There are certain mistakes our British neighbours have been making for decades upon decades when they visit the Emerald Isle.
First off, we’re not saying all British tourists make these mistakes when they visit Ireland, so let’s all take a deep breath.
However, there are some funny, harmless mistakes we’ve seen first hand when our British neighbours come for a visit. Let’s take a look.
5. Bringing Euros to the north – people have done it
It doesn’t matter how close in proximity Ireland and England are, some of our British neighbours still don’t understand the difference between the north and the south of Ireland.
Thus, they’ll be standing in Belfast trying to pay for their pint with euros while receiving funny looks from the bartender.
You might be reading this thinking, surely not. Or, you’re reading this thinking, I thought Belfast did use Euros? Either way. No harm done. Just remember to pack both Sterling and Euros if you plan on doing a full North-South trip of the island.
4. Assuming everyone has the same accent (then trying to do it) – the accents up and down the country might surprise you
Our British neighbours often wrongly assume we all sound the same. We don’t take it to heart (most of us). It’s not their faults, especially if you’ve never visited Ireland in person before.
You may have only heard Irish accents on TV or from various neighbours about town and just assumed all Irish people sound the same.
Lots of films and TV shows would make you expect as such, as the Irish accent is often portrayed in the same sing-songy, almost gimmicky way.
Many British tourists in Ireland get a shock when they hear how different a Cork accent is compared to perhaps a Dublin accent they’ve heard before.
The same confusion hits some when they visit Belfast and realise the accent is much different, deeper, almost a little angrier, than the better-known Dublin brogue.
3. Expecting green fields and sheep when landing in the big cities – just wait
Sometimes, people visiting Ireland do so with emerald-tinted specks. They land in Dublin, and then look around at the built up modernity of it all wondering where the sweeping green landscapes and sheep stopping traffic are like they saw in P.S. I Love You.
Don’t worry, you just need to head a little further out to see the great, green landscapes Ireland boasts so proudly. Dublin itself has some beautiful parks and nature walks.
However, the beauty just continues to grow the further you head out, with places like Glendalough, Killarney National Park, Glenveagh National Park, and so much more.
2. Staying in Dublin – a crime against the rest of Ireland
One of the biggest mistakes people visiting from just over the pond make is only staying in Dublin. Ireland has got so much to offer, and it’s a crying shame when visitors don’t venture beyond the capital.
You will have a ball in Dublin, don’t get us wrong. There is literally so much to see and do that you could easily spend a week there and not get bored.
However, the real beauty and intrigue of Ireland, the stuff you hear about in fairy tales and the sweeping green landscapes of TV and film, you’ll find that venturing on the road beyond Dublin.
In the same vein, make sure to check out the bars, pubs, and attractions outside of Dublin’s Temple Bar. Known locally as a tourist trap, there are much better offerings elsewhere in the city.
1. Not renting a car – a rooky mistake
It’s definitely not just British tourists who make this mistakes, it’s a universal mistake made by many visiting Ireland, but a popular one nonetheless.
If you’re planning on doing the contrary to number two on this list and actually seeing the country, make sure you rent a car.
Now, don’t get us wrong, there are routes and itineraries you could follow that mean you can take trains and buses around the country. However, if you want the ultimate freedom to explore Ireland’s nooks and crannies, a car is the best way for it.
The Irish landscape is vast, with lots of country roads and nothingness in between one spot and the next. So definitely make sure to rent a car if you plan on traversing the country from top to bottom, experiencing the Wild Atlantic Way, and more.
