I visited Dublin for the first time. My trip to the Irish capital was filled with surprises.

I was surprised by several things in Dublin, from the local tipping culture to the cozy-yet-cosmopolitan vibes.

Alesandra Dubin

• Several things surprised me about visiting Dublin for the first time.
• The Irish city was cleaner, kinder, and more vegetarian-friendly than I imagined it would be.
• I was surprised how lax local tipping culture differed from what I was used to in the US.

I've felt a connection with Dublin just about my entire life — and it's not because of ancestral history.