In Ireland good beer comes with good music. For a toe-tapping introduction to “trad,” as traditional music is called, I recommend the Traditional Irish Musical Pub Crawl in Dublin.

Ireland's charming rough edge is being smoothed out by its new affluence. I notice the Irish don't say the f-word so much. And the air's cleaner too -- even the pubs are smoke-free.

Rick Steves: Dublin offers best urban thrills in Ireland In Dublin, you’ll find stirring reminders of Ireland’s ancient and recent past, bustling streets, and friendly faces.

A new museum in Dublin, 14 Henrietta Street, is also one of the city’s best sightseeing stops. The former townhouse offers a fascinating look at the hardships of Dublin tenement life. Once an ...

One of Dublin’s newest museums, 14 Henrietta St., is also one of the city’s best sightseeing stops. The former townhouse offers a fascinating look at the hardships of Dublin tenement life.

Rick Steves, Blog Gone Europe, September 6, 2011 A visit to the Emerald Isle is not complete without including Northern Ireland. It offers the tourist a very different but still very Irish world.

Rick Steves (www.ricksteves.com) writes European travel guidebooks and hosts travel shows on public television and public radio. E-mail [email protected], or write to him c/o P.O. Box 2009 ...

Rick Steves writes European travel guidebooks and hosts travel shows on public television and public radio. Email him at [email protected] and follow his blog on Facebook.

In countryside Britain and Ireland, the road can get quite narrow– and pulling over to let vehicles pass is common.© (Dominic Arizona Bonuccelli, Rick Steves’ Europe) Rick Steves ...