Things to see in Dublin

Dating from Norman times, the palatial Dublin Castle was originally built on the orders of King John, in 1204. The largest visible remaining fragment of the original 13th-century castle is the Record Tower. It stands beside the 19th-century gothic revival Chapel Royal. Recently uncovered excavations of Viking fortifications can be viewed at the undercroft. Admission is by guided tour only. Tours run every 20 to 30 minutes.

The world's largest single beer-exporting company began in 1759, when Arthur Guinness brewed the first Guinness. The brewery itself is not open to visitors but a visit to this state-of-the-art museum, housed in a converted warehouse and shaped like a mighty pint glass, tells the visitor everything they ever wanted to know about the famous stout. The tour culminates, of course, with a free pint of the legendary black stuff.

Among this rich collection of Irish antiquities, dating from 7000BC to the modern day, are the eighth-century Ardagh Chalice and Tara Brooch and the 12th-century Cross of Cong. Ór (Ireland's gold) features the finest collection of prehistoric gold artefacts in Europe. There are also major exhibitions on prehistoric Ireland, Viking Ireland, medieval Ireland and Irish history from 1900 to 1921. This is just one of three venues for the National Museum, with further collections on view at Collins Barracks (Decorative Art and History) and Merrion Street (Natural History).