Ha’penny Bridge

Dublin is crossed by the famous River Liffey, offering more than 23 bridges to travel from one bank to the other. With so much choice, it can be hard to decide which one to take—but luckily, the Ha’penny Bridge is here to make things easier. As charming as it can be with its retro appearance coming straight out of the 1800s, this small pedestrian bridge connects the legendary Temple Bar district to the lively O’Connell Street. Recognized as Ireland’s first iron bridge, it is actually thanks to the English that it was manufactured, before being transported by boat and assembled on-site. Forever reserved to pedestrians, the bridge is as memorable for its unique design as for its historical name. Legend says that crossing it was free for the first ten days after its inauguration, but after that, a toll of one halfpenny—or ha’penny—was charged per passage, a fee that remained in place until 1919. And that’s how a once annoying tax gave birth to a nickname that is now deeply cherished by Dubliners.