If sightseeing is at the top of your agenda when in Dublin, then it might be worth buying the Dublin Pass. It offers you free entry on up to 30 attractions and when you get to each one – you won’t even have to queue up. In the package you’ll also receive a free airport transfer to the city centre and as if that wasn’t enough, you’ll also be entitled to discounts and savings at many restaurants, shops and cafés all over the city.

Read on to find out all you need to know before buying the Dublin Pass. We’ve also some tips and advice on how to get the best from it…

The key to making the most of your city break is in the planning. Researching what you want to see and where to go, really does make your trip a pleasant one. If you’re one of these people who likes to be organised ahead of your trip to Dublin, then the Dublin Pass card might be for you!

· Free entry

It entitles the buyer to gain free entry on up to 30 attractions in Dublin city and what you want to see really depends on the amount of time you have. Top attractions include Dublin Castle, Christchurch Cathedral, The Old Jameson Distillery, Dublin Zoo, The Guinness Storehouse, The GAA Museum, Kilmainham Gaol, The Chimney Viewing Tower and Dublin City Hall.

At attractions like the Chester Beatty Library, the National Gallery of Ireland, the Irish Museum of Modern Art and the National Botanic Gardens there is no admission fee, but if you carry a Dublin Pass card you’ll be entitled to discounts on guided tours, guide books and gifts.

In reality, you’re probably not going to visit 30 attractions when in Dublin city. It’s a good idea to pick out the ones that you want to explore and see is the Dublin Pass worth the value for these attractions, as some of Dublin’s top attractions are free anyway.

· Free guide book

When you purchase the Dublin Pass, you also receive a free 84 page guide book. The guide book will give you an overview on each attraction and what benefits you get with your Dublin Pass. By reading this guidebook you can pick and choose the attractions that you would most like to explore so you can make the most of your holiday.

The pass covers everything from museums and galleries to castle and cathedrals, so there is something to suit everyone. To get the maximum benefit from your Dublin Pass, plan your itinerary.

· Discounts

The Dublin Pass also entitles the holder to certain freebies and discounts along the way, so be sure to check the guide first and find out where you can pick these up. Lots of restaurants and cafes give a free bottle of wine or dessert (with a main course) if you show the Dublin Pass. If you pop into the Temple Bar Information Centre and show your Dublin Pass you’ll get a free limited edition poster.

If you’re in Dublin for a few days then the Dublin Pass is well worth it, as it ultimately saves you money on admission costs so the more you see the more you save.

· Free transfer from airport to city centre

Another great benefit of the Dublin Pass is that it includes a free trip to the city centre on the Aircoach.

Remember this is a one way free bus ride to the city centre and not a return journey!

Another important point to make here is that the Dublin Pass is activated as soon as you use it for this service. Once the card is activated it can only be used for the number of days on the card. For the Dublin Pass – a day is not ’24 hours’ but 1 calendar day, so be careful – if you arrive on a late flight and activate the card to get the Aircoach to the city centre, then you have used one whole day!!

The tickets for the Dublin Pass can be purchased online through its website, at the airport or at any Tourist Information Centre in Dublin. Adults and children’s passes can be bought for 1 – 6 days.

The Dublin Pass allows you to go right to the top of admission queues so you won’t have to hang around. This saves on time especially at the bigger attractions. It’s also a safer way of exploring Dublin as you won’t need to be poking in your wallets for cash to pay at each attraction- just show your Dublin Pass card.

Hope this gives you an overview of the Dublin Pass card.  It claims to save the visitor up to  €145 on admission fees to attractions. Have you used it? Is it value for money? We’d love to hear what you have to say about it! Any tips, comments, stories, suggestions are welcome – just pop them into the box below.