I went to Ireland for St. Patrick's Day. I had a great time, but there are 5 things I wish I'd known before my trip.

• I loved celebrating St. Patrick's Day in Dublin, but I wish I had known a few things beforehand.
• For example, when traveling for a major event, it's never too early to start booking reservations.
• For the best views of the parade in Dublin, it's important to arrive early.

Ireland is my favorite place I've traveled to, so a few years ago, I decided to plan a trip during St. Patrick's Day, thinking it would be the perfect place to celebrate the holiday.

My experience was incredible, filled with parades, pints of Guinness, and everything glowing green — but it would have been even better if I had known five things beforehand.

Dublin becomes incredibly crowded on St. Patrick's Day

I've visited Dublin twice before, so I know the city can get crowded. However, I've never experienced crowds like those on St. Patrick's Day.

People in the streets and pubs were shoulder-to-shoulder, and I typically found myself waiting 45 minutes just to get a drink. At times, it felt hard to move around.

If I did it again, I'd spend the holiday somewhere like Galway instead, where it still feels festive but a little less overwhelming.

It's never too early to start planning the trip and booking reservations

It's always good to plan ahead for a trip, but if a major holiday is involved, it's best to get started as soon as possible. After all, people from all over the world travel to Ireland for St. Patrick's Day week, so tickets and reservations can fill up fast.

Luckily, I purchased my ticket to the Guinness Storehouse two months in advance, but one member of our group waited until the day before our trip. Unfortunately for her, tickets were sold out for the entire time we were in Ireland, so she missed out on the experience.

I learned that it's best to secure any must-do reservations and tickets right after booking the trip, even if that means purchasing them months in advance.

For the best parade views, arrive very early

Dublin hosts a huge parade for the holiday, and we wanted to attend. So, we got up early and planned to be out of the house around 9 a.m.

Since the parade was scheduled to start at noon, we figured this would give us plenty of time to find a spot.

However, as we were getting ready, we could already see massive crowds forming from our Airbnb window, and we quickly realized we might be too late.

By the time we made it down to the street, there were so many people that we couldn't see anything at all. The city had also set up barriers and blocked off streets, so it was hard to even find our way around.

In the end, we watched some of the excitement from our window, then went into a nearby pub and caught the parade on TV, which honestly ended up being just as fun.

It's important to stay mindful of your belongings, especially when traveling for a major event

It's important to keep an eye on your belongings anywhere you travel, but this felt especially important when attending an event that draws large crowds.

The day before the holiday, we were on a tour to the Cliffs of Moher, and our guide warned us to be extra careful, explaining that the celebrations can be an opportunity for pickpockets.

She recommended wearing a crossbody bag, using a money belt with hidden zipper pockets, or carrying a backpack with a pocket that sits against your back so it's harder for people to get in.

Her warning turned out to be valid, because the next day, one of my friends had her phone stolen out of her pocket.

It was a reminder that it's better to take extra precautions, purchase the necessary accessories, and ensure nothing valuable is within reach.

The celebrations start early in the week

When we landed in Dublin on March 15, the St. Patrick's Day celebrations were already in full swing. After exploring the area and chatting with locals, we learned that the celebrations start well before the 17th.

Knowing that, we would've planned to arrive even earlier in the week.

Once the holiday passes, it's over — but the real excitement builds in the days leading up to it. So, arriving ahead of time allows for ample time to experience the festivities and fun energy.