t write contracts (because there is always someone desperate enough to send money and risk it) and some would even charge you to view the house! You could be charged up to 40 euros!! I mean how greedy and unethical is that?! Also, some people are so desperate that they paid for HALF a bed!! That’s right! Some people found themselves bed buddies because rent is so high they can’t afford it and are willing to not only share a room but a bed as well..! Madness!!
Moreover, when I tried to call estate agents to book me in for a viewing they told me I was not eligible because I needed to be in Dublin already and that the appointments were only available for the upcoming days. When I asked why, they simply explained that by the time I would arrive the offer would be gone…

The Solution

Since sharing a bed with a random person was out of the question, the only viable solution for me was to arrange a short let and then try and find as quickly as possible a place to stay, by viewing, applying and hoping to not get rejected! For those who don’t know: by short let I mean short lettings, those are apartments that are extremely expensive and that is why you pay for only a few days and not months.
There were other options, such as hostels, hotels and AirBnb. I looked into all of them:
  • hotels were ridiculously expensive because of the market;
  • AirBnb meant that I was living either at 300km from work or sharing a small apartment with the families (cant deal with the lack of privacy);
  • and hostels was out of the question as I tried one in Nuremberg, a very clean city, for two weeks and I barely survived knowing that I had a house after those 2 weeks… how was I suppose to manage in Dublin knowing that I hadn’t sorted accommodation out? You could argue that I am not very resilient but Dublin isn’t the cleanest city and I didn’t want to live a nightmare.
Also, usually big multinationals in Dublin offer a relocation bonus which is money in order to help you with this uncommon situation. I got 3000 euros which is why I allowed myself to be so picky with my decisions. I know other people, in LinkedIn for instance, that don’t get a relocation bonus but instead have a whole accommodation sorted out for them for a month. I would have rather had that because it takes away the burden of still having to look for a short let and deal with the administrative side of things. Also the 3000 is strictly for accommodation therefore it cant be used for anything else.
So if you are in the same situation and are looking for short lets, these are a few resources I checked upon daily before I found mine 2 weeks before flying: Daft, Let and Rent. You can also go on Facebook and ask to join accommodation groups! A lot of people look for people to share an apartment with!

New Country Feels

I have never been someone who needed to travel with someone. Everyone seemed so surprised that I was able to just hop on a flight alone and go somewhere I never visited before without any sort of friend or family to support me emotionally. But I actually like that: no strings attached, no one to check upon, no compromises… It’s about me and what I want to do, the whole time. I get to pick my friends and not feel responsible for anyone, a breath of fresh air. I love fresh starts.
Looking backwards, it was quite a smooth transition, once I found the short let of course. I have been used to moving countries: within the past 5 years I have moved back and forth 5 times. Reading about other people’s adventure, kept me prepared and eased off the stress and the expectations!

First Impressions

The Weather

Dublin welcomed me with a big sunshine at the end of October. I was told that it was rare and to not get too use to it! It has been 5 months (including the whole of winter) and I can say that, indeed, the sun comes out quite rarely. Dublin is extremely dark during winter time: you leave home and work always in darkness and that can really be problematic if you are sensitive to the weather.
This said, I was expecting much harsher temperatures and bitterly cold weather. Although it has been quite dark over winter, a jumper and a thick coat was enough to keep me warm while travelling to work.
Since March, the days are longer and the sun comes out much more often, I am quite pleasantly surprised! I come from Italy so obviously this is not sunny country but for my extremely low expectations and for what I read, this was enough to make me happy.
In May there has been an equal amount of sunny days with blue skies than there has been rainy or gray days. I am in a very happy mood and the sun sets so late it is unreal how much of a contrast it is with winter.

The People

I was quite pleasantly surprised on how diverse and open minded the people are here. It is very uncommon to see such diversity welcomed by such grinning faces. I admire a lot the Irish: most of the “hosts” I have encountered are quite protective of their culture and environment.
What I realized in Dublin is that instead of making the outsiders feel unwanted, they welcome them and start conversations with them and the results are baffling: instead of imposing their own culture, each nationality is celebrating their own customs, while respecting the Irish ones, and it just works. I definitely feel in Ireland although 6/10 people I cross in the streets are probably not Irish.

The Transportation

Transport is legit SO bad. You have the choice between:
  • the DART line (a train that goes only up and down one lane),
  • the LUAS (a couple of extremely slow trams)
  • and the overly crowded buses.
All of them are ridiculously expensive: I pay 2.50 Euros for 5 stops on the LUAS and 99% of the time it is crowded and uncomfortable. But I am faithful that something will change because, with the number of people coming to Dublin, it is impossible to keep going this way.
I have been taxiing a lot recently. I use the MyTaxi app and pay on average 10 euros to go where I need, but that isn’t viable at all. A great alternative is DublinBikes: you pay a membership of 25 euros a year and you can pick and drop bikes at their respective stations which I think is incredible. If someone would have told me that I would bike to work on a cold morning in January I would have laughed at their face. But that is exactly what I did. A lot of people bike despite the fact that there are very little bike lanes available and that the Dublin drivers are mad.

Bureaucracy

PPS Number

As if finding accommodation was not painful enough, it is not the only thing on your to-do-list. First things first, you can’t do anything without the famous PPS number. The PPS number is basically confirmation that you are a resident in Dublin. It is vital to get any of the public services, or opening a bank account, for instance. To get your PPS number you need to first schedule an appointment with this website. This is something you can do before arriving in Dublin because usually they don’t have any appointments for the next 2 to 3 weeks. Once you have one, make sure that you do not arrive late or miss it. If not they will skip you and you will have to reschedule!
You need a few things in order to get your PPS number sorted. If you are from the EU, like me, you will need a Current Valid Passport or National Identity Card, and Evidence of Address in Ireland. The latter can be quite tricky, especially because of the difficulty to find accommodation immediately, so make sure you take any of the below:
  • A household utility bill
  • An official letter/document
  • A financial statement
  • Property lease or tenancy agreement
  • Confirmation of address by a third party such as a hotel/hostel administrator or manager, school principal/administrator or accommodation/property owner*.
If you are not from the EU, this website saved me.

Irish Bank Account

Once you get your PPS number, you will need to open a bank account because most of the companies here require an Irish Bank account specifically. In order to open one you will have to bring:
  • your Passport or National Identity Card,
  • your PPS number
  • and Evidence of Address in Ireland
For some odd reason, the bank didn’t accept my application without a proof that I was employed by my company. I needed to ask HR to write a letter for me specifying where I lived and that I was indeed working for them. Therefore, just in case, I would advise you to ask HR to do that for you and print that letter so that you don’t have the same problem I did!

Taxes

When you finally have both of these elements (that is the hardest part), you need to register for taxes. This is more for your company, so that they pay you the full amount instead of taxing you a lot during your first salary. Each company has a different way to do that, therefore ask HR to guide you so that you can get that out of the way asap.
It is vital for you to do all of these 3 things fast because everything is linked and the more time you spend sorting your taxes out, the more time your company will not pay you the full amount. Dublin is expensive and you will need every euro you can get and, although the company pays it all back to you once you got your taxes sorted, you do not want to live starving for more than a month!!

Conclusion

All in all, I was extremely lucky as I had a situation in which the company I work for helped me a bit with the relocation. I definitely see a lot of people struggling to settle into Dublin and it can take quite some time before you do. That is why it is crucial for you to contact the company, or university, that is welcoming you and ask them the detailed step by step that you need to follow in order to prepare yourself as much as you can before arriving. Do not skip this step. Preparation is key for your well being, especially in Dublin.
Although I can’t stress enough the importance of being well prepared, I can also say that I really enjoy Dublin so far and that I am amazed by how friendly the people are here. I usually don’t see myself living anywhere, hence the constant moving around, but I do in Dublin.