Dublin

Museums & Exhibitions

Discover the “most precious object in the western world,” according to the 1007 Chronicles of Ulster, on a cultural fast-track easy access tour of the Book of Kells at Trinity College Dublin. Meet your local Dublin guide at the main entrance to Trinity College and marvel at the rich ornamentation and dense symbolism of the 8th century Book of Kells, an illuminated manuscript of the 4 Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Get up close and admire one of the finest examples of medieval illumination. On the second part of this fascinating tour visit the 12th century Dublin Castle built by King John where your professional local English-speaking guide will show you all the exterior highlights including the Castle gardens, affording you one of the best tour experiences in Ireland. An expert local guide will show and explain all of the history and stories connected to Dublin's famous Castle.

Step behind the scenes of The Seven Kingdoms at the official Game of Thrones Studio Tour. Located at the authentic filming location of Linen Mill Studios in Banbridge, prepare to experience the world of Game of Thrones like never before. Located just 90 minutes from Dublin, the Studio Tour allows you to immerse yourself in an expansive collection of sets, costumes, and props, and to discover the craftsmanship and artistry that designed the Seven Kingdoms and brought the story of Game of Thrones to life. At over 100,000 sq ft, the interactive experience transports fans to the heart of Westeros, giving visitors the chance to walk through iconic sets from Winterfell to King’s Landing, and delve deep into the world behind the screen, from the earliest concepts to the jaw-dropping final cuts. From the Great Hall of Winterfell where Jon Snow was declared ‘King in the North’ to the iconic costumes worn by the cast in your favorite scenes, the Game of Thrones Studio Tour has it all.

Explore the emigration history of Ireland at the world's first fully digital museum in Dublin, winner of Europe's Leading Tourist Attraction at the World Travel Awards 2019, 2020, and 2021. Learn how 10 million people have left the island over the centuries through the amazing exhibitions at the EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum. Follow the dramatic story of how the people of Ireland have left home to settle around the globe, and how they changed the world along the way. Immerse yourself in the stories of some of the most remarkable tales of sacrifice, endurance, adventure and discovery the world has ever known as you explore the 20 state-of-the-art galleries. Located in the CHQ building in the historic docklands, the museum brings these amazing stories to life in a unique and spectacular way. Experience this digital and interactive award-winning technology and receive a souvenir passport to take home at the end of your visit.

Go to Dublin’s National Wax Museum Plus to experience a museum unlike any other. Whether you are young or old, a culture vulture or fun seeker, male or female, star struck or star studded, the National Wax Museum is the ultimate entertainment experience. Wander the galleries to try out the exciting interactive attractions, including a salute to the legacy of Dublin’s literary heritage in the Writers Room, and the stages of Irish history in the Time Vaults.   Located in the heart of Dublin City Centre, at 22-25 Westmoreland Street, the museum is housed over 3 floors and covers 13,000 square feet in a historic Lafayette landmark building. Designed to deliver the most thrilling interactive experience possible, attractions include an enchanting children's wax world, Ireland's only dedicated tribute to its top scientific inventors, a Father Ted room and all the exceptional lifelike waxwork characters you can imagine.

Arrive at a historic Georgian townhouse located on St Stephen's Green, situated in the heart of Dublin City. Walk up the front steps, and be greeted by a smile and warm welcome.  Start your visit by exploring a series of self-guided exhibitions. Explore exhibitions which tell the story of famous Irish band U2, the Irish Times Newspaper, and the "Golden Age" of Dublin. Within each room, discover fascinating stories and anecdotes about Ireland's capital city. Then, meet with a guide who will take you through a collection donated by the people of Ireland to tell the story of their capital. After about 29 minutes, you will have a comprehensive understanding of Dublin's long history. As your visit to the Little Museum comes to an end, be sure to chat with your guide. Get specialized recommendations depending on your interests, and discover the best that the city has to offer during your stay.

Step beyond the famous metal doors of Windmill Lane Recording Studios for an exclusive, immersive, and highly memorable experience.  Go behind the scenes and see where award-winning music has been created by the likes of Lady Gaga, Hozier, Westlife, U2, The Cranberries, Kylie Minogue, Riverdance, and The Rolling Stones.  Be guided around this iconic Dublin building from passionate tour guides who are also musicians and producers themselves. Learn how recording technology has evolved from early devices to modern, dynamic computer software.  Fill your ears with the recording of a band’s performance in the live room while the guide explains the recording process. Listen to an especially commissioned binaural recording and immerse yourself in 360-degree sound.

Dublin is a city of literature with three of Ireland's Nobel Prize in Literature winners hailing from this fair city. The capital has been immortalized in the works of James Joyce, Flann O'Brien and Roddy Doyle, to mention a few in the pantheon. On this tour, you will get to know about some of the greatest writers and read their words on the cobblestones where they once stood.  The tour will begin at Merrion Square at the former home of Oscar Wilde. In the central green of the square you will find a humorous statue of a youthful Wilde basking on a rock with some of his wittier quotes on display. You will hear key extracts from "The Portrait of Dorian Gray," "Importance of being Earnest" and "The Ballad of Reading Gaol." Around the corner from Merrion Square, you will enter Sweny's Pharmacy, a James Joyce museum, where you will hear a ballad sung in the Gaelic tongue. In the National Library of Ireland, you will find a permanent exhibit charting the life and times of W.B. Yeats. Before you enter this significant building, you will read excerpts from "Easter 1916" and "The Lake Isle of Innisfree," two of his finest poems. At St. Anne's Church on Dawson Street, you'll discuss the gothic writers Bram Stoker and his inspiration Sheridan Le Fanu. Stoker married Florence Balcombe here in 1878. Nearby at the Duke Pub, frequented by a young James Joyce, and McDaids, the haunt of Patrick Kavanagh, you will hear some humorous stories about two of Ireland's greatest writers over an Irish coffee. Next on your journey, you will enter Trinity College Dublin, which produced three Nobel Prize in Literature winners: Samuel Becket, George Bernard Shaw and W.B. Yeats. The career of alumni Beckett, Oliver Goldsmith and Shaw will be discussed and you will read excerpts from "The End," "The Vicar of Wakefield" and "Pygmalion." At the Palace Bar at the entrance to Temple Bar, you will stop in the famous haunt of Flann O'Brien and Brendan Behan and hear about the life and works of two men considered to be the greatest writers of their generation. Over a pint, you will read from "At Swim Two Birds" and "Borstal Boy." After much needed refreshment, you will continue the tour with a discussion of Dublin's greatest female writers, Lady Augusta Gregory, Edna O'Brien, the Gore-Booth sisters, at a series of murals dedicated to their memory. Then, visit the Ulysses murals and read more from James Joyce. By Dublin Castle and St. Patrick's Cathedral, you will meet the father of modern Irish literature, Jonathan Swift, who was once the Dean of the cathedral. Read from the fantastical "Gulliver's Travels" but also from the satirical "A Modest Proposal for Ireland." Stop at the National Theatre of Ireland the Abbey. Founded in 1904 as a stage for developing Irish literary talent by Yeats and Lady Augusta Gregory, two of its most controversial talents were J.M. Synge and Sean O'Casey. Finish your tour at the Irish Writer's Museum in Parnell Square where you will learn how their literature became legacy.

Enjoy a treasure hunt and entrance to two of Dublin's finest museums in this all-in-one experience. Grab a map of Stephen's Green and compete to find the answers and the treasure. Race around this beautiful Georgian square as fast as you can, or make the journey at a leisurely Victorian pace. Learn about Irish history, have some laughs and stretch your legs in the very center of the capital. Your treasure includes a free ticket to the Little Museum of Dublin and the Museum of Irish Literature. Complete the treasure hunt challenge the fastest time of 2021 and you will free admission to the Little Museum for the rest of your life.

This full-day tour takes you from Dublin to Belfast, the capital of Northern Ireland.  Visit the Titanic Museum and spend 1.5 hours learning the story of the Titanic ocean liner and her ill-fated maiden voyage. The story comes alive with innovative technology, scale models and more. See the Giant's Causeway, comprising about 40,000 interlocking basalt columns. Spend 1.5 hours getting up close to this UNESCO World Heritage Site, often referred to as the 8th Wonder of the World. You will have the time to walk along the cliffs overlooking the Causeway taking stunning pictures, before going for a stroll on the Giant's Causeway itself. The tour will then include a photo stop at the magnificent Dunluce Castle. This 13 century castle ruin is known as the nicest photo opportunity of all castles in Ireland and will make any amateur photographer look like a professional photographer! Stop at the Dark Hedges for 15-20 minutes. This centuries-old lane of beech trees has featured in films (Transformers) and on television (Game of Thrones). Then you’ll be able to explore Belfast for around 30 minutes. See the Big Fish, Albert's Clock, St. Anne's Cathedral and much more. You will have time to do some shopping and buy some food before heading back to Dublin.

This amazing tour uses Ireland’s artistic and literary wealth to explain the historical moments, traditions, wars, movements, and eras that have sculpted Ireland through the centuries. You’ll explore only the highlights of the National Gallery, National Library and National Museum, with a break half-way through. This cultural tour is designed to provide the right mix of variety and depth so that you remain engaged throughout the 3-hours. This tour will show you some of Ireland's great artistic achievements like the symbolic paintings representing the Norman Conquest of Ireland and the Irish Civil War, insight into the life and works of W.B. Yeats - Ireland’s Greatest Poet and the Tara Brooch and the Ardagh Chalice, treasures that epitomise Ireland’s Golden Age (500-800AD). And the best part of the tour? It’s the evocative explanations of how these pieces of art fit into the jigsaw puzzle that is Irish culture and history. Think of each piece as a word. The guide uses each word to tell a story that is insightful, emotive and special - The Story of Ireland. Book now to find out why so many people have already called this tour the highlight of their Ireland trip.