Dublin - one of the friendliest European capitals

The capital of Ireland is a very livable, human-scale city, and is inhabited by friendly, kind people. It is easy to get around on foot. It can be enjoyed in any season, you can catch pleasant weather in spring and autumn, but there is no guarantee that it will not rain in summer. I have been to Dublin several times, so I am trying to compile a useful guide about this city that is very dear to me, summarizing my experiences.

Choosing a place to stay is not easy, as Dublin is relatively expensive. I have stayed at the Harcourt Hotel several times , and most recently at the Iveagh Garden Hotel, which is practically next door, which I think is absolutely great. The breakfast was also perfect, the staff was nice and helpful, and the hotel is relatively central, yet quiet. I slept very well, and the location of the hotel allowed me to explore the city on foot.

For some mysterious reason, I always visited Dublin in the spring. I was usually lucky and the sun was shining, so I could fully enjoy the beautiful parks filled with flowering trees. St Stephen's Green, Iveagh Gardens and Merrion Square are definitely worth a visit, the latter also because it is home to the famous and very special Oscar Wilde statue.

Another outdoor activity is a walk on Grafton Street, where you can also shop, but for this purpose I recommend the beautiful shopping center on the corner of Grafton Street and St Stephen's Green.

At the end of the pedestrian street, we practically run into the Molly Malone statue, an iconic and well-known sight. It was exhibited on Grafton Street in 1988 and then moved to its current location, Suffolk Street, in 2014 .

The statue depicts a young girl, a kind of Irish folk hero, who also appeared in a song, selling shellfish from a wheelbarrow. Unfortunately, a superstition has developed around her that stroking the statue's breasts brings good luck, which has led to the artwork being significantly damaged, and Irish activists have even created a petition against the bad habit. A schoolgirl has also launched a campaign, claiming that this superstition is degrading, misogynistic, and sexist, and that tourists should be prevented from taking pictures of the statue while stroking its breasts. Of course, this campaign has had little effect.

Just around the corner from Molly Malone is Trinity College. The working university campus itself is beautiful and very atmospheric, but it is also home to the Book of Kells Experience: the famous Irish national treasure, a 9th-century codex, and the experience program built around it. The Codex of Kells contains the four Gospels and is beautifully and richly decorated. It is definitely worth seeing, but there are usually no tickets on the day, so you have to book in advance. The ticket also allows you to visit the huge library.

After the cultural program, it is worth heading towards the Temple Bar district.

While walking here, you come across Love Lane, a street art piece that can be an inspiration for everyone: we can read little stories about love and relationships, and we can also write on the wall ourselves if we feel like there is something to capture from our own lives.

The namesake of the district, Temple Bar, is also worth visiting here, but you can also find many other beautiful buildings.

I had lunch here too, at the Hard Rock Cafe. It's worth spending some time in a pub, you can chat with the locals.

Close to Temple Bar is the Ha'Penny Bridge, which was the first bridge over the River Liffey. It replaced the ferry and required a half-penny toll to cross, hence its name. It is always decorated during holidays.

On the way back, we will also visit Christ Church Cathedral, one of two medieval cathedrals in Dublin, and we can observe Norman, Gothic and Romanesque architectural features in the building. Its garden is magical in spring.

Dublin Castle and St Patrick's Cathedral are also worth visiting. The cathedral stands on the spot where, according to legend, St Patrick baptized the Irish in the 12th century. In the 18th century, Jonathan Swift, the author of Gulliver, was the dean of the church for 32 years. The cathedral park is also beautiful, and it is worth taking a walk around the area.

If you like whiskey, I also recommend the Jameson Distillery, there is plenty to taste here. The Pearse Lyons Brewery is also special, especially because the distillery was built in a 19th century church. After Irish independence, the buildings of the Anglican Church largely lost their function and fell into disrepair, so they were bought and used for industrial purposes.

The Irish Whiskey Museum also offers an Irish coffee making workshop, and you can even create your own whiskey to take home as a souvenir.

Those who prefer beer also have the opportunity to visit the Guinness factory.

From Dublin you can book a day trip to the Cliffs of Moher, the Giant's Causeway, or to the capital of Northern Ireland, Belfast. I took a combined tour a few years ago. If you get to Belfast, Black Cab Mural Tours is worth trying to learn about the history of the city. It is important to note that Northern Ireland is now part of the United Kingdom, and you can only cross if you have an ETA and have British pounds, not just euros - although you can usually pay by card everywhere.