What is it? A quaint, picturesque heritage town on the south Dublin coast, famous for celebrity residents (u2's Bono, film director Neil Jordan, and actor Matt Damon to name a few), nice pubs, cafes, and restaurants, as well as some of the most stunning walks in Dublin | Where is it? It's around 15km south of Dublin City | How to get there? From the apartment, it's a 15 minute walk to Tara Street Train Station. Buy a ticket for Dalkey from the ticket vending machine outside (€2.60) and take the escalator for the 'Southbound Platform'. There are 13 stops between Tara Street and Dalkey along the DART line, with the journey taking around 25 minutes. The station in Dalkey is a 30-second walk from the main street (Castle Street)

History: Dalkey’s rich history is front and centre, with a 10th century church and two Norman castles right on the main street. Learn about the medieval and Viking history of the village in a visit to the Dalkey Castle and Heritage Center

Cafes: You'll find great coffee at Shoe Lane Coffee at 44 Castle Street, Robert's at 24 Castle St, or Pepper Laine at 2 Convent Road; get a takeout sandwich or snack at Thyme Out at 33 Castle Street or have a quick sit-down lunch in Mugs Cafe at 61a Castle Street

Lunch: Head for Dalkey's favourite pub Finnegan's at 1 Sorrento Road or gastro pub The Coliemore on 115 Coliemore Road | Dinner: The best restaurant in Dalkey is DeVilles at 25 Castle Street, while the local Thai restaurant Thai House at 21 Railway Road is also good. For pub food, check out The Dalkey Duck at 61 Castle Street

Pubs: For a relatively small town, Dalkey has plenty of pubs. The best of them are Finnegans (1 Sorrento Road), The Coliemore (115 Coliemore Road) and The Dalkey Duck (61 Castle Street)

Walks: Take in the views along Dublin's coastline by walking up Coliemore Road and along Vico Road finishing at Fitzpatrick Castle Hotel for a coffee or drink, or exploreKilliney Hill, which is roughly a 14-minute walk from the train station

Swimming: You can swim from Coliemore Harbour, which is an 11-minute walk from the train station or, if you're a more experienced sea swimmer, head for Vico Baths, which is a 20-minute walk from the train station

What is it? A scenic coastal fishing village with nice restaurants and pubs, and several great walking trails over Howth Head, a scenic peninsula that stretches out into the Irish Sea | Where is it? It's around 15km north of Dublin City | How to get there? From the apartment, it's a 15 minute walk to Tara Street Train Station. Buy a ticket for HOWTH from the ticket vending machine outside (€2.60) and take the escalator for the 'Northbound Platform'. There are 10stops between Tara Street and Howth along the DART line, with the journey taking around 28 minutes. The station in Howth is a short walk from the centre of the village

Walks: There are a number of routes you can take around Howth Head of varying durations and terrains. One of the most popular is the Cliff Path Loop, which is almost 8km long and takes around 2 hours to complete. Other options are the Black Linn Loop (2.5 hours / 8.1km / Moderate difficulty) or the more difficult Bog of Frogs Loop (3 hours / 12km / Strenuous difficulty). Each of the trails is well sign-posted from the train station.

Pubs: The most well-known pub in Howth is definitely The Abbey Tavern on Abbey Street, which is also a nice spot for lunch or dinner. Or try McNeills of Howth on Main Street.

Lunch/Dinner: One of the best seafood restaurants in Dublin is the King Sitric Seafood Bar, which you'll find on the East Pier, or Octupussy Seafood Tapas, which you'll find on the West Pier. For a quicker option, try Beshoffs on Harbour Road.

Cafes: If you're visiting on a weekend, try Howth Market, which is directly opposite the train station - lots of great coffee and snack options. Best coffee is from Bodega, which is next to the train station, or Pog on Harbour Road.

What is it? A harbour town [pronounced "Done-Leery" or if you want to impress the locals and pronounce it in Irish, it's "Dune Leer-ah"] with nice restaurants, cafes, pubs and shops, a nice park, and a c. 1.5km pier that extends out into Dublin Bay | Where is it? It's around 11km south of Dublin City | How to get there? From the apartment, it's a 15 minute walk to Tara Street Train Station. Buy a ticket for DUN LAOGHAIRE from the ticket vending machine outside (€2.60) and take the escalator for the 'Southbound Platform'. There are 10 stops between Tara Street and Dun Laoghaire along the DART line, with the journey taking around 23 minutes. The station in Dun Laoghaire is in the very centre of the town and close to the coast walks and pier.

Dun Laoghaire was a popular seaside resort in Victorian times, attracting visitors from the city and further afield. It's now an elegant, contemporary harbour town but it has retained its 19th Century feel, particularly around the seafront and while walking the pier.

Walk: You can't visit Dun Laoghaire without walking the East Pier: It's the highlight of the town! It's only a 5-minute walk from Dun Laoghaire train station to the start of the East Pier, which in total is then a 2.6 kilometre walk to the end and back. In all, it will take around 30 minutes without pausing - but you absolutely should pause as the pier offers spectacular views of the Dublin coastline and out into the Irish Sea. Along the way, you'll pass the Victorian shelter and bandstand, while at very end of the pier you'll come to a lighthouse and small naval fort dating back to 1847. You'll also encounter a Teddys ice cream kiosk, which is now a cherished Dun Laoghaire institution! Alternatively - or in addition - walk along the seafront as far as Sandycove, a 2km walk that will take around 25 minutes. This is one of the nicest walks in Dublin. Sandycove Beach or the nearby Forty Foot are great places for sea swimming.

Park: One of the jewels of Dun Laoghaire is the People's Park, a Victorian garden-park dating back to the 1890s. It's on the edge of the town, just a 9-minute walk from the train station. You'll find ornate flowerbeds, fountains, Victorian benches, a tearoom and coffee shop, and a great playground too. On Sundays, the market hosts a Market with artisan food and craft stalls.