In mid-March, the world looks upon Ireland as it celebrates St. Patrick's Day. This is an ideal opportunity to think about a trip to Emerald Isle’s capital and find out for yourself how hospitable the Irish truly are.
Although St. Patrick's Day falls on March 17th every year, Dublin’s festivities last for a few days following allowing for a lot of time to not only sightsee but to celebrate as well.
A trip to Dublin is never complete without a few visits to local pubs, famous for their traditional St. Patty’s Day festivities. An Irish pub is a cultural stronghold for both the capital and the whole country.
A sip of history
No venue will reflect the spirit of the past better than The Brazen Head. This is one of the oldest pubs in Ireland. Its foundation dates back to 1198. Upon entering, you can feel, smell, see and even taste the history.
The walls are decorated with old photographs and newspaper clippings. In the evenings, you can listen to classic Irish music live. There is a wide selection of local beer. Polite bartenders will help you to choose the right one for your palate.
Staying on the south side of the Liffey River, you should then check out The Stag's Head, which is famous for its Victorian wooden decor and epic stained glass windows. Above the bar is the pub’s namesake, a stuffed deer head. Due to its popularity, it might be difficult to find a free spot in the evenings.
Two blocks south, you will find another Irish gem referred to as The Long Hall. This place is distinguished by a red and white motif that has happily resisted the renovations that affected most other buildings in the neighborhood.
The interior impresses tourists with a gleaming wooden finish, mirrors and numerous clocks. Red seat covers perfectly match the rest of the decor. Although it can be crowded on weekends, the place is worth visiting during the week.
Craft beer enthusiast as well as gourmands can visit the bar on the north side of the Liffey River named L. Mulligan Grocer. As the name suggests, it at one time existed as a grocery store but today it boasts a pub and Irish cuisine hotspot.
The list of iconic spaces goes on and on endlessly, and anyone who has ever visited Dublin will definitely plug their favorite one. On St. Patrick's Day, the most popular watering holes can be crowded, which is why it is sometimes worth celebrating further from the center.
City of thousand pubs
When going to Ireland’s capital, you have to figure in prices. Paying between 4.5-6 euros for a pint of beer is normal. The price may increase slightly in areas popular among tourists like venues in the entertainment district.
Food is also relatively expensive there. For a meal in a restaurant, you can expect to pay between 15 and 25 euros. However, there are cheaper alternatives, such as burgers which shouldn’t exceed 10 euros. For simple and iconic fish & chips you will pay between 4 to 8 euros, depending on the place.
Admission to popular tourist attractions costs can cost anywhere between a few euros up to a dozen. For example, for a 90 minute guided tour of the Guinness Brewery Museum, you will pay 17.5 euros, which is about 74 zlotys according to the current Conotoxia exchange rate (on 14/03/2018 at Conotoxia). Admission to the Cathedral of St. Patrick amounts to 6 euros.
A double room with a bathroom in a budget hotel in a relatively good location costs about 60-80 euro per night (250-340 PLN). You can also look for something cheaper and a bit more distant from the center or use Airbnb.
A weekend or a slightly longer trip to Dublin, especially around St. Patrick's Day, can involve considerable costs. To minimize expenses, it's worth thinking about exchanging currency before you leave home. Favorable rates are offered by Conotoxia, an online currency exchange service.
Not only Dublin
St. Patrick's Day isn’t only celebrated in Dublin. Green madness encompasses almost the whole world, and a visit to a pub is an annual tradition for many.
The Irish holiday is also celebrated in Poland. In 2017, the Palace of Culture and Science in Warsaw, the City Hall in Poznan, Katowice Spodek or the Wroclaw Hala Stulecia were endowed in green lights.
We can feel the island atmosphere in many places, especially those that refer to Ireland with their décor. Visitors dress up in green and drink beer of the same color on St. Patrick's Day. In some places, additional attractions are also organized like traditional Irish dance lessons.