Dublin vs Prague

Dublin and Prague compared across the three travel tiers — budget, mid-range and luxury — for daily costs, hotels, food, things to do and the practical stuff that actually decides which one you should visit.

Dublin

Ireland · Europe

A small capital that punches far above its size on literature, drinking and conversation — Joyce, Beckett, Wilde and Heaney all came through, and the pubs they wrote in are mostly still open. Georgian squares, the Liffey cutting through the middle, and the Wicklow mountains within an hour of the centre.

Prague

Czech Republic · Europe

Prague is one of Europe's great preserved medieval cities — Gothic spires, Baroque palaces, and Art Nouveau masterpieces crowded into a compact historic centre. Extraordinarily cheap by Western European standards, with a world-class craft beer culture, a growing fine dining scene, and the best architecture of any city east of Vienna.

Daily cost per tier (USD)

Tier	Dublin	Prague
budget	$70–$130	$35–$55
midrange	$190–$360	$120–$200
luxury	$480–$1100	$350–$700

At a glance

	Dublin	Prague
Country	Ireland	Czech Republic
Currency	EUR	CZK (Kč) — Czech koruna. ATMs widely available; euros often accepted but at a poor rate.
Language	English and Irish	Czech (English well-spoken in tourist areas)
Best months	May–September for the long evenings — midsummer light lasts past 22:00. March brings St Patrick's Festival and the year's highest prices.	May – June, September
Climate	Temperate maritime: mild and changeable all year (5–20°C), rarely freezing or hot. Rain comes in short bursts most months rather than long spells.	Continental climate with warm summers (25°C) and cold, snowy winters (-2°C). December brings Christmas markets that are among Europe's finest — magical despite the cold. July and August are peak tourist season; May–June and September offer warm weather with far fewer crowds. Avoid New Year's Eve — the city is overwhelmed and overpriced.
Visa	Ireland is in the EU but not Schengen. Visa-free for UK, US, Canadian and Australian passports; a separate Irish visa is required for many others, and a Schengen visa does not cover Ireland.	Schengen zone — 90 days visa-free for most nationalities
Safety	Very safe by European standards. Petty theft and some antisocial behaviour around the north inner city and O'Connell Street late at night are the practical concerns.	Very safe — one of Europe's lowest crime capitals
Tipping	Tipping is modest and not obligatory: 10–15% in a restaurant if service is not already added, and nothing at all at the bar. You pay for pub drinks at the counter.	Round up or leave 10% at restaurants. Say the total when paying in cash to indicate the tip.
Metro	No	Yes