Dublin

Dublin is not a city that overwhelms you with monumental buildings — it embraces you with warmth, humor, and a pint. The Irish capital at the mouth of the River Liffey is a metropolis with the soul of a village: Every pub has its regulars, every alley its story, and in every corner lurks a literary monument. Here, Joyce, Wilde, and Beckett wrote, here Guinness brewed its black gold, and here Ireland's bloody independence was fought for. Dublin is loud, lively, literary, and passionate — and the best part: You can explore the entire city on foot.