Cyclists tackles mountains to get to Glastonbury Festival from Spain
For most of us, getting to Glastonbury Festival usually involves a choice between gridlock traffic in a car, a crowded coach or a ram-packed train. But 25-year-old Ollie White has avoided all three by deciding to cycle – from Madrid in Spain. Over the course of nearly a month he has crossed "desert-like landscapes, a mountain range and hundreds of kilometres of coastline", and has documented every day in TikTok and Instagram videos edited in his tent. "A lot of people think I'm crazy for doing this but for me it doesn't seem too crazy," he told the BBC.
"It's just a challenge I've set myself and, at the end of the day, once you've done all the preparation, you just have to get on the bike each day and do the kilometres," he said.Having spent the past three years living in Spain and working as a content creator for La Liga, the highest level of Spanish football, Mr White's journey to Glastonbury is part of a longer adventure home to Sligo on Ireland's west coast. Having walked part of the Camino de Santiago in 2024 to reach a festival in Bilbao, Mr White said the decision to take the long route had been as simple as "I have a ticket for Glastonbury, so why not cycle?"
"It's been absolutely incredible to be honest, everything has been really positive," he said, adding that most of his journey had been focused on taking in nature having spent three years living in cities. In addition to covering up to 100km each day, Mr White has filmed and uploaded daily videos documenting his journey online, amassing tens of thousands of views. "As much as I love football, travel and adventure is really the thing I'm most passionate about, so it's been really nice to take the skills I developed in my day job over the past two years and put all that energy into this new style of video," he said. "Sometimes I'm in my tent in the middle of a forest while camping and I'm trying to put the videos together and add the subtitles, stuff like that, so it is challenging," he added. "Hopefully it'll be worth it in the end and, if anything, I just have the memories of this trip for the rest of my life."
As for the festival itself, Mr White said he was most looking forward to catching Neil Young, Loyle Carner, Kneecap and Caribou, as well as acts from his childhood such as Scissor Sisters and Kaiser Chiefs. "In terms of the headliners, Neil Young will be the one I'm looking forward to most... when I'm cycling through lovely fields and desert-like landscapes he's been a really good soundtrack." After more than three weeks of cycling through Spain and France, Mr White crossed from Roscoff to Plymouth by ferry on Sunday and is planning to touch down in Glastonbury by Tuesday. "It's just one pedal after the other and hope for the best – that's served me well so far," he said.
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The Guardian
an hour ago
- The Guardian
Charli xcx and Neil Young to Juan Atkins and the Asian underground: what to see at Glastonbury
'Not a vintage year,' came the usual grumbles about the Glastonbury lineup when it was announced in March – and it's perhaps only in England where people would moan about the lack of quality on offer at a festival with more than 3,000 performances across five days. In reality, Glastonbury remains stacked with varied, progressive, boundlessly vital artists, and the real challenge is picking your way through them: here are some of our tips. At 79, Neil Young is as irascible and fired-up as a man a quarter of his age, and seems to steel-tip his laurels so he doesn't rest on them: after reuniting with Crazy Horse in 2024, he's swapped them out again for new backing band the Chrome Hearts (featuring 81-year-old legend Spooner Oldham on organ). You rather hope Young will get the same memo Elton John did in 2023, stating that the Pyramid crowds need more hits than most, though he may well ignore it. Even if he does, an ornery and obscure Neil Young set is still a thrill. Olivia Rodrigo delivered a bracing set on the Other stage in 2022, naming the supreme court justices who overturned Roe v Wade that weekend and telling them 'we hate you, we hate you' – and she has splenetic pop-punk and heart-rending balladry to match that venom. And kicking off these three Pyramid headliners on Friday night, there's no doubting the pop heft of the 1975's quite considerable catalogue, their lyrics rooted in the weirdness of the way we live now. Outside the headliners, Alanis Morissette – anthemic, ubiquitous in the 90s – is the kind of artist the Pyramid crowd unites behind: songs such as You Oughta Know and Ironic will be big moments. Noah Kahan's Stick Season will be another huge Pyramid singalong, and Rod Stewart back-to-back with Chic is about as crowdpleasing as it gets. Raye plays her biggest show to date before Young – she pairs old-Hollywood glamour with genre-surfing, propulsive pop and will put on a sumptuous show. Former Little Mixer Jade brings bug-eyed personality to her solo performances, as do the Prodigy, who still sound unhinged three decades after their peak. In the field and at home on TV, all eyes will be on Kneecap – cabinet ministers and indeed our prime minister have voiced their distaste at this set going ahead, but you hardly imagine they'll dial down their political fury, or indeed ketamine-referencing rap-rave intensity. And Charli xcx's current power-walking, phlegm-licking, Brat-heavy live show is the work of a pop star operating at the highest level. It's worth trying, but you'll be lucky to get in the Woodsies tent for Lola Young in her breakthrough year, showcasing global hit Messy and more – and the Avalon stage will probably be even more oversubscribed for Paris Paloma's dramatic, Florence-esque songcraft and Orla Gartland's maximally emotive pop, any of whom could have commanded a decent Other stage audience. It feels as if Aussie indie-poppers Royel Otis are one song from pan-Glasto awareness and are shamelessly populist, with their big singalong choruses ('you're so fucking gorgeous!') and bigger cover versions (Linger, Murder on the Dancefloor) making them a very reliable bet in a mixed-taste friendship group. Anyone unable to wait for the Prodigy's industrial-jungle onslaught can enjoy a similar vibe from showboating duo Alt Blk Era. Rapper and singer Lemfreck, winner of the Welsh music prize, is turning heads with his versatile vocalisations: one minute offering a croaking, conversational flow, the next soaring Sampha-like soul songs. And any Kneecap fans should check out hot drum'n'bass producer Mozey – he did their latest single, and you can imagine there might be a mania-inducing guest spot during his set. If there is a criticism to be made of the lineup it's that there's a relative dearth of rap names – possibly a reflection of its waning position in mainstream pop culture – but there's a scattering of masterful MCs, including arguably the hottest on earth right now: Doechii, whose preening brilliance, undercut with radical and self-lacerating honesty, makes for a series of miniature soap operas, dark thrillers and situation comedies. Her delivery, almost like dotting words on to the mic rather than speaking through it, is almost as superhuman as fellow performer Busta Rhymes, whose brain and embouchure continue to operate in a completely different gear. Don't miss Bawo, whose funny and ruminative lyrics make him one of the UK's most underrated MCs, followed straight after by beautifully melismatic R&B singer Sasha Keable and socially conscious veteran UK rapper Bashy. Glastonbury's unofficial 'no mosh' policy continues to fray at the edges, with some of their heaviest bookings to date. Powered as ever by Chino Moreno's nape-tickling groans and nu-metal chatter, Deftones have rightly become lauded as true greats and this set could promise some cross-generational circle pits, helicoptering dreadlocks and airborne pints. Ditto Turnstile, who – especially live – remain totally wedded to the hardcore punk scene even as they expand their sound. Woodsies on Sunday lunchtime offers a brace of smart, sardonic post-punk turns, first from Gurriers, then from Irish quartet Sprints: powered by the withering vocals of Karla Chubb, they went Top 20 with their debut and they'll no doubt be touting new material here. Also worth an earlyish start is Horsegirl, the Chicago indie-pop trio whose second album, produced by Cate Le Bon, is among this year's very best, full of head-turning contradictions: naive yet world-weary, doleful yet brightly melodic. Having sloughed off his Black Midi bandmates, Geordie Greep is a maximalist prog-pop showman, while Rachel Chinouriri's own alt-pop stagecraft has been honed by a spell supporting Sabrina Carpenter, and the reformed TV on the Radio, fronted by the ultimate Dilf in Tunde Adebimpe, remain magnetic. It started with a trickle of acts including Underworld and Orbital, and three decades on Glastonbury is essentially the UK's best dance festival. One of the people from which today's entire dance culture flows, Juan Atkins, is doing two polar opposite sets: as the bodypopping Cybotronas well an ambient set under his own name. Another Detroit icon, Richie Hawtin, is followed by similarly austere gear from Amelie Lens, while Mathew Jonson is another class act in the pure techno realm. Easing us in on Thursday evening are Major League DJz, one of the biggest names pushing South Africa's calm yet sensual amapiano sound. Of the back-to-back sets, Kettama b2b Interplanetary Criminal has the potential for the most T-shirt-stripping, lizard-brained pandemonium of the weekend, while Confidence Man b2b Job Jobse will be chirpily cheery. In the bass zone, Skream and Benga will hurl wobbling dubstep boulders and HiTech will booty-shake through witty ghettotech, while Calibre tops an awesome daylong lineup of drum'n'bass and UKG at Levels on Friday. And kicking open the doors of perception with mini strobes in hand are two world-class, mind-expanding producers questing to the coalface of dance culture: Verraco and Avalon Emerson. At 80, reggae legend Burning Spear is still devoted to uplifting Black consciousness and some gentle skanking for his mid-afternoon Pyramid set will limber you up nicely for the evening ahead, while there's similar depth of heritage from his compatriots Black Uhuru. Argentine rappers Ca7riel and Paco Amoroso may not be widely known in the UK but if their live set here is anything like their phenomenally popular Tiny Desk concert, they'll create one of those crowds that swells and swells – get there early. For a blast of pure emotive musicianship check out South African cellist Abel Selaocoe, while Ichiko Aoba's pretty yet profound ambient pop will be equally spellbinding, and Italian pop-Afrobeat troupe Rumba de Bodas are the kind of group to get multiple generations out of their folding camping chairs. And in what is fast becoming a great tradition at Glastonbury, the vibrancy of the global south Asian underground is given its fullest expression across multiple areas, including new stage Azaadi which hosts UK legends such as Bally Sagoo and Panjabi Hit Squad alongside new-school names including US duo Baalti and Mumbai techno DJ Rafiki. The Guardian is hosting three Q&A events at the Astrolabe theatre, at noon each day. On Friday, the perma-fabulous drag legend Bimini joins us, on Saturday we have illusionist Steven Frayne (formerly known as Dynamo), and on Sunday it's those boys in the band, Carl Barât and Pete Doherty from the Libertines. Lemfreck – BBC Introducing, 16.00HiTech – Lonely Hearts Club, 18.00Major League DJz – Lonely Hearts Club, 21.00Confidence Man b2b Job Jobse – Levels, 21.00Baalti – Babylon Uprising, 2200 (also Azaadi, Friday, 02.00)Calibre – Glade Dome, 2130 (also Levels, Friday, 01.45)Avalon Emerson (9000 Dreams) – San Remo, 01.00 Horsegirl – Park stage, 11.30Bimini – Astrolabe theatre, 12.00Ca7riel and Paco Amoroso – West Holts, 13.00 (also Shangri-La stage, 01.15)Rumba de Bodas – Avalon, 14.10Burning Spear – Pyramid, 15.00Paris Paloma – Avalon, 15.35Bawo – Lonely Hearts Club, 16.15Lola Young – Woodsies, 16.30Sasha Keable – Lonely Hearts Club, 17.45Alanis Morissette – Pyramid stage, 18.15Orla Gartland – Avalon, 18.35Bashy – Lonely Hearts Club, 19.00Alt Blk Era – BBC Introducing, 19.30Busta Rhymes – Other stage, 20.30Kettama b2b Interplanetary Criminal – Glade, 20.45Bally Sagoo – Azaadi, 22.00The 1975 – Pyramid stage, 22.15Skream and Benga ft Sgt Pokes – Levels, 00.00Cybotron – Iicon, 01.00Amelie Lens – Lonely Hearts Club, 0130 (also Glade, Saturday, 01.30)Rafiki – Azaadi, 03.00 Steven Frayne – Astrolabe theatre, 12.00Ichiko Aoba – Park stage, 12.45Jade – Woodsies, 15.15TV on the Radio – Woodsies, 18.00Raye – Pyramid stage, 20.00Rachel Chinouriri – Avalon, 20.10Deftones – Other stage, 20.30Neil Young and the Chrome Hearts – Pyramid stage, 22.00Panjabi Hit Squad – Azaadi, 2200 (also Stonebridge Bar, Sunday, 19.30)Charli xcx – Other stage, 22.30Doechii –West Holts, 22.45Juan Atkins (ambient set) – Tree stage, 23.50Mozey – Lonely Hearts Club, 01.45 Carl Barât and Pete Doherty – Astrolabe theatre, 12.00Gurriers – Woodsies, 12.30 (also Left Field, Friday, 17.35)Abel Selaocoe and the Bantu Ensemble – West Holts, Sunday, 12.30Geordie Greep – Park stage, 12.45Sprints – Woodsies, 14.00Royel Otis – Park stage, 15.15Black Uhuru – West Holts, 15.30Rod Stewart – Pyramid stage, 15.45Turnstile – Other stage, 16.30Chic and Nile Rodgers – Pyramid stage, 18.00Noah Kahan – Pyramid stage, 19.45Olivia Rodrigo – Pyramid stage, 21.45The Prodigy – Other stage, 21.45Verraco – Assembly, 01.00
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The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
Forget Glastonbury – this little-known European music festival offers a sophisticated vibe and a killer lineup for less
My desire to go to Glastonbury faded somewhere between my only time going in 1997 – a rainy year where my lasting memory is pulling my wellies out of the mud with every step – and more recent times, when the word 'spreadsheet' was used in my friends' Glasto ticket-buying group. That's how I found myself sipping a riesling in the sunshine at French festival We Love Green, waiting for FKA Twigs to arrive on stage. As both a music writer and music fan, I've forgone Glasto to catch a range of European music festivals instead, from the boho vibes of Electric Picnic in Ireland to the concrete playground of Primavera in Spain. It was my first time at We Love Green, which read like a composite of my dream festival: it's mid-sized (it holds 40,000 people a day), located in the gorgeous city park of Bois de Vincennes, involves an all-killer no-filler lineup in the evenings (this year's included LCD Soundsystem, Charli XCX, Bicep, Air, Sampha and Ezra Collective, and very little clashing with set times) and, crucially, zero camping for this princess. It's also wildly great value for money. My three-day ticket which cost €149 (£126), hotel (£115) and flight (£110) came in at less than the price of a Glastonbury ticket (£375). The clincher for me? While We Are Green doesn't have the sunrise finish of other European festivals, the music stages run until 1am, so in the daytime, I was free to explore the delights of Paris. What a bonus. Anthony Bourdain's wise words sprung to mind as I arrived in the City of Lights: 'The vacation gone wrong in Paris is almost always because people try to do too many things…Please, make the most of it by doing as little as possible.' I planned to see one exhibition a day, with festival fun in the evenings. I was keen to see 'Out of Focus', an exhibition at Musée de l'Orangerie about blurriness as an artistic expression. This is an inspired theme, explored so powerfully in the home of Monet's Water Lilies, which is arguably the finest manifestation of it. Then, it was a trip out to the suitably shimmering Philharmonie de Paris for 'Disco: I'm Coming Out', an exhibition celebrating the genre's music, politics and aesthetics featuring artworks by Andy Warhol and Keith Haring. It felt like a fitting amuse-bouche for the music festival ahead as it boogie-walks visitors through the disco era, from its roots in soul and funk to its importance in the Civil Rights Movement. As nourishing as the days are, the festival is the main event. On arrival, the mandatory faff of loading credit onto your wristband (with a €1.50 fee each time) sucked, but the festival layout was perfect. The Bar à Vins, which served natural and organic wines and artisanal soft drinks, took prime position at the centre of it all, the dance tent was set back in order to go full blast, and there was a low-sensory area in case festival-goers felt overstimulated. And best of all, because it's Paris, there was a champagne bar. Were there enough toilets? Absolutely not. But there was a champagne bar! As the name suggests, We Love Green trades on its eco-conscious outlook, though I'm shamefully aware it's no reason to travel 300 miles. Most noticeably, it had 'dry toilets' that use sawdust to flush, which I'm told saves 1.5 million litres of water. A much more welcome initiative was that the food and drink onsite is fully vegetarian and 80 per cent of the drinks are produced within a 200km radius – easily done when you have access to some of the world's best agricultural land, including vineyards around you. My flavour-packed aubergine, spinach and feta pastry from Groot, a Parisienne pie shop was exquisite enough for me to forgive the accompanying smoked potatoes that taste boiled (proposed new rule: at festivals, all potato products should be chips or chip-adjacent). A year since I saw her launch Brat summer at Primavera, I was most excited about seeing Charli XCX again, who'll be a highlight at Glastonbury too. 'I'm warning you now, I dance like crazy,' a Paris-based Aussie next to me said as we waited patiently. On the other side, French boys struck up a conversation with my partner. By the end of her blistering set, we'd all practically swapped numbers. The vibes were immaculate, as confirmed by Dylan (25) from Hull and Jack (26) from Belfast, whom I met in between sets. 'The level of respect and appreciation is beautiful, and the music has been outstanding,' Dylan said. 'Yesterday, we saw Magdalena Bay perform possibly the greatest pop album in the last 10 years in full, for a crowd who clearly wanted to be there. That's what separates this from anything else I've been to – it's for music lovers.' Jack added: 'The people have been so lovely here – welcoming and respectful. Being from the UK, it's refreshing not to see people throwing up or peeing at the sides.' The rest of the festival paled into insignificance when FKA Twigs arrived on stage. Buoyed by her evocative latest release Eusexua, her show was commanding and carefully considered. She's not announced any festivals in the UK yet, so it felt like a coup to see her here. Thinking back to my weekend in Paris that involved world-class art, tasty veggie food, fleeting friends and great wine, I feel as though I've made a unique discovery. Hardly any of what I experienced could be replicated in the UK. And that's why I'll be back again next year – champagne in hand. How to get there Eurostar tickets from London to Paris start from £39 one way, and take around two hours 30 minutes. Various airlines fly from the UK to Paris, including British Airways, easyJet, Ryanair and Air France. Flight time is around one hour 20 minutes. Where to stay Le Ruisseau, Saint-Mandé This is a charming hotel set above a restaurant. Traditionally kitted-out rooms are cosy but comfortable, and keenly priced. Hôtel De La Porte Dorée On the edge of Bois de Vincennes, Hôtel De La Porte Dorée is a family-run Parisienne boutique hotel with heaps of contemporary French flair. So/ Hotel So/ Hotel is a design-led hotel with the wow factor on the banks of the Seine, don't miss the rooftop bar with 360 views of Paris's landmarks.
The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
The best affordable hotels in Dublin, from dorm rooms to boutique stays on a budget
There's no denying that Dublin can be an expensive city to visit. And finding a hotel that fits comfortably within a budget can be a challenge, particularly in high season or at peak times. But don't be discouraged – if you know where to look, you can often snag a (relative) bargain. There are slick hostels that have private rooms, if you're not a fan of sharing, and peaceful townhouses just outside the city that offer a great deal, compared to the more central properties. A word of warning, though – to say that Dublin hotel prices fluctuate is an understatement. When there's a big gig taking place, or demand is simply high, the prices for even the basic hostels can skyrocket. The properties below are usually at the lower end of the scale, but that can't be guaranteed – be prepared to shop around a little, and see who is offering the best price. At a glance 1. The Hendrick hotel In the middle of the hipster neighbourhood of Smithfield, The Hendrick has the best of both worlds – local bars, street art and bistros on its doorstep, but the rest of the city is barely a 20-minute walk away. The rooms are designed in the compact, pod hotel style, but there's plenty of storage under the beds and a decent bathroom. The open-plan bar area is a great hangout spot, and there's loads of cool art throughout the hotel – scan the QR codes to get an audio guide to the pieces. 2. Latroupe Jacobs Inn hotel This hostel has just been taken over from the boutique Latroupe brand, and has all the hallmarks of a cool city crash pad. The restaurant serves creative dishes like crispy chickpea salads and grilled haloumi burgers, and there's often a live DJ in the bar in the evenings, which creates a party atmosphere. The dorm rooms have a unique layout, in that the beds are all in a self-contained pod style, but the private rooms offer great value for money, and have en-suite bathrooms, as well as a boutique design with navy, wood panelled walls, tobacco leather headboards and exposed piping from which you can hang your clothes. Address: 21-28 Talbot Pl, Mountjoy, Dublin 1, D01 W5P8, Ireland 3. Generator Dublin hotel Located next door to the Jameson Distillery in Smithfield, the Generator has a mix of both dorm rooms and privates, the latter being fairly spacious. Some of those private rooms have little balconies overlooking Smithfield Square, too. Downstairs, there's a huge bar and a cool reading nook for a coffee during the day, and they have pool tables and shuffleboard, too. There's often a DJ at night or screenings in their cinema room, and they also own the Skyview Tower, which, for a nominal fee, gets you a fantastic panoramic view of the city and beyond – you just need to climb the 259 steps first. 4. The Marlin hotel Located by the Stephen's Green shops and buzzy bars around Drury and William Street South, The Marlin has 300 cool, compact rooms that are on the smaller side, but a huge groundfloor space that blends a bar, restaurant and cosy hangout nooks. Considering the size of the bar, it never feels jammed, and the menu of pub grub is great if you don't fancy venturing far for dinner. Much of the city centre is right on your doorstep, so you won't need to bother with public transport or taxis, which always makes a difference to a budget stay. Address: 11 Bow Ln E, St Stephen's Green, Dublin, D02 AY81, Ireland 5. Stauntons on the Green hotel Their prices aren't always rock bottom, but when they're at the lower end of the scale, this period property offers fantastic value, particularly for solo travellers, as there's a single room with a twin bed. This Georgian townhouse has a great location on the southern edge of Stephen's Green, but it backs onto the Iveagh Gardens – there's even a secret gate that residents can use, through the pretty hotel garden, which is a lovely spot for a glass of wine in the evenings. If your stay includes breakfast, you'll be in for a treat, with classic Irish dishes served up on pretty crockery in the drawing room. 6. Pembroke Townhouse hotel You wouldn't expect a period property in the bougie neighbourhood of Ballsbridge to have good prices, but you can often find a decent rate in the Pembroke Townhouse. The rooms vary in size, with the Snug a good space for solo travellers, and the common areas downstairs are a nice place to sit with a book. In the shared pantry, there's free tea and Nespresso coffee and a platter of pastries you can help yourself to as well, and there's reasonably priced wine on offer. The city centre is a pleasant 15-minute stroll away. 7. Clink i Lár hotel Right in the middle of the shopping district in the Northside, Clink i Lár is a relatively new and upscale hostel, which has a mixture of dorms (including female-only) and private rooms. The rooms themselves aren't particularly exciting, unless you're on the 10th floor, where you'll be met with some cool city views. But plenty is going on downstairs, particularly for solo travellers – there are social events, movie screenings and karaoke, as well as a fairly lively bar. There's also a kitchen where you can prepare a meal, which helps save the pennies. 8. Ariel House hotel Now, there won't be any bargains found when there's a match on in the Aviva Stadium (which is just a few doors down), but this charming, recently refurbished guesthouse is a great place to stay otherwise. With the bones of an old-fashioned B&B but the style of a boutique hotel, Ariel House is a characterful space in leafy Ballsbridge. Their cosy doubles and single rooms offer the best value, but their family rooms are great if you're bringing kids. Their breakfast is one of the best in the city, with a generous buffet of homemade baked goods and an à la carte menu of exceptional Irish produce. 9. Zanzibar Locke hotel There are often good rates to be found in this aparthotel right on the River Liffey – plus, the rooms are stylish and come fitted out with well-equipped kitchens, so you can eat some meals here to save on cash. There's a cool open-plan space on the ground floor that's a popular co-working spot, but they also offer yoga classes in the courtyard and other events. It's in a great location for exploring the city, with some rooms overlooking the Ha'penny Bridge, and both sides of town are a quick walk away. 10. Trinity College Dublin accommodation Now, these rooms may only be available in the summer holidays, but considering that's when Dublin hotel prices skyrocket, that can only be a good thing. This university student accommodation is turned over to tourists when everyone leaves for their holidays, which means you get to relive your college days and score a bargain to boot. The quality varies, from heritage style with views of the historic courtyard to the more modern setups, but there's a good variety on offer. There are also apartments that can be rented to groups. You're in a prime position to explore the city, and the Book of Kells Experience is right on your doorstep. Why trust us The hotels featured in this list have been carefully selected by The Independent's expert travel writers, each with a deep knowledge of the destinations they cover. Our contributors either live in these locations or visit frequently, ensuring a personal and informed perspective. When picking which hotels to include, they consider their own experience staying in the hotels and evaluate location, facilities, service and all the other details that make for an exceptional stay for all types of traveller. FAQs When is the cheapest time to visit Dublin? Like the rest of Ireland, the best time to visit Dublin for warmer weather, less rainfall, and sunnier days is in the summer months, between June and August. For a trip to the city without the crowds, visit in the shoulder seasons in spring and autumn, when hotel prices are also likely cheaper. Dublin comes alive on one of Ireland's biggest national holidays, St Patrick's Day in March, when parades with colourful floats are held in the streets and arts and culture events are put on in the city to celebrate the annual saint day. Is Dublin expensive? Dublin is considered an expensive city break for tourists, but there are ways of keeping the costs down, such as opting for dorm room accommodation, making use of the fact it is a walkable city and seeking out the budget bars and eateries. What are the best free things to do? There are plenty of free museums to visit in Dublin, such as the Collins Barracks, Chester Beatty, the National Museum of Ireland and the National Gallery of Ireland. Seek out Dublin's talking statues from James Joyce to Oscar Wilde to delve deeper into their role in Ireland's history, or head to the Dublin Portal to wave at people in New York City through a livestream. Areas such as St Stephen's Green, Phoenix Park and the National Botanic Garden offer a free area to chill for an hour or so away from the city centre, or head to the nearby coastline, such as Dollymount Strand or Forty Foot, for a breath of sea air. How much spending money do I need? This depends on how much drinking, eating and shopping you plan to do. The average price of a Guinness is €5.77 (£4.93) in Ireland, but this can cost you much more in popular tourist spots like Temple Bar, so prepare accordingly for how many pints of stout you want to sink.
