Dive into Dublin this season
Dublin is consistently voted as one of the world's friendliest cities.
Long known for its lovable locals and welcoming atmosphere, Dublin is consistently voted as one of the world’s friendliest cities by global travel authorities such as Condé Nast Traveler and Lonely Planet, and the world of Twitter, too.
Fun-loving, natural-born story-tellers and musicians extraordinaire, Dubliners make what this amazing city is renowned for: warm and welcoming pubs, relaxed dining establishments, great conversation, music sessions in the pub, and a bustling street life.
They say the best way to explore Dublin town is to be shown around by a local, and it doesn’t get much better than the world-famous Irish hospitality of the local hosts from Little Museum of Dublin’s City of A Thousand Welcomes. TripAdvisor reviews extol the service provided by with comments such as: “Amazing service – I wish every city had this!” But to Dubliners, it makes total sense. You see, Irish people love a chat, are as helpful as they come, and, yes, the Irish craic (fun) is all that’s cracked up to be, and more!
Enter any Dublin pub, and it’ll be mere minutes before conversation kicks off, as around every corner you’ll find friendly chatter and quirky characters.
Try the Brazen Head, one of the oldest pubs in Dublin, or J.W. Sweetman's, for a pint of freshly brewed craft beer and perhaps even a tutorial in microbrewing.
And when it comes to music, you can kick back and enjoy local sounds in distinctive Dublin venues, such as Whelan’s.
Outside the city, friendly cafés and farmers’ markets serve up tasty artisan treats with a warm and relaxed Dublin smile. And when it comes to festivals, Ireland goes all out: St Patrick’s Day and New Year’s Festival are celebrated in Dublin every year in style, with thousands of people descending upon the city for an epic party.
So, when in town, let locals guide you through the city’s main attractions and urban myths, and listen to the story of Dublin told by Dubliners themselves.
Seize Dublin by the Reins
There’s so much to look at around every corner — from the green, copper and indigo pigments of the Book of Kells in Trinity College, to the gnarled trees of the Botanic Gardens in Glasnevin.
Dublin's music scene
Music in Dublin is more than just entertainment, it's a way of life. Venture into any pub on a Saturday evening and, chances are, you could walk into an impromptu live “trad” session. But if you want to catch a glimpse of Dublin's dynamic music scene in its rawest form, you can always start with the buskers (street performers) on Grafton Street... where many of Ireland's big music names started their stellar careers all the way to winning Oscars
Whether it's a traditional music session by gifted amateur musicians, an intimate gig in one of its cult clubs, or a blockbuster stadium show, Dublin is a top destination for both local and international music. Walk along Essex Street or down Crown Alley and you’ll hear music spilling through pub doorways, out of windows and from buskers in the square. Rock, pop, indie, blues, jazz or trad – it’s all to be found here, played live, by musicians close enough to touch.
So how can you move to Dublin’s beat? Just join a musical pub crawl, which ticks the capital’s best hotspots for traditional music. Mix with the capital’s cultured crowd for a tranquil classical concert in Georgian Dublin, learn the ins and outs of Irish Instruments, or discover Irish and international emerging talent at some of Ireland’s biggest upcoming festivals like the Hard Working Class Heroes festival and TradFest.
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