Discover everything you need to know about Dublin Castle, Dublin including history, facts, how to get there and the best time to visit.

The Basics

Guided Dublin Castle tours take visitors through the grounds, sharing the history and ever-changing purpose of each building, including the Record Tower, Chester Beatty Library, and more. Other highlights include the entertaining halls of the State Apartments, the State Bedrooms, St. Patrick’s Hall, the State Drawing Room, the Chapel Royal, the Medieval Undercroft, and the Throne Room. Hop-on hop-off buses, bike tours, and combo Book of Kells experiences are also great ways to visit Dublin Castle.

Things to Know Before You Go

Dublin Castle is open to the public unless a special event is taking place; be sure to check the castle’s schedule ahead of time.
Plan to spend about two hours at the castle learning about Irish history and exploring the highlights.
City Hall and Trinity College are about a five-minute walk from Dublin Castle and both are well worth a visit.
Travel with a tour guide to learn more about the castle and grounds, or visit independently.
Dublin Castle is a stop on most city hop-on hop-off tours.
Dublin Castle is mostly accessible for wheelchair users; only the Viking Excavation and parts of the Chapel Royal are inaccessible.

Trip ideas

Giant's Causeway Virtual Tour in Ireland

The National Trust offers a virtual journey to Giant's Causeway with a set of 360-degree panoramic tours that showcase the Aird Snout headland, Grand Causeway, and the Giant’s Port at different times of day and seasons.

Visiting Dublin for the First Time? Here's What to See and Do

Here's where to go to get the most out of your first trip to the Irish capital.

National Gallery of Ireland Virtual Tour in Dublin

Explore a vast collection of fine arts in this virtual experience offered by one of Dublin's biggest institutions. Go room by room to find the works of Goya and Gainsborough, among others, on exhibit.

Belfast Day Trips from Dublin

Jenna in Dublin: A Culture Lover's Guide

Where to Find the Best Views in Dublin

Must-See Museums in Dublin

Dublin for Music Lovers

Ways to Celebrate St. Patrick's Day in Dublin

How to Get Off the Beaten Path in Dublin

There are certain Dublin attractions that aren’t to be missed, but don’t be afraid to venture down less-trodden paths. Here’s how to beat the crowds.

Other Irish Castles

Ireland is a country of castles, plenty of which you can visit from Dublin and beyond. Don't miss Blarney Castle, site of the famed Blarney Stone which is said to grant those who kiss it the gift of the gab. Then there's the regal Cahir Castle in Tipperary; Kilkenny Castle with it ornamental gardens; and Trim Castle, which you might have seen in Braveheart.

Recent reviews from experiences in Dublin

Fabulous guide

Anne_P, Sep 2021

Fast-track Easy Access Book of Kells Tour with Dublin Castle

Our guide, John, was absolutely excellent. He tailored the talk around our interests and was entertaining, knowledgeable and helpful.

Very Satisfying Tour

Mary_C, Sep 2021

I really enjoyed the tour with John. He was extremely knowledgeable and you could tell he enjoyed sharing the information with the tour. I had studied up on the Book of Kells and Irish history in general before my very short trip to Ireland, so the walk around Dublin Castle and then seeing the Book and library brought that history to life.

Interesting

susan_b, Sep 2021

I loved Kell’s and Trinity library. John was very knowledgeable and accommodating. They go out of their way to make you happy. Great experience

Informative tour

Neil_D, Sep 2021

Neil was a good tour guide. There were only 3 in our group so he was able to receive our full attention. Neil had a great wealth of knowledge.

Well done

William_C, Sep 2021

Frank was very knowledgeable of Irish history and gave us several tips to make our trip more enjoyable

An awesome afternoon in Dublin

Heather_R, Sep 2021

This tour was terrific and Neil, our guide was awesome. He was friendly, knowledgeable and had great stories and offered tips for enjoying Dublin once the tour was over. I wouldn’t have experienced Book of Kells this way without the tour and Neil’s expertise.

Dublin comes alive with this great tour

marcel_g, Aug 2021

our guide John did a great job, made us enthousiastic about the history of Dublin in 1500. With his stories, also about the current hotspots, we had a great start for a few days Dublin. He has the quality to adjust the tour to your specific situation and needs. very professional.

Book of Kells

Paul_K, Aug 2021

The Book of Kells has been high on my bucket list for 35 years. We finally did it. Thank you, John. It was remarkable!

Informative and entertaining tour

Susan_F, Aug 2021

Brilliant trip! Neil was informative, entertaining and fun. We saw so much in a three-hour span, from the Book of Kells to Trinity College to the castle in a tour packed with both history and funny stories. Highly recommended.

Great tour by Neil at LetzGo City Tours

RJD2, Aug 2021

Great tour. Our guide, Neil, was extremely informative of the history of the city, country, and Europe and made the afternoon quite fun. Trinity College, The Book of Kells, and the especially the library were very impressive.

Great Tour

Annie_L, Aug 2021

John was a wonderful tour guide, shared just enough history to understand what happened. Lots of little ideas of places to stop back and see later. Very pleasant and addressed all party members’ interests.

Interesting and engaging.

Caroline, Aug 2021

Our tour guide John was very informative, interesting and thoroughly engaging. He was very knowledgeable and engaged our grandson aged 11 with his witty stories. I would definitely recommend this tour .

Dublin Castle