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All of Dublin in 5 Hours: In-depth Walking Tour with History, Culture, and Architecture

5.0

165 Ratings

Dublin

Experience the best of Dublin in just 5 hours with this in-depth walking tour. Discover the city's history, culture, and architecture while enjoying coffee and lunch breaks. Optional visit to the Old Library of Trinity College for the Book of Kells.

Duration: 5 hours

Cancellation: 1 day learn more

Highlights

Trinity College Dublin - Visiting the campus. To see the Old Library and Book of Kells, book our 5-hour tour ‘(Nearly!) All of Dublin in 5 hours’. Campus access is limited to groups of 8 or fewer unless Old Library tickets are purchased in advance (per Trinity’s rules). Founded in 1592 as a Protestant university, Trinity was a source of resentment for Ireland’s Catholic majority until at least 1970. Over the centuries, it has nurtured notable students like Oscar Wilde, Jonathan Swift, Bram Stoker, and Samuel Beckett, the greatest playwright of the 20th century.
The Book of Kells & Old Library - Coordinate with your guide to book tickets in advance.
Temple Bar - Stroll through the cobbled streets of the famous Temple Bar area. Your guide will show you local spots (street art, bohemian shops) and hidden gems in this overly touristy area.
Dublin Castle - Explore the grounds of Dublin Castle (upper and lower courtyards, Chapel Royal, Dubh Linn Gardens) without needing to enter any interiors, which require an official Dublin Castle tour.
Christ Church Cathedral - Visiting the exterior. Christ Church Cathedral and/or St Patrick’s Cathedral. Although a wooden church was built here around 1030, and there was likely a pagan shrine before that, the stone structure of Christchurch began in the 1180s and has been restored and altered many times since. The neo-gothic architecture makes Christchurch arguably Dublin’s most beautiful complex. The vast crypt beneath the cathedral deserves particular attention for its size, interesting curiosities, and the fact that it hosted a pub, distillery, and brothel in the 18th century.
Ha’penny Bridge - Cross the famous Ha’Penny Bridge, one of Dublin’s icons. Look up the river towards the Guinness Brewery (you might catch the aroma of hops boiling) or down the river towards the Custom House and the modern Docklands area. Or simply stop to observe the lovers’ locks.
National Museum of Ireland - Archaeology - Closed on Mondays. On this tour, we have time to visit EITHER the National Museum (free entry) or the Book of Kells (paid entry). Coordinate with your guide after booking. We suggest booking this tour and our Museums tour for a great Dublin plan.
Leinster House - Leinster House.
The O’Connell Monument - Daniel O’Connell was arguably the first man to prove that civil disobedience and peaceful resistance could be effective. A huge hero for Irish people, having secured Catholic Emancipation, he’s nicknamed ‘The Liberator’ and the main street of our capital city is justifiably named after him.
Bank of Ireland - Old Parliament Building. Dublin was the second city of the British Empire in the 18th century, and we have the subtle patriotism of the Irish-born politicians of the institution to thank. Today, Dublin’s architectural landscape is adorned with buildings from this period, making it look much older than Paris and London.
St Stephens Green - Gifted to the city in 1880 by a member of the Guinness family, Stephen’s Green remains much appreciated by Dubliners today - it’s probably their favorite part of the city. We’ll stroll through the lush greenery along the curved Victorian walkways and keep an eye out for the rare sight of an Irish person sunbathing!
Grafton Street - Don’t let the brands and blatant consumerism fool you, Grafton still has its charm. In fact, Grafton Street is one of the last bastions of old Dublin. Admire the flower ladies, enjoy the buskers (street musicians) as you head towards Bewleys Café, Ireland’s oldest and largest café, built in 1927.
An Post General Post Office - It was outside this impressive building on Easter Monday that Padraig Pearse read the Declaration of Irish Independence and, together with his 1600 comrades, led a rebellion that shook an empire. The most underrated site in Dublin for tourists, the GPO retains all its historical significance for Dubliners and Irish people, but most tourists never learn why this should be on their top 5 list of sites to visit.
City Hall - One of the key locations of the 1916 Easter Rising and an example of Dublin’s 18th-century architecture. We can enter the building as long as there is not a private event occurring.

What's Included

Visit to the National Museum of History and Archaeology
Customised tour of Dublin’s iconic landmarks
Guidance from a professional Irish tour guide with expertise

What's Not Included

Food & Drink
Gratuities
Entry tickets

Additional Information

This comprehensive, yet unhurried, walking tour encapsulates Dublin’s key and lesser-known attractions. Get immersed in history, culture, architecture, Irish society, language, literature, and humor as we stroll around the beautiful city.

The tour can be customized to your preferences.

Rest and refuel with a coffee break and a lunch break that will aptly complement your Dublin exploration.

Time flies with five hours seeming short!

Optional:

A guided tour of the Old Library of Trinity College to see the Book of Kells. Please be aware that choosing this option means the National Museum of History and Archaeology has to be dropped from the itinerary. The National Museum of History and Archaeology is closed on Mondays.
An admission fee is charged for the Book of Kells (for both adults and children), which can be bought on location.

Location

Dublin City South, Kildare Street

Outside the National Museum of Archaeology & History

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings

5.0

(165 Ratings)

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1 star

Rosiep86

Jun 14, 2024

"Must do" Dublin walking tour! - This is a "must do" walking tour if you are not only interested in visiting the city but learning about the fascinating and complex history which makes Ireland and Dublin the place it is today. Austin Rock, our guide, was knowledgeable and passionate about all things Irish. His sense of humour had us laughing and the hours flew by. Thank you so much Austin for this insight into Irish history! The tour, organized by Dublin Tour Guide, was professional from start to finish and I highly recommend using this company.