Samuel Beckett Bridge, Dublin

Dublin’s charm... It’s where Irish warmth throws a wink at continental style—and somehow, they get along famously. The city hums with energy these days, but the legendary hospitality hasn’t packed up and left. It just adapted to faster Wi-Fi.

Take the Samuel Beckett Bridge, for example. One of Dublin’s most iconic modern landmarks—both a feat of engineering and a tribute to creativity. Sleek, modern, and just a bit dramatic—exactly what you’d expect from something designed by Spanish starchitect Santiago Calatrava, with the help from a local engineering firm to keep things grounded.

His second bridge in the area (after the James Joyce Bridge upstream) is a kind of architectural encore, and it took about five years to complete. Clearly, the man has a soft spot for literary crossings. This one is named after Samuel Beckett, the Nobel Prize-winning Irish playwright best known for his “Waiting for Godot.” Quite fitting, really—it's a bridge that goes somewhere, unlike his famously static characters...

Now, about the design: imagine a harp gently tipped on its side. That’s no accident but a deliberate nod to Ireland’s ancient national symbol, dating back to the 13th century, seen on numerous coins and coats of arms throughout the country. And yes, this sideways stringed beauty cost a cool €60 million. Opened in December 2009 by the Lord Mayor, Emer Costello, it links the Liffey’s north and south banks and has since become a runway for fast-walking commuters and distracted texters alike. The structure rotates horizontally to allow ships to pass, thus adding a bit of drama to the Liffey’s usual flow.

But here’s the twist: no matter how rushed folks are, that bridge has a way of making people look up. And when the evening quiet settles in, it’s pure magic—city lights twinkling in the water, reflections doing their own little Riverdance...

Pro tip:
Before you call it a day, pop over to the rooftop bar at The Mayson for the stunning views, killer cocktails, and a breeze that whispers, “You might never leave”...