Thinking about moving to Dublin or already here to study English? Beyond the famous landmarks and overpriced pubs, there are plenty of unexpected things about Dublin that you’ll quickly notice. The city is full of charming little surprises. Here are a few quirky things I discovered during my first weeks in Ireland’s capital!
1. Wet summers
Everyone warned me it would rain all the time. Like pouring down from the skies as if there was no tomorrow. Your shoes are wet, your glasses full of water droplets. But most days, there’s only a light drizzle that you don’t even notice after some time. Those super rainy days you see in rom-com movies and travel videos are rarer than you’d think. Of course, this didn’t stop me from packing not one, but two rain jackets. I’m not sure what the thought process was here, I’d be safe of double the amount of rain?
2. Sports
Right now, as I’m writing this, I don’t even know what sports are popular in Ireland (Sorry locals!). What I do know is that my second ever day in Dublin, I was going to run some errands. Little did I know the streets were going to be swarmed by fans and supporters in red or blue! It was definitely an interesting experience seeing the city so passionate and alive. Looking it up just now it was the 2025 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Finale! If you’re a visitor like me, you might ask: what’s Hurling? Apparently, it’s a Gaelic team game in which you hurl a small ball with a wooden stick into a net. If you’re visiting, it would be a great opportunity to immerse yourself into the culture by going to a sports event.
3. Seagulls
Maybe this is just from living close to the docks… but I’ve been very aware of the seagulls. And you’ll find them all over the city, just wandering around, digging through trash and every so often you’ll see them fighting over food. Unless you’re from the coast of France or Denmark for example, you won’t be used to these animals. Coming from rural Germany, far from any big bodies of water, I was startled with the sheer number of seagulls one city could host. And how loud they could get at night….
4. Sundown, or the lack thereof
Summers in Dublin do not lack daylight hours, believe me. A city this far north is bound to have early sunrises and late sunsets. So, when you’re going out for a drink at 10pm it might still be light outside, don’t let that throw you off! Moreover, I’m from a village where it gets truly dark at night. The streetlamps turn off and the whole town is asleep. Don’t expect this in Dublin, it’s a capital city – not just on paper!
5. The Irish Language
You won’t hear much Irish (Gaeilge) in casual conversation, but it’s everywhere in the city: on street signs, bus announcements, and government buildings. It feels like a reminder that even as Dublin rushes onto globalization like the rest of the world, it proudly sticks to this important part of its identity. And every once in a while, someone will say “slán” instead of goodbye and it’ll catch you off guard in the best way.
6. Weather-(in)appropriate clothing: the least Unexpected Thing About Dublin
No matter the weather: rain, wind, hail, there’ll always be a guy in shorts. You’ll be in a hoodie in July contemplating why you chose Dublin as your destination as he’s running around like it’s his personal Greek holiday. Where is he going? Is he cold? We’ll never know. He’s a legend.
Final Thoughts on the Unexpected Things About Dublin
Every city has its quirks, but these unexpected things about Dublin are what make it such a memorable place to live, study, and explore. Keep an open mind, enjoy the surprises, and make the most of your time here!
Thinking of learning English in Dublin? Check the courses Babel Academy has to offer: https://babelacademy.ie/course-categories/adults-courses/
For more local recommendations, visit Visit Dublin, the official Dublin tourism guide.
You can also explore Ireland.com for cultural tips and events across Ireland.