Dublin Walking Tour: Exploring the Heart of Ireland's Capital in 90 Minutes

Embark on a 90-minute walking tour of Dublin, exploring the heart of Ireland’s capital. Discover the city’s rich history, famous writers, and vibrant culture. Get insider insights and sightseeing ideas for an unforgettable experience.

Duration: 1 hour, 45 minutes
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • 12 Aston Quay - Firstly we have a quick meet & greet with your Guide. The purpose of this is for a quick introduction and chat before getting on with some of the walking part of this spectacular walking tour.

Ask your guide any questions you have as they’ll certainly be willing to answer. It’s what makes this tour good for everyone, from groups and families to solo travelers: our guides love to hear what interests you! Even if you have no knowledge of this little island you will easily find it here on this tour!

So don’t be afraid to say ‘HI!’ and ask a few questions here at the starting location and of course along the way too. The guide might have an idea of something new to see on the day of your tour so there’s always a surprise in store!

  • O’Connell Street - From the starting point our Guide will bring you on a journey towards the widest street in Ireland. You’ll hear how it got its current name after being renamed twice! O’Connell street is one of the main thoroughfares of Irish History and so has seen a lot of footfall over the centuries.

Meet the Statues & Stand where the Irish War for Independence began and hear of the Irish Civil war which began immediately after independence was established. Find out what happened to Nelson’s Pillar and how all the windows of the street were broken all at once. From Dublin’s darkest days to the Stiletto in the Ghetto and beyond. O’Connell street is where it will all start for you on this tour.

  • An Post General Post Office - Hear of Irish Rebels at the Battle of O’Connell Street, the sailing of the Gunboat Helga up the River Liffey and the bombardment of Dublin City Centre.

Find out what happened to the rebels at the end of the fighting and how their execution affected the oncoming revolution to follow. You might even get a chance to walk underneath the high ceilinged roof of the Post Office itself but if not you can see the damage to its exterior by bullets fired over 100 years ago.

Get introduced to one of the main figures of Irish Mythology at the incredible statue of The Death of Cú Chulainn cast in 1935 by Oliver Sheppard

  • Trinity College Dublin - Working back around and down towards Westmoreland Street the tour will bring you to the area around Trinity College and College Green.

From one center of Dublin to another center of Dublin we go from the North side to the South side of Dublin which is an important feat for any visitor to dear old Dublin.

This area once held a Monastery said to have been where St Patrick converted some of the first pagan Celts. Your guide will bring you from the rituals of the Celts and early Christians right up to the building of the famous college and to the rituals of modern Trinity Students.

Find out how this area has shifted with the times as you meander along through it towards Temple Bar.

  • Temple Bar - Stop for a quick meeting at Meeting House Square and hear what the locals think of the famous Temple Bar!

You’ll get some proper tips here whether it is for the mythical Best Pint of Guinness in Dublin or where to hear some good Irish music.

With the history and hubbub of Temple Bar all around you it will be hard to believe this is only one stop and not an entire tour.

  • City Hall - Through Temple Bar and towards Dublin Castle by way of the site where the original Viking settlement of Dubhlinn was established. Find out how Dubhlinn became Dublin and how the Viking settlement was lost and rediscovered only to be buried and built over! A tragic tale but one which has not ended yet as your guide will surely explain!

From sailing Vikings to Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Handel’s Messiah and old soap factories this eclectic area holds some of Dublin’s best kept secrets…

  • Dublin Castle - We bring you then to Dublin Castle, once the absolute center of authority here on the island of Ireland. Former home of the Lord Lieutenants of Ireland right up until 1922.

However it’s construction was finished around 1230 under the orders of King John of England, the son of King Richard the Lionheart.

From 1230 to now the castle has seen many Kings, Lords, Ladies, Soldiers, Rebels so your guide will have their work cut out for them!

From a crash course in Irish architecture to the tranquility of the Dubh Linn Gardens and the spiritual texts held within the Chester Beatty Library you will wonder how they fit so much behind the old castle walls.

  • Christ Church Cathedral - Onwards to the final stop on this barnstormer tour of Dublin. Christ Church was founded by King Sigtrygg Silkbeard, one of the great Kings of the Vikings here in Ireland who ruled for over 40 years before his defeat at the Battle of Clontarf.

Christchurch Cathedral has stood over the River Liffey from when it was filled with the Longships of the Viking Settlers to the time of the Guinness Barges chugging towards Dublin Harbour onwards through to today.

Be a part of its long history by standing within its shadow as you ask our guide any final questions you may have about things you saw on the tour, places you would like to further explore or even just a feckin’ suggestion to find a bit of craic!

We will leave you off ready to explore Dublin like a local, to find what you are looking for in this old city.

What's Included
  • Local guide
  • Professional guide
  • All taxes, fees and handling charges
  • TripAdvisor Experiences brokerage fee
What's Not Included
  • Alcoholic drinks (available to purchase)
  • Drinks
  • Food and drinks
  • Lunch
  • Gratuities
Additional Information

Join us on a Finn McCool’s Tour and discover everything you need to know about Dublin!

Our team of guides are among the best in the industry and are not to be missed. This isn’t just a historical tour or a casual stroll for sightseeing and storytelling!

This is the tour for you! Our guides are eager to answer your questions and accommodate your requests! The adventure begins with a brief Meet & Greet before departure, aimed at understanding where everyone is from and what they expect from the tour.

Once that’s done, we’re off! This tour of Dublin covers everything from historical landmarks to the quirky antics of the beloved Dubliners. From shopping to architecture, with a mix of both new and old stories.

You might even find yourself taken off the beaten path to discover something new! A dynamic, flexible, and surprising walk through Dublin that will leave you ready to explore all that the city has to offer.

  • Children must be accompanied by an adult
  • Refunds will not be issued if tour/activity is missed due to late or non-arrival of cruise ship
  • A maximum of 40 people per booking
Location
ThingsToDoDublin
Aston Quay
Please be at the pick up 5 - 10 mins before our walking tour leaves. Meeting point: Depart form the Tourist shop located on 12 Aston Quay Dublin 2 , D02 TE81 (Do NOT go to the Temple Bar pub - it is the tourist shop on 12 Aston Quay's) See the map
Cancellation Policy

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

Customer Ratings
4.8
(715 Ratings)
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Joseph_l
Sep 1, 2024
Conor was great! - This was a great intro to the city of Dublin. Conor interspersed comedy, history, and drama and was a great tour guide. I appreciated the explanations of various landmarks and the etymology of many words. I would recommend this tour!
Review provided by Viator
Mattibenson
Aug 30, 2024
Brilliant Tour ! - Thank you Connor. A fantastic tour! You brought your the city and country (and beyond) to life with tremendous knowledge, wit and passion. Certainly the highlight of our brief visit to Dublin. Highly recommended. M&A (Oxford UK)
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sandy_p
Aug 30, 2024
Great tour - Super interesting and great guide. Just the right amount of time to see some important historical hotspots.
Review provided by Viator
Markraus
Aug 27, 2024
Fantastic history lesson. - A great afternoon with Connor. His passion, wit and humour all added to his amazing knowledge of Irelands history made for a busy and fun walk. Part actor part comedian and part historian. You will not be disappointed. Highly recommended.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Barbara_c
Aug 24, 2024
Brilliant tour and guide - Connor was our brilliant guide. He made Dublin come to life with his knowledge of history and presentation. We could have followed him forever. We book exclusively with Viator and they never disappoint.👍👍
Review provided by Viator
Jeremy_i
Aug 23, 2024
Awesome tour! - Awesome tour and my guide Conor was phenomenal. Great way to learn about the history and sights of Dublin!
Review provided by Viator
Priscilla_r
Aug 21, 2024
Great introduction to Dublin - This turned out to be a private tour for our party of five. I appreciated to attention that a small group setting provided. Our guide had to work around unpredictable weather, with rain starting/stopping every few minutes. He did his best to shelter us from the worst of it, which was deeply appreciated. He was extremely knowledgeable about the city’s history and showed us some interesting spots that I doubt we would have ever found on our own. Overall it was a great introduction to Dublin.
Review provided by Viator
Brendan_s
Aug 19, 2024
Conor is the best - Conor Magahy was an incredible guide. Extremely knowledgeable, funny, and personable. Most importantly for me, he managed to translate centuries of complicated history into memorable stories that conveyed the psychology and rationale of different historic events and political movements. I would have loved to extend our time with him to keep learning more. My highest recommendation!
Review provided by Viator
Lee_h
Aug 18, 2024
Great tour - Colin did a fantastic job of portraying historical background in an entertaining manner. Highly recommend this tour as an initial primer to get a bit familiar with Dublin.
Review provided by Viator
Reneelm_p
Aug 16, 2024
Excellent! - Connor M. was an excellent tour guide. So personable and knowledgeable! This was a great jumping off point for our further explorai tons of Dublin.
Review provided by Viator
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