🇬🇧 Edinburgh
🇮🇪 DublinEdinburgh vs Dublin: Which Should You Visit?
Two capitals with friendly pubs, rich literature and plenty of history. Edinburgh is more dramatic to look at, with a castle on a rock and a medieval Old Town. Dublin is smaller in sights but big on atmosphere, with traditional music and a famous pub culture.
Edinburgh fills up in August for its festivals, when prices peak.
Choose Edinburgh if…
- You want a dramatic skyline and castle
- You enjoy hill walks in the city
- You are visiting for the festivals
Choose Dublin if…
- Live music and pubs are the priority
- You want to explore the Irish coast
- You enjoy literary history
At a glance
| Edinburgh | Dublin | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | 🇬🇧 Scotland, UK | 🇮🇪 Ireland |
| Population | 540,000 | 1.4 million |
| Climate | Oceanic | Oceanic |
| Best time to visit | May–September (Fringe: August) | May–September |
| Budget | €€€ Pricey | €€€ Pricey |
| Safety (our rating) | 8/10 | 8/10 |
| Known for | Edinburgh Castle, Fringe Festival, Whisky | Guinness, Pub culture, Literature (Joyce, Beckett) |
📅 Best months for both:May, June, July, August, September
Where to go in Edinburgh
A dramatic hilly capital with a castle on a volcanic rock and a world-famous summer of festivals.
- Edinburgh Castle. Book ahead in summer.
- The Royal Mile. The Old Town's spine, with closes running off it.
- Arthur's Seat. An easy hill walk with views over the city and the sea.
- National Museum of Scotland. Free, with a rooftop terrace.
- Dean Village and the New Town. Georgian streets and a riverside hamlet in the city.
🛏️ Where to stay
- Old Town: Atmospheric, close to the castle.
- Leith: The port district, known for its restaurants.
🍽️ What to eat
Haggis, Scottish seafood and whisky. Accommodation prices rise sharply in August.
Where to go in Dublin
A friendly, compact capital of literature, Georgian squares and pub music.
- Trinity College. The Book of Kells and the Long Room library.
- Guinness Storehouse. The brewery experience, with a rooftop bar.
- Kilmainham Gaol. A former prison central to Irish history. Book ahead.
- Traditional music pubs. Live sessions most nights. Temple Bar is lively but expensive.
- Howth. A cliff walk in a fishing village, reached by the DART train.
🛏️ Where to stay
- City centre: Walk between most sights.
- Portobello: Canal-side, with good pubs and cafés.
🍽️ What to eat
Irish stew, seafood chowder, a full Irish breakfast and a pint in an old pub.
Can you visit both?
Short flights connect the two. Ferries cross the Irish Sea too, but the journey takes much longer.
Journey times are approximate and vary by service. Check the operator before you book. Work out flying times with the flight calculator.
How we compare cities
The table uses the same data as our city guides: our budget and safety ratings, the climate and the months we recommend. The advice on what to see, where to stay and which city to choose is written by our editors. Prices, opening arrangements and timetables change, so check official sources for anything important. To compare any two cities of your choice side by side, use City vs City.