For many American retirees, Dublin, Ireland offers a blend of old-world charm, cosmopolitan life, and a welcoming atmosphere that makes it an appealing place to call home. Let’s peek into the daily life of a retired American couple—John and Linda—who have swapped Florida sunshine for Dublin’s emerald landscapes and lively streets.

Morning: A Leisurely Start with Irish Flavor
John and Linda’s day begins gently. They’ve settled into a cozy apartment in the leafy suburb of Ranelagh, just a few minutes by tram (LUAS) from the city center. The neighborhood is calm but connected, and they love walking to the local bakery for fresh brown soda bread or scones. Instead of driving to the store once a week to stock up, they make this walk a daily routine which means their bread is always fresh and free of preservatives.

They sip their coffee (they’ve embraced the Irish love for strong tea but haven’t completely abandoned their American-style morning brew) while reading the Irish Times and catching up on news from home online. Linda takes a morning walk through nearby St. Stephen’s Green if the weather is fair—or even if it’s just lightly misting, as she’s learned to embrace Irish weather in all its unpredictable glory.

Late Morning: Classes, Culture, or Catching Up
By mid-morning, they might split off for personal pursuits. John attends a weekly Irish history class at the University of the Third Age (U3A), a popular program for older adults offering lectures and social events. Linda volunteers with a local animal shelter and also takes part in a book club that mixes expats and locals.

Some mornings, they hop on the DART (Dublin Area Rapid Transit) for a scenic ride along the coast to towns like Howth or Dun Laoghaire for a seaside walk and lunch.

Afternoon: Pub Lunches, Markets, and Errands
Lunch is often casual and social. They’ve made friends with both fellow expats and Irish neighbors. There’s a growing American retiree presence in Dublin, but it doesn’t feel like a gated expat bubble. John and Linda enjoy that. They’ve become regulars at a local pub that serves a great bowl of seafood chowder and knows how they like their Guinness (yes, they drink it now, slowly and with reverence).

Some afternoons are for errands—grocery shopping at Lidl or Tesco, or browsing artisan goods at the Temple Bar Food Market on Saturdays. Others are for museum visits (the National Gallery is free and lovely), film festivals, or a stroll along the Grand Canal.

Evening: Music, Theater, and Home Comforts
Evenings are one of their favorite parts of Dublin life. They might attend a traditional music session at a pub in Smithfield or go to a play at the Abbey Theatre or Gate Theatre. Dublin has a rich arts scene, and they’ve grown to love the intimate scale of the venues.

Dinner is sometimes at home—simple meals using fresh local produce, lamb, and fresh fish—or at one of the many restaurants featuring everything from Indian to Italian to elevated Irish fare. They’ve discovered a fondness for Irish cheese and developed a mild addiction to sticky toffee pudding.

Community and Belonging
John and Linda have found Dublin incredibly welcoming. While there are American expat meetups (they joined an “Americans in Dublin” Facebook group that helped early on), they also participate in local residents’ associations and attend neighborhood events. They appreciate that Dubliners tend to be friendly without being intrusive—a perfect balance for new arrivals.

Healthcare is a bit different than the U.S., but they’ve adjusted. They use a combination of private insurance and the public system, and they’re pleased with the quality of care so far.

Weekends and Travel
One of their biggest joys is travel. With Dublin as a base, they’ve taken weekend trips to Galway, Belfast, and Cork, and even popped over to Paris and Rome using budget airlines. Europe feels wide open to them now, and they love the freedom of hopping on a flight for under $50. Since they usually just go for a couple of days, they pack using carry-on luggage and incur no extra fees – something that would be impossible to do if they were coming over from the states for a couple of weeks.

Reflections
John and Linda say the slower pace, the walkable lifestyle, the history all around them, and the ability to build friendships across cultures have enriched their retirement more than they imagined. Dublin offers enough familiar touches to feel comfortable—English language, Western culture—but enough difference to keep each day interesting.

They joke that they miss Target and decent peanut butter, but not much else.