Ireland’s capital has been listed among the top 10 cities to visit at Christmas worldwide, and we couldn’t agree more.
We’ve got Christmas markets. We’ve got pantos. We’ve got the Christmas Day swims. And we may not get a lot of snow, but that just makes it easier for us to get around and spread holiday cheer. So it already seems safe to say that Dublin is one of the best places in the world to visit at Christmastime.
International flower vendor Bloom & Wild has backed this up in their recent list of the top 15 cities around the globe to visit at Christmas.
Whilst major cities with undeniable snow-dashed Christmas allures topped the charts, we’re proud to say (and not all that surprised) that little ole’ Dublin came in the top 10.
The competition
The international flower vendor published the said list in the run-up to Christmas last year (2018), fuelling winter wanderlust and populating bucket lists from all who stumbled across it.
Dublin came in a worthy 10th place and was listed as “the best for merriment” amongst its contenders. Bloom & Wild’s list nods to Dublin’s traditional qualities that draw a steady stream of tourists each year, but that are simply the characteristics of home to its some 1.4 million residents.
First place was awarded to the quintessential Scandi city of Helsinki, which is bursting with classic Christmas spirit. Second place went to Quebec City, which wins hearts with its snowfall and charm.
Berlin was listed as third and credited for its “cheap Christmas dinners,” while London and its “beautiful Christmas lights” took fourth place.
The snowy cities of Salzburg and Copenhagen took fifth and sixth place respectively, while Edinburgh – the capital of Scotland – took seventh and was commended for its “family-friendly” qualities.
Eighth and ninth spots on Bloom & Wild’s list went to Montreal in Canada (“best for snowman building”) and Prague in the Czech Republic (“best for cheap Christmas trees”).
Dublin’s fair city
Coming in a worthy 10th place, Dublin is our favourite city on the list, but of course we’re biased. Bloom & Wild say of Dublin: “if your idea of Christmas heaven is wrapping up warm for an epic pub crawl across endless cobbled streets, then Dublin is the place for you.”
We have to agree. Dublin is choc-a-bloc with pubs, bars, and restaurants all brimming with festive spirit throughout the holiday season.
With a small, community-based atmosphere, Dublin city makes for the perfect place to pound the pavement and explore as you go. Pub crawls around the holiday season are as popular as anything (just remember to wear your Christmas jumper and check out the rules of “12 Pubs” – Ireland’s traditional Christmas pub crawl).
Bloom & Wild’s list also takes a moment to appreciate all else Dublin has to offer (other than booze and banter, that is), mentioning the annual “highly-anticipated Procession of Light that brings everyone together for a memorable celebration meets spectacle.” When it comes to lights, the Wild Lights at Dublin Zoo are another magical experience in Dublin at Christmastime, and this year’s theme is quite fantastical.
On top of that, Dublin is an iconic city that is steeping in culture and Irish history, jam-packed with museums and historic sites, as well as home to tonnes of live music and entertainment venues. And should you want to make your Christmas trip to Dublin all that more festive, check out the annual Dublin Christmas Flea Market and the pantomime at the Gaiety Theatre.
For all of you overseas who won’t get the chance to pop over to the capital of the Emerald Isle this holiday season, now’s the time to start planning your 2020 trip!
