Visit the heritage town of Dalkey

What is it? A quaint, picturesque heritage town on the south Dublin coast, famous for celebrity residents (u2's Bono, film director Neil Jordan, and actor Matt Damon to name a few), nice pubs, cafes, and restaurants, as well as some of the most stunning walks in Dublin  | Where is it? It's around 15km south of Dublin City |  How to get there? From the apartment, it's a 15 minute walk to Tara Street Train Station. Buy a ticket for Dalkey from the ticket vending machine outside (€2.60) and take the escalator for the 'Southbound Platform'. There are 13 stops between Tara Street and Dalkey along the DART line, with the journey taking around 25 minutes. The station in Dalkey is a 30-second walk from the main street (Castle Street)

The village of Dalkey is a great choice for a quick trip out of the city - you can be there in less than an hour from the apartment so could do it in a morning, afternoon or evening, but if you want to visit one of the cafes, have lunch (or dinner), have a drink in one of its pubs, explore the surrounding area and maybe even go for a swim, you could easily spend the whole day there

History: Dalkey’s rich history is front and centre, with a 10th century church and two Norman castles right on the main street. Learn about the medieval and Viking history of the village in a visit to the Dalkey Castle and Heritage Center

Cafes: You'll find great coffee at Shoe Lane Coffee at 44 Castle Street, Robert's at 24 Castle St, or Pepper Laine at 2 Convent Road; get a takeout sandwich or snack at  Thyme Out at 33 Castle Street or have a quick sit-down lunch in Mugs Cafe at 61a Castle Street

Lunch: Head for Dalkey's favourite pub Finnegan's at 1 Sorrento Road or gastro pub The Coliemore on 115 Coliemore Road | Dinner: The best restaurant in Dalkey is DeVilles at 25 Castle Street, while the local Thai restaurant Thai House at 21 Railway Road is also good. For pub food, check out The Dalkey Duck at 61 Castle Street

Pubs: For a relatively small town, Dalkey has plenty of pubs. The best of them are Finnegans (1 Sorrento Road), The Coliemore (115 Coliemore Road) and The Dalkey Duck (61 Castle Street)

Walks: Take in the views along Dublin's coastline by walking up Coliemore Road and along Vico Road finishing at Fitzpatrick Castle Hotel for a coffee or drink, or explore Killiney Hill, which is roughly a 14-minute walk from the train station

Swimming: You can swim from Coliemore Harbour, which is an 11-minute walk from the train station or, if you're a more experienced sea swimmer, head for Vico Baths, which is a 20-minute walk from the train station