What you didn’t know about Dublin, Ireland.
Dublin’s beauty runs deeper than its architecture and energy, it’s built on centuries of history, layers of culture, and a geography shaped by sea, river, and tide.
The city’s layout still echoes its Viking origins, with the oldest streets following the lines of long-gone wooden settlements along the River Poddle. The Liffey itself divides Dublin not just physically but culturally, with the Northside and Southside each carrying their own legacy of class, communities, and creativity. Beneath Trinity College lies a network of medieval vaults and buried walls; beneath the Guinness Storehouse are the remnants of a brewing tradition that turned Dublin into one of Europe’s most important trade hubs. And the Georgian houses, perfectly lined, perfectly proportioned, weren’t just built for aesthetics; their symmetry and window tax history tell the story of how Dublin once rivaled entire empires in elegance and ambition. Even Dublin’s coast is a surprise: seals sunbathing near Howth, cliff paths overlooking blue-green water, and harbors that feel worlds away from the city despite being minutes from the center. This is a city with folklore, rebellion, poetry, sea wind, and modern innovation all layered together in a way that feels quietly extraordinary.
Five fascinations about Dublin.
5. Dublin has more green space than almost any European capital.
Roughly one-third of the city is parkland, including the enormous Phoenix Park, home to wild deer, cricket matches, and even the president’s house.
4. Dublin’s O’Connell Bridge is wider than it is long.
It spans the River Liffey with a curious quirk: at 45 meters wide and only 50 meters long, it’s one of the few bridges in Europe with that distinction.
3. Dublin is a UNESCO City of Literature.
It’s the hometown of literary giants like Joyce, Beckett, and Wilde, and its streets are still packed with wordsmiths, bookstores, and poetry slams today.
2. Dublin was once a Viking stronghold.
The city was originally founded by Norse settlers as Dubh Linn (“black pool”), and its Viking past is still visible in the underground ruins beneath Dublin Castle.
1. Dublin pours more Guinness than anywhere else in the world.
Over 10 million pints are served in the city each year, and legend says it tastes better here, thanks to fresher lines, local pride, and maybe a little Irish magic.
Where meaningful travel begins.
Start your journey with Foresyte, where the planning is part of the magic.
Discover the experiences that matter most.
