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Charm and suggestion for a country to discover … slowly. Here is some essential information for your holiday in Ireland.
HOW TO GET TO IRELAND
The plane is, without a doubt, the quickest, fastest and most economical solution to reach this wonderful land.
The international airport of Dublin it is the reference point for those wishing to arrive in Ireland. It is among the 10 largest airports, for passenger traffic, all over Europe and is well connected, with direct flights, to the main European destinations.
Considering the distance not exaggerated, the airport of Belfast, in Northern Ireland, is an excellent alternative.
Just landed, you can rent a car to move around the country.
If your departure base is outside the UK border, we do not recommend using a train or car. Even for the most experienced. The ideal solution would be to land in Ireland and then continue by car.
GETTING AROUND
The car is the ideal way for getting around the Country. You will not be subject to timetables, and you can move freely, reaching the most remote and scenic. However, those who prefer public transport will find a practical and reliable solution in the buses.
Bus Eireann is the Irish company that offers an efficient road service. Buses, modern and efficient, allow you to reach every city or small village in the Republic. Info and reservations online on the official website.
Alternatively, you can move by train. Recommended, in this case, for trips to / from Dublin.
DOCUMENTS AND CUSTOMS
Ireland is a member of the European Union. Therefore, there is no obligation to produce documents at the border, but you are always required to bring an ID card or passport with you. It is recommended, above all, to bring the CI of their children under age, even if traveling by car or train. See our special section, about that.
Dogs and cats enter freely, provided they have a health certificate and a recent certificate from the veterinarian of the ASL of residence, attesting to good health. Dogs must be vaccinated against rabies by at least 3 or 4 weeks before the trip.
Some info and advice, from this link.
CURRENCY AND CHANGE
From the 1th January 2002, the Euro has become the official currency of the country, supplanting drachmas. Almost everywhere, you can pay directly by credit card and withdraw cash at ATMs. Above all in the most important cities. Keep in mind, however, that in some small villages and less touristy places, you may find it difficult to make credit card payments. A cash reserve is always recommended.
PRACTICAL INFO
In the country, the hands of the clock coincide perfectly with the meridian of Greenwich. Summer time starts on the last Sunday in March and ends on the last Sunday in October; in this case, the hands are placed one hour ahead of the Greenwich meridian (UTC/GMT + 1).
ELECTRIC CURRENT
In the Irish Republic, the tension is, of 220 volts. As in the UK, you will always find sockets with three rectangular holes, similar to those shown in the picture above. We recommend always using a special adapter. To the most provident, we recommend taking a look at this link.
POST
A background with the inevitable green color, and the word POST indicates the presence of a post office. Every city in the Republic, whether big or small, has its own post office.
Typically, post office desks are open on weekdays, from 09:00 to 17:30, and Saturday from 09:00 to 13:00. In Dublin, the main offices are also open on Saturday afternoons.
SHOPS
There are no regulated timetables, but much depends on the area and the period. Shops are generally open from Monday to Saturday, from 09 to 18. Not infrequently, especially in large cities, you will find shops and department stores open even on Sundays.
During national holidays, gate valves lowered almost everywhere.
PHARMACIES
As a rule, you will find pharmacies open from Monday to Saturday, from 09:00 to 17:30 approximately. In some cases, pharmacies are also open on Sunday mornings, up to 13:00.
Often, outside, you will find the times of the pharmacies on duty.
PHONE
In Ireland, the frequencies Gsm 800/1800 Mhz and W-CDMA 2100 are used, the same as the main European countries. So you can easily use your Italian, French … smartphone.
To call phones in the Republic of Ireland, you need to enter the international code 00353, followed by the telephone number.
With the lowering of roaming costs, you can easily call from Ireland using your national rate. Alternatively, you can use the classic VoIP calls, or make video calls, using a free WI-FI line.
PUB
In the Country, Pubs are practically an institution. Impossible not to be infected by the charm of the Irish Pub. During your holiday, whether you are a lover or not, you will inevitably find yourself spending at least one evening. Obviously, move away from the mind the image (in my opinion wonderful) of the clouds of smoke that invaded the local Irish. In fact, throughout the country there is an absolute ban on smoking in all public places. Including, of course, the pubs.