Top 10 Places to Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day Around the World

St. Patrick’s Day, celebrated on March 17th, is a global festival of Irish pride, full of parades, parties, and plenty of green. Whether you’re looking for traditional Irish charm or over-the-top celebrations, these are the top 10 places to experience the best St. Patrick’s Day festivities, counting down from number 10!

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10. Munich, Germany – A Green Festival in Bavaria

Photo by David Pursehouse on Flickr

Munich, famous for Oktoberfest, also knows how to throw a fantastic Irish celebration! The city hosts Germany’s largest St. Patrick’s Day parade, complete with bagpipes, Irish dancers, and plenty of beer. Locals and visitors alike flock to Irish pubs for a lively celebration.

Fun Fact: The Munich St. Patrick’s Day Parade started in 1996, making it one of the newest but fastest-growing celebrations in Europe.

9. Tokyo, Japan – An Unexpected Celebration in Asia

Photo by Hideya HAMANO on Flickr

Tokyo has one of the most unique St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, featuring a Japanese-Irish cultural blend. The Tokyo St. Patrick’s Parade on Omotesando Avenue features Irish dancers, musicians, and even samurais wearing green!

Fun Fact: The first St. Patrick’s Day parade in Asia was held in Tokyo in 1992, organized by the Irish Network Japan.

8. Montreal, Canada – A Parade Tradition Since 1824

Photo by jpmpinmontrea on Flickr

Montreal hosts one of the oldest St. Patrick’s Day parades in North America, dating back to 1824. Even in freezing March weather, the city turns out in massive numbers to celebrate. The event features floats, marching bands, and a sea of green-clad revelers.

Fun Fact: The Montreal St. Patrick’s Parade has never been canceled in nearly 200 years, even during World Wars!

7. Buenos Aires, Argentina – A Latin Twist on an Irish Tradition

Photo by Wikimedia

Argentina might not be the first place that comes to mind for St. Patrick’s Day, but Buenos Aires hosts the biggest celebration in South America! The city’s Irish pubs overflow with partygoers, and the main St. Patrick’s Day festival features a parade, live music, and traditional Irish dancing.

Fun Fact: Buenos Aires has one of the largest Irish communities in Latin America, with over 500,000 Irish descendants!

6. Sydney, Australia – The First St. Patrick’s Day Celebration of the Year

Photo by Wikimedia

Since Sydney is one of the first major cities to hit March 17th, it kicks off St. Patrick’s Day before anyone else! The city’s famous St. Patrick’s Day Festival at The Rocks offers a full day of music, dance, markets, and plenty of Guinness. The Sydney Opera House even glows green in honor of the holiday!

Fun Fact: Australia has the highest percentage of Irish descendants outside of Ireland, making it a prime location for celebrations.

5. London, England – A Huge Irish Celebration

Photo by Garry Knight on Flickr

London may not be in Ireland, but it sure knows how to celebrate! The city hosts a massive parade through Trafalgar Square, featuring floats, Irish dancers, and live music. Many of London’s iconic landmarks, like the London Eye, light up in green for the holiday.

Fun Fact: London’s Irish population is one of the largest outside of Ireland, with over 900,000 people of Irish descent!

4. Boston, USA – America’s Most Irish City

Photo by Wikimedia

With over 20% of Boston’s population claiming Irish ancestry, it’s no surprise that St. Patrick’s Day is a huge event here. Boston’s parade in Southie is one of the most famous in the U.S., and the city’s countless Irish pubs offer an authentic experience with live music, Guinness, and traditional Irish food.

Fun Fact: Boston is home to the first Irish immigrants in America, dating back to the 18th century.

3. New York City, USA – The World’s Largest St. Patrick’s Parade

Photo by Sébastien Barré on Flickr

New York City boasts the largest St. Patrick’s Day parade in the world, stretching over 35 blocks along Fifth Avenue. The parade features marching bands, bagpipers, and thousands of participants celebrating Irish heritage in grand style. The city’s iconic landmarks, like the Empire State Building, also light up in green for the occasion.

Fun Fact: NYC’s parade dates back to 1762, making it older than the United States itself!

2. Chicago, USA – The Green River Tradition

Photo by Wikimedia

Chicago’s St. Patrick’s Day celebrations are legendary, thanks to one unique tradition – dyeing the Chicago River green! Every year, thousands gather to watch as 45 pounds of eco-friendly vegetable dye turn the river into a vivid emerald green. The city also hosts a huge parade and lively Irish pub crawls.

Fun Fact: The green dye lasts for only a few hours before fading away, keeping the tradition both spectacular and environmentally safe.

1. Dublin, Ireland – The Heart of the Celebration

Photo by William Murphy on Flickr

There’s no better place to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day than its birthplace, Dublin! The city goes all out with the five-day St. Patrick’s Festival, featuring a massive parade, live music, cultural performances, and an electric atmosphere in Temple Bar. Thousands of people from around the world flood the streets, making it an unforgettable experience.

Fun Fact: The first-ever St. Patrick’s Day parade was actually held not in Ireland, but in St. Augustine, Florida, in 1601!

Bonus: Savannah, Georgia – The St. Patrick’s Day Capital of the South!

Photo by Kevin Lawver on Flickr

Savannah takes St. Patrick’s Day seriously, with one of the largest celebrations in the U.S. The city turns green with fountains dyed emerald, a massive parade, and days of street parties in its famous historic district. With Irish pubs lining the streets and an unbeatable festive atmosphere, Savannah earns its title as the St. Patrick’s Day Capital of the South!

Fun Fact: Savannah’s parade is one of the oldest in America, dating back to 1824, and draws over 300,000 visitors each year!

Final Thoughts: Where Will You Celebrate?

St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated in every corner of the world, from the streets of Dublin to the skyscrapers of Tokyo. Whether you’re watching Chicago’s river turn green, joining the largest parade in New York, or experiencing a Latin-Irish fiesta in Buenos Aires, there’s no shortage of festivities, Guinness, and Irish cheer to go around!

Where would you like to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day? Let us know in the comments below! 🍀

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-Gemma Winchester, Tripio Guru

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