7 best places to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in Europe

From Dublin to Padova; raise a pint of Guinness to Ireland's patron saint on March 17th

St Patrick's Day is one of the most popular days in the world calendar, with parties taking place across Europe. The festivities surrounding this date commemorate Saint Patrick, and the arrival of Christianity in Ireland.

Ireland's national day has now conquered the world and global landmarks turn green to commemorate the patron saint every year. So, what will you do to celebrate St Patrick’s Day on March 17th 2019?

Here are seven European destinations where you can celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in style.

Dublin, Ireland

Image by LenDog64 (Flickr/Creative Commons)

If you really want to celebrate the Irish way, then you’ve got to visit the Emerald Isle at least once in your lifetime. Ireland on St. Patrick’s Day is unlike anywhere else in the world. From green parades to Guinness, there is nowhere better way to celebrate all things Irish than the Temple Bar district in Dublin.

There are an expected 500,000 revellers hitting the streets on March 17th so make sure you’re one of them by staying in a budget hostel in the city centre!

Glasgow, Scotland

Glasgow is a second home for the Irish and the 'Dear Green Place' will be in full swing on March 17th. In Scotland’s largest city, you can celebrate the Irish festival at a series of comedy events, a street party and almost every city centre pub. Bring your Guinness hat and get ready to party Irish style.

London, England

Image by Aurelien Guichard (Flickr/Creative Commons)

With its huge Irish population, London hosts a spectacular range of festivities on 17th March. In 2017, the three-day party started on the Friday with a gala St Patrick’s Day parade in Central London. The green procession goes past some of London’s most famous landmarks, including Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square and Whitehall. Expect much the same in 2019!

Padua, Italy

Image by Luca Fasolo (Flickr/Creative Commons)

Italy’s Irish population will be having a party at the ‘Festa Irlandese’ in Padua. Attracting over 25, 000 people each year, the Italian-Irish festival is one of the largest St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in Europe. Completely free and packed full of revellers, you can have pasta with your Guinness in this historic university town.

Barcelona, Spain

Celebrated across the city’s Irish pubs, St. Patrick’s Day in Barcelona is a day of celebration for Irish ex-pats, tourists and locals alike. Down a few pints of the black stuff in the sun and go on a pub crawl along the La Ramblas. Wherever you go in Barcelona, the Irish eyes will be smiling on St. Paddy’s Day.

Munich, Germany

Image by Rebekka (Flickr/Creative Commons)

Bavarians switch from beer to Guinness on March 17th when they have a massive open-air party in the city centre. Every Irish pub in the city will be crammed full of people drinking the black stuff. St. Patrick’s Day in Munich is one of the biggest in central Europe and will be celebrated over the three-day weekend from March 17th.

Paris, France

Tourists and locals head to Paris's traditional Irish pubs to wear huge green hats and drink Guinness. Paris’s Irish community is always growing and with a steady supply of Irish-American visitors, St. Patrick’s Day is a huge party for everyone.

Wherever you go in Europe, St. Patricks Day is always a great time to travel. Book with HostelsClub today and enjoy some craic without breaking the bank!

*Header image by Dave Pearce (Flickr/Creative Commons)