To visit Ireland's capital city Dublin, is to visit a place rich in history and culture and one which boasts of proud traditions in music, theater and literature. The best way to experience Dublin is by exploring the city and immersing yourself in its colourful and interesting culture.

The Temple Bar district which is located in the Dublin city centre is a good starting point. Considered the main cultural center, Temple Bar is home to many restaurants and pubs where you can soak up the Dublin atmosphere. However, most Dubliners seem to steer clear of this area, so if you really want to mingle with the locals, head to Grafton Street.

After having done your rounds at Temple Bar or Grafton Street, you should consider taking in some of Dublin's historical attractions. Places worth visiting include Trinity College which is Ireland's oldest university and home to the ancient book of Kells, Dublin Castle and St Patrick's Cathedral.

If you want to delve deeper into Dublin's fascinating culture then definitely consider taking in a show at the Abbey Theater which also happens to be Ireland's national theatre. Keeping the city's rich theater tradition alive, Abbey Theater is a great place to take in an authentic Irish stage performance. Also close by is Peacock Theater which is home to more innovative forms of theater productions.

For art lovers a visit to the National Gallery and the Irish Museum of Modern Art is a great way to take in the country's artistic heritage. Also in Dublin one will find the James Joyce Center where you can learn about the author who penned "Dubliners".

For the ultimate Irish experience however, visit Dublin on St. Patrick's Day (17th of March) when the city is transformed into one big celebration of Ireland's proud cultural heritage.

No matter what reason you are heading to Dublin, if you love golfing, then bring your clubs along because there are several golf courses and links here which are as breathtaking as they are challenging. Given below are a few Dublin golf courses you might like to visit.

The 18 hole, Royal Dublin Golf Club one of the oldest courses around, offers you a chance to soak up some Irish golfing tradition. This par 72 course is made up of scenic fairways and is uniquely located on North Bull Island which is only about 5 kms from the city centre. Course fees range from 100 to 150 Euros.

Another golf course near the Dublin city centre (4 km) is the 18 hole, Clontarf Golf Club which boasts of stunning scenery as well as fairways which will need quite a bit of skill. Watch out for the tricky par 4, 12th hole (called the "Quarry Hole") which will test you. Green fees at Clontarf vary from about 30 to 60 Euros.

Known for its picturesque natural setting, the Druid's Glen Golf Club is an Irish favorite and will definitely put your golfing prowess to the test. The venue for the Irish Open from 1996 to 1999, the course is located in County Wicklow which is only about 30 minutes from Dublin. A great place to getaway from it all and enjoy some golfing therapy; the Druid's Glen Golf Club will cost you around 110 to 175 Euros.

These are just some of the many golf courses you will find scattered throughout Dublin which offer you a great golfing holiday. The golf courses themselves are shrewd masters and do not let their picturesque greenery lull you into a false sense of security.

The fair city of Dublin with its proud history and friendly people is a great place to visit for the entire family. If you are on a tight budget, the best way to get the most from your stay is by buying a Dublin Pass which entitles you to free entry to over 30 attractions, free Aircoach transport from the airport to the city centre and numerous discounts and deals at various restaurants, shops and tours.

On arriving at Dublin Airport you can purchase a Dublin Pass from the Tourist Information Centre (several such centres are located around the city) which is located at the Arrivals Hall. With the pass you can hop aboard the 24 hour luxury Aircoach service (blue bus with an orange logo) which runs to the Dublin city centre. Buying the pass is worthwhile, considering that with the Dublin Pass you get free access to popular attractions such as Dublin Castle, Christ Church Cathedral, the James Joyce Museum, the Guinness Storehouse, Dublin Zoo and the spooky Bram Stoker Dracula Experience which altogether cost a lot in entrance fees. Simply said, the more you use the pass, the more you save. The card permits one entry per facility/attraction per day.

1, 2, 3 or 6 day (consecutive days) Dublin Passes are available for both adults and children and prices range from Eur 29 (1 day) to Eur 89 (6 days) for adults and Eur 17 (1 day) to Eur 44 (6 days) for kids. Also do not forget to pick up the handy guidebook to Dublin which is included in the cost of the pass. The Dublin Pass offers good value for money as long as you take full advantage of it and visit as many places as possible.