Ireland has lots of offer travelers, with its rich history, natural beauty, and delicious brews. It is also full of activity when it comes to St. Patrick’s Day and the place to celebrate. So leave the potato jokes, leprechaun costumes, and pinching of those not wearing green at home in the US and revel like the Irish instead. Here is a handy guide to help you celebrate St. Patrick’s Day like the locals.

Go For More Than One Day

When heading to Ireland during St. Patrick’s Day, make sure to plan to stay for more than just one day. The festivities can start well before the actual day and you don’t want to miss out on any of the fun. There is often a lively atmosphere full of street artists, live music, food, and sporting events.

Plan Well Ahead Of Time

Just as it can often be hard to find a hotel around certain times of the year elsewhere, St. Patrick’s Day is one of those in Ireland. If you want to be in the middle of the celebrations and like to take part in the festivities, you’ll need a prime place to stay. Book far ahead of time because it will be extremely crowded and space is definitely limited.

Wear Green

It’s time to pull out your green shirt, pants, coats, hat, and accessories but in Ireland, you’ll want to leave the leprechaun costume behind and don’t pack your “Kiss Me I’m Irish” shirt either. Pinching people for not wearing green is also an American-only tradition.

Visit The ATM Early

Taxis in Ireland will only take cash, and most pubs have a minimum amount for a credit card. Do yourself a favor and get to the ATM as early as possible, before everyone else realized they need to and the lines get longer and you end up missing something.

Head To The Parade

Parades are a big part of St. Patrick’s Day in Ireland. In Dublin alone over 500,000 people come out to watch and things can get quite crowded. So make sure you’re up and done with breakfast in time to hunt a good spot to watch before it starts.

Go For The Guinness

When it comes to a beer of choice, reach for Guinness. While visiting the Guinness brewery on the day of might be a little too chaotic, it is the most popular drink on St. Patrick’s Day in Ireland with over 13 million sold. Pro-tip: Head for the less popular Irish pubs and enjoy a pint of Guinness for a much more budget-friendly price.

Eat The Chips

When doing a bar crawl or simply chilling quietly, chips are the snack of choice and available pretty much everywhere. These potatoes are like wedge French fries for the Americans out there, and they’re cheap too, not to mention delicious.

Learn The Basic Facts

Be careful when talking to the Irish about politics. There is a difference between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland which is a controversially a part of the United Kingdom. Just don’t bring it up or you could risk a drunken pub fight.

However long you choose to stay in Ireland, St. Patrick’s Day is one of the best times to visit with several days of fun celebrations. With a little preparation and planning, you’ll be able to dive into all the fun and you won’t miss a thing due to unexpected delays. Just remember that some traditions in the United States are best left behind and to immerse yourself in Irish culture and tradition while there.