In honor of Ireland being named the best country in the world by the new Good Countries Index, here is a list of why Northern Ireland & the Republic are indeed the best.

1. You can live in an actual castle for less than the cost of a San Francisco apartment.

Dunluce Castle, Northern Ireland

2. There are rainbows everywhere. All the time.

Antrim Coast, Northern Ireland

Giant’s Causeway, Northern Ireland

3. A complex history made up of all the struggles and beauty in this thing we call life. Also, vikings.

Irish Hero and my Great-Great-Great Something, Brian Boru

Family evicted during the 1879 Land War

4. They really know how to celebrate the Christmas Season. It’s basically like being in Love Actually.

Belfast, Northern Ireland

Galway, Ireland

Christmas Lunch at School

5. Butler’s Chocolate. Worth a trip to the Republic just for their hot chocolate.

Butlers Chocolate, Ireland