Dublin

Temple Bar gets all the tourist attention, but locals know better. Stay here if you want to stumble home from the pubs, but expect noise until 3am and inflated prices for everything. The real sweet spot is around St. Stephen's Green – you're walking distance to Grafton Street shopping, Trinity College, and the best restaurants, but the streets actually quiet down at night. Georgian Dublin around Fitzwilliam Square offers elegant townhouse hotels with character, though you'll pay for the privilege. For budget travelers, the Liberties neighborhood near the Guinness Storehouse has hostels and guesthouses that won't break the bank. Just avoid O'Connell Street after dark – it's perfectly safe but gets a bit rough around the edges. Dublin 4 in Ballsbridge is where the money lives, with upscale hotels near the RDS, but you'll need taxis or buses to get anywhere interesting.