Waterford, Ireland

Waterford, home to roughly 54,000 residents on the River Suir, is the oldest city in Ireland, founded by Vikings in 914. The 1096 Reginald's Tower, named for the Viking leader Regnall, ranks as the oldest civic building in Ireland still in continuous use, while the 1204 King John mint struck coins on these streets. The 1793 Waterford Crystal glassworks, established by the Penrose family, made cut lead crystal known worldwide before closing in 2009 and reopening in a smaller House of Crystal visitor centre in 2010. The 1220 Christ Church Cathedral, rebuilt by John Roberts in 1779, sits on the original 1096 site, layering nine centuries of stonework beneath your feet.