To preface this entire article, I’ll just say this: there is no one-size-fits-all answer to the question ‘Should I visit Dublin or Edinburgh?’. Every traveller is different and wants different things when travelling, so I can’t choose between Edinburgh and Dublin for you. What I can do, however, is list some pros and cons for both and help you come to your own conclusion.

It’s always tough to figure out where you’re travelling to next and to create your travel itinerary, but I am here to help.

Skip ahead to specific sections using the links below:

• Solo travel
• Attractions
• Architecture
• Food
• Nightlife
• Friendliness of locals
• Prices

Solo travel in Dublin or Edinburgh

For starters, check out my dedicated guides to solo travel in Edinburgh and Dublin.

Now, let’s actually compare the two cities in terms of solo travel friendliness.

Dublin was the very first city I ever travelled to by myself, so I have a special relationship with it.

Now, the thing is, I’m not sure if I like solo travel in Dublin because it was my first solo experience or if it’s actually a great city to visit, but I would definitely recommend it.

As for Edinburgh, it’s quickly become one of my favourite cities in the UK — and you should know, I REALLY loved Brighton and London.

There are plenty of things to do, the atmosphere is great and you’ll feel like you went back in time.

The winner: Edinburgh. I feel like the sheer atmosphere in the city is enough to trump Dublin as the best city to travel to by yourself, even though I have more special memories in the Irish capital.

Edinburgh vs. Dublin: attractions

Edinburgh and Dublin are similar in size, and they both have plenty of things to do for travellers. Here’s a quick overview of the most important tourist attractions in both cities.

Dublin:

• Temple Bar
• National Museum of Ireland (Archaeology & Natural History)
• Trinity College (Book of Kells exhibition)
• Chester Beatty Library
• Kilmainham Gaol Museum
• Guinness Storehouse tour
• Ha’penny Bridge
• Free walking tour
• Phoenix Park
• George’s Street Arcade
• Dublinia Museum
• St. Stephen’s Green
• St. Patrick’s Cathedral

Edinburgh:

• Edinburgh Castle
• Palace of Holyroodhouse
• Calton Hill
• National Museum of Scotland
• Scott Monument
• University of Edinburgh – Old College
• Arthur’s Seat
• Mary King’s Close
• Princes Street
• Camera Obscura
• Victoria Street
• Surgeon’s Hall Museums
• Museum of Childhood

The winner: Dublin. I feel like you could spend more time in Dublin without getting bored, even though Edinburgh is a close second in this category.

Architecture in Dublin and Edinburgh

In general, architecture in Dublin is nothing impressive. The city’s skyline is rather flat compared to bigger cities in Europe, like London and Rome. That being said, there are some very impressive buildings in Dublin, like Dublin Castle, The Custom House and the Guinness Storehouse.

By contrast, Edinburgh architecture is more reminiscent of its history. By the very ground the city was built on, there are more differences in height than in Dublin. This results in higher, more impressive buildings, although these buildings tend to be less diverse than in the Irish capital.

The winner: Depends. If you’re into history, Edinburgh wins. But if you’re into modern architecture, I’d say that Dublin takes the cake in this category.

Food in Edinburgh vs. food in Dublin

Some traditional food you have to try in Dublin:

• Irish stew
• Boxty pancakes
• Coddle
• Soda bread
• Guinness (properly poured!)

And then, traditional food in Edinburgh:

• Haggis
• Hog roast sandwich
• Stornoway black pudding
• Cranachan
• Whisky

The winner: Personal preference. This really comes down to what kind of food you prefer to eat, but I’m personally more inclined to choose Edinburgh.

Dublin nightlife vs. Edinburgh nightlife

Nightlife in Dublin is fantastic. The legal drinking age is 18 and many bars, pubs and clubs are sprawled around the city, with a dense concentration in the Temple Bar district.

The bad news, however, is that many clubs in Dublin have a cover charge, often ranging between €15 and €20.

Just because Edinburgh is a city steeped in history, doesn’t mean that there’s nothing else to experience there. There are many nightlife areas in Edinburgh to keep you drinking, singing and dancing until the early hours, including the Royal Mile, Grassmarket and the West End.

The winner: It’s a tie. Again, it really depends on what you’re after.

Friendliness of locals

It must be said: both cities have incredibly friendly locals.

When I was in Dublin, I found that the Irish were more than willing to help out a solo traveller who was struggling to figure something out. Hostel and restaurant staff was also very friendly and helpful.

In Edinburgh, the locals’ willingness to help was very similar. It doesn’t feel weird to walk up to someone in Edinburgh and ask them a question, even if you’ve never met them before.

The winner: Dublin. When I was in Dublin, I never felt like I was strange for being there, which I have felt in other cities.

Edinburgh prices vs. Dublin prices

The whole Dublin vs. Edinburgh debate on pricing is really easy: Edinburgh is cheaper.

Since the average salary in Dublin is higher than in Edinburgh, it stands to reason that many aspects of life are more expensive there.

And that counts for things like housing and electricity, but also for things that affect travellers, like public transport and restaurants.

The winner: Edinburgh.

Conclusion: Which city is better?

If you go back through this comparison, you’ll see that Dublin and Edinburgh both got the same number of points.

So, I guess it all comes down to what you’re looking for in your destination.

Do you want a vibrant city with friendly locals, energetic nightlife and plenty of things to do? Go to Dublin.

Are you looking for a weekend away at a city where history and present come together, where accommodation is more affordable and where breathtaking nature is just a stone’s throw away? Head to Edinburgh.

In the end, I can’t decide between Dublin and Edinburgh for you, but I can help you figure it out yourself.

Have you ever been to Edinburgh or Dublin? Did I miss anything or do you disagree with anything? Let me know in the comments.

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