Virgin Dublin City Guide Book

Aimed at young (or young-feeling) visitors who aren't content to merely flit from stodgy monument to dusty museum in a city as lively and diverse as Dublin, Virgin's City Guide Dublin packs an incredible breadth of entertaining information between its slim covers. A wealth of sights, restaurants, hotels, shops and more are broken down in two ways: first by location, so you'll be able to find something to eat, buy, or ogle no matter where you are, and then by type of venue, so you can plot a course from home or hotel based on your own interests. These listings are also linked to a two-sided "day and night" companion map, the guide's niftiest feature. The map's "day" side spotlights Dublin's landmarks and shops, while the "night" side points the way to clubs, theatres and more than 60 of the city's inimitable pubs. The listings are thoughtfully and creatively subdivided, so you're sure to find what you need, whether you need a meditation centre or a place to have a pint at 7a.m. Remarkably, the book's hipper-than-thou tone rarely grows cloying. At worst, it occasionally masks the abundant historical and cultural information it presents, as though in its rush to look cool, it's afraid to look smart. Nonetheless, for those willing to stomach the inevitable jokes about "first-timers," Virgin provides a fresh and well-rounded guide to the city's varied delights. --Andrew NielandRead More