Dublin, Ireland

Dublin, the capital of the Republic of Ireland, sits on Ireland’s east coast at the mouth of the Liffey River. The Vikings settled in Dublin from the 841 AD onward, and existing remnants of Viking history infuse the city. During their reign Dublin became the most important town in Ireland as well as a center for western Viking expansion and trade. As the second city of the British Empire in the 18th century, Dublin entered its architectural golden age and is famous for the Georgian architecture of this period. Historic buildings include the thirteenth-century Dublin Castle and imposing St Patrick’s Cathedral, founded in 1191. City parks include landscaped St. Stephen’s Green and strollable Phoenix Park. The National Museum of Ireland explores Irish heritage and culture. You’ll find just as much allure in Dublin’s parks and expansive green spaces as you will in the city’s lively quarters—from cycling through the quiet glens of Phoenix Park to meandering amid orchids inside the glasshouses at the National Botanic Gardens.