By day, the cobbled streets and alleys of the Temple Bar neighborhood are crowded with Bohemia, wandering in small boutiques and second-hand stores and searching for vintage and designer clothes, jewelry, furniture, records, and other fashions. In the evening, this place turns into Dublin’s principal nightlife hub, where the Irish and tourists roam around the bars, drink beer and whiskey, listen to live music, and sing with all their might, having fun like there is no tomorrow.

Temple Bar is one of Dublin’s oldest neighborhoods, world-famous for its pubs, shops, and markets. In the north, it borders the Liffey river; in the south, the Dublin Castle, Dame Street, and Lord Edward Street. To the west, it neighbors Fishamble Street, Dublin City Council, and Christ Church Cathedral, and to the east, the Trinity College.

It is hard to swallow now, but until recently, the scenic charm of Temple Bar was at stake. It could have been buried under the expressionless concrete of a vast bus station. As evidence of the unconquerable spirit and unity of the Irish, the site has been rescued from demolition, restored, and transformed into one of Dublin’s most iconic landmarks of today.

The history of Temple Bar began long ago when the first Vikings came to these lands. The area acquired its name by the end of the 17th century, when Sir William Temple, an English diplomat and provost of Trinity College, settled his residence and gardens here. The boom in the Temple Bar development came at the beginning of the 18th century. There was a longtime decline afterward, followed by the rebirth of the area in its current image.

The main Temple Bar attractions include trendy shops that have become an affordable alternative to more famous and expensive outlets on nearby Grafton Street, bars and pubs at every turn, theaters, and exhibition spaces. The street markets, which play a crucial role in the life of the neighborhood, deserve your special attention: these stalls sell fresh farm products, unique books, and handmade clothes and accessories.