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SANDEMANs NEW Europe - Lisbon

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SANDEMANs NEW Europe - Lisbon - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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This Underrated European City Is Finally Having Its Moment — With Affordable Flights, Buzzy Bars, and Beautiful Hotels

A tale of two Dublins, two iconic hotels, and a host of new reasons to visit in 2024.

Peter Unger/Getty Images

When planning an itinerary to Europe, a stopover in Dublin can feel easy to skip – it’s on an island removed from the Continent and while charming, it’s not a seat of power or change. It’ll always be there, still fun and pretty, for some other visit. 

Look again. 

Dublin, of course, maintains its charm (welcoming pubs, leafy public squares, history around every corner) but between its sustained tech boom, the transformation of the Docklands and London’s distractions with Brexit, Dublin has ascended to the forefront of English-speaking Europe.

Dublin’s secret to moving confidently into the future without letting go of the past? “The marrying of old and new does not happen by accident. The thing is to balance progress with preserving cultural heritage so the city maintains its core identity,” says Juliet Passmore , an economist with the Dublin City Council. “Dublin’s role as a digital leader in Europe hasn’t diminished its appeal to tourists. In fact, I think it has led to innovation that has improved the city.”

Top 5 Can’t Miss

• One of Dublin’s most beloved landmarks, the Long Room at Trinity College’s Old Library, has something new to check out: an exhibit, called Gaia , features a three-dimensional glowing representation of the Earth floating amid the library stacks. The work by Luke Jerram, in place until September 2024, juxtaposes the fragility of our planet with that of the beautiful and esteemed library, slated to close in late 2025 for a conservation and modernization project. 
• In addition to ogling the illuminated 9th-century Book of Kells at Trinity Dublin’s Long Room, visitors can also partake in a new Book of Kells Experience , a mesmerizing multimedia exploration of the mythical beasts and colorful swirling motifs found in the manuscript, as well as a look at its history, from its creation in a quiet monastery to its secret smuggled journey to Dublin during Cromwell’s invasion. 
• A 55-room boutique hotel, The Leinster , opened in March on Merrion Square. The hotel’s rooftop restaurant is overseen by Jean-George Vongerichten and offers the chef’s signature dishes that meld French tradition with Southeast Asian recipes, as well as some new takes on classic Irish food.
• The buzz around new wine-bar-in-a-parking-deck Amy Austin may finally have subsided enough to get a table. The casual and wildly popular joint, with a small-plates menu and wine on tap as well as cocktails and a surprisingly full wine list, is located on the street level of the Drury Street Carpark.
• Amari, an Italian restaurant on busy Chatham Street, recently opened up Amari by Day , a satellite downstairs on the ground floor. The shop, which calls itself a Sicilian deli, operates daily (except Mondays) from 8 a.m., serving pastries and espressos early on and moving into the arancini and panini as lunchtime approaches. 

Louise Kennedy, founder and designer of an eponymous luxury women’s clothing brand, is a longtime resident of Dublin and operates a flagship store in Merrion Square. She concurs: “Although I deeply appreciate living and working in the Georgian quarter of the city, I am also a great admirer of the bold and contemporary architecture evident along by the Docklands and city quays. Strict planning laws ensure that development does not subtract from the attraction of the city. There is an energy that always comes with new developments which adds an extra layer of richness to Dublin.”

Walter Bibikow/Getty Images

It’s a tale of two cities, then, modern Dublin sitting amiably alongside old Dublin, both halves coexisting in this famously walkable metropolis. Visitors to the city can opt for high tea or kombucha, for CrossFit or a stroll in the square, or both. You don’t have to take sides.

However you choose to experience it, Dublin’s charms are hard to beat. “Within 15 minutes visitors can be by the sea or strolling along a leafy canal, and within 40 minutes you could be climbing a mountain," Kennedy said. "All the major museums and galleries (which are free to the public) are concentrated within a 1-kilometer radius in the city center. And of course, with the population now expanding, we have seen a plethora of new and interesting restaurants and bars opening across the city.” 

Designer Louise Kennedy

Within 15 minutes visitors can be by the sea or strolling along a leafy canal, and within 40 minutes you could be climbing a mountain.

Luxuriate in Georgian Dublin with a stay at the Shelbourne.

The Shelbourne Hotel , which celebrates its 200th anniversary in 2024, is an elegant example of Dublin’s enduring beauty. Originally built from three connected grand houses in a prime spot facing St. Stephen’s Green, the Shelbourne retains her five-star glow these two centuries later.

In her remarkable reign as the grand dame hotel of Dublin, the Shelbourne has been the site of upheaval (during the 1916 Easter Uprising, skirmishes were fought right on the hotel’s doorstep), national pride (the first Irish Constitution was drafted here and an original copy is on display off the lobby), and glamor (past notable guests have included Peter O’Toole, the Rolling Stones, Maureen O’Hara, Princess Grace of Monaco, and John and Jacqueline Kennedy). The hotel even shows up in the pages of James Joyce’s epic "Ulysses." It’s not just a recommended place to stay in central Dublin: The Shelbourne is woven into the fabric of the city.

Once inside the lobby, all gleaming checkerboard floors, Connemara marble, stained glass windows, and wedding-cake plasterwork, guests are met with deft and warm service at every level, from manager to cleaning staff.  

The hotel’s restaurants and bars attract Dubliners as well as guests and tourists. Between high tea service at the hotel’s Lord Mayor’s Lounge and the lively bar scene at No. 27, you’ll get a sense of the hotel’s importance to the city’s social and business scene. At the Saddle Room, the hotel’s updated restaurant, lunch and dinner menus highlight Ireland’s remarkable bounty: lamb, seafood, salmon, beef, and produce. The hotel’s other bars are worth exploring, too. The racing-themed Horseshoe Bar, an institution, is intimate in size but maintains a convivial and expansive vibe. The handsome wood-paneled and book-lined 1824 Lounge, on the other hand, seems designed for hushed conversation.

As in many historic hotels, some guest rooms are on the snug side but all the fittings are quietly opulent, with marble bathrooms, beautifully maintained furniture, deep carpets, and a cozy turndown service (macarons, anyone?). Premium rooms and suites are larger and most come with views across St. Stephen’s Green — an upgrade that is guaranteed to imbue you with a feeling of Irish luck.

Mark Stewart/Skramshots.com/Getty Images

JetBlue just launched daily flights to Dublin from New York’s JFK and Boston’s Logan airports.

Embrace the city’s modern present at the Marker Dublin. 

A few minutes’ walk from the Shelbourne, you’ll find another neighborhood transformed. Dublin’s Docklands district — a sparkling stretch of high-rise buildings and cunningly renovated warehouses flanking the Liffey River — was once the medieval stomping (stumping?) ground of lepers and where condemned prisoners were hanged. In the past few decades, the once-seedy waterfront has become the “Silicon Docks,” the European headquarters of Facebook, Google, and Airbnb and where many of Dublin’s young entrepreneurs and wealthy live and work. 

Donal Murphy/Courtesy of Anantara The Marker Dublin Hotel

The Marker Dublin , a distinctive checkerboard edifice on Grand Canal Square in the Docklands (next to the equally striking Daniel Libeskind-designed Bord Gáis Energy Theatre), serves up an ultramodern, tech-forward hotel stay softened with lovely local touches. The hotel’s stepped and jagged lobby walls and ceiling evoke the cascading basalt formation of the Giant’s Causeway. The airy hotel’s colorway of mossy browns and greens, punchy yellows and blues, and moody grays feels simultaneously chic and earthy as an Irish landscape. Even the hotel’s name comes from the old milestone markers that were placed along Ireland’s Grand Canal to let ships track how far they’d sailed from the sea.

Courtesy of Anantara The Marker Dublin Hotel

The dreamy color scheme extends into the calmly stylish guest rooms, lit by floor to ceiling windows and featuring marble bathrooms with heated floors. Take advantage of the yoga kits on offer — the rooms are airy and spacious enough to accommodate a good stretch. Between the Nespresso machine in the rooms and the Malin + Goetz products in the bathrooms, the hotel’s clientele is refreshed and ready for a day at nearby office buildings or down in the lobby, where many business deals seem to be taking place. 

As at the Shelbourne, the Marker’s public spaces draw as many locals as guests, especially the rooftop Bar and Terrace, popular with the young afterwork crowd. The views — with the city in the foreground and the coast and mountains in the distance — are stunning, even on a misty evening. Off the lobby, the open-concept hotel restaurant, Forbes Street by Gareth Mullins, maintains a focus on provenance with a menu bolstered by a curated litany of Irish producers. Irish veg, beef, duck, scallops, cheeses, even cockles and mussels, alive-alive-oh. 

On the mezzanine level, a hushed, jewel-toned Anantara spa offers treatment rooms, a steam bath, and a truly sexy pool area (dark walls, natural light spilling in through sheer curtains, and deep orange chaise lounges surrounding a green 75-foot pool). If you want a fully immersive Irish experience, the Marker can also arrange for a "wild swimming" outing to one of the region’s coastal beaches. 

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Belching Volcano and Flowing Lava Dent Tourism in Icelandic Region

In a country that relies heavily on visitors, hotels faced repeated evacuations, and one resort was temporarily shut.

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By Emma Bubola

Reporting from London

The Blue Lagoon resort in the south of Iceland is a scenic network of steaming azure pools surrounded by dark rocks, where tourists dip in the geothermal water, have spa treatments and enjoy what the resort advertises as “a universe of radiant well-being.”

But last week, a stream of radiant lava burst from a crater a few miles from the resort, forcing it to evacuate hundreds of guests, in yet another eruption of a volcano system in the Reykjanes Peninsula that had been dormant for 800 years.

The outbursts began in 2021, and the eruptions and earthquakes in the peninsula have destroyed some houses and forced villagers from their homes. One construction worker went missing in the town of Grindavik after falling down a crack caused by an earthquake.

The effects of the volcanic eruptions have rippled out beyond the peninsula, disrupting the tourism operations of a country that relies heavily on visitors.

Arnar Már Ólafsson, director general of the Icelandic Tourist Board, said that when a looming volcanic eruption led to the evacuation of Grindavik in November, it resulted in global anxiety that brought a drop in tourists.

“A spouting volcano doesn’t sound very inviting,” he said.

Icelandair, the country’s national airline, said it also saw a “significant negative impact on bookings” in the last months of 2023. And the low-cost Icelandic airline Play said that news of the eruption “cooled demand for Iceland as a destination.”

The tourism board did not release an estimate for the financial losses, and the airlines, while saying they experienced significantly slowed sales, did not quantify them.

Airline officials and the tourism board director stated emphatically in interviews and in the national news media that the reaction was unwarranted because the eruptions did not represent a direct threat to visitors or flights. They accused the news media of “alarmism.”

“In the international press, it just looks as if Iceland is ruined,” Birgir Jónsson, then Play’s chief executive, said in an interview published in December by a financial magazine.

Tourists used to flock to the Reykjanes Peninsula to watch the northern lights or bathe in the waters of the Blue Lagoon resort. But since the November earthquakes, the Blue Lagoon has had to close for some days . It said in a statement on Wednesday that it had also shut down from March 16 until at least Thursday and would continue to follow the authorities’ safety guidelines.

The Northern Light Inn, a family-run hotel, has also had to evacuate its guests four times since January and close for weeks, said Fridrik Einarsson, the inn’s owner. Now, they are compensating for the drop in tourists by serving lunches to the construction workers building protection walls in the area.

“If this continues for a long period of time, it will eventually be very, very challenging for us ,” Mr. Einarsson said.

Mr. Ólafsson said that any threat to the Blue Lagoon geothermal resort undermined a key component of Iceland’s tourism sector.

“Without the Blue Lagoon, it would be a different destination,” he said, “like Egypt without the pyramids or Paris without the Eiffel Tower.”

The resort is particularly popular with visitors from the United States, and every year, hundreds of thousands of people visit the spa, according to the Blue Lagoon’s website. The spa is now protected by barriers.

The resort owes its existence to the geothermal energy generated by the volcanic system, which heats up its waters. But that same system is also now its main threat.

That paradox, many say, is at the heart of Iceland’s identity as an adventure travel destination where tourists seek out untamed nature in the form of waterfalls, glaciers and hot springs. And 130 volcanoes.

During the volcanic eruptions last year, as tourists flocked to sites where they could see the glowing river of lava, the government had to warn people to steer clear of the area since the situation could turn dangerous.

Now, Icelandic tourism operators say, the anxiety has eased somewhat, and tourism demand has gone up again since January. But for those remaining in the peninsula, there seems to be no immediate end in sight to the disruption of their businesses.

Last week, as Mr. Einarsson, the inn owner, evacuated his guests to another hotel because of the volcanic eruption, he said they could see lava from the parking lot.

“It’s quite a magnificent experience, to see a volcano,” he said.

Mr. Einarsson called his relationship to volcanoes a “tricky love and hate situation.”

On one hand, he said, “people are understandably concerned to stay in a hotel next to an eruption site.” On the other, he said, people come to Iceland for its nature, and the nature would not be the same without the country’s volcanoes.

“And I would not be in the business,” he said.

Egill Bjarnason contributed reporting from Gran Canaria, Spain.

Emma Bubola is a Times reporter based in London, covering news across Europe and around the world. More about Emma Bubola

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April events calendar for Europe

Film festivals abound across the Continent this month. (iStock)

ST. ANTON AM ARLBERG: Tanzcafé Arlberg Music Festival, through April 14.

VIENNA: Vienna Blues Spring , blues concerts throughout city, through May 31.

VIENNA: Styrian Spring Festival, Town Hall Square, April 4-7.

VIENNA: Yiddish Culture Festival , April 4-21.

WACHAU: Gourmet Festival , April 5-17.

POYSDORF: Weintour Weinviertel , open doors at wineries throughout Weinviertel wine region, April 6-7.

GIGGIJOCH: Electric Mountain Festival , April 8-12.

MAYRHOFEN: Snowbombing , music fest on the slopes, April 8-13.

VIENNA: wean hean , festival of typical Viennese music, April 11-May 11.

VIENNA: Craft Beer Festival, Marx Hall, April 12-13.

VIENNA: Bike Festival, Town Hall Square, April 13-14.

KREMS: Donaufestival , April 19-21 and April 26-28.

ST. ANTON AM ARLBERG: The White Thrill , 9 km ski race is first stage in Arlberg Eagle Alpine triathlon, April 20.

VIENNA: Vienna City Marathon , April 21.

HALL IN TYROL: Radish Fest , April 27.

LINZ: Urfahranermarkt , traditional fun fair, April 27-May 5.

PUCH: Apple Blossom Fest , April 28.

ISCHGL: Top of the Mountain Closing Concert , Black Eyed Peas perform, April 30.

LINZ: Crossing Europe , film festival, April 30-May 5.

BRUSSELS: Foire de Livre , book fair, Tour & Taxis, April 4-7.

GROOT-BIJGAARDEN: Floralia Brussels , floral exhibition, Chateau de Grand Bigard, April 5-May 2.

BRUSSELS: BIFFF, Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival, Palais 10, April 9-21.

BRUSSELS: Antica Fine Art Fair , Tour & Taxis, April 18-21.

NAMUR: Folknam , Namur Day of Traditions and Folklore, April 20.

ANTWERP: Balois Antwerp 10 Miles , run, April 21.

BRUSSELS: Brussels Short Film Festival , Flagey, April 24-May 4.

BRUSSELS: Les Nuits Botanique, concerts and after parties, Botanique, April 24-May 5.

BRUSSELS: Balkan Trafik Festival , highlights Balkan and southeast European culture, April 25-27.

BRUSSELS: Art Brussels , contemporary art fair, Tour & Taxis, April 25-28.

LAEKEN: Greenhouses of the Royal Palace open , April 26-May 20.

ANTWERP: Tattoo Convention, Expo, April 27-28.

BRUSSELS: Hopla! Festival of circus arts , April 27-May 3.

CINEY: Militaria , Expo, April 28.

ZAGREB: ZagrebDox , documentary film festival, April 14-21.

BASKA: 4 Islands MTB Race , mountain bike race, April 16-20.

ZAGREB: WRC Croatia Rally , auto race, April 18-21.

DUBROVNIK: Half marathon and 2K Run the Wall, April 28.

Czech Republic

PRAGUE: Comic Con , April 5-7.

PRAGUE: Prague Beer Fest , Holešovice Market Hall 13, April 12-13.

PRAGUE: Naplavka Food Festival , April 20.

PRAGUE: One World International Documentary Human Rights Festival, through April 21.

PRAGUE: St. Matthew’s Fair , fun fair, Exhibition Grounds, through April 14.

PRAGUE: Sportisimo Half Marathon , April 6.

VELKE BILOVICE: From Cellar to Cellar, tasting of the wines of South Moravia, April 6.

OLOMOUC: Tvaruzky Cheese Festival, April 13-14.

LITOMĚŘICE: Gold Brewer’s Seal- International Beer Festival Budweis , Exhibition Grounds, April 16-20.

OLOMOUC: Flora Olomouc , garden show, April 25-28.

PRAGUE: Rallye Praha Revival , classic autos on Wenceslas Square, April 12-14.

PRAGUE: Days of European Film , Kino Lucerna, April 4-14.

PRAGUE: Paleni Carodejnic (Witches Night) Parade, Lesser Town Square, April 30.

COPENHAGEN: Sakura Festival, celebrates blossoming of cherry trees, Langelinie Park, April 20-21.

LONDON: Vaisakhi , traditional Sikh festival, City Hall, Trafalgar Square, April 6.

LONDON: The London Coffee Festival , Old Truman Brewery, April 11-14.

CAMBRIDGE: Cambridge Literary Festival , April 17-21.

LONDON: Eid , festival marks end of Ramadan, Westfield Stratford, April 19-21.

LONDON: Sony World Photo Photography Awards Exhibition , Somerset House, April 19-May 6.

STRATFORD-UPON-AVON: Shakespeare’s Celebrations , April 20.

LONDON: London Marathon , April 21.

LONDON: St. Georges Day , City Hall, Trafalgar Square, April 21.

HARROGATE: Spring Flower Show , Great Yorkshire Showground, April 25-28.

TALLINN: International Festival Jazzkaar , biggest jazz festival in Baltic region, April 21-28.

TAMPERE: Hevoset , horse fair, Exhibition and Sports Centre, April 6-7.

HELSINKI: Helsinki Coffee Festival , Cable Factory, April 19-21.

HELSINKI: Food, consumer fair for food and drink, Messukeksus, April 19-21.

ESPOO: April Jazz Espoo , Tapiola, April 19-27.

HELSINKI: Helsinki10 , 10 km run, April 27.

HELSINKI: Vappu-May Day celebrations , April 30-May 1.

CHATELAILLON-PLAGE: Kite and Wind Festival, through April 1.

PARIS: Foire du Trone , fun fair, Bois de Vincennes, through April 21.

PARIS: PAD Paris , Pavillon des Arts et du Design, Jardin des Tuileries, April 3-7.

PARIS: Art Paris Art Fair , Grand Palais Ephemere, through April 4-7.

METZ: Salon des Vins et de la Gastronomie , Parc des Expositions, April 5-7.

PARIS: Paris Marathon, April 7.

PARIS: Festival du Livre , book festival, April 12-14.

ANTIBES: Antibes Art Fair , Esplanade du Pre des Pecheurs, April 12-21.

MAGNY-COURS: Classic Days , April 27-28.

ORLEANS: Joan of Arc Festival, April 29-May 8.

BAYREUTH: Fruehlingfest , traditional spring fun fair, through April 7.

HEIDELBERG: Heidelberger Fruehling , international music festival, through April 13.

AUGSBURG: Augsburgerplaerrer , traditional spring fun fair, through April 14.

ERFURT: Thuringian Bach Weeks , celebrates music of Johann Sebastian Bach, through April 14.

FRANKFURT: Dippemess , volksfest, Ratsweg fairgrounds, through April 14.

SPEYER: Fruehjahrsmesse , traditional spring fun fair, Festplatz, through April 14.

NUREMBERG: Fruehlingsfest , traditional spring fun fair, Dutzendteich, through April 14.

AACHEN: Oecher Bend , traditional spring fun fair, through April 15.

HAMBURG: Hamburger Dom , traditional spring fun fair, through April 21.

TRAUNSTEIN: Georgi-Ritt , traditional Easter Monday horseback pilgrimage, April 1.

HOMBURG: Ceramics Market , April 6-7.

MANNHEIM: Time Warp , techno event, Maimarktgelaende, April 5-6.

WUERZBURG: Wine Press Hall Festival, indoor wine fest, Weingut Buergerspital, April 5-6.

WUERZBURG: Flamenco Festival, April 5-7.

OPPENHEIM: Schlemmerwanderung , culinary vineyard hike, April 7.

MUNICH: Night of the Jumps, free-style motocross event, Olympiahalle, April 13.

WIESBADEN: Kurze Nacht , late openings at city’s museums and galleries, April 13.

SPEYER: Wein am Dom , presentation of wines of the Pfalz, April 13-14.

MUNICH: BMW Open , pro tennis, April 13-21.

STUTTGART: Porsche Tennis Grand Prix, Porsche Arena, April 13-21.

BONN: Deutsche Post Marathon , April 14.

FRANKFURT: Gods of Ink , tattoo convention, Messe Forum, April 19-21.

ASCHAFFENBURG: Hamburger Fischmarkt , April 19-May 1.

FLONHEIM: Trullos in Flames , wine tasting in the vineyards, April 19-20.

MUNICH: Fruehlingfest , fun fair, Theresienwiese, April 19-May 5.

STUTTGART: Fruehlingsfest , fun fair, Cannstatter Wasen, April 20-May 12.

MUNICH: Flea market , Theresienwiese, April 20.

WIESBADEN: Flea market , Biebrich Castle grounds, April 20; also June 15; July 20; Aug. 17; Sept. 21 and Oct. 19.

LAHR: Tulip festival , Stadtpark, April 21.

BAMBERG: Beer Day , April 23.

WIESBADEN: goEast , East European film festival, April 24-30.

ELTVILLE: Spring Festival , wine tasting on the Rhine riverbanks, April 26-May 1.

HEIDELBERG: Heidelberger Stueckemarkt , contemporary German and international drama, April 26-May 5.

DUESSELDORF: Night of Museums, April 27.

BAD SAECKINGEN: Middle Ages Spectaculum, Schlosspark, April 27-28.

TORGAU: Elbetag , April 27-28.

MUNICH: Maidult , traditional fun fair, April 27-May 5.

HAMBURG: Haspa Marathon, April 28.

LAMPERTHEIM: Spargelwanderung , culinary asparagus hike, April 28.

WUERZBURG: Residenzlauf , 10 km road race, April 28.

ZELL: Zeller Schwarze Katz Festival , wine fest on the steep banks of the Mosel, April 28.

THALE: Walpurgis Night celebrations in the Harz Mountains , Hexentanzplatz, April 30.

GRONAU: Jazzfest Gronau , April 30-May 5.

BUDAPEST: Bartok International Art Weeks , April 5-14.

BUDAPEST: Half Marathon , April 20-21.

CARLOW TOWN: International Pan Celtic Festival , music and street entertainment, April 2-6.

DUBLIN: Great Ireland Run , 10 km run in Phoenix Park, April 14.

DUNGARVAN: West Waterford Festival of Food , April 19-21.

FERMIGNANO: Palio della Rana , race of teams pushing frogs in wheelbarrows, April 5-7.

MILAN: Milan Marathon, April 7.

MILAN: Miart , contemporary art fair, Fieramilanocity, April 12-14.

TURIN: Torino Comics, cosplay games fair, Lingotto Fiere, April 12-14.

MILAN: Fiori e Sapori , floral arrangements on the Naviglio Grande, April 14.

VENICE: Su e zo per i Ponti, run over the canals of Venice to benefit charity, April 14.

ROME: Natali di Roma , city celebrates its birthday with a historical parade departing from Circo Massimo, April 17-21.

PADOVA: St. Anthony Marathon , April 21.

NARNI: Corsa all’Anello , medieval jousting competition and historical pageants, April 24-May 12.

VENICE: Feast of St. Marco, city celebrates its patron saint, April 25.

FLORENCE: International Handicrafts Trade Fair, Da Basso Fortress, April 25-May 1.

TRENTO: Trento Film Festival, April 26-May 5.

GREVENMACHER: Wine Market, presentation of the new wines, April 5.

CITY: Great Antiques and Brocante Fair, Luxexpo The Box, April 13-14.

CITY: Luxembourg Art Fair, Luxexpo The Box, April 18-21.

CITY: DKV-Urban Trail , 13, 18, 27 and 34 km trail runs through city’s scenery, April 20.

CITY: Duck Race , race of rubber ducks floating downriver, April 20.

CITY: Octave , pilgrimage honors country’s patron saint, Notre-Dame Cathedral, April 20-May 5.

MONTE-CARLO: Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters , pro tennis tournament, April 6-14.

Netherlands

COUNTRYWIDE: National Museum Week, reduced prices at 400 museums, through April 5. LISSE: Keukenhof Gardens open, through May 12.

COUNTRYWIDE: “Get into the Greenhouse,” greenhouses open to visitors, April 6-7.

AMSTERDAM: Sounds of the Underground Festival, alternative and independent music festival, Occii and other venues, April 9-14.

ROTTERDAM: Marathon Rotterdam, April 13-14.

ROTTERDAM: Motel Mozaique , festival for music, art and performance, April 18-20.

NOORDWIJK: Bollenstreek , flower parade departs Noordwijk at 9:30 a.m. April 20; floats on display in Haarlem April 21.

UTRECHT: Elfia , fantasy fair, Castle de Haar, April 20-21.

THE HAGUE: Life I Live Festival, open-air musical acts throughout city, April 26.

UTRECHT: Vrijmarkt , city becomes giant flea market, April 27.

COUNTRYWIDE: King’s Day , April 27.

BERGEN: City Marathon , April 27.

FUNCHAL: MIUT - Madeira Island Ultra Trail , April 27-28.

BARCELOS: Festa das Cruzes , April 28-May 5.

EDINBURGH: Edinburgh International Science Festival, through April 14.

EDINBURGH: International Harp Festival , April 5-9.

LOCH LOMOND: Springfest: The Scottish Food and Drink Festival , April 6-7.

EDINBURGH: Beltane Fire Festival, Calton Hill, April 30.

BRATISLAVA: Bratislava Marathon , April 7.

PORTOROZ: Istria Marathon , April 13-14.

RADOVLJICA: Chocolate Festival , April 20-21.

LJUBLJANA: BMX Race, April 20-21.

MURCIA: Burial of the Sardine , April 6.

ZARAGOZA: International Marathon , April 14.

SEVILLE: April Fair, April 14-20.

CORDOBA: Cata del Vino Montilla Moriles, tasting wines of the region, April 17-21.

ALCOY: Moors and Christians Festival, April 22-25.

CACERES: Festivities of San Jorge , April 22-23.

BARCELONA: St. Jordi Festival , books and flower stalls through town, April 23.

TARRAGONA: Dixieland Jazz Festival, April 25-28.

CORDOBA: May Crosses Festival, April 26-May 1.

CORDOBA: Battle of the Flowers , April 28.

MADRID: Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon , April 28.

STOCKHOLM: International Tap Dance Festival, through April 2.

GOTHENBURG: International Science Festival, April 16-21.

GOTHENBURG: Beer and Whiskey Show , Maessan, April 19-20.

STOCKHOLM: Culture Night , April 20.

COUNTRYWIDE: Walpurgis , bonfires and celebrations on eve of May Day, April 30.

Switzerland

MORGES: Tulip Festival , through May 12.

ZURICH: Expovina Primavera, spring wine festival, PULS 5, Geissereihalle, April 4-11.

CRANS-MONTANA: Caprices Festival , music festival, April 5-7.

CULLY: Cully Jazz festival , April 5-13.

ENGELBERG: Waterslide Contest, April 6.

ZERMATT: Zermatt Unplugged, this year’s artists include Birdy, James Arthur, Michael Patrick Kelly, Ben Howard, Kate Nash and others, April 9-13.

GENEVA: Archipel - festival of contemporary music , Alhambra, April 12-21.

ZURICH: Sechselaeuten , spring festival features burning of winter effigy, April 15.

GENEVA: Electron , festival of electronic music and culture, April 18-May 12.

ZURICH: Zurich Marathon, April 21.

SWANSEA: Street Food Festival , through April 1.

CHEPSTOW: Walking Festival , April 2-7.

ABERYSTWYTH: Gwyl Crime Cymru Festival, international crime literature festival, April 17-19 and April 22-24.

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WALKING TOURS & ACTIVITIES IN DUBLIN

• PRIVATE TOURS

Free Tour of Dublin

Book the original Dublin free walking tour and visit many of the city's highlights with a local guid ...

Dublin Dark Side Free Walking Tour

Listen to the dark stories as we explore the more haunted side of Dublin

2-hour Dublin Highlights Private Tour

Make the most out of your visit and discover Dublin's main attractions with your private tour guide

3-hour Dublin Private City Tour

Enjoy a comprehensive overview of Dublin's fascinating history and must-see sites with your private ...

Tell us the landmarks, stories or parts of the city you want to see, how long you have to see them and when you want to go, and we’ll build an itinerary that suits you.

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Discover the many faces of Dublin with a passionate local guide

From being the home of the world’s greatest writers, to epic Viking invasions, to fascinating folklore, Dublin’s main export has been stories. Come explore the capital of the Emerald Isle, as the Dublin’s best local guides tell you the tales of those who tried to tame this wild island.

The original  Free Tour of Dublin  covers many of Dublin’s top attractions including Dublin Castle, Temple Bar and Trinity College. After you’ve got the overview with the free walking tour, delve deeper with us!

In the evening, learn about Dublin’s haunted history on the Dark Side Tour . For those of you who want to escape the city for a day, we offer a  Howth day tour from Dublin. This excursion will take you to explore sights such as the Howth Castle and Baily Lighthouse, all just an hour out of Dublin.

If you are looking for a party, join us every night of the week for the best  pub crawl in Dublin.

Enjoy authentic local experiences

Dublin is part of the SANDEMANs NEW Europe network, one of the largest walking tour companies in the world. Offering daily tours in English and Spanish, we believe in supporting local communities and are committed to giving a voice to some of Dublin's best local freelance tour guides, who passionately share the city's history and culture with their own unique and always-entertaining style.

Aside from the Free Tour, in Dublin you’ll also find unforgettable tours and experiences. We’re looking forward to seeing you soon!

Tours & activities across Europe, Israel & USA

• Over 2 million guests per year
• Over 160,000 five-star reviews
• Over 100 tours daily, rain, hail or shine
• Top quality tours with local guides, whatever your budget

Things to do in Dublin

Ready to start exploring Dublin? Check out these useful tips and don't miss any of the city's main attractions

The best accommodation in town

Finding the right place to stay can be difficult - that's why we have sorted you out with a list of our favourite hostels and hotels in Dublin

The best places to eat in Dublin

Don't fall into any tourist trap! Here's a list of the top places to eat in Dublin recommended by locals

The greatest bars in the city

Discover our selection of popular spots among the locals to taste from a great pint of Guinness to delicious cocktails

The best shopping in Dublin

Find everything you are looking for with this guide to the best shops, markets and shopping streets in Dublin

The local expert guides we work with are proud to show you the best Dublin has to offer!

Scroll through to learn more about these unforgettable guides, including where they’re from, why they love Dublin and which tours they can offer you.

Participation in tours promoted by SANDEMANs NEW Europe is strictly on a voluntary basis. Neither SANDEMANs NEW Europe, nor the self-employed freelance guides who are the providers of the tours promoted by SANDEMANs NEW Europe, will be held responsible in any way for injuries to body or property incurred during tours. The tour guides reserve the right to deny participation in any tour, to any person, for any reason. Thank you for your understanding.

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AC/DC Sells Staggering Amount of Tickets in One Day for Upcoming European Tour

F ormed in 1973, the iconic AC/DC appeared to helm the new wave of British heavy metal bands with talents like Brian Johnson on vocals and Angus Young on guitar. Throughout their time on the stage, the band released a total of 17 studio albums, with their last Power Up hitting shelves back in 2020. But while four years passed since their last album, the band has no desire to slow down as they announced their Power Up tour. Excited about hitting the road again, it appears that AC/DC aren’t the only ones excited after fans rushed to get tickets. 

Discussing the upcoming tour with AC/DC, Chris Dalston, who is a co-head of international touring at CAA, told Pollstar about how the band anxiously waited for tickets to go on sale. “We believed it was going to be one of the biggest tours ever, but you just never know until you put tickets on sale. It’s like Christmas the night before we went on sale. You can’t sleep, you’re nervous.”

[RELATED: 6 Songs You Didn’t Know Bon Scott Wrote Before His AC/DC Days]

While nervous, Dalston soon found the band selling out numerous shows and selling over 1.5 million tickets. And all that happened in a single day. “They sold 1.5 million tickets in one day. … It’s staggering and it gives you great faith because they’re very particular in how they conduct their business. They don’t do VIP. They don’t do dynamic ticket pricing.” He added, “They never want to hear fans complaining about ticket prices being too high.”

Chris Dalston Shares Concerns Surrounding AC/DC Tour

With AC/DC continuing to prove their dominance, Dalston turned his attention to the actual tour, which kicks off in Germany in May. He said, “As agents, we have to think about a lot of things that we didn’t have to think about many years ago, like the weather. One of the reasons the tour starts in Germany was because we had to find somewhere to rehearse for a week. And then it goes immediately into Italy and Spain because we believed if it gets to July and August, it’s going to be way too hot and very dangerous for the fans and the band to be outside.” 

Besides making it comfortable and affordable for both the fans and AC/DC . Dalston also worried about Johnson. “We have to be very careful of Brian’s [Johnson] voice that we don’t push it, that he feels comfortable in the schedule.” While hectic to say the least, AC/DC returns to the stage this May.

(Photo by Jeffrey A. Camarati/Getty Images)

The post AC/DC Sells Staggering Amount of Tickets in One Day for Upcoming European Tour appeared first on American Songwriter .

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