Dublin and Edinburgh are two of the most iconic capital cities in all of Europe. They are also two of the most influential cities in the British Isles. For such iconic cities, should you visit Dublin or Edinburgh?
Table of Contents
Dublin or Edinburgh Overview
Dublin
Dublin is the capital of Ireland and easily its largest city with over 550,000 in the city and a much larger metro area. It is the chief port city in the country. The city has been named an Alpha Global City, meaning it is one of the top 30 cities in the world. Dublin is also a major university city with many institutions of higher learning.
The city is also considered to be one of the youngest cities in Europe with roughly 50% of the population being under the age of 25. Over the years, Dublin has also become one of the most popular cities in Europe. There are many reasons why people are so intrigued by Dublin, such as its many pubs, museums, its many historic buildings, and for being the birthplace of Guinness beer.
Edinburgh
Edinburgh has a population of 500,000 people and has been the capital of Scotland since the 1400s. It is the second most visited city in the United Kingdom, only behind London. The city has been a center for banking and finances for hundreds of years.
Edinburgh has been referred to as the “Athens of the North” because of Castle Rock overlooking the city, similar to the Athenian Acropolis. One of the first things you will notice is the Gothic Revival architecture made with sandstone with a dark stain still visible from Edinburgh’s heavy industrial days. People come to Edinburgh to explore its museums, galleries, castles, and grand churches.
Things to See
Dublin
Dublin Castle opened in 1204 and was the seat of the British Government in Ireland.
Christ Church Cathedral was founded in 1030 and is the oldest Medieval church in Dublin.
Temple Bar is the most famous bar in Dublin. It offers over 450 types of whiskey.
Trinity College Library is one of the most famous libraries in the world.
Guinness Storehouse shows the history of beer and the history of Guinness.
Edinburgh
Edinburgh Castle has overlooked the city since the 12th Century.
Calton Hill has some of the best views of the city and has many monuments on it.
Scott Monument, located in Princes Street Garden, is one of the city’s most iconic monuments.
Palace of Holyroodhouse is the official residence to the Queen in Scotland.
St. Giles Cathedral was originally constructed in the 12th century and is one of Scotland’s most famous cathedrals.
Food
Dublin
The capital of Ireland may be a coastal city, but the Irish typically prefer beef to seafood. However, the famous dish of cockles and mussels is still an essential meal in Dublin. Part of what makes this meal so famous is the song Molly Malone, whose lyrics refer to a woman selling cockles and mussels in a cart along the street. The song was so famous, a statue was even built-in her honor!
Along with cockles and mussels, Irish Stew is also a beloved dish to the Irish people in Dublin. Don’t forget to visit one of the traditional pubs and get some Guinness in the city it originated in.
Edinburgh
Haggis is considered Scotland’s National Dish. It can be a scary dish to try for someone who has never seen or heard of it before but it is quite good. One signature dish of Edinburgh is Cullen Skink. The word skink initially referred to meat in Scotland, but it has now evolved to also mean soup. This thick and hearty soup is traditionally made from smoked haddock and potatoes, along with many other flavorful ingredients.
Getting Around
Dublin
When visiting Dublin, it would be smart of you to book your lodging near the city center because most of the city’s attractions are within walking distance there. Other options for getting around the city are buses, trains, and the hop on hop off buses. DoDublin is your best bet for Hop on Hop off buses, mainly because a day pass is only 19.80 Euros for 24hrs and 23.40 Euros for a 48hr pass. Dublin is notorious for having terrible traffic so renting a car might be a headache.
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is not a huge metropolis so you can walk around the city center with ease. You can cover a lot of the city within a 30-minute walk. Buses and trams can get you pretty much wherever you want to go. Some bus routes go all night and the trams have wifi, so public transportation here is quite friendly. You should definitely utilize the buses and trams if you are traveling outside of the city center. Uber and taxis are also options.
Nightlife
Dublin
Dublin is a city with roughly 700 pubs so you won’t have any problem finding a place to get a drink. One thing to note is that most pubs quit serving drinks at 11:30 during the week and 12:30am for Friday and Saturday which means the nightlife starts a little earlier and stops sooner in the night.
The area around Camden Place has one of the highest concentrations of bars and pubs in Dublin. If you are getting sick of pubs, you should head over to Diceys is a really fun place to go. For more of a club scene, head to Opium or Copper Face Jacks. There is quite the selection of nightclubs to choose from.
Edinburgh
Edinburgh offers quite an experience when it comes to nightlife. The area around The Royal Mile is easily the best part of Edinburgh to check out for a night out. The Royal Mile is lined with pubs, breweries, and bars with live music. If you are into live music, Edinburgh has no shortage of options. You should check out The Liquid Room, Sneaky Pete’s, La Belle Angele, Opium, and The Mash House. If you want to go clubbing, there are options for that as well.
Day Trips
Dublin
Wicklow Mountains National Park is just to the south of Dublin.
Wexford is a small city known for its medieval feel.
Skerries is a small coastal city to the north of Dublin.
Edinburgh
St. Andrews is a coastal city just to the north of Edinburgh.
Glasgow is just an hour away from Edinburgh so if you have time you should definitely hop over there.
Lock Lomond and The Trossachs National Park is just to the northwest of Edinburgh.
From either Dublin or Edinburgh, you could also easily take a few days to visit other major cities in the British Isles such as Belfast or Glasgow, and Manchester or Leeds.
Overall
Dublin and Edinburgh are both extremely iconic cities within the British Isles. Dublin is quite a bit more expensive than Edinburgh. Edinburgh is a more picturesque city and has more to see than Dublin. Another draw to Edinburgh is that you hop over to Glasgow for a bit if you wanted to explore another incredible city for a bit. If nightlife is the most important aspect of your trip, Dublin would be a better choice for you.