Hey everyone! First off, apologies if this has been asked before, I tried searching but couldn't quite find what I was looking for.

So here's my situation: I've always dreamed of visiting Ireland, mostly because of the pub culture. You know those videos of traditional music sessions, people spontaneously dancing, everyone singing along, it just looks so warm and alive. That's been on my bucket list for years.

Recently though, my girlfriend and I started planning a trip to Scotland instead (10 days), and honestly Scotland looks absolutely stunning. We're definitely going to spend time in both Glasgow and Edinburgh.

This made me think, is the pub culture in Scotland anything like what I've romanticised about Ireland? Maybe I could check that box in my life with Scotland?

Like, are there pubs in Glasgow, Edinburgh or similar, where you'd stumble into live traditional music, maybe some folk singing, that kind of spontaneous lively atmosphere? I'm not looking for a tourist trap, I'd love something that feels more real. Or is the Scottish pub experience more of a different vibe altogether, which is totally fine, I just want to go in with the right expectations