Dublin is a small city with a big reputation. Its blend of tradition and hedonism will not let you down. Showing up is all that is required.
Dublin has been in the news since the ninth century, and while remnants of its Viking past have been largely washed away, the city is a living museum of its history since then, with mediaeval castles and cathedrals on display alongside the architectural splendours of its 18th-century heyday, when Dublin was the most beautiful Georgian city of the British Empire and a fine reflection of its most privileged citizens. You may discover more about how authority was taken away from them in the city’s museums and on its walking tours.
While acknowledging that their city isn’t the most beautiful, Dubliners will remind you that attractive things are just as simple to appreciate as they are to forget before showcasing the most impressive Georgian features to demonstrate Dublin’s impeccable taste in refined elegance. Around here, true love is displayed with merciless unsentimentality, yet when people talk about the character and personality of the “best city in the world, if you ignore all the others,” they will become weak in the knees. When at ease, Dubliners are the best hosts of all, a fascinating group with a compelling soul and friendliness. They are chatty, charming, and humorous.
The bar continues to be the hub of social contact in Dublin, even in the era of green smoothies and heart-monitoring apps. A night out at the pub is one of the joys of a trip to Dublin and the ideal social lubricant, despite the city’s complicated and ambivalent relationship with alcohol. Every Dubliner has a favourite hangout, whether it’s a historic bar that never changes or a new establishment that attracts attractive people. You’ll have a lot of options because the city is home to more than 1000 of them.
Dublin has sought inspiration from sources elsewhere than the Irish Isles for as long as it has existed. Dublin, formerly the second city of the (British) Empire, has always maintained a fairly cosmopolitan viewpoint and has openly embraced diversity and multiculturalism during the past three decades. Although it used to be believed that “real” Dubs had to be born in the canals like their parents and grandparents before them, these days you’re just as likely to meet a Dub whose parents were born in Warsaw, Lagos, Cairo, or Beijing. You’ll also hear languages and eat food from all four corners of the world.