Is Dublin Safe in December 2026?

Dublin's busiest tourist zones — Grafton Street, Temple Bar, and O'Connell Street — are prime pickpocketing spots. Thieves work in groups, using distractions like bumping into you or asking for directions while an accomplice takes your wallet or phone.

How to avoid: Keep phones and wallets in front pockets or a zipped bag worn across your body. Be especially careful in crowds leaving pubs at night. Do not keep all your cash in one place.

Scammers list fake short-term rentals on Airbnb, Booking, or WhatsApp groups targeting travelers. After receiving payment, they go silent or provide fake keys that don't work. Listings typically appear cheaper than genuine properties in Temple Bar or Southside locations.

How to avoid: Stick to established platforms with buyer protection. Verify the listing with multiple photos from different dates. Communicate through the platform only, never to external email. Request a video walkthrough before booking.

Card skimming devices are sometimes fitted to ATMs in tourist-heavy areas. Separately, some restaurants and bars hand a portable card reader to a staff member who walks away with your card — giving them the opportunity to skim or misuse it.

How to avoid: Only use ATMs attached to banks inside the building. Inspect the card slot before inserting your card and cover the keypad when entering your PIN. At restaurants, insist the payment terminal is brought to you rather than handing over your card.

Some Dublin taxi drivers deliberately take the longest possible route to run up the meter. This is most common from Dublin Airport and after late nights out in Temple Bar or the city centre.

How to avoid: Use Google Maps to watch the route in real time. Apps like Free Now or Uber give upfront pricing and eliminate detour risk. Always confirm the fare before you get in and ask for a printed receipt at the end.

Scammers create convincing social media posts and websites advertising sold-out Dublin events — St. Patrick's Day pub crawls, Temple Bar music nights, or Guinness Storehouse priority-access tickets — at below-market prices. Payment is taken via bank transfer or PayPal Friends & Family, after which the seller becomes unreachable. Victims discover at the venue that no booking exists under their name.

How to avoid: Book tickets only through the official venue website or well-known platforms such as Ticketmaster.ie or Eventbrite. Never pay by bank transfer or PayPal F&F for event tickets, as neither offers buyer protection. If a deal appears on Facebook Marketplace or Instagram for a major Dublin event, treat it as high-risk.