There's something special about St Patrick's Day. It's a rare moment when the whole world collectively decides to embrace Irish culture.
Even if that mainly involves wearing questionable green outfits and attempting to pronounce "Sláinte" after a few pints.
Image by RyedaleWeb from Pixabay
But while millions flock to Dublin every March 17th, seasoned travellers know it's not the only place that goes hard on St Patrick's Day.
Don't get me wrong. Dublin is, unquestionably, one of, if not the best place in the world to celebrate St Patrick's Day.
But the spirit of the festival has travelled way beyond Ireland.
Crossing oceans, climbing mountains and even making its way onto the sunny shores of Australia.
So, what better excuse for a March getaway than to combine a break with a celebration of Irish culture and craic.
The World's Best Cities for St Patrick's Day
From Boston's centuries-old traditions to Sydney's surprising take on Irish celebrations, this guide will take you on a worldwide tour of the places that do St Patrick's Day the right way.
Dublin - The OG of St Patrick's Day
Let's be honest. Celebrating St Patrick's Day in Dublin is like having Christmas in the North Pole.
Image by Rudy and Peter Skitterians from Pixabay
It's the mothership, the epicentre and arguably the best place to celebrate St Patrick's Day.
The festival spans five gloriously green days. It transforms the city into a wonderland of Irish culture that goes far beyond the usual stereotypes.
iStock / levers2007
Yes, there's Guinness and plenty of it. But there's also world-class Irish dancing, traditional music sessions and food markets that give a taste of Ireland's culinary roots.
The parade itself is a masterpiece of organised chaos.
It winds through the city's medieval streets with an energy that could power Ireland's pubs for a year.
Dublin's international crowd is what makes it truly special on St Patrick's Day.
iStock / falcatraz
One minute, you're learning traditional Irish dancing from an 80-year-old local. The next you're joining an impromptu singalong with a group of Australians.
Travel Tip: Dublin's parade attracts thousands, so stake out a spot early.
New York City - The Big Green Apple
When New York decides to celebrate something, it goes all in. And St Patrick's Day is one of the best examples of that.
In fact, a staggering two million spectators take to the streets to show off its Irish spirit, making it the biggest St Patrick's Day celebration in the world.
iStock / andykazie
And by far one of the best St Patrick's Day destinations for travellers.
The parade along Fifth Avenue isn't just a spectacle. It's a six-hour marathon of Irish pride that's been running since 1762.
It's the oldest St Patrick's Day parade in the world. It's even older than the United States itself - proving that New Yorkers have always known how to throw a proper party.
The city's Irish pubs transform from their usual charming selves into bustling hubs of celebration.
From the sawdust-covered floors of McSorley's to the slightly more polished atmosphere of The Dead Rabbit, each venue offers its own unique take on Irish hospitality.
Manhattan might get all the attention, but real insiders know that the best craic happens in the city's boroughs.
The Bronx's Woodlawn neighbourhood and Queens' Woodside area offer Irish authenticity that Times Square just can't match.
Travel Tip: The parade is legendary, but so are NYC's traffic jams. Ditch the car and rely on the subway.
Boston - More Irish Than Ireland?
Boston's relationship with Ireland goes deeper than a pint of Guinness.
This is a city where Irish culture isn't just celebrated - it's woven into the fabric of everyday life.
From the cobblestones of Beacon Hill to the shores of South Boston.
Adobe Free Stock / vichie81
The South Boston St Patrick's Day Parade isn't just an event, it's practically a municipal holiday. The parade route becomes a sea of green that would make a Dubliner feel right at home.
And with its connections to Ireland dating back to the 1600s, Boston's Irish pride feels less like a tourist attraction and more like a family reunion.
The Irish pubs here aren't just places to drink - they're living museums of Irish-American history.
Places like The Black Rose and Mr. Dooley's serve stories alongside their perfectly poured pints.
And the traditional music sessions feature musicians who've been playing together longer than some bars have been open.
Travel Tip: It's March in Boston - pack for four seasons in one day.
London - The St Patrick's Day Takeover
London might be the capital of England, but on March 17th, it transforms into a mini-Ireland.
Trafalgar Square is London's St Patrick's Day epicentre.
It plays host to a festival that showcases everything from contemporary Irish bands to traditional céilí dancing.
iStock / Sebastien Mercier
Leaving from Piccadilly, the parade is a proper spectacle. But the real magic happens in the city's Irish neighbourhoods.
From Kilburn to Camden, each area adds its own flavour to the celebrations.
You might find yourself in a poetry reading in Hammersmith one moment and watching Gaelic football in Clapham the next.
Travel Tip: The Tube is your best friend. Plan your route in advance - Google Maps and an eSIM from Airalo will keep you on track.
Sydney - G'day St Patrick
Trust the Aussies to take a traditionally cold-weather celebration and turn it into a summer beach party.
Sydney's St Patrick's Day festivities are proof that Irish spirit thrives even under the Southern Hemisphere sun.
The parade here is unique - where else would you see surfing leprechauns and Irish dancers performing in 30-degree heat?
iStock / Kaszojad
The Green Quarter, temporarily renamed from The Rocks, becomes a slice of Ireland down under, complete with Irish music floating out over Sydney Harbour.
Local Irish pubs like The Mercantile and PJ O'Brien's pull out all the stops. But the celebration spreads far beyond pub walls.
Hyde Park transforms into an Irish village, hosting everything from Gaelic sports demonstrations to Irish dancing competitions.
Travel Tip: Sunscreen and hydration - Guinness doesn't count.
Montreal - The Frozen Festivities
Montreal's St Patrick's Day celebrations prove that even sub-zero temperatures can't cool Irish spirit.
This city has been painting itself green since 1824, making it home to one of North America's oldest and proudest Irish traditions.
iStock / Marc Bruxelle
The parade here is spectacular. Marching bands play through frozen instruments, Irish dancers keep warm by doubling their usual speed and spectators have turned drinking hot whiskey into an art form.
What sets Montreal's celebration apart is the United Irish Societies of Montreal, organisers of the festivities since 1928.
Its prestigious Queen and Court Selection Evening crowns the year's St Patrick's Queen and her court - a tradition that dates back nearly a century.
After the parade, the party continues at places such as Hurley's Irish Pub on Crescent Street.
Here, you'll find over 50 types of whiskey and traditional Irish music sessions that continue into the wee hours.
Adobe Free Stock / William
McKibbin's Irish Pub on Bishop Street throws a legendary party as well, spread across three floors of Celtic mayhem.
Travel Tip: Layer up - your whiskey jacket will only keep you so warm.
Edinburgh - Where Ireland and Scotland Meet
When it comes to Edinburgh's St Patrick's Day celebrations, it’s all about the pub scene.
Grassmarket, usually a hub for Scottish pubs, transforms into Little Dublin for the day.
Adobe Free Stock / William
Traditional Irish music sessions break out in pubs better known for their whisky selections. That's whisky without the 'e' - we're on Scottish turf now.
Here are some bars you may want to check out.
- Biddy Mulligans leads the charge with a full weekend of festivities. This includes Irish dancing, live music from noon until late and special menu items like Beef and Guinness Pie.
- Dropkick Murphys is going all out this year. Its St Patrick's festival runs from Friday until late Monday - or I should say early Tuesday.
- The Three Sisters, with its massive courtyard, hosts one of the city's biggest St Patrick's parties. Think outdoor bars, big screens showing Six Nations rugby and a heated marquee for that dramatic Scottish weather.
- Malones bar prides itself on having the best Guinness in Edinburgh and brings in Irish bands for the occasion.
Edinburgh's grand architecture provides a dramatic backdrop for the celebrations.
Watch Irish dancers perform in the shadow of Edinburgh Castle. Or join a cèilidh where Irish dancing meets Scottish country dancing.
Travel Tip: Edinburgh is a hilly spot. Wear comfy shoes, especially if you're hopping between pubs.
Nheyob, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons - Detail of a stained glass window in Saint Patrick Church, Junction City, Ohio, depicting Saint Patrick holding a shamrock.
Keep the Craic Flowing this St Patrick's Day
Don't let poor connectivity rain on your St Patrick's Day parade.
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