An Ireland golf vacation is not complete without a visit to Dublin, the capital and the largest city, with a population of just over 1.1 million.

Dublin has very few rivals for atmosphere, nightlife and craic, an Irish word that refers to good times, as well as scandal/gossip/goings on. It has no real English equivalent.

Be certain to seek out these landmarks on your Ireland golf vacation:

Trinity College, home of the Book of Kells, one of the most beautiful illuminated manuscripts in the world; Dublin Castle; the Cathedrals of Christ Church and St. Patrick's.

Also, check out the Dublin Spire, a nearly 400-foot-high stainless steel column that is a monument to the city's astonishing vigor; and bustling Grafton Street, a pedestrian shopping mall that links Trinity College with St. Stephen's Green, the largest of Dublin's charming center-city parks.

And don't miss the Guinness Brewery, with its fascinating tour that covers all aspects of the production of the national drink (and concludes with a free pint).

Plus, for a rewarding dining experience, visit these great restaurants: Seasons, in the Four Seasons Hotel; Portmarnock Hotel's Osborne Restaurant; and the King Sitric Fish Restaurant.

Attracting more than 4.5 million visitors annually, Dublin offers endless off-course choices while enjoying an Ireland golf vacation.

Not already a subscriber to Golf Vacation Insider? Click here to receive our free newsletter filled with insider travel tips on the world's finest golf courses and resorts. As a bonus, we will send you a free copy of Planning the Ultimate Golf Vacation, a 40-page book filled with insider tips from the editors of Golf Odyssey.