Business trips to Dublin (what you need to know)

If you’re planning a work trip to Dublin, you’re in good company. Internationally-renowned as a thriving centre for business following recent regeneration efforts and significant investment, you’ll be inspired by the buzz of new and old industries.

You can also enjoy downtime discovering some of the iconic landmarks and places to relax, unwind and have a truly fascinating cultural experience in Dublin. Do you need help deciding where to stay?  There are guides out there to help you find the right place for you.

The International Business Hub

The vibrant ‘Silicon Docks’ area is where some of the best-known tech companies in the world have their European headquarters. Google, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Airbnb, Indeed and Accenture all make their home there, as well as numerous tech and financial startups. Situated around the Grand Canal Dock, the area is within easy reach of the city centre.

The nearby IFSC (International Financial Services Centre) on the north side of the River Liffey is a prospering hub with names including Bank of America, Citibank and JP Morgan (Chase). It’s a convenient and vibrant place to stay if you have meetings planned with its many hotels, restaurants and bars.

The startup incubation city

Many up and coming startups and smaller organisations have also found their natural home in Dublin’s business area. Dogpatch Labs is a startup hub that hosts a vibrant collection of organisations, providing a community space from where fresh ideas can grow and thrive.

Over in the central Liberties district, The Digital Hub describes itself as, ‘The largest cluster of technology, digital, media and internet companies in Ireland’ with companies dealing in a range of ventures from cryptocurrency to virtual reality.

In the north of the city, DCU (Dublin City University) Alpha is known as an innovation campus with a mission to encourage next-generation technologies, while NovaUCD brings together hi-tech, entrepreneurial and innovative endeavors at University College Dublin (UCD) in the Southside suburb of Clonskeagh.

In the City Centre, the globally-recognised Trinity College innovation programme has fostered some of the finest minds in Irish tech and business innovation over the past two decades.

Where to stay in Dublin

If you don’t want to stray far from the airport, you will find well-known names such as Maldron Hotels and many others located within a few minutes’ drive, as well as smaller budget hotels. Many offer a 24-hour shuttle service to the airport.

Hotels are in plentiful supply to service the Docklands area, encompassing the IFSC and Silicon Docks, the boutique Marker Hotel in Grand Canal and well-known hotel groups such as the O’Callaghan Collection’s cluster of Dublin hotels feature prominently among the pick of the bunch, all of which are located adjacent to the key business districts, as well as some of the major tourist attractions and the main shopping area (Grafton Street).

South of the Liffey, you’ll find elegant Georgian hotels and guesthouses exuding style and elegance. With an abundance of great tourist accommodation to choose from, you’re bound to find a stay here the perfect antidote to a hard day’s work, with some famous entertainment venues and nightlife areas featuring a plethora of Dublin’s famed bars and restaurants.

Things to do in Dublin

This area is also a perfect base for exploring Dublin’s cultural attractions. The National Gallery of Ireland boasts world-class exhibitions and a permanent collection of western European art, while the Natural History Museum houses two million specimens from Ireland and across the world.

And while you’re in the area, you can view the iconic Book of Kells, the most cherished medieval manuscript in the world, in Trinity College’s library.

No visit to Dublin is complete without a visit to one of Europe’s most popular tourist venues, the Guinness Storehouse where you can learn about the history of the quintessential Irish drink on a fun-filled journey through seven floors local history and entertainment.

Where to eat in Dublin

There’s a wealth of traditional Irish foods you should try on your visit to Dublin; something to suit all tastes. For an authentic Irish experience, try The O’Shea’s Hotel Restaurant in Talbot Street in the city centre, offering traditional Irish lamb stew, beef and Guinness casserole or the ever-popular all-day Irish breakfast.

The menu at the Delahunt Restaurant in Camden Street Lower is so good it has been awarded a Michelin Bib Gourmand every year since 2016. Here you can sample seasonal local food, inspired by traditional practices such as curing and smoking.

There is no shortage of restaurants serving fresh seafood in Dublin. Sole Seafood and Grill in Dublin’s Creative Quarter on South William Street offers beautifully presented food in chic surroundings, while if you’re after a relaxed atmosphere head to Klaw in Temple Bar serving fresh food in a crabshack-style setting.

Temple Bar is also home to a whole host of international cuisine, and a wander will find restaurants serving food from around the world. If you’re after a quick pub lunch, this is also the place to be.

Dublin airport advice

The state-of-the-art Dublin Airport is a thriving international transit hub, serving around 29 million passengers a year to long and short haul destinations and featuring Europe’s only US Immigration pre-clearance facility making it a truly unique airport.

The first thing to know if you’re making the trip to Dublin is that there are two terminals, not surprisingly known as ‘Terminal 1’ and ‘Terminal 2’. National airline Aer Lingus and long-haul operators generally utilise the more modern T2 building whilst Low Cost carriers such as Ryanair operate shorter-haul routes via the T1.

Getting into Dublin once you’ve landed is easy. You’ll find a wide choice of car hire companies in the terminal buildings if you wish to drive, while the public-service Dublin Bus offers many routes to and from the city and taxis are easily accessible from the airport.

For European flights, check-in is recommended at least 90 minutes beforehand, and for long haul, allow three hours.

A little known fact in international commerce that’s now truly ubiquitous in modern society is that Ireland was the first ever destination to offer duty-free shopping via Shannon airport way back in  1947. Dublin now spearheads this multi-billion industry with its duty-free shopping experience at The Loop and the sheer breath of it product range and competitive pricing versus the high street is truly a sight to behold.

Remember, the usual security tips such as carrying liquids and gels in quantities up to 100 mls in transparent, sealed bags.

If you really want to fly out of Dublin in style and stress-free you could book a ticket for one of the lounge areas, which come with many luxuries and best of all, a business centre – so you can keep on top of work in a comfortable environment.

A European Health Insurance Card is a must and ensure that you are carrying copies of key documents such as your passport, tickets and travel insurance.

Without doubt, Dublin is one of Europe’s top destinations for business and offers endless opportunities to discover its culture, history and cuisine – so make sure you factor in enough time to make the most of your warm Irish welcome, or céad míle fáilte!