Rick Steves' Favorite Town In Ireland Has The Best Live Music And Some Unique Urinals

Ireland is well-loved all over the world for its one-of-a-kind culture, landscapes, and more. However, the bulk of the tourists visiting the Emerald Isle tend to stick to its major cities, like Dublin or Galway. There are beautiful and fun things to see in these cities, but an ideal Ireland itinerary should sprinkle in some smaller locales, too. Among them is Dingle, a town that travel expert Rick Steves says is among the coastal destinations you should not skip on a trip to Ireland. In fact, Steves stated on his website that Dingle is his favorite town in Ireland.

Dingle is almost as far west as you can go on the Emerald Isle, but this should only inspire travelers to visit even more. It is fun to explore the region by car, but there are train and bus connections with Ireland's major cities, including Cork and Dublin. Dingle has lots of entertaining things to do, from visiting classic Irish pubs to exploring historic buildings. In general, towns on the west coast of the country also tend to have a lot of Irish language influences, adding an extra layer of authenticity.

Given that Ireland is one of the best destinations in Europe for live music, head to some of Dingle's local pubs to see if there are any jam sessions taking place. Rick Steves once visited six of these pubs in one trip "each with a different personality and each with live music playing to an enthusiastic and fun-loving crowd," he explained in his blog post. You likely have an idea of what Irish music sounds like, thanks to the impressive distances that the Emerald Isle's culture has traveled. But there is something special about hearing the real deal from passionate musicians and pubgoers.

Courthouse Pub in particular stood out to Steves. Aside from being well-loved by local musicians, it also has a unique bathroom feature. Pub owner Tommy O'Sullivan has found an interesting use for empty kegs by turning them into urinals. Check them out for yourself by adding this locale to your pub crawl. Other nearby favorites include The Dingle Pub, Foxy John's, and McCarthy's Bar.

An entertaining way to visit Dingle's Irish pubs is by taking a trip on the Dingle Tasting Tour. This tour brings you to some of the town's favorite pubs, but also to some unbelievable restaurants to try authentic Irish cuisine. Some of these restaurants serve dishes with locally sourced ingredients, like beef from nearby farms. Dingle has been rated as a top foodie town in Ireland, and this tour can help you put this accolade to the test. Go online to book your tour date.

For more Irish music, head to St. James' Church — a religious building has been at this location since the 13th century and despite some reconstructions, the present-day structure still dates back to the early 1800s. Historical events happened here, including the signing of the Treaty of Dingle in 1529, but it is now well-known for its regular folk music performances. Check online for exact dates. The surrounding cemetery adds to the ambiance, and its proximity to popular pubs make a visit to this church all the more worth it.