These are the places with the smiliest, most welcoming people, as voted by readers of Condé Nast Traveller in the Readers’ Choice Awards 2020, and we agree! Check out our recommendations of things to see and do in the friendliest cities in Europe…
Galway
There is something special about the welcome you’ll find in Galway, a beautiful harbour city on Ireland’s west coast, sitting where the River Corrib meets the Atlantic Ocean. The city’s hub is 18th-century Eyre Square, a popular meeting spot surrounded by shops and traditional pubs that often offer live Irish folk music. Nearby, stone-clad cafes, boutiques, and art galleries line the winding lanes of the Latin Quarter, which retains portions of the medieval city walls.
Condé Nast describes it well: “Galway has been described as Ireland’s alternative city – more boho and leftfield than Dublin and Cork, a place that draws buskers and artists, dreamers and schemers like a magnetic force.. Lately, it has also become a fizzing foodie hub, with a community as tight-knit as a village, so that finding one person who’s doing something interesting will lead you, as if following a trail of breadcrumbs, to someone else equally fascinating.”
Dublin
Dublin, the capital of the Republic of Ireland, is on Ireland’s east coast at the mouth of the River Liffey. Its historic buildings include Dublin Castle, dating to the 13th century, and imposing St Patrick’s Cathedral, founded in 1191. City parks include landscaped St Stephen’s Green and huge Phoenix Park, containing Dublin Zoo. The National Museum of Ireland explores Irish heritage and culture. But there is so much more on offer here, as Condé Nast has discovered.
The true gem in Dublin is its people – with a charm, wit and a welcome that can be found nowhere else. When you travel to Dublin, you’ll find a warm smile at every turn, and a wit that is world-renowned. It creates an atmosphere of comfort, familiarity, and relaxation – no wonder Dublin is one of the most popular spots in Europe for a weekend break. Yes, there is history to be found, and yes, there is heritage aplenty, but the most memorable thing about Dublin is no doubt going to be the warm welcome you receive from everyone – from the bar staff, to the retail staff, to the taxi-drivers, everyone in Dublin has a story to tell you, and they tell it well!!
Galway - Our Recommendations
There is an abundance of fantastic things to do in Galway, so it’s tricky to pick just a couple, but if we had to, we’d recommend spending some time in the Latin Quarter – this has to be the most beautiful part of Galway City. Fall in love with the cobbled stone streets, with restaurants, fab boutiques and rich in culture, and of course the warm welcome you’ll get! And why is it called the Latin Quarter? Well, as a port city, Galway has always had a close relationship with both Spain and Portugal, so much so that at one point the ruling class in Dublin once said that “Galway is more Spanish than Irish” due to the large number of Spanish in residence.
We’re always on the hunt for a great meal, and we guarantee you will find one at the Michelin starred Aniar – serving contemporary Irish Dining inspired by the West of Ireland. The kitchen is lead by chef patron JP McMahon. Alongside using wild and foraged local ingredients, Jp likes to foster old traditional cooking and preservation methods, such as curing, pickling, smoking, and fermenting. His aim is to look back in order to look forward: to the future of Irish food. It’s an experience you won’t forget!
Dublin - Our Recommendations
Dublin is a beautiful city, rich in architecture and heritage, so we recommend checking out The Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland’s (RIAI) Architecture Tours – they offer a variety of walking tours on the architecture of Dublin city. From Dublin’s world-famous Georgian squares to the city’s youngest urban quarters, these lively and informative city walks explore historical and contemporary urban icons. These tours are a wonderful way to experience Dublin and get a real sense of the city’s history, culture, and design. A beautiful way to discover the city!
Then for great eats, one place that is getting rave reviews recently is Delahunt – where you’ll find traditional Irish plates served in a cozy, restored tavern with a long bar & vintage accents. In keeping with the building’s Victorian origins, the menus are influenced by traditional and often overlooked cookery techniques. There is also a great cocktail bar there called the Sitting Room, with vaulted ceilings, retro furniture and custom wooden paneling, original fireplaces, and a wide range of spirits and craft cocktail materials. The space, formerly the “good room” of the family residing at 39 Camden Street, is the ultimate sitting room to welcome guests to Delahunt. Chin Chin!
