New Year's Eve in Dublin: this surprising event is one you won't want to miss

New Year's Eve: a celebration for some, a nightmare for others, or simply a disappointing evening full of parties that didn't quite make the cut. Metro 's Roos falls into the latter category and decided to say goodbye to the Netherlands and ring in the new year in Dublin, at the invitation of Failte Ireland. With last year's experiences in mind, we're sharing tips on great hotels, restaurants, activities, and the best way to welcome in 2026. This way, you'll be prepared for the end of the year.

Ireland might not be the first place you think of when planning your New Year's Eve trip. Many people, however, have a reputation for being a party city—especially Dublin—primarily frequented by men for stag and hen parties. While that might certainly be a part of the crowd that visits Dublin, it's up to you to hang the streamers. Don't fancy drunk tourists? They're easy to avoid. Fancy a cozy pub and marveling at the Irish atmosphere? That's also within easy reach.

Let's start right away with the big one, the reason we're here: the New Year's Festival in and around Dublin Castle. The icing on the cake, New Year's Eve, takes place in the courtyard of a centuries-old castle in the heart of the city. But in the lead-up to and after New Year's Eve, there's much more happening in the city. There are all sorts of concerts, street musicians, and even theater performances, all part of the NYF. Even on New Year's Day, if you're feeling up to it despite your hangover.

As mentioned, Metro put the transition from 2024 to 2025 to the test. The 13th-century castle in Dublin transformed into a true festival venue, and singer Cian Ducrot was ready to throw a huge party. He kept building the tension until the countdown began just before midnight. Once 2025 was reached, the fireworks exploded. Because you're in a historic setting, the fireworks are even more impressive than usual.

This year, Inhaler, known for songs like "My Honest Face" and "It Won't Always Be Like This ," is planning to throw a huge party. Before the banger, you'll find all sorts of other festivities and musicians throughout the city. Be warned: NYF ends quite early, at a quarter past midnight, so if you're not into early nights, it's wise to pick a pub where you can chat (and/or dance) until the wee hours.

New Year's Eve is all well and good, but hopefully, you won't just be spending half a day in the Irish city. Exploring the city is a no-brainer; pub-hopping is practically included in your Dublin experience. But something not many people do, yet highly recommended, is the Guinness Connoisseur Experience. No boring audio tour of a museum or factory, but a tasting session with nothing but Guinness and lots of information about the beer brand, narrated by someone who truly loves it.

You'll be seated at a long bar, as if in a real, cozy pub, and in about two hours, you'll be taken on a journey through the evolution of Guinness. Even if you're not a fan of the dark beer's characteristic flavor, it's worth it. The icing on the cake is that you get to sit behind the tap yourself, but pouring a perfect Guinness is harder than you might think. But hey, even if you mess up, you'll still end up with half a liter to drink, so there's nothing wrong with that.

Furthermore, I'm a secret fan of hop-on hop-off buses here and there. If your legs are tired from all that walking, it's a perfect way to take a productive break. Finished sightseeing? Then hop off at one of the tourist highlights: Trinity College (with the Book of Kells), the Temple Bar area, St. Stephen's Green, the National Gallery, Ha'Penny Bridge, and St. Patrick's Cathedral.

A note about Temple Bar: it's a so-called tourist trap. Few people are truly Irish, drinks are very expensive, and it's incredibly crowded. Still, it's worth seeing, as you'll recognize the iconic statue from thousands.

Not everyone loves the hustle and bustle of a city. Understandable, but that's absolutely no reason to rule out Dublin. Precisely because it rains here often, Ireland's nature is incredibly green. Pack a nice rain suit and you're good to go . Near Dublin city, there are many nature reserves and parks to visit, but if you have an extra day, you can also travel (with a tour or a rental car) to places like Howth or Dun Laoghaire, beautiful coastal towns. Stunning views guaranteed.

Ireland's natural beauty is breathtakingly green, with hills stretching far beyond the eye. For mountain bikers, for example, this is an ideal place to experience nature while also being healthy. But there are also plenty of options for hikes through the forest or mountains.

Not everyone will head to Ireland at the end of December. Late October is also a good option, because then you can experience Halloween—originally an Irish festival. These days, we associate that holiday primarily with America, but there's a clear reason for that. During the Irish Famine—when all the food that was available went to England, leaving many Irish starving—many Irish emigrated to the United States. They brought Halloween, originally called Samhain, across the Atlantic with them.

If you're planning to visit Dublin or another Irish city this fall (Galway is also a good tip), you might as well experience a spooktacular party. St. Patrick's Day is, of course, the Irish holiday everyone knows, comparable to King's Day in the Netherlands, but we can assure you it will be incredibly busy in Dublin. Still interested? In 2026, this day falls on Tuesday, March 17th. Who knows, you might still book in time...

You'd love to make the most of your vacation and come home as relaxed as possible. What's the best way to do that?