When I landed in Dublin, I fully expected to spend my layover wandering around the airport until it was time for my next flight.

Instead, I met a couple from Florida sitting next to me on the plane who graciously invited me to join them for a little side quest around the city.

After landing, we picked up their rental car, which is when I learned that people in Ireland drive on the left side of the road. I thought that was just an England thing. Watching cars come from what my brain considered the wrong direction was mildly terrifying for the first ten minutes, but you get used to it quickly!

Once we made it into the city, we grabbed croissants and started exploring Dublin on foot. One of the first things I noticed was how walkable the city felt. We crossed over the River Liffey, which runs through the center of Dublin, and eventually made our way to Temple Bar.

Eventually, I split off on my own because one of the best parts of solo travel is being able to do exactly what you want, exactly when you want.

I wandered into Stage Door Café for breakfast and was immediately grateful for another solo travel perk: finding a table for one is incredibly easy.

As I sat down, I told the waiter, “Well, I guess I have no other option but to get the Irish breakfast.”

I did, in fact, get the Irish breakfast and it did not let me down!

Throughout my meal, the staff kept joking with me, and I quickly discovered that Irish humor is my kind of humor. 12 year old me would have cried. 25 year old me found it hilarious, lol. The breakfast itself was massive and included all the traditional components of a Full Irish Breakfast. Was I hungry enough for it? Probably not. Did I order it anyway? Obviously.

After breakfast, I made my way over to Trinity College Dublin, Ireland’s oldest university and one of the most prestigious schools in the country. The campus was beautiful, filled with historic buildings, courtyards, and enough academic charm to make me briefly consider applying despite already having a master’s degree.

One thing I really wanted to see was the Book of Kells, an illuminated manuscript created by Celtic monks over 1,000 years ago and one of Ireland’s most famous cultural treasures. Unfortunately, there was one small problem. I did not have a ticket 😦 So instead of admiring the Book of Kells, I admired the outside of the building where the Book of Kells lives. Maybe next time!

And that’s really how I think about Dublin. While I only spent a day there, it prepared me for the day I actually go. It gave me just enough of a glimpse to know I want to come back. The friendly people, the historic streets, the university, the food, the humor. It felt like reading the first chapter of a really good book and realizing you’re going to need the rest of it.

For a city I technically only visited during a layover, Dublin left a surprisingly big impression.