IMO, Dublin is pretty much "just a city" with the traffic jams, etc. that come with a city. There are a lot of great places you can visit from Dublin and there are some fun pubs, but if you were to compare Dublin and Edinburgh as single locations to visit, my vote would be Edinburgh. I’ve only "been through" Glasgow and I wasn’t impressed — although it’s probably not a good idea to form an opinion when you’re just driving through and around a place.

If you’re going to be able to do some day trips and get around a little, Scotland and Ireland would be pretty much a toss-up for me. I’d pick the one that was cheapest to get to.

Really? Thats kind of disappointing… I love the irish bars we have here in the states, just figured theyd be far more fun over with actual irish people..

Brazenhead Id heard was a great bar, and some place called the temple bar?

Anyone else have thoughts, should I scratch the plan and just start anew?

Edi/Glasgow are infinitely more fun than Dublin.

i added a post over there.. Seems like this site has more members though??

im really just looking for suggestions as to where the best (at a cheap price) would be to spend 5 days over there.. any suggestions would be great..

ah yes but what was that from Field of Dreams? "Build and they will come" or something like that?

I replied over there!

i replied to you over there too

I have been to both Dublin and Edinburgh, both are incredible cities. The Irish are the best people to party with. They are the most fun loving people on earth, but Dublin is similar to any other major city. The appeal to Dublin isn’t the city but the folks who inhabit it. Edinburgh is a beautiful city. It is more "British" than Glasgow but I thoroughly enjoyed it. Anywhere in Scotland is going to be a lot more expensive because they are on the Sterling pound which is almost 2 dollars to one pound, whereas the Republic of Ireland (Dublin) is on the Euro.

I think you will enjoy either location because they both offer something different.

I have been to both Dublin and Edinburgh. I definitely recommend Edinburgh it is answesome city not like anything else I have seen. I have been three times now and it never gets old. If you have 5 days to travel I would recommend a tour around Scotland. I went on a tour with Macbackers up to the highlands and it was great (you can’t involve Scotland without trying the whiskey, we went to a distillery on the tour). Scotland is a very beautiful country. If a tour around Scotland doesn’t interest you then there is plenty of things to do in Edinburgh especially at night. I think I went on a ghost tour funny enough and of course a pub.

Here may be some helpful websites:
http://www.macbackpa…
http://www.backpacke…

Mandy

Dublin is a fuckin shit hole.

Glasgow is the coolest city on the planet however.

I liked the people of Dublin…they made up for the blandness of the actual city…then again Edinburgh is quite beautiful…and totally worth a visit. Since you’re into Irish pubs and all that…you might as well go to Ireland and see how things are for yourself..

Go to Edinburgh mate I live here and you will love it! You will get quickly bored in Dublin and Glasgow smells!!!

Irish pubs are cool, except in Ireland you don’t see the usual irish pub you’re used to. It’s interesting to see the differences in each city and break stereotypes, and an irish pub with the shamrocks and whatnot is one of the stereotypes that don’t really apply on everyday Ireland.

I’d say go for the irish experience, but only if you have a chance to go south to Cork or Co. Kerry, but Dublin just plain sucks, so unless you can avoid Dublin, the I’d say Edinburgh is a good choice.

Well that was enlightening. I’d always heard Dublin was a great city.

Regardless, I still plan on visiting Ireland. However, I had planned on making Dublin my stopping ground and branch out with day trips from there. What does everyone think is Dublin a good stopping point or would somewhere else be more interesting? Thanks!

I would say Edinburgh hands down. What an amazing & captivating city. Having been to Dublin twice, I would agree with the others that it’s abit overated & drab. Some excellent sights/museums/pubs, but has that BIG city feel to it.
IMO: Northern Ireland ROCKS!!
Having visited both the Republic (coast to coast) & Northern Ireland, I found Northern Ireland’s Antrim Coast as scenic as the Republic’s western coast. Derry (aka. Londonderry) was our base, which put us in striking distance of Donegal & other desirable locations in the Republic. Belfast was also very cool with excellent nightlife/pubs. Not as many tourists either in NI. Consider it, you won’t be disappointed.

I’d pick Scotland again, edinburgh was awesome…Dublin was like visiting the 1980’s. Stay at castle rock hostel, lowest level- I had a blast there….dont go to high street, not as good- they do have a good free walking tour though.

melissa hxbbw6ft1@aol.com”>phxbbw6ft1@aol.com

quote:
Well that was enlightening. I’d always heard Dublin was a great city.

Regardless, I still plan on visiting Ireland. However, I had planned on making Dublin my stopping ground and branch out with day trips from there. What does everyone think is Dublin a good stopping point or would somewhere else be more interesting? Thanks!

I’d make Cork my base of operations. It’s not too different from Dublin, it is a bit quieter though, you don’t have to walk over drunk people or barf and piss. The south of Ireland has breathtaking scenery, and if you happen to go to the South, don’t skip Dingle on Co. Kerry. I’m envious.

i guess theres a trend here but Dublin was my least favorite city in 2 months of traveling. Ive heard nothing but good things about Scotland so I’d def choose there over Dublin.

Western Ireland was diff though, I went to Doolin and Galway and both were nice. I went at a bad time though, mid april so it was cold and there werent many other backpackers, so it was a bit quiet.

This is only a personal opinion but i had 3 great days in Dublin, one of the highlights of my eurotrip, but i enjoy pubs bigtime. Wasnt overly fussed on Edinburugh. Be warned booze in Dublin is very expensive, but the pubs themselves are superb, with the folk music and the irish in my opinion are the friendliest people ive ever met. So id definately pick dublin, but it depends what you want to do, enjoy your trip.

I’m also in the minority as far as liking Dublin…not necessarily better than some of the places in Scotland that were mentioned…but I liked it quite a bit….I found the people to be quite charming….they made it a happy place for me.

Dublin is by far better than Edinburgh. Edinburgh is pretty but it is small and full of arrogant Brits who are not excatly reknowned for thier hospitality. Dublin is a pretty city, the Irsih are extremely friendly and it is amazing craic, especially in the temple bar district and the bars are open to 4am. Stay near Merrion Square in the Georgian district whcih is similar to Westminster. Dublin has extreme heritage which ahs been paved over in Scotland.

scotland for sure only the main sqaure of dublin is nice, i found it to be a very brown city

Ok. It has to be said that Glasgow has worked hard to become one of the coolest cities in Europe over the last few years. Shopping, nightlife, bars, architecture and history – it has it all. Plus the locals are exceptionally welcoming – probably equal to the Irish and certainly much more than in Edinburgh. Added to this, Loch Lomond is less than an hour away. Although this Loch doesn’t have a monster, it’s still amazingly beautiful and has the added bonus of a hostel over-looking it. It’s also worth mentioning that you’ll probably find just as many drunk Irishmen in pubs in Glasgow as in Dublin

I had the choice and I’ve just picked Glasgow, but thats simply because i’ve got good friends living there.

I’ve been to Ireland though as well. The pubs are different than the ones we have in America in two ways
1) the accent, course.
2) they listen to really old American music like Billy Joel, Elton John and etc. etc.

both are great though, so good luck dolly!

Dublin seemed like one of those places that’d be okay to live in, but visiting was kind of a downer. There are a few cool areas, but I’d say a majority of the buildings have that “1960’s” feel to them. Really only the green areas near the University, O’Connell street, and Temple Bar feel older, but it’s always jam-packed with tourists. In fact, we had trouble even FINDING Irish people in Dublin! There were so many damned American tourists everywhere, and it seemed like everyone working in the shops, bars, etc was from somewhere else. The last day we were there we saw a guy wearing a shirt that said something like “The only Dubliner in Dublin today” on it. So true.

I wouldn’t tell someone to NOT go there, but I’d just say to be advised that you’re probably not really going to get that “authentic Irish” experience you’re looking for in a major city.

Sorry but that is completely wrong Dublin is a notoriously expensive city within the British isles, especially if your talking about going out for a drink. The price of a beer in Dublin is generally over £1 more than you would expect to pay in most Glasgow pubs, Edinburgh despite being slightly dearer than Glasgow is also allot cheaper.

Here’s another vote for Dublin! It’s a compact city, and not so overwhelming as Paris and London, for example. Very walkable, but with good public transport, so that you can walk and see things and, if tired, take a bus back to your starting point. Consider a night out at the theater if possible. I’d say two days would be enough to see a lot of central Dublin,and then you’d have time for a few trips to the surroundings. Be sure to go to Glendalough, an ancient monastic settlement in the Wicklow Mtns. just south of Dublin (you can go by bus from central Dublin— ask at the Tourist Office), or take DART along the coast south to Bray if the weather’s nice.

I have been to both cities, but not since 2000.
Glasgow sure does have the good music.
Optimo Espacio. Sons and Daughters. Belle and Sebastian. So many others.