Your flights are booked, bags are packed and you’re excited for your big trip to Ireland. You’re probably feeling a kaleidoscope of emotions, from excitement to anxiety, and we hope this guide will give you some handy advice on arriving at the airport, getting the home essentials and where to go shopping for food. Enjoy! 

Immigration 

For students who do not hold a European Union passport when you arrive in Ireland, an immigration officer at the airport will review your passport and paperwork.

Make sure to bring all documents you have received from Trinity and elsewhere (i.e. your offer letter, evidence of tuition fees paid, scholarship details or US Financial Aid if applicable, evidence of private medical health insurance, accommodation details, etc.).

This is evidence required by the immigration officer who can refuse entry if they are not satisfied with your paperwork or answers to their questions. 

On approval, you will get a temporary immigration permission (for either one or three months) stamped into your passport. This means you must register with the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) within the time frame stamped on the passport.

Getting from the airport to central Dublin

Getting to Trinity is easy as it is located right in the city centre. Dublin Bus is the city’s public bus operator and both the 16 and 41 routes run from Zone 15 outside Dublin Airport Terminal 1 (refer to the airport’s bus stop map).

The 16 bus route operates between 6am-11:30pm Monday to Saturday, and 8am-11:30pm on Sundays and Irish public holidays. The 41 bus route runs 24 hours each day of the week, including weekends. Payment can be made in coins (exact fare only) to the bus driver or by purchasing pre-paid tickets using the TFI GO app. The journey takes from around 30 minutes to an hour, depending on traffic.

Tare also several private bus operators, including Aircoach and Dublin Express.

Aircoach operates several routes from the airport into the city centre. Aircoach operates year-round, except for on Christmas Day. The journey time will depend on traffic, but it is usually 30 minutes. A one-way trip into the city centre will cost around €7. Tickets can be purchased at the Aircoach airport departure points or from the bus driver using a bank card, Apple / Google Pay, or cash.

Dublin Express operates coaches between the airport and 15+ central stops, including Trinity. Buses operate between 4am-12:30am, seven days a week. Journey times depend on traffic conditions, but it again takes about half an hour. A one-way fare into the city centre is €8. You can purchase tickets at terminal bus stops using a bank card or Apple / Google Pay (but cash is not accepted).

Money: Setting up a bank account and bank cards

Setting up a bank account is a vital condition of your student visa in Ireland. Unfortunately, this can only be done once you are in Ireland, so this needs to be one of the first things you do after you arrive in Dublin! There are two primary banks in Ireland: Bank of Ireland and Allied Irish Banks (AIB). There are other options, including Permanent TSB and the postal service, An Post, but we recommend sticking with one of the two bigger banks.

When applying for a bank account, you will need to prove your identity (by showing your passport/drivers’ licence/national ID card) and show your home address in Ireland, in the form of your lease, a utility bill, or similar document. You will also need to provide details on the source of funds into your account. Remember it can take up to two weeks to have a functioning bank account so ensure you have enough money to get you through the first few weeks in Dublin. 

It definitely helps to have some cash on arrival, although Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted throughout Ireland. American Express, on the other hand, is accepted in only a very limited number of stores. Credit cards can be used for purchases and also to withdraw cash from ATMs (usually for a fee). You can also withdraw cash from ATMs with your debit card. Fees will still be charged but at a lower rate than credit cards. Ireland uses a ‘chip and pin’ system for card transactions, with ‘Tap and Go’ options also available for purchases under €50. Most retailers will accept swipe cards but this is not always guaranteed.

It is recommended you notify your home bank of travel plans prior to your flight to Dublin. You don’t want your accounts blocked while you are setting yourself up here because your bank at home registers suspicious activity overseas!

Shopping: Home supplies 

You’ve successfully navigated your way through the streets of Dublin, but now it’s time to find the essentials like food, cooking utensils, bed sheets, etc. Luckily there are plenty of shops around with everything you need. 

Penneys is the place to go if you’re looking for bedding, towels and discount clothing. Cheap and centrally located this should be your first stop as you need to make sure you have somewhere comfy to sleep. There are two Penneys in the City Centre – one on O’Connell Street and one on Mary Street. 

For dishes and cooking equipment, there are a few options, including TK Maxx and Dunnes Stores. 

For furniture, IKEA is a great stop . Dunnes Stores also has home wear, and while not incredibly expensive, you will pay more than you would at Argos and Penneys. 

For household knick knacks and useful things at very cheap prices, try Tiger. The nearest one is in Stephen’s Green Shopping Centre, just a five minute walk from Trinity. 

Shopping: Food 

You don’t have to spend too much to get good food in Dublin, below we’ve listed some of the best places to get groceries or if you fancy treating yourself to a delicious dinner.  

Aldi and Lidl are the home of food bargains. Every week they have vegetables on special and the deals are unmissable. Usually 49 cents for a punnet of mushrooms or a kg of spuds (potatoes). 

Tescos are located throughout the city, and they also offer great weekly deals. Tesco  has an in-house budget brand called ‘Everyday Value’ for pastas, canned goods and other products. It’s usually the same products, just with less fancy packaging and for a fraction of the price.

Dunnes can also have some good deals. Similar to Tesco, depending on the product and the brand, the price can be very reasonable. 

Marks and Spencer is a lovely shop but quite expensive for the student budget. Top tip: their bakery products, however, are marked down at the end of the day. They are still fresh, just usually half the price. M&S cookies are not to be missed! 

Moore Street is famous for its fruit and vegetable stands. Eight bananas for a euro? Strawberries for two euro. Ten tomatoes for a euro? All possible on Moore St. It’s also worth going for a true Dublin experience. 

For specialty food stores, Parnell Street has a lot of Asian food stores, both east Asian and south Asian. This is where you can get spices, bulk rice, tofu, beans, and more. Shops include Nimra Foods and Nam Thanh Supermarket. Other shout outs go to Oriental Emporium by the Jervis Street Luas stop and Super Asia Foods on Capel Street.

Trinity’s International Student Information Hub: Global Room 

And lastly, if you’re left with questions about immigration and INIS, settling in Dublin, student experience or anything in between – the Global Ambassadors are ready to have a chat and help with anything you need. 

If you need more information on where to shop check out our article on How to Supermarket Shop like a Local. And if you don’t feel like cooking then read our article on 8 of the Best Meals Near Trinity Campus Under €12.

If you enjoyed this article and want to read more top tips from Trinity students, then check out the Trinity Experience blog.