Travel Tips

Ireland

Ireland is an easy country to travel to. With friendly people, an easygoing lifestyle, and no (well, very little) language barrier it makes a good start if you’ve never been to Europe before. Of course it also makes a great place to travel to over and over again too.

[If you haven't read our general Europe Tips yet, that would probably be the best place to start.]

Weather - It rains in Ireland, that’s why it’s so green. The good news is that it almost never rains very hard, but the bad news is that it almost definitely will rain on you at some point. You should be prepared by bringing either an umbrella or waterproof coat. A good coat and/or a hat are probably at a slight advantage because then you have both hands free for picture taking. Don’t fret though, the weather in Ireland is ever-changing, so if it looks dreary, just wait a few minutes, the rain will clear and it may even reveal a rainbow.

Climate - No matter the time of year, Ireland is a fairly temperate climate. It very rarely gets too cold or too hot with highs in the summer only reaching the 70s and lows in the winter reaching the 40s.

How to Dress - Dressing in layers is a must. Because of the changing weather, you will be losing and gaining layers all day long. You don’t want to be stuck in a short sleeve shirt or a sweater all day.

You won’t have to worry about dressing up though because the Irish dress very casually. If you would like to go to a fancier restaurant then appropriate clothing would be necessary, but for the most part jeans and sneakers are fine.

Language - If you decide to mingle with the locals (and we strongly recommend that you do), be prepared for a language barrier. Yes, they are probably speaking English, but the thickness of that wonderful Irish brogue varies widely depending on which section of the country you are in. In small town, local pubs you may be hard pressed to understand your new friends.

Food - Irish food has a pretty bad reputation and much of it is well earned. You’ll still see a lot of meat and potatoes and very little vegetables on an Irish menu. Irish cuisine has gotten worldlier over the past few decades though, so now you’re just as likely to find a good Indian restaurant in Dublin as you are a traditional Irish one. In the smaller cities and towns, the food is still pretty non-descript, but it’s not bad and it will always come with good drink and great service.

Alcohol - Beer is as much a part of Ireland as lush hills and sheep. You’ve probably heard of Guinness Stout and maybe even Harp Lager or Beamish Stout too. What you may not know is that there are many other types of beer brewed on the Emerald Isle and they are all worth a try. If you’re unsure about what you may like, talk to the bartender. They all know their product and often will give you a sample.

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