The Best Of Dublin Including Trinity College: Private Tour

Discover the culture and vibrancy of Ireland between the rolling landscapes and foggy skyline, and see the best of Dublin and its historical highlights on this half-day tour with your knowledgeable tour guide and Dubliner.

On your private tour, you will:

• Explore the best of Dublin and see its most popular highlights with a private guide;
• Relive the history of the city, and even see a historic Viking home;
• See Christ Church Cathedral in the heart of Dublin, founded in 1030 by Sitric, King of the Dublin Norsemen;
• Walk through the Dubh Linn Garden of Dublin Castle, with over 800 years of history;
• Enjoy the various architectural styles present throughout the city like the City Hall, each speaking to one of the different eras of Dublin;
• Stroll through several of the city’s famed sites, including Grafton Street and Temple Bar;
• Pass by the famous Ha’penny Bridge and O'Connell Bridge;
• See the statue of Molly Malone and learn the story of this fictional girl who was a fishmonger and the star of a well-known Irish song; 
• Visit Dublin's famed university, Trinity College and the famous people who studied here, from Oscar Wilde to Bram Stoker and Samuel Beckett;
• See the acclaimed Book of Kells, the most famous of the medieval illuminated manuscripts housed in the Old Library.

Dublin has a rich 2,000-year-old history, spanning from the Celts to the modern-day; this curated walking tour will bring that history alive. On your tour, you will explore the castle’s 800-year history. Near Old Christ Church Cathedral, you will learn about the area's history as a Viking settlement, and view the site of the world’s first performance of Handel’s Messiah.

Continue your tour about the city with a dive into some of Dublin's most famous architectural buildings, including the Neoclassical 18th-century former House of Parliament and the Georgian-style City Hall. You will also visit the famous Temple Bar, Dublin’s cultural and entertainment quarter and one of the liveliest nightlife areas that preserves its medieval street pattern, with many narrow, cobbled streets.

Visit the famed O’Connell Street, where you will see The Spire, Daniel O'Connell and James Joyce statues and the General Post Office. This is the very spot where the crowds gathered for the Declaration of Irish Independence and which became the inspiration for poetry and literature of the era. You will hear all about the many writers and rebels from your knowledgeable local guide. 

Stepping on the Ha’penny Bridge, a beautiful pedestrian bridge that once charged the eponymous half penny to cross, we will cross the River Liffey to learn all about the famed Trinity College, Ireland’s first and most acclaimed university. 

You will hear about the college’s numerous treasures and tales of renowned past students, including Oscar Wilde and Bram Stoker, as well as visit its campus and see the famous Book of Kells, the most famous of the medieval illuminated manuscripts.

Your tour will leave you not only full of the local history of the capital city but also with a great foundation to explore the city at your leisure. 

Please note: external guides are not allowed in Trinity College, so you will be parting ways with your guide at the entrance where you will join a small guided tour of the Trinity College Campus, Old Library and the Book of Kells. Most of the books in the Old Library have been removed for essential conservation. However, you will see the Book of Kells & 4 bays of remaining books during your visit.

Important Notice: Due to official events and enhanced security measures associated with Ireland's hosting of activities related to the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, access to certain areas around Dublin Castle may be restricted at short notice. As a result, some stops on the planned itinerary may occasionally be unavailable. If this occurs, your guide will adapt the route and include alternative points of interest to ensure an enjoyable and informative experience. We appreciate your understanding, as these restrictions are determined by local authorities and are beyond our control.