What is it? A 2.6km pier walk | Where is it? Just minutes from the train station in the coastal town of Dun Laoghaire, which is around 11km south of Dublin City | How long does it take? The pier walk itself takes around 40 minutes, while it will take a 23-minute train journey to reach Dun Laoghaire from 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.

Take the short (23 minutes) trip out to the coastal town of Dun Laoghaire (pronounced Done-leery) using Dublin's public commuter train (the DART) and walk the 2.6km out-and-back maritime trail of the East Pier. Once a Victorian seaside resort, Dun Laoghaire is now a bustling town with lots to do and see. The two piers (East and West) that form Dun Laoghaire Harbour are the focal points of the town.

It's a fairly easy walk, popular with walkers and joggers, and gives stunning views out to sea and of the coastline. Think fresh sea air and loud seagulls! There is plenty of seating along the way and a delightful old Victorian bandstand around midway. At the very end, you will find the East Pier Lighthouse, which dates back to 1847 (and now houses an ice cream shop!)

What is it? A distillery tour that will bring you through the process of making one of the world's most popular whiskeys; can also do tastings or classes on blending, making cocktails etcetera | Where is it? Bow Street, Smithfield, Dublin 7 | How to get there? It's a 12 minute walk from the apartment or a taxi will get there in around 5 minutes | Can you book online? Yes. You can book tours or experiences and find out more information on everything here | Opening hours: 10am-7pm, Monday to Thursday (last tours at 6pm); 10am-8pn, Friday & Saturday (last tours at 6.30pm); 12pm-7pm, Sunday (last tours at 6pm)

While almost every visitor to Dublin visits the Guinness Storehouse (and with good reason - it's a great tour and experience), most overlook the whiskey distilleries, which are also well worth a visit. The most convenient of these is the Jameson Distillery, which is just a short walk from the apartment, but the Teeling Distillery, which is around a 20 minute walk away, is also really good.

What is it? Ireland's cultural institution for film, which houses three screens showing arty and independent films, a shop and a cafe and bar | Where it is? 6 Eustace Street, Temple Bar, Dublin 2, D02PD85 | How to get there? It's a quick 5 minute walk from the apartment | How to find out what's on? Full details of what's on and times here | Where to get tickets? Book tickets here or at the box office.

Anyone into film will love the IFI. Across its three cinema screens, it shows the best of Irish, international and independent films, as well as curated seasons, festivals and other film events, such as the IFI Family Festival, IFI French Film Festival, Documentary Film Festival, the IFI Horror Film Festival and more.

What is it? The Iveagh Gardens, one of Dublin's finest, but least well known, public park | Where is it? Entrance is on Clonmel Street, Dublin 2, D02YD96 | How to get there? It's a 22 minute walk from the apartment | Opening hours: The park gate is unlocked at 8am every morning (10am on Sundays and holidays) and closed at different times depending on season (approximate closing times are 5pm in January & February, 6.30pm in March, 7.30pm in April, May, June, July & August, 7pm in September, 6pm in October, 4pm in November, and 3.30pm in December)

Dublin City has several great parks and gardens - St Stephen's Green, Merrion Square and the Phoenix Park being the most well known of them - but one of the best, most central, yet least well-known is the Iveagh Gardens (known as "the Secret Garden" because so many people, even locals, don't know it even exists!). It's not new - it dates back to 1865 - but it's off the beaten track and tucked in behind the National Concert Hall. Despite its location, it's quiet and never crowded. You won't find colorful or ornate flowers - rather it's intended to be a green, calming space with lawns, trees, fountains, grottos, a maze, a rosarium and rockeries. It's the perfect place to take a peaceful walk, read a book, explore or picnic. On your way, pop into Fallon & Byrne (11-17 Exchequer Street, Dublin 2, D02RY63, open from 8am-8pm, Monday to Saturday, and 10.30am-7pm on Sundays) and get whatever you need for the perfect picnic!

What is it? A local pub called Finnegan's in the village of Dalkey, around 15km south of Dublin City, which is famous for being the local resident Bono's favourite pub | Where is it? You'll find Finnegan's Pub at 1 Sorrento Road, Dalkey, County Dublin, A96CX47 - a 30-second walk from the train station in Dalkey | 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.

Around 25 minutes on the train from Dublin City, you'll find the very picturesque village of Dalkey. As well as its Norman castle, scenic walks, nice restaurants, island and extraordinarily photogenic streets, it's home to Bono of U2. And he is known to be a regular visitor to Finnegan's pub on the corner of Railway Road and Sorrento Road. In fact, it's the pub he brought Michelle Obama to when she visited Ireland in 2013. Be sure, too, to take a walk along Coliemore Harbour and on to Vico Road. If you're feeling energetic, a walk to the top of Killiney Hill is well worth it. And if you stay the evening in Dalkey, dinner in De Ville's Restaurant on Castle Street is always superb.

What is it? A spectacular walk across Howth Head, a peninsula to the north of Dublin, which stretches out into the Irish Sea | Where is it? Close to the village of Howth, just minutes from the train station in Howth | 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 10 stops between Tara Street and Howth along the DART line.

The seaside fishing village of Howth to the north of Dublin City is well worth a visit - it's a scenic, peaceful village with great pubs and nice restaurants. Its biggest attraction is the Howth Cliff Walk. There are actually four different trails up to the peak, which, while none are overly difficult (certainly fine for children), can take 2-3 hours to go and come back. You can find the details of each trail here. If you prefer to use a guide or join a walking tour, you can find details and book here.

Two of the best locations for sea swimming in Ireland are easily reachable from Dublin City - from the apartment, you could be at either within an hour using the commuter rail system (DART). The first is The Forty Foot in Sandycove and the second is Hawks Cliff in Killiney. Details for both:

THE FORTY FOOT

What? One of the best sea swimming spots on the Dublin coast, located just 30 minutes from Dublin City | Where? Forty Foot, Sandycove, Co. Dublin | How to get there? Take the train (DART) from Tara Street station (a 15 minute walk from the apartment) to Sandycove. From Sandycove station, the Forty Foot is a 16 minute walk. 

Dubliners have been swimming at the Forty Foot for over 250 years - a location made famous internationally by James Joyce in Ulysses (in fact, the James Joyce Tower, also well worth a visit, is just beside the Forty Foot). 

VICO BATHING PLACE (DALKEY)

What? Another great sea swimming spots on the Dublin coast, also not too far from Dublin City; also known as Hawk Cliff | Where? Vico Bathing Place, Hawk Cliff, Dalkey Co. Dublin | How to get there? Take the train (DART) from Tara Street station (a 15 minute walk from the apartment) to Dalkey. From Dalkey station, it's a 17 minute walk.

For views and spectacular sunrises, it doesn't get better than here. The entrance can be a little difficult to find so you may need to ask a local. And there are a lot of steps to get down from the road above - but it's absolutely worth it. Once down you can enter via the ladder or steps - or alternatively dive in off the platform. 

SMOCK ALLEY THEATRE

What? Smock Alley Theatre, which indirectly dates back to the 17th Century | Where? 6-7 Exchange Street Lower, Temple Bar, D08EH67 | How to get there? It's a 30 second walk from the apartment - practically next door! | Where to find out what's on? Details here | Where to buy tickets? Can get tickets here

First constructed in 1662 as the first Theatre Royal in Dublin, Smock Alley continued as a theatre until 1787. It went through various other uses, including a church through the 19th and most of the 20th Centuries, before returning to usage as a multispace performance venue in the early 1990s. You'll find everything from theatre, dance, comedy, music, performance art here now. The Box Office is open from 10am to 6pm, Monday to Saturday.

What? Natural History Museum (often affectionately called "the dead zoo" | Where? Merrion Street, Dublin 2 | How to get there? It's a 24 minute walk from the apartment | How much? Admission is FREE | Times? TEMPORARILY CLOSED FOR REFURBISHMENT

A relic of the Victorian era when there was insatiable public curiosity in the "wonders of the natural world from across the world", the Natural History Museum of Ireland - known colloquially as 'the dead zoo' - has hardly changed since opening in 1857 (two years before Charles Darwin published The Origin of Species). It still has its Victorian cabinet style presentation layout, which houses one of the finest and most complete collections in the world.

What? George's Street Arcade, an eclectic indoor market (the first purpose-built shopping centre when it opened in 1881) with almost 50 different stalls, kiosks, shops, and restaurants | Where? George's Street Arcade, South Great George's Street, Dublin 2 | How to get there? It's an 8 minute walk from the apartment | What's there? You can find a list of shops here and food outlets here | Times? 9am-6pm, Monday to Wednesday; 9am-7pm, Thursday to Saturday; 11am-6pm, Sunday

What is it? A bus tour of Dublin City that delves into the city's dark secrets, recounting true stories and events that shocked and horrified Dubliners in the past | Where is it? The bus departs from Dublin Bus, 59 Upper O'Connell Street, Dublin 1 | How to get there? It's a 16 minute walk from the apartment or a taxi will get there in around 10 minutes | Can you book online? Yes. You can book tours and find out more information on everything here | Times: Tours depart at 7pm and 9.30pm | Age: Over 14s only

This is a fun (and scary!) tour of the locations and scenes of some horrific events in Dublin City's history, but told with a little comedy and a lot of drama. You'll get to visit a hidden graveyard and the haunted steps of St Audeon's Church. You'll also witness a demonstration of medieval torture implements. All in all, it's a great show! For anyone who is a fan of Victorian horror or, in particular, Bram Stoker and Dracula, you'll get an insight the inspiration for the Dublin writer's most famous book.