With its great sense of culture, heritage and entertainment, Dublin has become one of Europe’s great places to visit. The city itself is a short drive south from the airport, and the rest of eastern Ireland’s attractions are within easy reach when you hire a car.

From the airport, you’ll find that the country's road system is excellent. You can drive straight on to the M1 motorway or the Dublin orbital ring road, the M50. The M1 will take you up through Drogheda and Dundalk to Newry in the North. The M50 loops around the west of Dublin, allowing you to bypass the busy centre and head south to Bray and Wicklow. As the city is a major transport hub you’ll also find main roads heading off across the country too – the M3 leads to Kells, the M4 to Kinnegad, and the M7 to Kildare.

You’ll soon discover that driving around Dublin and the rest of Ireland is generally simple and pleasant. The roads are good quality and the traffic is light, however areas in and around Dublin may become congested during rush hour. It is worth noting too that the city centre operates a one-way system in large areas, so be sure to make sure you know your route before heading out into the heart of Dublin.

The rules of the road are similar to the UK, meaning traffic in both Southern and Northern Ireland drives on the left-hand side.

A friendly and welcoming city, Dublin is the main tourist destination in the whole of Ireland. It is friendly, sociable and cultured. The city is spread around a wide bay at the mouth of the River Liffey, which divides Dublin into what locals consider the ‘Northside’ and ‘Southside’. Between them, there’s a busy central district with period buildings and modern developments surrounded by cargo and passenger ports, commercial areas and suburban areas. All of it is your oyster when you get behind the wheel of your Dublin Airport hire car.

Exploring historic Dublin

In the heart of the city, you’ll find the imposing entrance to the stone buildings and gardens of Trinity College. Step inside the old college to find the illustrated Celtic manuscript known as ‘The Book of Kells’. This 1200-year-old hand-written and decorated religious book is one of Ireland’s top attractions.

Nearby is the grand complex known as Dublin Castle, a mix of historic buildings from different eras of British rule from medieval times to the 20th century. You’ll find it’s full of stories from Irish history, including that fact that in 1907 the Irish Crown Jewels were stolen from the castle – to this day, they have never been recovered.

At the multi-towered St Patrick’s Cathedral, Ireland’s largest church, you’ll be able to gaze up at the impressive nave and enjoy a free guided tour to learn all about this beautiful building's history. The Cathedral is where many of Ireland’s national ceremonies are held. Pop inside one of the three branches of Ireland’s National Museum across Dublin and browse the grand collection of Irish art, archaeology and natural history.

The cool and the cultured

Amongst the abundance of historical hotspots across Dublin, you'll find a host of differing districts all offering you something new and unique to explore. As a world-renowned area of the city, Cultural Quarter is the liveliest of the lot. Commonly known as the Temple Bar area, here you'll find the streets lined with performers and buskers, as well as there being regular markets selling local produce and crafts. Make sure to check the performance calendar before heading there, as you might catch one of the fantastic street theatre acts in full swing. Not only that, but there's also hip boutiques and chic second-hand stores for you to browse and find a hidden gem.

If you're keen to explore the cultural side to Dublin's shopping offerings, head for the Antiques District. Found just off the Francis Street region on the city, spend an afternoon taking in quirky stores and antiques, from delicate ornaments to medieval furnishings. For a taste of the cool, head to the 'Silicon Docks' in the city's tech quarter, where the likes of Facebook, Twitter and Google have developed the waterfront into a hip hangout.

Heading to the great outdoors

With a hire car from Dublin airport, you can escape the bustle of the city centre and explore the whole Dublin Bay area. Head for the picturesque seaside resorts of Dalkey to the south and Howth to the north of the city centre.

And if you have time for a day trip, explore the classic Irish rolling farmland to the north-west. It’s dotted with pretty loughs, or lakes, making the perfect location for fishing, walks and picnics. The most dramatic scenery is in the magnificent Wicklow Mountains National Park, to the south of Dublin. You’ll find panoramas of heather-clad moors, exposed lumps of granite and streams trickling over mossy rocks.

Whether you're visiting for a city break or business venture, hiring a car from Dublin Airport will give you the chance to explore this beautiful city and have a truly memorable trip.