Dear old dirty Dublin, as the locals call it, is one of the best cities for "having the craic", that peculiarly Irish, fun-filled approach to life. Long, long before travellers took cheap flights to Dublin, this city was a prize to be fought over by invading armies.
Dublin's long and stirring history goes back more than 1,000 years to the Vikings, the Danes and the English. Its "invaders" have left their mark, from its architecture - from Dublin Castle's medieval tower to the stately Georgian public buildings - to its literary tradition and, perhaps even its pub culture.
To have the craic, head to one of the city's cosy pubs. There's no shortage of decent watering holes in Dublin. Quiet during the day, with lone readers enjoying a drink, or lively at night when tired workers flood in, there's no better place to sample Arthur Guinness's finest creation.