Dublin Attractions

Since opening its doors in 2000, the Guinness Storehouse has received over four million visitors resulting in it being Dublin’s number one visitor attraction. Spend the day learning how to pull a pint and the history behind how the “Black Stuff” is made.For more on Directions & Opening Times click here
For more on Ticket Information click here

Right at the cities doorstep, the Phoenix Park attraction is one of the largest enclosed recreational spaces within any European capital city. Established in 1662 by one of Ireland’s most illustrious viceroys, James Butler, Duke of Ormond, on behalf of King Charles II and conceived as a Royal deer park, it originally included the demesne of Kilmainham Priory south of the River Liffey, but with the building of the Royal Hospital at Kilmainham, which commenced in 1680, the Park was reduced to its present size, all of which is now north of the river. Shortly after the Park’s acquisition it was enclosed within a stone wall, which was initially poorly constructed. Subsequent wall repair and new build were necessary as the Park’s size and boundaries were adjusted and realigned. In 1668, Marcus Trevor, Viscount Dungannon, was appointed Ranger who, with two other keepers, was responsible for the deer, managing the Park’s enclosures and newly formed plantations.

Dublin Castle is a must see. Built between 1208 and 1220, this complex represents some of the oldest surviving architecture in the city. Highlights include the 13th-century record tower, the largest visible fragment of the original Norman castle and the State Apartments, once the residence of English viceroys and now the focal point for government ceremonial functions, including the inauguration of Ireland’s presidents. The newest developments for visitors are the Undercroft, and excavates site on the grounds where an early Viking fortress stood, and the treasury, built between 1712 and 1715, believed to be the oldest surviving purpose-built office building in Ireland. It houses a new visitor centre in its vaulted basement.

Another “must see” museum in Ireland for anybody interested in history at all! Finds from all periods up to and including the middle ages are arranged in self-contained exhibitions – not only from Ireland.

Opened in 1796, and is without doubt Ireland’s most famous prison. Many famous Irish Nationalists were held in prison here and the leaders of the 1916 Ester Rising were executed in the exercise yard. It was closed in 1924 – the last prisoner was Eamon de Valery, who later became Prime Minister and President of Ireland…
The Gaol now functions as a museum, and is open for public on guided tours… It will take you through the prison chapel, the West Wing, the prison yards with the execution spot, and the East Wing… The East Wing is the most spectacular section; it has 96 cells, is 3 storeys high and has been used as settings for a few well-known films like “In the Name of the Father” and “Michael Collins”. Very interesting and absolute worth a visit…

One of Dublin’s three cathedrals, St. Patrick’s is actually the “National Cathedral“, lacking the main ingredient that makes a cathedral out of a church – a bishop! Here St. Patrick supposedly baptized the first local converts besides a “Holy Well”. Being the largest church in Ireland, St. Patrick’s is well worth a visit, though a bit of a walk from Dublin’s city center. But for friends of world literature this is a pilgrimage and a must, Jonathan Swift of “Gulliver” fame was dean of and is buried in the cathedral.

Trinity College Dublin is the oldest university in Ireland, founded in 1592 by Queen Elizabeth I and is famous for its graduates such as Swift, Goldsmith, Wilde and Beckett. Visitor facilities include the Treasury, which houses the Book of Kells, an exhibition, “The Book of Kells: Turning Darkness into Light,” and the Long Room, the largest single-chamber library in the world containing 200,000 of the library’s oldest books. Temporary exhibitions are on view in the Long Room to display the rich holdings of the library and to encourage further research. Temporary exhibitions in the Long Room include; ‘Ireland in Turmoil: the 1641 Depositions’ and ‘300 Years of Medicine in Trinity College’. Tours of the campus are available from May to September daily and at weekends outside of this period. For information on tours and exhibitions please check our new website.

Set in the heart of Dublin, a visit to the Old Jameson Distillery is so much more than just a tour, it is an exciting and engaging experience, guaranteed to enlighten and entertain any visitor.
Re-live the story of John Jameson & Son through the history, the atmosphere and above all the taste. Follow the path through malting, milling, mashing, fermenting, distilling and maturing. You will discover the time honored secret of how three simple ingredients- water, barley and yeast – are transformed into the smooth golden spirit that has always been and continues to be Jameson Irish Whiskey. Find out more here

Its hilltop location and eye-catching flying buttresses make this the most photogenic by far of Dublin’s three cathedrals as well as one of the capital’s most recognisable symbols. It was founded in 1030 on what was then the southern edge of Dublin’s Viking settlement. It was later smack in the middle of medieval Dublin: Dublin Castle, the Tholsel (Town Hall; demolished in 1809) and the original Four Courts (demolished in 1796) were all close by. Nearby, on Back Lane, is the only remaining guildhall in Dublin. The 1706 Tailors Hall was due for demolition in the 1960s, but survived to become the office of An Taisce (National Trust for Ireland). Christchurch Cathedral is a 5 min walk from the Fleet Street Hotel making is the perfect accommodation when looking for hotels near Christchurch Cathedral

Dublin Zoo, located in the Phoenix Park in the heart of Dublin city, is Ireland’s No.1 visitor attraction and welcomed almost one million visitors last year. As one of the world’s oldest and most popular zoos, the 70-acre park in the heart of Dublin is home to some 600 animals in an environment where education and conservation combine for an exciting and unforgettable experience.

Grafton Street, located between Trinity College and St Stephen’s Green is full of beautiful historic buildings housing iconic Irish businesses such as Brown Thomas, Weir & Sons and Bewley’s Grafton Street Café and offers an experience that cannot be found elsewhere. It has a great variety of retail stores including café’s, bars, restaurants and hotels and caters for shoppers searching for high-end or high street. The famous street has become renowned as a launch pad for musical acts and has played host to U2 front man Bono. Other principal shopping streets beside Wicklow Street, Dawson Street, and South Great Georges Street. The nearby Powerscourt Towncentre is one of the nicer, albeit small, shopping centres in the city – Also close by is The Georges Street Arcade, an indoor market well worth a visit.