It’s Christmas time in Dublin! Have you visited the city’s Christmas markets yet? Or are you still looking for wholesome activities and traditions to embrace during the festive days? Whether you’re celebrating with friends or family, we’ve got some cozy Christmas traditions for you that’ll make your Christmas time even more special.
See the Christmas lights
Remember when you were a child and begged your parents to drive through that one street on your way home? The one street where the houses had so many Christmas lights that your eyes lit up with joy and wonder. Embrace that feeling again! Take your friends and family, research where you’ll find the most beautiful Christmas lights in Dublin and plan your walk around the city – maybe stop for a hot chocolate or mulled wine along the way or listen to the Buskers on Grafton Street singing.
Festive Dublin by bus
To make it easier you can also join one of our City Sightseeing Christmas Lights Tours: Enjoy the comfort and warmth of our bus while it takes you to the most beautiful Christmas decorations in Dublin.
Food and pints in festive locations
For everyone who can’t get enough of twinkling Christmas lights, there are plenty of restaurants, bars and pubs in the city that are are decorated with Christmas trees, lights and more. Especially beautiful during that time are Woollen Mills, located right at the Liffey, and O’Neills Pub & Kitchen. And if you want to go all out, visit the winter wonderland that is Hole In The Wall. In any of those locations, a festive pint or dinner with friends can become a wholesome tradition you’ll want to repeat every year.
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Carol sing-alongs & storytime
If you want to create some Christmas vibes yourself, why not host a carol sing-along for your friends and/ or family. Print out some classic Christmas songs or even stories you want to read out, serve cookies and hot chocolate and just enjoy a great and festive time together. Ugly Christmas sweaters as a dresscode are greatly recommended!
Visit a Christmas panto
This one is especially for families: every year, Dublin’s theatres show Christmas pantos – plays with heartfelt stories suited for children and entertaining for their parents. From classic fairytales to Christmas themed pantomimes, there’s something for everyone. And each one is a great activity for the whole family leading up to Christmas or in the quieter time after the holidays.
Colour hunting through festive Dublin
We already mentioned that festive Dublin is a sight you simply need to embrace and enjoy during Christmas. Why not make it a tradition for friendsmas, a date or a family outing to capture this urban Christmas spirit: Make each one of you choose a colour and then walk through the city. Every time you see something in your chosen colour, you take a photo of it. And after a fun afternoon together you’ll have an aesthetically pleasing feed on your phone and lots of pictures for your festive Instagram stories or a seasonal photo album – which is also a great gift!Bake, sip & share
This activity is probably a staple for many families during Christmas time, but its also a great tradition for friends to reconnect and talk and enjoy some festive treats: baking Christmas cookies. These kitchen moments are about more than food: they’re about laughter, teamwork, and the joy of sharing something homemade with the people who matter most.
Give back as one of your Christmas traditions
Christmas is a time of sharing – not only with your loved ones but also with strangers. A great way to celebrate this is by incorporating giving to people in need or to your community into your traditions. You can for example knit scarves for a local charity, donate warm blankets, or volunteer with your friends at a community event, a soup kitchen or an animal shelter. That way you’ll not only bring warmth into other’s lives but also a deeper sense of joy and togetherness to your own celebrations.
Image Sources:
Title: Jonathan Borba on Unsplash
1: Aaqid Masoodi on Unsplash
2: Dragon White Munthe on Unsplash
3: Kevin Dowling on Unsplash
4: Gursimrat Ganda on Unsplash
