Everybody talks about what to do in Ireland. But what are the mistakes to avoid while visiting Ireland? Some are funny, some are serious, and some are things you don’t want to miss out on. Overall, though, Ireland is a very relaxed country, and you will likely have a trouble-free visit during your stay.
This guide will help you avoid some of the most common travel mistakes that some team members have made while visiting this wonderful country.
1. Not packing For All Weather Conditions
If you want sunshine, then this isn’t the country for you. It's easy to have all four seasons in one day. We don’t want you to return from Ireland and moan about the weather. Expect a proper mix.
Don’t get us wrong—it will be hot in the summer, but it’s not as hot as in other European places. So even if you travel in August, you must pack a waterproof coat. Only a thin one that packs into your hand luggage, but make sure you pack one! There's a reason this country is so green.
2. Not Renting a Car To Explore
We get that you might not be sure about driving in a foreign country, and that's okay, but if there's one place to give it a go, it's Ireland.
They drive on the left here (the same as in the UK), which might put you off, but trust us, you will be missing out on so much more if you don’t try it.
Apart from a few major cities like Dublin and Cork, most roads are easy.
Ireland is only a small country. It only takes 8 hours to drive from the top to the bottom, which is as long as it would take people to drive across one of the states in the US.
3. You Don’t Need To Tip
The tipping culture is different here compared to countries like the US.
People don’t tip for general service. If you go to the bar and get a drink, there's no need to tip. If you sit at the bar all night and have had excellent service, they will have a tip jar where you can put some change in. They will always appreciate this but will not be offended if you don’t.
Some restaurants will charge a service fee if there's a large party, but this is quite common in many places across Europe, and you can always add a tip to that as well if you want to.
4. Guinness
You’ve probably tried Guinness at your local bar. However, Ireland is the home of Guinness.
There is so much debate about Guinness being the best here. Our opinion? Well, we have visited many of the bars around Dublin, some of which are the usual tourist ones and some down the side streets. Some of us in the group were convinced it was better, and while we thought it was nice, some of us couldn't notice the difference. It's because of the water and the fact it hasn’t got to travel as far that gives it that edge.
I guess you will have to go and sample it for yourself.
5. Forgetting To Eat Local Food
Irish food might not be as good as some countries, but there is still a lot to enjoy, and part of traveling is eating local food.
Start your day in Ireland with an Irish breakfast. It's very similar to an English breakfast – sausage, bacon, eggs, toast, etc.- but an Irish breakfast usually comes with black and white pudding and sometimes a little help from colcannon.
If it's winter, many pubs and restaurants will serve Irish stew (it's incredible and goes lovely with crusty fresh bread), usually made with lamb. It is always good to wash this down with a pint of Guinness.
6. Swearing
The Irish love to swear, probably more than most nations. Don’t mistake this for them being rude or having an issue with something. It's just their culture.
One word they like to use a lot is “feckin,” which isn’t actually a swear word, but it may come across as that to tourists who haven’t heard it before. “Feckin hell” is one way it's used a lot, but don't be surprised to hear feckin and your usual swear words thrown into random sentences.
7. Smoking Inside
Smoking was banned inside all buildings back in 2004. You won’t be able to walk into a bar or restaurant and smoke a cigarette like you might be able to back home. Instead, you must stand on the street with all the other smokers.
While the ban was controversial, many other countries adopted it after Dublin. We think it's great because the air is much cleaner, and you won’t go home smelling like smoke after sitting inside a bar.
8. Trying To See It All In One Go
You might think that Ireland is only a small place, and you can pop over for a week and see it all in one go. That's just not possible. There's so much to see in Ireland that you must keep coming back and focusing on a different part of iteach time. It’s also another good excuse to keep on sampling that Guinness to finally decide if it's better than what you drink back home.
9. Only Focusing On Dublin
Like any country, people can get carried away by heading only to the capital. Don’t get us wrong, Dublin is a fantastic place, and you could easily spend a week here and still not see everything.
However, there are some other fascinating parts that you need to see.
Head to the Wild Atlantic Way along the west coast. This part of the country shows its rugged beauty with its towering cliffs, and it's a great place for a road trip.
The East Coast, a few hours from Dublin, is also lovely. The counties of Meath and Wicklow are where you can explore ancient sites such as the Hill of Tara, Glendalough, and Newgrange.
Other big cities worth checking out are Cork, Limerick, and Galway. These will let you see a whole different side of Ireland than Dublin.
10. Missing Out on Traditional Irish Music
The Irish love their music, so make sure you don’t miss out on traditional music. One of the best ways to experience this is to head down to a local pub. Most pubs in the center of Dublin will have live music in the evenings, and some will have it on during the day. This is a good and frugal way to experience the music; just grab a seat and a pint of beer and enjoy it.
Several music festivals are held nationwide, with the Galway Music Festival being one of the better ones.
11. Don’t Forget To Take Cash
Ireland is very credit card friendly, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take some cash with you.
Some of the smaller towns you visit and market stalls may not accept cards, and the nearest card machine might be a ten-minute walk away, so you might not bother to get one.
Cash also helps with tips. Not that you have to (as mentioned earlier), but if you do, cash is king.
If you can change your cash at home, you will likely get a better rate than drawing out cash in Ireland, but that could depend on who you bank with.
12. Mispronouncing Place Names
Some of the names are hard to pronounce, but if you are unsure, give it your best go. One quick way is to pop it into Google. Someone will have made a video or break the word down for you to help you pronounce it.
13. Using Just Hotels
Hotels are expensive in Ireland, especially in cities like Dublin, although you will find cheaper ones outside the city center.
Don’t neglect to look at some Air BNBs in the area. These will be better for frugal travelers and work out better for those traveling as a family. You will likely get more than just a room, which means after a long day, you can put the kids to bed while you and your partner chill out in the lounge with a bottle of wine.
If you're traveling in a group, it could be worth looking at a hostel where four or six people could share one big room. This will help you save some money.
14. Tell People That You Are Irish
I’m looking at the Americans here. While back home in the States, you might like to tell people you are Irish. It's something that winds up the locals in Ireland.
The only people who can claim to be Irish are those born here or with an Irish passport. While you might have some Irish heritage that dates back a few generations, don’t go telling the Irish people that you are Irish, or you may risk offending them.
15. Get Ireland Mixed Up With The UK
It’s easy to do. People often confuse Ireland with the UK, and there's been a lot of trouble over this, some of which is still ongoing today.
Northern Ireland is not part of Ireland, even though it is joined. If you cross the border to Northern Ireland, you will enter the UK, where pounds are the currency. Some places may accept Euros, but no one in Ireland will accept pounds.
16. Being Loud
If you are American, this one is slightly more aimed at you. It just makes you stand out like a tourist and will make people wonder where the noise is coming from.
17. Not Talking To the Locals
The Irish people are incredibly friendly. In cities such as Dublin, you will find a lot of foreign workers, just like any big city. But when you head to the smaller towns, you are likely only to encounter Irish people. Strike up a conversation with them; they love chatting with tourists, and you might learn something new. Or they may tell you about a hidden bar or restaurant you didn’t know existed.
18. Only Visiting Pubs Around Temple Bar
You’ve likely seen the image of the red pub on the corner. That's Temple Bar. Is it worth calling in? Locals would say not to, but we think it is, just to say you have been. It's massive inside and always busy. However, the cost of a Guinness is eye-watering, and it's essentially a tourist trap where you won’t find any locals.
The best thing to do is to head a few hundred meters in any direction and find a hidden pub down a side street. These will be less crowded, the cost of a pint will be cheaper, and they will have a more authentic feel.
19. Saying “Top Of The Morning To You”
If you want to annoy the locals, then go ahead and say it. However, no Irish people say this, and it will only get you looked at strangely by everyone. Don’t do this.
Final Thoughts
We hope these common mistakes to avoid in Ireland are helpful to you. We have visited Ireland many times and found it one of the friendliest countries you could wish to visit. It's certainly not the most frugal, especially for hotels and beer, so make sure you go with plenty of money to spend.

I’m Steve. I’m an English Teacher, traveler, and an avid outdoorsman. If you’d like to comment, ask a question, or simply say hi, leave me a message here, on Twitter (@thefrugalexpat1). Many of my posts have been written to help those in their journey to financial independence. I am on my journey, and as I learn more I hope to share more. And as always, thanks for reading The Frugal Expat.