Treat yourself to a weekend in fabulous Dublin

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!