With its ridiculously friendly people, brilliant pubs and bars and great sightseeing, Dublin should be top of everyone's list when they're planning a weekend break

Getting the most for your money

Thanks to the euro being super-strong at the moment, like all European destinations, sadly Dublin isn't the cheapest place to visit. But don't let that put you off! Make sure you shop around for a good exchange rate and try to avoid getting money out of cash machines while you're over there. Most banks will whack fees on top of any cash you get out, and the rates are often higher.

If you're trying to work you how much things are while you're away, at the moment the general rule is to shave about 20 per cent off to work out the pound equivalent.

Getting around

Dublin taxis are probably equivalent to London black cab prices and you can expect to pay about €25-30 for a cab to get to the centre of Dublin from the airport. But as over 700 buses and coaches travel to and from the airport every day and cost around €6 to the centre of town, they're definitely the cheaper option.

Once you're in central Dublin it's easy to walk everywhere so your feet will definitely be your best friend while you're sightseeing/shopping/bar hopping. Buses also run frequently around the city and fares start from €1 (around 80p) and you can get a day's unlimited travel for €6. The bus drivers are refreshingly friendly and helpful and will always point you in the right direction.

Sightseeing

Not surprisingly, the best way to see all that Dublin has to offer is on a tour bus. There are two main tour operators, both of which follow a more or less identical route and cost around €15. You can get a discount if you book online (see www.dublinbus.ie or www.irishcitytours.com).

As the tour only takes about 45 minutes, it's a good idea to do the complete tour first and decide as you go along which stops you want to get off at the second time around. It's easy to spend two or three hours at each attraction, so you want to make sure you prioritise and don't miss anything you're desperate to see!

Must-sees

A visit to Dublin is not complete without a trip to the Guinness Storehouse. The beautiful seven-storey building is a former Guinness fermentation plant, and as well as getting all the history on how Guinness was created, you'll get to pour your own pint and also enjoy a free drink in the Gravity Bar on the seventh floor, which offers breathtaking panoramic views of the city (see www.guinness-storehouse.com).

Kilmainham Gaol offers a fascinatingly eerie tour for €5.30 (www.heritageireland.ie), and at City Hall (www.dublincity.ie) you can discover the city's history through exhibits, videos and interactive displays. Finally, St.Patrick's Cathedral and Dublin Castle are both must-sees for the gorgeous architecture, and The Old Jameson Distillery (www.oldjamesondistillery.com) is always popular with guys!

If you've got kids - or you're just a big kid - Dublin zoo is the third largest in Europe and is well worth a visit (see www.dublinzoo.ie for current prices), and the Viking Splash Tour (www.vikingsplash.ie) is great fun and takes you for a nice jaunt along the river.

Shopping

If you can't resist a bit of retail therapy while you're away, there are loads of places which will satisfy your shopping needs. Grafton Street is home to lots of high street stores like River Island and HMV as well as fancier places like designer haven Brown Thomas. You'll also find the Stephens Green shopping centre located at the top of it.

Henry Street and Talbot Street, which are just off O'Connell Street, are also worth a visit, while in Temple Bar you'll find some hipper, more individual shops as well as a huge Urban Outfitters. Oh, and if you're after a bargain, pop along to one of the several Penney's - the Irish name for Primark!

Eating and drinking

Again, thanks to the strong Euro, you can expect London prices when eating and drinking out, with a pint of Guinness or a glass of wine costing around €4-5. There are loads of fantastic restaurants in and around Dublin's city centre, and you can expect to pay around €10 for a starter and around €15-20 for a main course.

The infamous Temple Bar area is teeming with places with eat and drink, and the surrounding area also has plenty of places to rest your weary feet.

If you want to treat yourself to a lovely dinner, Siam Thai on St Andrew Street is hard to beat. If you want something just as tasty and a bit cheaper, head to Bewleys on trendy Grafton Street, which boasts huge sandwiches and unusual specials, like Thai green chicken pizza.

For a great Sunday roast for around €12, it's got to be O'Neill's on Suffolk Street which serves until 10pm and boasts traditional Irish music every night from 9pm.

For more information on Dublin see www.visitdublin.com