One of the top attractions in Dublin is a visit to the Guinness Storehouse; seven stories of displays, history, retail and pubs in the building that has been brewing the beer for over 250 years. Whether you enjoy a pint or not as Guinness is not to everyone’s taste, the experience is worth the price of entry.
In 1759 Arthur Guinness signed a 9000 year lease to an unused brewery and built from it his empire. The Guinness Storehouse is the tourist attraction located at the St. James Gate brewery that opened in 2000. Since then it has welcomed millions of visitors.
This is a self guided tour that explains how the beer is made, the history of the company, and its advertising over the decades. There is also an archive if you wish to delve deeper. There are a number of restaurants for great Irish food and a large store to purchase everything imaginable with the Guinness logo on it. The highlight is the Gravity Bar on the top floor, where you can enjoy a complimentary pint (included with your entrance fee) and a 360° view of the beautiful city of Dublin.
In case you are also wondering, the Guinness Book of World Records was the brain child of then Managing Director of Guinness Breweries Sir Hugh Beaver as a complication of facts to settle arguments. The job was given to Norris and Ross McWhirter, who had been running a fact-finding agency in London, in August 1954. A thousand copies were distributed for free to pubs across Britain and Ireland as a promotional asset for the Guinness brand, and they became immensely popular with customers. The books, along with television and other related medias, are still popular today.
We joined a ship excursion from the tender port of Dun Laoghaire into the city of Dublin. Along the way our driver pointed out popular sites such as Trinity College, Christ Church Cathedral and St. Patrick’s Cathedral and Dublin Castle along with numerous examples of Georgian architecture. The drive back to the port allowed us to see a different part of the city from the usual tourist bus routes.
Dublin is a booming city with lots of industry and low unemployment, however it is an asylum city. As a result 1/3 of its available hotel rooms are being used by refugees and there are tent cities throughout, making this is a major issue for the city. This has an impact on tourism as the costs to visit increase.
Since Dublin is a popular port on many cruise itineraries and a not miss city for anyone traveling to Ireland there are many possibilities to return. Consider the Guinness Storehouse as one of your stops. It is iconically Irish and definitely a highlight in Dublin.