Grafton Street reportedly is a wonderful and popular shopping district in Dublin with an amazing selection of shops and department stores, but that wasn't why we were there. Since the 1980s, Grafton has become internationally known for its street entertainment; poets, mime artists, and dancers, and particularly for busking (playing music in the street for donations). Since I had seen several street performers on YouTube "busking" there, I wanted to make sure we got to visit during our cruise stop in Dublin. The musicians generally perform to the shopping crowds, so the best time to come is during the day and afternoon when the shops are open and busy. The street itself is not very long (several blocks) and connects Trinity College to St Stephen's Green (a public park). The performers are generally set up about 100 yards apart and there may be five to six buskers performing at the same time. The performers have to pay a fee to perform, and their performance is limited to an hour in any one spot. If they perform again the same day, it must be in a different location. Grafton is a pedestrian-only street, so you don't have to worry about cars and traffic as you wander down the middle of the road. It has a unique and festive atmosphere, and we loved just walking down the street taking it all in.