Netflix’s latest show, House of Guinness, has triggered a 551 per cent spike in Dublin visits, but experts warn visitors need to be aware of one important factor on the roads.
The series, which tells the true story of the Irish family behind the Guinness brewery, which was first opened in the 18th century, hit the top of the Top 10 most-viewed programmes in the UK after its debut in September.
With iconic attractions featuring in the show, including St. James’ Gate Brewery, and interest in ‘Guinness storehouse’ rising by 108 per cent in just one day, huge numbers of travellers are expected to flock to the Irish capital to experience the city.
But new research has revealed Dublin is the fifth hardest city in the world to navigate by car, so drivers need to be aware.
Home to 2.1 million people – around 40 per cent of Ireland’s total population – and welcoming 6.6 million overseas visitors annually, Dublin ranks tenth on TomTom’s list of the word’s most congested cities, with a 47 per cent congestion rate.
On average, drivers across the city lose 155 hours a year to traffic, and a 10km journey takes almost 33 minutes.
With over four million direction-related queries pouring in from baffled tourists and residents each year, Keith Hawes, Director at Nationwide Vehicle Contracts, has shared his top five tips for navigating Dublin’s complex roads.
He first advises motorists to take time to plan and map out their route before arriving in Dublin, as this will help to adapt their journey if faced with potential blockers, such as roadworks and diversions.
Netflix ‘s latest show, House of Guinness has triggered a 551 per cent spike in Dublin visits, but experts warn visitors need to be aware of one important factor on the roads
With iconic attractions featuring in the show, including St. James’ Gate Brewery, and interest in ‘Guinness storehouse’ rising by 108 per cent in just one day, huge numbers of travellers are expected to flock to the Irish capital to experience the city
In light of this, new research has revealed Dublin is the fifth hardest city in the world to navigate by car
The expert also urges visitors to use the River Liffey to their advantage, as the water divides the North and South of the city in into two.
He adds: ‘If in doubt, follow this to ensure you are on the correct side of the city that you need to be.’
In addition, drivers visiting Dublin should be aware of similar-sounding street names – like ‘Camden Street’ and ‘Camden Row’ – to avoid getting lost.
He says: ‘Make sure to review which roads you are heading to or going past on your way to your destination to avoid any confusion or wrong turns.’
Motorists are further advised to focus on their own comfort and safety to remain calm while navigating fast-paced Dublin driving, and to ‘not take it personally’ when others speed or overtake.
Finally, one essential tool every driver should utilise while navigating Dublin is offline maps, as they provide reliable navigation even without a mobile signal or internet connection, which can be unreliable in some areas.
The expert adds: ‘Ensure that your maps are downloaded offline so you’re never left stuck going around in circles or getting lost from the wrong turns.’
It comes as Dublin took the crown as the most popular international destination to visit for Brits flying from the UK, according to stats for the first six months of this year.
Keith Hawes, Director at Nationwide Vehicle Contracts, advises motorists to take time to plan and map out their route before arriving in Dublin
The expert also urges visitors to use the River Liffey to their advantage, as the water divides the North and South of the city in into two
Motorists are further advised to focus on their own comfort and safety to remain calm while navigating fast-paced Dublin driving
A whopping 4.8million Brits jetted off to the Emerald Isle’s major hub, Dublin Airport, according to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) data analysed by AirAdvisor.
AirAdvisor CEO Anton Radchenko explained: ‘Ireland is an extremely popular destination for UK travellers due to the two countries’ historic connections.
‘It’s a busy route for holidaymakers between the nations’ major cities and also people visiting family members based either side of the Irish Sea.’
Amsterdam followed as the second most popular destination and it attracted 4.1million people from UK airports.
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